NEW:CLOSED: Channel Cupid at the Chappaqua Farmers Market! CLOSED TOMORROW

UPDATE: Fri. 3:00 p.m.Due to the predicted snow, which impacts many of our vendors who travel to the market, we will be closed tomorrow. We apologize for the inconvenience.  Stay safe on the roads and come visit us next Saturday Feb 18th.
February 10, 2012
by Pascale LeDraoulec

For Valentine’s Day, Big Girl Bakery is bringing some heart-healthy treats for your sweetheart like their bittersweet chocolate bark with dried cherries and pistachios. They will also be introducing their delicious cranberry Merlot sauce which you can drizzle on your favorite Greek yogurt, poached pears, or, for something truly decadent, all over their flourless chocolate torte cakes (pick one up early – these sell out quickly!).

Just this Saturday, the market is outdoors on the front lawn of the church. (they are setting up for a concert on Saturday evening) So bundle up when you come to shop and have a cup of hot coffee or hot chocolate on us.  Our regular line up of vendors will be there, except for the knife sharpener.  We’re back inside next Saturday, Feb 18th. 

Is your Valentine not sweet on wheat? Look for Big Girl’s rich, dark brownies and hearty quinoa oatmeal cookies which are completely wheat free!

True Food of Nyack also has plenty of gluten-free options, in addition to their flavorful (and righteous) burritos and pot pies filled with local meats and vegetables and their light yet so satisfying salads like kale and chickpea or wheatberry.

Why not celebrate waking up next to the one you love on Tuesday with some wholesome granola at the market? You can find some at the Bread Alone stand, as well as at Big Girl Bakery and True Food of Nyack. Try a sample at each and see which one you like best.

In my family, we like to buy each other something red on Valentine’s Day (I’ve gotten a red colander and a red wooly hat in recent years). Red meat would totally qualify and we’ve got plenty of it at the market this week with Roaming Angus paying us a visit. They always have such beautiful steaks and this week they are bringing lots for those of you who plan to grill for your Valentine.

A mushroom sauce would go so nicely with that steak – and you can count on Madura to bring a wide variety of culinary mushrooms. The other night, my honey made an omelet with Stone Barn eggs and a medley of Madura mushrooms, roughly chopped with some parsley and it was do delicious even my 7-year-old changed her position on all things fungi.

A tangy, Pantone-red hot sauce from Guyank Brand would also work…they will be at the market this week so stock up on their various flavors of sweet heat…

Happy Valentine’s Day and…see you at the market!

Food writer/author Pascale Le Draoulec is Director of the Chappaqua Farmers Market.