tip-toeing through the tulips!

I was feeling pretty smug about my tulips this year, until I heard from Sam Ritter, our resident flower farmer. 

This year, Sam planted 6,000 tulip bulbs on her 1.3 acre farm in Accord. SIX THOUSAND!  “Some of the tulip varieties that we’ll be bringing to market are heritage favorites,” Sam says, “like ‘Carnaval de Nice,’  a red and white striped, almost peony-like  bloom, which has been around as a variety since the 1950s.”
But, Sam says, some of the varieties they planted on her no-till, regenerative farm  “are newer and funkier, like the red, green, and yellow-colored “Rasta Parrot” tulip, (pictured) which was introduced in 2016. 

Sea Change Farm & Flower returns to the market this week, and it looks like we will have a bright sunny day to showcase her leggy blossoms. This is the time of year when our market turns colorful and the colors just deepen as the weeks go on. Harlem Valley Homestead will also be bringing some tulips down from their farm in Wingdale. Their farm manager says they will be “brimming with greens on Saturday.” They are bringing lots wooden crates packed with head lettuce and salad greens, and the first green garlic and Chinese broccoli of the season.

Ellen Duffy, of Northwinds Lavender Farm, will be returning after wintering in Ireland working on restoring her family home, with all things aromatic and purple. I know many shoppers will be thrilled to see our favorite charcutier return to the market, Daniel, of Larchmont Charcuterie will be on the plaza Saturday with his saucisson sec, smoked duck breast, and of course, his coarse, pate de campagne, so tasty on a baguette from Bien Cuit or Wave Hill Breads, with some cornichons, natch. (Equally delicious, btw, on some 3x3 Kitchen forbidden rice bread for those among you who shy away from gluten.)

This Saturday coincides with King Charles’ coronation! Why not make some trad coronation chicken salad to honor the day? Bombay Chutney can provide the chutney, and Food is Med should have some of the spices you need. R&M Farms will set you up with chicken. And Wave Hill Breads has the sliced sourdough. Or you can celebrate with scones and marmalade and tea, courtesy of The Sconery, Marcelina Orange and Teagevity, respectively.

No Place Like Home is bringing back their giant simmering paella pan on Saturday. This week’s paella is the “motherlode” according to chef Alberto Alvarez, featuring “seafood, chicken and chorizo.” You can smell the saffron from the parking lot! If you want to pre-order any of their traditional Spanish fare, they are offering a discount this week. Order at  nplchef@gmail.com by 10 a.m. tomorrow (Friday).

Finally, this is the time of year when we rediscover our patios and decks and gather with friends. Make sure your bar is well stocked: up your vodka game with some sipping vodka from 1857 Spirits, made with the distillery’s own farmed potatoes. 

The PTSA will be here selling merch. If you’ve got a senior heading off to college, make sure to pick up some HHS school swag for those days when they are feeling homesick. 

See you at the market! 

And don’t forget to wear something colorful...