B.L.T. BEST LOCAL TOMATOES
Hello Chimacum Corner Community!
One of my favorite poems is “A Supermarket In California” by Allen Ginsberg. In it, Allen imagines a theoretical encounter with Walt Whitman in a “neon fruit supermarket,” likely somewhere in Berkeley, 1955. In describing the wares within the store, he exclaims, “What peaches and what penumbras! Whole families shopping at night! Aisles full of husbands! Wives in the avocados, babies in the tomatoes! And you, Garcia Lorca, what were you doing down by the watermelons?” What strikes me at this moment is he could very well be observing the Corner right now. Babies are indeed in the tomatoes, sneaking sungolds and sakuras from the pints their parents hope can make it home at least half full. The aisles are definitely full of partners patiently waiting at the cart while their chosen household scout secures the goods. It is officially B.L.T. season: BEST LOCAL TOMATOES. With all shapes and sizes coming from nearly all the main players in the vegetable game, it is time to make your tomato water, your marinara, your salsa, however you get your lycopene on! Late summer means capturing the vitality of the nightshades. And, once again, we defy Guy Clark’s famous decree: you CAN buy homegrown tomatoes in Chimacum, thanks to all of the fabulous growers loading their hoophouses with abundant vines.
Heirloom Chautauqua
Chautauqua was a 19th and 20th century traveling artistic and educational phenomenon, taking place in large tents that moved from town to town. When the Chautauqua came to town, people powered down their normal lives and turned out to watch and learn from whatever current troupe had assembled. Mark freaking Twain used to lecture at these things. We are dubbing this tomato season the “Heirloom Chautaqua,” as it has been a true committee of inspired performances in fruit production. King Mater himself, John Bellow has been putting on a show with his signature SpringRain Farm Heirloom set, featuring the cast of Pineapple Sunrise, Strangelove, and Costoluto Genovese. There has been much buzz around the solid stock from Kelley and Daisy of Frog Hill Farm, which includes the Black Prince, Speckled Roma, and classic San Marzano. Our preeminent sauceman, Marko Colby, has been busy in the slaughterhouse, bringing us the finest Oxhearts in all the land. With help from Stellar J, Chimalow, Red Dog, and friends, we have been getting schooled in all the wizardry that tomatoes can bear. There’s a riot going on on the Produce Porch! Come see what all the huzzah is about.
Case Deals
Time to get your preservation on!
Sauce Tomatoes from SpringRain
5lb Case: $20.99
Roma and Oxheart Tomatoes from Fogg Hill or Midori
10lb Case: $40.99
Freestone Yellow Peach: assorted varieties
By the lb: $3.99
Half Case: $16.99
Full Case: $29.99
Freestone White Peach:
By the lb: $3.99
Half Case: $16.99
Full Case: $29.99
Freestone White Nectaplum: “Spicezee”
By the lb: $3.99
Half Case: $16.99
Full Case: $29.99
Freestone Yellow Nectarine
By the lb: $3.99
Half Case: $16.99
Full Case: $29.99
Hermiston Cantaloupe
35lb case: $42
Pickling Cucumbers from Midori Farm
By the lb: $4.29
5lb Case: $17.99
20lb Case: $69.99
Caprese All Day
We’ve got the ingredients to truly put your tomato selections to work in a classic Caprese salad. The star of the show (aside from the local tomato) is definitely the Fior di Latte fresh Mozzarella from Ferndale Farmstead, a family-owned dairy farm and artisanal cheesemaking facility just north of Bellingham. Available as a smaller “ball” or a proper “log,” the pillowy texture of this cheese and the freshness of the single source milk is undeniable. Then there is the fabulous local bunched Genovese basil available from both SpringRain and Midori. For your liquids, we have ample selections of Extra Virgin Olive Oil in various sizes, as well as balsamic vinegar for those that have a flair for a little extra tang on their Caprese. The cold pressed olive oil (“Drizzle”) from Graza and the organic Balsamic of Modena from Madhava are some staff choices for your finishes. Time to soak up that fresh tomato lifestyle!
Mater Mozz Miracle!
On this edition of “Who did it Better?” the Corner Kitchen is coming for your favorite Caprese recipe! Chef Mike and company are doing it right with all the ingredients listed in the Grocery section (Ferndale mozz, local basil, EVOO/balsamic) plus their own selections of local Heirloom tomatoes for the base. If you are craving Caprese whilst you are out and about, a quick Corner Kitchen lunch at the picnic tables on a hot summer day ought to take the edge off. :)
Pot Dealership
Do you have a plant baby in need of a larger “crib”? Do you need to secure a handsome gift for a gardener-type friend? Then you are in luck, because the Corner Nursery has thrown down on an epic curation of glazed ceramic pots of all shapes and sizes to suit your horticultural needs. There are some with interesting textured/patterned faces, as well as various types of glazes, from matte to glossy. If you need something to put in your pot, we’ve got the fresh drop of veggie starts from Westward Farm and Craft, as well as plenty of full-sun drought-tolerant varieties like Salvia and Sedum and such. Never a dull moment in the Nursery! Go take a “pot lap” on your way into the shop.
It wouldn’t be tomato season without some pasta to go with it. Since we don’t all have the time and energy to make our own pasta daily like Restaurant Finistere, the Corner has a pretty sweet selection of boxed pasta. One pasta that has some great savings via our Deals! program is the Jovial line of gluten-free pastas. It was a fine day when they invented gluten-free pasta for all of our wheat sensitive brethren. So load up on some saucing tomatoes, like Oxhearts, Speckled Romas, or Costuluto Genovese, and get to reducing some tomato essence! The pasta will be tenderly awaiting your beautiful sauces.
“The butterflies on the summer breeze
The wildflowers sway with ease
At the bridge of two infinities
What’s been lost and what lies waitin’”
P.S. Turnip hopes everybody jams out and has a blast at Tarboo Music Festival at the Quilcene Lantern this weekend! If she could see any band there it would definitely be La Luz :)
