Organizing Up a Storm

We received another handful of applications for the 2008 chef demonstration program, and I worked on fitting them into the schedule, which is rapidly closing in on "full." It's a great testament to the success of CUESA's mission, and the popularity of the Ferry Building farmers market, that chefs -- even some high profile "celebrity" names -- want a chance to cook a dish or two in the outdoor kitchen.

Once a month or so, the Saturday markets are themed: for example, February 2nd is the Citrus Festival, and the first week of August is the Tomato Festival. I'm going through all the recipes archived on the CUESA website and listing the ones that would complement a Festival theme. They'll be used in handouts or in the week's e-letter. The longer I read recipes, the hungrier I got.

Once again, today's market vendors were tucked under the eaves, and the rain started midmorning as predicted. I came home with some beautiful white carrots, blood oranges, mixed lettuces, satsuma mandarins, and a jar of eucalyptus-almond honey. After we shopped, I helped Sarah begin the kitchen inventory -- listing the equipment and ingredients on-hand in order to fill up any gaps before the demonstration season begins again next month. I cleaned out the "pantry" -- a lengthy task just given the many bottles of herbs and spices on hand. Not to mention the dozen or more types of organic sweeteners that have been donated by one of our regular volunteers.

I worked through lunch, then grabbed a sandwich from the Acme store inside the building, and ate it on the ferry boat while I watched the spray drench the windows, again and again. It's amazing how delicious "simple" can be sometimes: a chunk of baguette, sweet butter, a few slices of salami, and some halved cornichons. Like the wonderful "airline food" you get on a European carrier: a soft roll, a slice of brie, a slice of ham.

The slightly soggy Amazon package on my doorstep contained two of the hottest new "food" books: Michael Ruhlman's The Elements of Cooking and Michael Pollan's newest, In Defense of Food, an Eater's Manifesto. It's just the right kind of afternoon to curl up with a hot cup of honey-spiked tea and a good book. Or two.