wrong ways = "Oh crap, I just ate half a loaf of bread" = shame spiral

brandon_w wrote:Yes there are a lot of Hmong vendors that offer very similar produce, but it is often some of the most affordable around the square. Also it is usually, in my opinion, the most beautifully presented.

I agree. Generally, my problem is choosing which beautiful stand I should spend my produce dollars at.

I try not to buy the hot spicy cheese bread because I could eat a loaf by myself without even blinking especially when it's fresh from the oven.

I was pleased to discover that the Dane Co. market is open year round (except for two weeks at Christmastime). In the winter it operates on Saturday mornings at one of two indoor locations.

The indoor market is smaller than the summer grouping, but still fairly large, and many of the same vendors participate. Today, I bought some remarkable aged raw-milk cheese, some lovely red-leaf lettuce, tomatoes, winter squash, daikon radishes, carrots, fingerling potatoes and a jar of freshly made horseradish. There were lots of root veggies, fresh garlic, greens, apples and other autumn produce, a good selection of baked goods, several meat and cheese purveyors, and perhaps more I didn't see because we got there 30 minutes before closing.

I thought prices seemed a bit costlier than I remembered from the summer market, but it's still a very good value. (Not nearly as pricey as Green City Market, for example.)

Anybody been to the Madison Wisconsin farmers Market lately? I know it is pretty extensive-any not to miss vendors?

Elfin wrote:Anybody been to the Madison Wisconsin farmers Market lately? I know it is pretty extensive-any not to miss vendors?

RAB and I went earlier this month. It's an amazing market -- so much variety, so many vendors. We came home with tons of cucumbers to pickle, really fresh broccoli, tender patty pan squash, and much more.

The garlic vendor is a favorite of ours. He'll tell you about the different types of garlic he sells. And his prices are quite fair. Other than the garlic guy, there aren't any can't-miss stops for us. We just make our way around the four sides of the capitol square and see what tempts us.

Ronna

Elfin wrote:Anybody been to the Madison Wisconsin farmers Market lately? I know it is pretty extensive-any not to miss vendors?

To me, there are 3 musts:

1) Asian vegetables from the Hmong farmers because you don't find that in IL markets.

2) Foraged goods. Dane County has slightly different rules than, say Green City, and they produce a market that is not the same week to week. These rules produce the occasional person selling foraged goods including nuts (butter, hickory, black walnut); mushrooms, and other stuff.

3) Cheese, obviously! It's a bit easier to find some of the great cheeses these days from Wisconsin at places like Pastoral and Marion St. Cheese, but there's others that are still not widely distributed or even sold outside the market.

Fantome farms goat cheese. they sell out very early. I hit that first when I go.

I'm up here in Madison for the Labor Day weekend, with three chief aims:

1) The Dane Co. market,

2) Laotian food at both Lao Laan Xang and Ha Long Bay, and

3) a Badgers home game - haven't been up for one in a while.

Other goals: a Penzey's run, perhaps a visit to the Middleton Mustard Museum, as I'm staying in Middleton, and a stop for provisions at the Middleton branch of the venerable Willy St. Co-op. Details and bulletins as events warrant.

sundevilpeg wrote:Other goals: a Penzey's run, perhaps a visit to the Middleton Mustard Museum, as I'm staying in Middleton, and a stop for provisions at the Middleton branch of the venerable Willy St. Co-op. Details and bulletins as events warrant.

I am staying in Middleton too! We are heading to the Farmers Market, then sticking around for the Taste of Madison, before heading off to Milwaukee!

Maybe it's saying the obvious but in Middleton are a couple of other things that I like a lot. Clasen's has all the ambiance of a Wonder Bread outlet, but their baking is quite good. Not too far from Clasen's is a Carr Valley outlet with excellent prices and also a chance to find a range of their cheeses not often seen.

We spent about two hours at the market. Bought some organic beef, bread, apples, maple syrup, fingerling potatoes, garlic and cheese to take home. Best buy so far- is the sheep cheese from Butler Farm. One taste and I was whisked back to France. Wish I bought more. A lot of cheese curd sellers- just not a fan of curds. There were a ton of bakeries that were mobbed-hard to pick a special one. Bought a loaf of 'Kickapoo Rye' bread that was missing the saurkraut-not a great buy for $5. Girls had their first moonpie experience. Hmong farmers stalls sold the same things with some price fluctuation. A terrific market and not to be missed. Go very early to avoid the crowds-8 am is already packed.