Ok, I know plenty of Boston-area markets run through November. But the last appearance of my beloved local market is still a bittersweet moment along our passage into winter. Bitter for the dwindling stocks in the stalls and the growing chill in the air, but sweet for the coming season of holidays, family, and sitting snuggled in blankets.
This surprisingly balmy October morning marked the last leisurely Saturday stroll to the Square to fill our tote bags with produce. Over the summer, we've brought home everything from fresh raspberries and juicy peaches to wild woodsy mushrooms and knobby heirloom tomatoes. This week our bags held only apples, enough to last us through November. Next Saturday, when I look at that giant stockpile of apples, I wonder if I will think wistfully of peaches, or joyfully of tarte tatin?
Just found your blog doing a search for pate. I will definitely be following--I'm fascinated by the processes of making things at home as you are, though it's going to be a while before I get up the nerve for something like guanciale. And where are the farmer's markets in Boston that go to November? I'd love to find those...
Thanks!!
There's a good listing of farmers markets with dates at http://www.massfarmersmarkets.org - the biggest ones go through November, but I think the picking does get pretty slim. I don't think I made it to many last November, since most of them were inconvenient for me, so I can't say for sure, but I do remember one miserably rainy afternoon in Harvard Sq. that yeilded one sad bag of apples and a pumpkin...