ot Sauce, Spicy marmalade and sweets that scream: SPRING
Three little boys aged about 5 to 8, with equal amounts freckles and gumption, sauntered up to Perry Bindelglass’ PB Hot Sauce booth last Sunday at the Irvington Farmers Market and stood there, defiant, arms folded across their chest, lined up in ascending height.
“I want to try your hottest hot sauce,” said the pipsqueak in the middle, pointing to Perry’s mango habanero sauce on the table. His taller friend had tried the sauce earlier and had double dared him to go try it, too. The little guy on the end was just there to watch. “No way I'm trying it,” he told Perry in no uncertain terms. “No way.” I happened to be talking to Perry about possibly attending this Saturday’s market in Hastings at the time, so naturally, stuck around to watch. The boy shoved a sample tortilla chip doused in the hottest in Perry’s line of tangy sauces. Everyone waited to see what his reaction would be...but he played it cool. Too cool, in fact. I don’t know if his tongue was numb or his nasal passages were ablaze, but he stood silent for a full minute before saying: “It's not that bad.” And then he turned on his sneakers and bolted off — presumably to find a source of water.
I cannot vouch for the habanero sauce but I can tell you that if you like your hot sauces without gluten-free, kosher, vegan and without any added sugars...Perry is your man. For those of you who remember the Guyank Brand sauces we used to have at the market years ago...these are very similar. PB Hot Sauces WILL be here this Saturday. And I double dare you to try them all!
Two of our “snowbird” vendors who only come out when the weather warms up are returning this week: Marcelina Orange returns with her delicious cara cara orange marmalades, both regular and spicy, and her bittersweet chocolate-dipped orange peels. Charlotte, of Charlotte’s Home Kitchen, is channeling spring through her gluten-free cakes laced with oh so pretty petals.
And, Freefall Sangria is also returning a sure sign that warmer weather is around the corner.
Still, you may want to get one or more soups in while you still can.
This one caught my eye because I can spot so many market ingredients in this Dutch oven chicken and vegetable Donabe soup, from Madura maitake mushrooms, Great Joy Farm carrots, R&M Farm chicken and Sun Sprout Farm cabbage.
Speaking of cabbage...some of you will be celebrating St. Paddy's Day all weekend long. R&M Farm will have plenty of beef brisket on hand and is bringing lots of Easter ham as well.
And Noble Pies will have their ever-popular Leprechaun Pie (their take on the old-fashioned Grasshopper Pie). And for those of you who like a party in your pie, try their corned beef and cabbage pie: slow simmered corned beef on top of layered boiled potatoes, cabbage, and carrots drizzled in jus and wrapped in an all-butter crust.
Our food trucks this week are: Pizza Vitale and The Fearless Cook.
The knife sharpener will be back in April!
See you at the market!