If you're looking for something to do on a Sunday from June through October, check out the
Coventry Regional Farmer's Market. For the past two years, Yankee Magazine has listed the CRFM as the Best Farmer's market in Connecticut. Rows of vendors offer the highest quality local products ranging from fresh seafood to beeswax candles. And the food! Brick oven pizza, fancy grilled cheese sandwiches, tacos, deli fare, baked goods and a dizzying array of produce.
The market is held every Sunday on the grounds of the
Nathan Hale Homestead in Coventry from 11-2. This past Sunday was the last outdoor market for the year. Next week it moves to Coventry High School where it runs indoors through the end of February. My local farmer's market moved indoors weeks ago. At that point many of the vendors stop coming but I've found many goodies are still to be had even in the colder darker months.
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| Parking for the CRFM on the grounds of the Nathan Hale Homestead |
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| Vendor area of the CRFM |
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| Sweet native strawberries available in late October! |
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| Beautifully arranged fresh, local produce at the CRFM |
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| The best Baklava I've ever tasted from Lazizah Bakery in Yantic |
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| Not your grandmother's grilled cheese sandwiches |
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| The Lincoln Culinary Institute was giving away samples of a pumpkin apple cake. |
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| In keeping with a Halloween theme, many people dressed their dogs (and kids) in costumes. |
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| Monique and Les's Oliver waiting patiently to check out the market |
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| Activities for the kiddos included this pony powered "train" |
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| Some piglets... |
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| And Alpacas-a big hit with the young and old |
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| Straw poll takers offered men (women are not allowed to vote of course) a ballot listing candidates Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. Beats the current choices if you ask me. Of course Bozo the Clown... |
Whatever you do, don't eat before heading over to the CRFM. And don't expect to be hungry when you get home.
For us the feast began with fresh brick oven pizza topped with kale, potatoes, mozzerella and bleu cheese. After sampling just about every flavor
Savor Cookies had to offer, we made our way to the demonstration barn for some of Lincoln Culinary's pumpkin apple cake. A quick stop at the first aid tent for an insulin injection allowed us to meander over to NoRA's for some Halloween inspired cupcakes (I tucked those away for later to allow room for Baklava). Planning ahead, I also grabbed a broccoli cheddar quiche from
Six Pence Pie Company and a bag of heirloom salad greens to take home for dinner, a pint of the fresh strawberries and a bag of organic homemade granola.
Local farmer's markets are such a treat. I'd love to hear about others in CT that are worth a trip. If you have a favorite, please let me know.
Sue~
I love seeing all this happy activity going on at a classic site like the Hale homestead. Those strawberries -- wow. I have a straggler or two that still ripens on my everbearing strawberries in October, but enough to market? I hope they were as sweet as advertised!
ReplyDeleteWe were skeptical but the strawberries were surprisingly sweet. If you get a chance, I highly recommend a trip to this farmer's market-especially during the outdoor months.
DeleteMy French grandmère used to weave baskets...so those caught my eye right away! I'm sure I'd want to investigate the cheese sandwiches, and like you, end my day buying some fresh bok choy and other vegetables...after sampling "just a few" sweets. Great to see Monique with Oliver!
ReplyDeleteWhy is it that piglets are so appealing? :)
It would probably be best if I focused more on the produce than the sweets. When it comes to vegetables I can't admit to being that adventurous but I'm slowly trying. Yesterday I bought a head of fresh picked cauliflower at my local farmer's market and roasted it last night for dinner. One step at a time...
DeleteHow wonderful. So wish I could join you guys. Maybe next summer we'll come down and stay overnight on a Saturday. Great pics of a super looking farmer's market.
ReplyDeleteYou could even get away with coming down in the morning. The market doesn't open til' 11 and it's located east of Hartford sort of on your way to my house.
DeleteI love the Coventry Farmer's Market! The fresh produce & prepared foods are incredible. Will miss the outdoor market but am looking forward to going to the Winter one at the high school a few times.
ReplyDeleteOliver enjoyed the pumpkin treats from Baker's Dozen and I like that the cookies are grain & sugar free plus made with local organic ingredients.
http://www.bakersdozentreats.com/
BTW, the bread and fresh pizza were from Farm to Hearth (based in Salem CT).
http://www.farmtohearth.com
Enjoyed the blog post Sue!
Thanks for the ID on the pizza people, Monique. Usually I try to pay attention so I can give proper credit but I totally missed on that one. Maybe it's because Les took line duty for that course :).
DeleteThis looks like a really fun way to spend the day! I love farmers' markets and this one looks quite special! If only I lived a few thousand miles further east...
ReplyDeleteIf you ever get out this way, it's worth a stop!
DeleteThanks for the hunger, Sue. What a fine way to eat close to home. I don't know how they get those strawberries to perform so perfectly, but I want the secret; mine never look so good.
ReplyDeleteOh how I love Farmer's Markets and this looks like one I need to put on my bucket list. Mostly I stay local in the greater New Haven area but this looks like one that will be worth the extra mileage...inside or out!
ReplyDeletePS: Hope you weathered the storm okay. We suffered only power outages...luckily no damage.
I've never been to the indoor market but plan to check it out at some point. Definitely plan to visit when it goes back outside next June.
DeleteGlad to hear you escaped storm damage. A few days of power loss pales in comparison to what some people are facing.