Austin Farmers’ Market

Today, Titus and I visited the Austin Farmers’ Market.

Originally I planned to meet up with a complete group of strangers from my church. However, I didn’t decide until late yesterday to definitely participate, and the RSVP list didn’t look very promising that anyone else was going. This morning I was running too late to catch up with them, if they did attend.

But after reading the market’s website, I wanted to take Titus even if it was just the two of us.

I will first tell you my disappointment. Austin is a really cool, seemingly large, happening city. It has a reputation for good food, and people are very health conscious and green here. I guess I expected a HUGE market, something on the scale of my experiences at the markets in Dallas or Seattle.

The Austin market is not that. It was reasonably sized with maybe 50-100 vendors offering their produce and other goods in two nice little rows of white tents.

Once I recalibrated my expectations, adjusted to the HEAT and put some sunscreen on Titus, I decided I would just enjoy the market for what it was.

I must tell you about my son. He really doesn’t like hats. His immediate reaction is to pull the hat off his head and beam at me with the pride of his accomplishment. But with the late morning sun burning his head of blonde curls, I knew he needed a hat.

“No, no, Titus. Leave your hat on. Mommy wants you to be safe.” I warned.

Hands on head he looked up at me. Then he took his hands off his head and left the hat on.

“Wow! Good job Titus!”

We leisurely strolled the rows of vendors. The expected produce was available, but other offerings included organic meats, Gulf shrimp, artisan breads and pastas, and specialty goat cheeses. Several vendors sold ready-to-eat food. I saw incredible pastries, taco stands and a curry stall. Organic and local seemed to be the common thread between the vendors.

In her online invitation, the girl who organized the church group outing suggested the savory pastries called salgadinhos at Rio’s Brazilian stall. After looking at their choices, I decided she was onto something.

I really did have a hard time picking. Nearly all the pastries were a dough similar to pie-crust baked into a half-moon shaped stuffed pocket. The filling choices included shrimp, hearts of palm, spinach, and cinnamon bananas. I opted for the cheesy zucchini and sweet potato pocket.

“Do you take debit card?” I asked the owner. I’d seen online that the market accepted cards.

“No, sorry.” he replied. He went on to explain, “You’ll want to go to the information booth. They let you use your card to buy market bucks.”

Worked for me. After a quick exchange at the information booth, I was back for my purchase. While waiting in line, I saw the lady in front of me put a sauce on her pastry.

“What is that?” I asked her. When it comes to food, I’m not shy to talk to strangers. I want to know what my options are!

“This is their original sauce.” she explained. “It’s great.”

By this time, the vendor joined in our conversation. “We have three sauces. The mild is made from coconut and pineapple, the medium from mango and the original is our spiciest.”

I gave him my order and asked for his recommendation on the sauce.

“Do you like hot foods?” he asked.

“Um…” I hesitated, “Yes, but I don’t want a fire in my mouth.”

“Go for the medium.”

Mango on sweet potato and zucchini? I was a little nervous, but I took his advice.

The pastry was perfect. The shell was delicate, the filling was very cheesy and kind of spicy, and the sauce had a great kick to it, with a hint of sweet, I guess from the mango. However, I did not actually taste mango, which is what made me nervous. Well done Rio’s!

While we ate, Titus and I sat under the shade of a tent and listened to a local musician play her guitar and sing. Very cool.

On our way out, I stopped for a cold draft Maine Root Beer. Very sweet. Very yummy. It was a perfect refreshment to beat the heat of the near-noon sun.

I also stopped at the Go Local Austin Card booth. For ten bucks this little card would buy me discounts and freebies when I shop at participating local establishments. The best part? If I purchased the card today at that booth, the Go Local workers would sing to me.

“Any Beetles song of your choice!” the man holding the guitar promised.

I laughed.

For $10 that experience would almost be worth it. Almost.

Maybe next time.

Tags: Austin Farmers' Market, Maine Root Beer, Rio's Brazilian