Fun at the Farmers Market
This winter, we’ve been attending a local farmers market as a vendor. There are so many interesting sights and sounds. Beautiful fresh vegetables and fruits: irresistible muffins and sugary items; and the smell of coffee in the air. The empanadas are delicious! You must try one!
The bell rings and people swarm the aisles. People stop by our table and the stories start. There are the usual stories about allergies. So many people stop by to ask about gluten-free foods. Fortunately, our oat flour is gluten-free so we can offer them an option. Then we talk to people who give us a laundry list of what their doctor says they can’t eat anymore. Finishing with that sorrowful, wistful look of missing something great. This week alone, we heard 2 people mention an allergy to oatmeal. I had to look that one up. It’s real. Some people have an allergy to the proteins found in oats. Who knew?
Then there was the older gentleman who had to stop and tell me all about the “nooda fish”. I swear that’s how he pronounced it. His grandmother used to make it and his grandfather used to love eating it. Then we started talking about other foods our grandparents used to eat and we found common ground: sardines in a mustard sauce. My grandfather would grab a can of sardines and a fork. In 5 minutes the can would be empty. I was adventurous enough to try it…and it wasn’t too bad. I wasn’t going to try the pitch on the spruce trees, though. I had my limits…
Back to the “nooda fish”. It took some searching, but I think he meant Lutefisk. It’s a traditional dish of Norway. It is made from aged stockfish (air-dried whitefish) or dried/salted whitefish (klippfisk) and lye (lut) (you heard right…lye). It is gelatinous in texture. Its name literally means "lye fish". The gentleman had mentioned “Norwegian” and “lye” so I’m thinking I found the right food. He was very animated while telling his story. He leaned in as he spoke of it as though it was a great secret.
It’s always great to talk about food…
We always learn something new...
And it’s always fun at the farmers market!
The bell rings and people swarm the aisles. People stop by our table and the stories start. There are the usual stories about allergies. So many people stop by to ask about gluten-free foods. Fortunately, our oat flour is gluten-free so we can offer them an option. Then we talk to people who give us a laundry list of what their doctor says they can’t eat anymore. Finishing with that sorrowful, wistful look of missing something great. This week alone, we heard 2 people mention an allergy to oatmeal. I had to look that one up. It’s real. Some people have an allergy to the proteins found in oats. Who knew?
Then there was the older gentleman who had to stop and tell me all about the “nooda fish”. I swear that’s how he pronounced it. His grandmother used to make it and his grandfather used to love eating it. Then we started talking about other foods our grandparents used to eat and we found common ground: sardines in a mustard sauce. My grandfather would grab a can of sardines and a fork. In 5 minutes the can would be empty. I was adventurous enough to try it…and it wasn’t too bad. I wasn’t going to try the pitch on the spruce trees, though. I had my limits…
Back to the “nooda fish”. It took some searching, but I think he meant Lutefisk. It’s a traditional dish of Norway. It is made from aged stockfish (air-dried whitefish) or dried/salted whitefish (klippfisk) and lye (lut) (you heard right…lye). It is gelatinous in texture. Its name literally means "lye fish". The gentleman had mentioned “Norwegian” and “lye” so I’m thinking I found the right food. He was very animated while telling his story. He leaned in as he spoke of it as though it was a great secret.
It’s always great to talk about food…
We always learn something new...
And it’s always fun at the farmers market!
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