There's no denying it...Summer is here in full force...the water restrictions in my town and the subsequent
lawns of hay are not the only sign..The Red Bank Farmers' Market at the corner of Sycamore Ave and West
Front Street adjacent to the Galleria is a sure sign, with trucks and tables overflowing with traditional and
organic fruits and vegetables of the season.  That to me, is the essence of a Farmers' Market...the coming
together of local farmers trying to sell what is ripe.  Sure, there are plenty of other things to choose from, like
Lithuanian baked goods from Elizabeth, NJ, or Teas and Honeys from local hives...but it's the garden fresh
only hours from the ground produce that gets me to stroll the tents and stalls.  Eggplants, zucchini, both
green and golden, fresh flowers, tomatoes, Jersey Beefsteaks and Heirlooms, potatoes, corn, garlic, spring
onions, broccoli (which my kids said, this tastes really fresh dad!, i think maybe they were buttering me up),
kale, basil and chives, reasons to come out and support the locals...and blackberries,peaches, and blueberries
too!




A kaleidescope of colors and flavors...i implore you dear blogfollowers, find your local farmers' markets and get back in
touch with where this food we eat comes from.  From big cities to little towns across the world you can find them.  The
internet is a great place to start looking if you do not know where one is.  I will be incorporating some of my purchases
today into this weeks menu planning at home.  A friend is coming over on Tuesday night and there is an heirloom
tomato salad, with fresh oregano,fresh picked garlic and good olive oil in his future.  The best part of eating this food is
its' ultra fresh taste...it shines when only a few ingredients are put together...

      A little history about the area the market is held in...Red Bank is an old town in Monmouth County, while not the
county seat, it is the cultural hub of the area.  Count Basie was born in this town which lies on the shores of the
Navesink River where as I came into the town across the bridge, I enjoyed watching the small crabbing boats try
their luck at those tasty blue denizens of the not so deep.  The side of town the market is held in is known as the
West Side, and area settled by Southern Italian Immigrants, African-Americans, and Mexican immigrants.  Still
watching over the town is the small italian catholic church of St.Anthony of Padua, one of the only remnants of what
was an Italian enclave in the early 1900's-1960's.




The old church was refurbished and enlarged and now services a mixed congregation which is still primarily Italian and
Mexican.  Back in the 1930's a feast of St.Anthony was held around the church, sausages and peppers, zeppole and the
usual Italian-American street fair food was in "abbondanza".  The town is chock full of Italian, Mexican, Eclectic eateries
coffee houses, theatres, hotels and lots and lots of shopping..check out this link for more info if you are ever in the
area...
http://www.redbank.com/  
     This afternoon though, I had my full of cooking Italian, so, while not necessarily Spanish, in homage to the World
Cup Final, I made a steamed fresh broccoli (FM purchase), Pork Chops seared in hot oil, then braised in red wine,
garlic, rubbed with cumin, bay leaves, and mushrooms..and I used one of those spring onions I bought and 1/2 of
a golden zucchini (they are really beautiful creatures!) and diced them up into a rice pilaf with some minced
Portuguese linguica for extra flavor.



A nice afternoon meal on a Sunday in the Summer....so check out your local area...find an old historic town, a Farmers'
Market, an ethnic enclave...you'll be surprised at what you find and learn..and what's good to eat!



One of the original windows in St.Anthony of Padua Church, RedBank..all donated by the immi-
grant families in honor of their deceased relatives...in hip trendy Red Bank...a bit of the old world
still preserved...