Bounty

Last week, just after writing the post about stocking our pantry and finding good food sources, I took myself to the Waverly Farmer's Market and thought that I had gone to foodie heaven. It was astounding. I found everything: meat, dairy, eggs, mushrooms, beans, flowers, vegetables, fruit and even a table selling spices in one-ounce bags. Even more serendipitously, I ran into a woman from our church who knows much about finding real food in Baltimore. She had loads of helpful advice for me and reassured me that the market is open year-round, although it becomes a little smaller in the winter. Basically, I'm saying, this market just might be the answer.

This Saturday morning was our inaugural visit, armed with lists and bags and my entire grocery budget in cash. We got some coffee, a muffin, and a delicious loaf of sourdough wheat and settled David and Rowan on the grass near the outskirts. Then I began what I like to call my Babette-act. I pretend that I am a wise and discerning French woman, basket in hand, boldly and confidently choosing the best from the bounty of produce around her. The truth is a bit more complicated (cash falling out of pocket, bags hanging off of tired arms, ten trips back and forth to decide what vendor to buy a tomato from...) but I find that the imagery helps. And boy did I have a good time.

Here is the bounty, in a long, long sentence of food affection: huge, yellow onions; fresh mint and thyme; tomatoes specifically chosen by the vendor to last until Thursday; precious, little cucumbers; garlic; heirloom apples; rainbow chard; turnips; red potatoes; carrots; celery; sweet, Italian eggplant; cream-top whole milk; ground lamb; eggs; a three-pound chicken and one of the most beautiful bouquets I have ever seen. Dare I say what it cost? I'm still debating whether it is the cheapest way to go, but I think that it was definitely one of the most pleasurable ways I've ever spent sixty dollars on groceries. We still had to go to Trader Joe's for a few more standard items, although I could have gotten cream and yogurt and butter right there at the market as well. In the end, we landed within our budget for the week (although our budget is bigger than I would like) and I have already schemed how I can stretch some produce with a few pantry items that I have been needing to use (quinoa, black beans, azuki beans and rice). Once again, I'll let you know how it goes.

The Rowhouse

So here is the reality. We actually live in a rowhouse, a pale, blue rowhouse with a white porch on the front and a slightly purple door. We inhabit the first floor, where tall, tall windows reach for the light and old furniture seems to feel right at home. Outside, we watch the sun go down over the trees in the park across the street. In this way, I don't feel so very far from that airy farmhouse in the country.

My kitchen is quite large for a rowhouse, and is well-stocked if not in groceries than in cupboards. I am comfortable in my kitchen. It is part of the large room that serves as our kitchen, dining and living room, and therefore, is never lonely.

I am working on my pantry. I have found grocery shopping to be a complicated affair here in Baltimore. We lack may things that those of you in the Northwest seem to take for granted, things like well-stocked, independent grocery stores with glorious sections of bulk goods, and access to companies like Azure Standard. At this point I find myself driving seven miles to Trader Joe's every week, as well as stopping at our local Super Fresh and occasionally going to Whole Foods to mourn over their woefully limited bulk section. Then I remind myself that obtaining food is not necessarily supposed to be easy and that shopping is my modern burden (though truthfully I would almost rather chop a chicken's head off than go to Trader Joe's on a weekend afternoon). I have yet to sign up for a CSA and although there are several farmer's markets in the area I have not been able to settle on one for our weekly shopping needs. This, however, is no fault of Baltimore but simply my own organizational shortcomings. In short, I have much work to do.

Therefore, I am using this post as accountability-accountability for getting my city pantry stocked in a responsible and frugal fashion. For establishing a rhythm of shopping that accommodates both budget and time. For setting in motion some new habits of preservation and simplification.

I'll let you know how it goes.