It’s Officially Grilling Season | July 4, 2022

Fresh & Local:

It’s Officially Grilling Season

July kicks off both National Picnic Month as well as National Grilling Month. Here in southeast Louisiana we schedule these activities around heat advisories and afternoon showers, but the summer months bring us plenty of local fruits and veggies to enjoy al fresco. Find your outdoor eating essentials at any of the three weekly rain or shine Crescent City Farmers Markets. Meat vendors like T&R Dairy and Black Creek Farms have ground meat for perfecting your burger recipe, as well as the summer grilling staples chops, steaks, ribs, and brisket. Thursday vendor Backwater Foie Gras recently added Tuesday market to their docket and will have very tasty whole Freedom Ranger breed chickens available starting this month. Summer veg also makes for great kabobs and while you’ve got those marinated skewers of local peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms and onions on the grill, try this trick - throw a whole eggplant on the coals to char, adding an irresistible smoky depth to a baba ghanouj. Finish off your meal with grilled peach halves served with a melty scoop of ice cream and you’ll truly be in the summer spirit!

Picks of the Week:

Join Our Team!

Like food? Like people? Join the Market Umbrella team and help us build a stronger food system and healthier community! We are looking for two part-time Market Coordinators to assist with market prep, setup, run of show and breakdown, and a full time Administrative & Communications Manager to work on social media, marketing, and team support. For more information and to apply, click here!

Cooking It Up Fresh & Local with Goldring

In collaboration with The Crescent City Farmers Market, Top Box, and the Market Match program, The Goldring Center of Culinary Medicine is offering a series of hands-on cooking classes. They will be showcasing some of our favorite summer produce that can be purchased through the market or delivered right to your door! Get more information including future dates for this special class and add your name to the list here.

Vendor of the Week:

Costantini Pasta

Say ciao to Costantini Pasta! With his father hailing from Abruzzi, Italy and his Irish mother’s talent for Italian cooking, Mike has known and enjoyed fresh pastas and sauces all his life. After graduating with a degree in IT, Mike quickly learned he wanted to do something with his hands and turned back to his love for cooking. Thus, Mike has spent the last 20 years cooking in restaurants and most recently has started his own business, Costantini Pasta, making fresh, artisanal pasta and sauces. Using a pasta extruder, Mike makes his pasta using a combination of flours, predominantly semolina, and is constantly adapting his recipes to offer the freshest ingredients and new, exciting pasta shapes. Find Costantini Pasta at CCFM Thursday and Sunday markets!

Recipe of the Week:

Spaghetti with Charred Tomatoes and Shishito Peppers

As we get ready to say goodbye to this season of tomato abundance, you may feel as though you have exerted all means of preparing and cooking this summertime staple. We’re here to challenge you - have you tried charring your tomatoes? Enjoy this simple but delicious, flavor-packed summer pasta dish. To make this dish even more fresh, try it with your favorite Costantini Pasta! Maybe even toss in some of his homemade pesto for a zingy summer twist.

What’s your favorite dish to make after visiting the Crescent City Farmers Market? Share your recipes with us on Instagram or Facebook and it might be featured in our weekly newsletter!