Saturday Market Dinner

23 Sunday Aug 2009

Posted by Bob and Robin in Food, Local Farmers Markets, Main Dish, Photos, Things To Do

The summer in Boise is just sooooo delicious! The Saturday Market is the most popular, but there also a Thursday Market in Boise. Other towns around Boise also have their market where one can pick up some really good and fresh vegetables and other products: Meridian, Nampa, Kuna to name a few. It’s important that we support these “local markets” – Think Local – Buy Local.

Dinner with some of the Market products –

Fresh Orange Beet and Cantaloupe Salad

Grilled Tomato with Basil and Parmesan Cheese

Grilled Squash

Grilled Salmon

Fun to make, fun to look at with all the colors and definitely fun to eat.

Thunder Mountain Express

14 Friday Aug 2009

Posted by Bob and Robin in Food Trivia, Local Farmers Markets, Things To Do, Wine and Food

≈ 1 Comment

We really do receive some very interesting and fun sounding information. The Thunder Mountain Line, out of Cascade, is a fun way to see the “back country” via train! Here is the indormation for one such trip. Enjoy!

Hi Robin and Bob,
Here’s something fun and quirky I thought your readers might enjoy. Travelers in Idaho this month can get in on a first—a culinary escapade via the Locavore Express!

Locavore is a term used to describe someone who eats and drinks local foods and beverages. On August 30, Idaho’s Thunder Mountain Line and the Idaho Dept. of Agriculture’s Idaho Preferred Program is giving tourists a chance to become Locavores by inviting them to hop on board the Locavore Express.

The Locavore Express will feature Idaho wine, spirits, and hors d’oeuvres in the bar cars as the historic train travels north to Banks along the Payette River. After arriving in Banks, passengers will be treated to a gourmet all-Idaho meal featuring famed Idaho beef, lamb and fish, a variety of tasty cheeses, fresh fruits and vegetables, breads and fine desserts.

Among those scheduled to attend the event will be local Chefs, farmers, ranchers, winemakers, and specialty food producers.

The Locavore Express is just one of the culinary events being held this year to celebrate Idaho food and spirits. For more information about Idaho products or upcoming culinary events, readers can go to Visit Idaho or Idaho Preferred. For tickets on the Locavore Express, please direct them to: Thunder Mountain Line.

Idaho’s Thunder Mountain Express
becomes the
Locavore Express
on
August 30, 2009

If you need more information or photos, give me a call.
Thanks!
-Kellie

Kellie Kluksdal, Public Relations
Idaho Dept. of Commerce, Division of Tourism
P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0093
208-334-2470 ext. 2152

E-Mail: Kellie Kluksdal
Web Site: Visit Idaho

You know, maybe this is something the Boise Foodie Guild would like to do as a group? Think about it. Cheers!

Produce Available From Spyglass Gardens!

28 Tuesday Jul 2009

Posted by Bob and Robin in Food, Local Farmers Markets, Local Markets, Things To Do

≈ 1 Comment

I received this via E-Mail this afternoon. Local produce; Local Goodness!

Yes it has happen! Summer is really here. We have CORN and Watermelons! Plus we have been picking Tomatoes, Green Beans, Yukon and Red Potatoes, Peppers, Cucumbers, Summer Squash, Peaches that are so juicy and sweet and of course Carrots, Beets and summer lettuce.

Come on out to the markets and check out our booth! Tues Evenings McFadden in Front of Meridian City Hall, Saturdays in Eagle-Downtown in the City Park and Meridian Farmers Market on Eagle Road north of Ustick. And if you are headed up north on Wednesday at the Alpha Nursery in Round Valley – Hwy 55 – north of Clear Creek. Steve went last week for the first time, and was greeted by the locals! They were so excited to have us come up we are looking forward to going again this week and thru the month of August.

Hope all is well with your families, Take Care – See you soon Steve and Wendy at Spyglass Gardens

Let’s support our local gardeners/farmers and purchase the goods that they produce! Cheers!

Farmer’s Markets and Other Great Information

09 Saturday May 2009

Posted by Bob and Robin in Food, Local Farmers Markets, Local Markets, Wine and Food

≈ 1 Comment

I have been asked several questions about local Farmers’ Markets, and trying not to make the “Comments” list so big, I will try to answer some of the questions here. (For those who may not know, if you Left Click on any photo, you will get a Full Screen view. Easier to see some of the images.)

Farmer’s Markets –

Robin and my intention this morning was to visit the Nampa Farmer’s Market, the Kuna Farmer’s Market and to deliver the last of the Idaho Wine Competition medals to Hells Canyon Winery. Oh well, two out of 3 isn’t bad. Nampa will have to wait until next week.
Wendy asked, “I had no idea that there were so many markets in the area!! Is there a wide variety of vendors between the four different markets? I am very interested in this information! I know that Koenig is at the downtown Boise market, but we would like to see about getting in on the Caldwell market that is on Wednesdays. Do you have any idea how we go about that, or who we should contact?” There is some variation in vendors between the markets – not all vendors go to all the venues.

Contacting the Kuna Market is easy – the graphic on the left has the information and who to contact. As far as I can tell, there are about 12 Farmer’s Markets within 50 miles of Boise, Boise actually having/sponsoring two. I will list them below.

If you look at the second photo and on the back left of that photo, you will see Buck’s Barnyard. Interesting and an ingenius idea, and green. He takes old and headed for the dump fruit boxes, unuseable fabric and old packing material and makes “raised vegetable boxes” from them and sells the idea – installed, I might say – for $185.00 (I think). Contact them for more information. (I am sorry, but they do not have a webpage.)

OK, so where are these markets.
Emmett – Emmett Farmer’s Market, Blazer Park. Saturdays 8:00am – 12:00pm and Wednesdatys 4:00pm – 7:00pm June through October. Contact: Glen Schiller (208) 365-5088
Middleton – Middleton Farmer’s Market, Ridleys parking lot on Highway 44. Thursday 4:30pm – 7:30pm. Mid May through September. Contact: Kathy May (208) 571-3474
Nampa – Nampa Farmer’s Market. 1st Street South and Front Street. Saturdays 9:00am – 1:00pm. End of April through October. Contact: Suzette Boiling (208) 461-4807. Web Page
Eagle – Eagle Saturday Market. Heritage Park, corner of State Street and 2nd Street. Saturdays 8:30 am – 1:00pm. May through October. Contact: Dean Burrup (208) 631-3630 Web Page. Christmas Market, 1st Saturday in December
Meridian – Meridian Farmer’s Market. 3630 N Eagle Road, Ustic Market Place II. Saturdays 9:00am – 1:00pm. May through September. Contact: Donna Egner (208) 376-2610. Web Page
Meridian – McFadden Co-op Farmer’s Market. Meridian Cioty Hall parking lot, Main Street and Broadway. Tuesdays 5:00pm – 8:00pm (This may change to Saturdays also) May through October. Contact: (208) 862-0432
Kuna – Kuna Farmer’s Market. See the graphic above.
Mountain Home – Mountain Home Farmre’s Market. Railroad Park (Center Park) Main Street. Saturday 8:00am – 1:00pm. May through October. Contact: Beverly Lucia (208) 587-3134

I did not list the Boise (Capitol City Public Market). If you are interested, contact me through this blog. Please do not hold me responsible for incorrect or outdated information. If you find too many mistakes of this sort, contact Lacey or check the Idaho Agriculture Department Web Page. Spelling typos will be the only thing I can correct. Hope this gives you some good information and the world of Blog Blips continues to forward adequate information. Cheers!

Nampa (Idaho) Farmers Market

08 Friday May 2009

Posted by Bob and Robin in Food, Local Farmers Markets

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Nampa Farmers’ Market runs every Saturday between April 25 and October 31, 2009, from 9am – 1pm, rain or shine. The market is located in historic downtown Nampa, 12th Ave. So. and 1st St. And from their website, we get the following information about the market –

History of the Nampa Farmers Market

Location of market: Historical downtown Nampa, Idaho
between 1st St. South and Front St

The Nampa Farmers Market was founded in 1989 by John and Affine Relk.
The market was held in a parking lot across from the police department. There were only three vendors participating and customers were few in that first year.

Since the beginning, the market has continually grown in both customers and vendors. In 1998 the market moved to historic Downtown Nampa in front of the Historical Museum of the train depot. Since that time the market has grown to an average of 40 to 50 vendors per week, offering a large variety of produce, foods, crafts, plants and flowers from local vendors.

With the beauty of the museums architecture as a backdrop, and a fountain on each side of a tree lined street, the market area becomes a bustling community of farmers, crafters and bakers selling their wares each Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from May through October.

Local entertainers provide music and dance venues to enrich the experience of going to market. Families come together to shop and visit with friends and neighbors, keeping the spirit of the old-fashioned marketplace alive for future generations to enjoy.

The market is helping to revitalize the downtown area and supports local businesses by attracting new customers to the downtown corridor. Working with the Nampa Business Improvement District the Market could eventually become a year round market place.

So if you are in the Boise general area, you can now go to 4 different Farmer’s Markets: (1) Boise, (2) Kuna, (3) Meridian and (4) Nampa. I think there is also one in Eagle. I will check on that. Cheers and Happy Shopping!

Local Harvest Report

06 Wednesday May 2009

Posted by Bob and Robin in Food, Interesting Information, Local Farmers Markets

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OK, so I placed a graphic on the sidebar (eyes right!) about a business called Happy Gardening. Please do patronize them! You can find them at the Nampa Farmers Market on Saturdays. I also get a newsletter from Local Harvest, promoting buying local produce. Here is part of their newest newsletter:

Opening Day – Mother’s Day
Kuna Farmers Market – (Kuna, Idaho)

The Market opens for the 2009 season (on 9 May). Mothers will be the special guests and plenty of blooming pots for Mothers’ Day gifts. Come see our family of vendors and what’s new for the season.

Date: May 9, 2009
Start Time: 9:00 AM
End Time: 12:00 PM

Organized by: Kuna Farmers Market
Web site: Kuna Farmers Market

Address: Sandstone Plaza; West End of Main Street
Kuna, ID 83634

Phone: 208 922-5113

Short and to the point. Visit their website, too. So you can see that this is the time of year for the Farmer’s Markets. Local vegies and other produce.