 Scorpacciata is a term that means consuming large amounts of a particular local ingredient while it's in season. It's a good way to eat. Jill Billante is a Senior Producer at AC360° I hit an area I call "farm stand alley," while driving the last stretch of a recent trip back to my hometown, a suburb outside of Pittsburgh. The alley spans about a quarter mile dotted with local purveyors standing under ramshackle roofs, hawking basket after basket of beautiful fruits and vegetables in every color of the rainbow. There are few things in life I like more than a roadside farm stand. For me, it beats even the big Greenmarkets that populate the boroughs of NYC. There is solidarity and security in the big Greenmarkets, where local farm owners are guaranteed customers from the largest city in the country. But, those lone roadside warriors have no similar guarantee. They stand alone hugging the road, taking a chance that a car will stop and sample their wares. To me, it feels like the closest an eater can get to the real people who grow this stuff. So I bought ears of sweet bi-color corn, baskets of red and green tomatoes, sweet peaches, watermelon, cucumbers, onions and peppers, some stems of dill – 10 cents a pop. And with that bounty I headed home and drew inspiration from two of my favorite salads, the traditional Greek horiatiki and watermelon & feta salad. The salty feta is the centerpiece of this incredibly refreshing summer salad. Jill's Summer Farm Stand Salad Serves 6 Dressing: Salad: Combine all produce and cheese in large bowl and dress. Voila. Delicious. Have a favorite farm stand? Shout it out below. |
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I live in South Florida and I pretty much don't eat Mangos except during the summer. If it's summer, I am buying Mangos directly from the farmer, I probably eat 10-15lbs of mangos in 2 months time. The same can be said for lychee and longan which have very short seasons. Erickson Farm in Canal Point, FL has the best selection of fresh fruit and vegetables in Palm Beach County.
How do you know the "farmer" did not buy the stuff at a wholesale place? The prices in our "farmers street market are very high."
watermelon and grape soda..yum!
I eat watermelons, plums, grapes and fresh corn on a cob in such way. 20-pound watermelon, gone in 24 hours. :smile: The only downside are frequent visits to the toilet for a whiz.
We're having a bad growing season this year. Gardens and farms are producing very little and all of that late. I feel like I'm in Farm Stand Siberia.
Someone eat a nice juicy cantaloup for me!
I also have to stop reading Eatocracy so early in my day. Most of the articles cause me to salivate and than I am tortured till I am able to go to lunch. =P
I live in pittsburgh, shady side, where is this farm stand that you wrote about? I would love to try it out! Thanks
Hey Joey! The strip of road I'm writing about is on Route 88 in the South Hills .. between South Park and Finleyville, it's near Trax Farms ... but don't stop there! Keep going to the smaller roadside stands.
Where I live now you don't see road side veggie stands. Where I use to live I would see them and there were a few nice produce markets too. Ugh..living in a semi big city stinks in that way. There are a few farmers markets held on Saturday but they end around noon and if you work forget trying to get there on time. One of these days I will have my own garden and won't have to buy produce from the supermarket. =)
Did anyone already know this term, scorpacciata? Miriam-Webster and another dictionary each said there was no such word. It would be an ok fake word, but I'd like to know if it existed prior to this article before I use it.
Mornin Kat-nothing in the Oxford American Dictionary. Gonna try Mr. Funky Wagnels too.
Why, oh why would you look up an obviously Italian word in a U.S.-english dictionary?
here are some references – literal and slang.
http://www.wordreference.com/iten/scorpacciata
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/09/jargon-watch-scorpacciata.php
Note that in Italian cooking, one commonly focuses on cooking whatever ingredient is in season, and showcasing their flavors rather than say... drowning them in a sauce So this use of the word makes sense to me.
You know what I miss? Yellow Watermelon. I don't see that very often any more. It's sweeter and juicier than the pink watermelon.
Side note: whenever I think of watermelon, I think of the Simpsons with the Japan episode.
http://akindafoodblog.wordpress.com/
Grocery store produce is shameful. I feel sorry for folks who have never had the farm fresh delights.
I spent a good part of my life eating and canning fresh fruits and veggies, some from my in-laws garden. Once you've tasted this stuff, processed and canned grocery store goods just don't cut it. I plan to move to Mexico and live and work. There they have open air markets everywhere with fresh produce. I don't know of anybody there that eats all the hyper-processed junk we do.
May I suggest that you invest in a top notch "Fly Swatter" production Co. Open markets in Mexico are terrible. Please have fun though and good luck to you.
Delish! Can't wait to try this recipe tonight! Thanks, Jill!
Because everyone cares about me and my life, I'll share that I had some watermelon with my lunch today. You're welcome. There's some left if you want some.
Do we have to go to Alaska to get it?
Kat-I must apologize for Jdizzle and my own replies concerning today's Blog.Please don't put us in Moderator time-out. We were only funnin! Next time I get to New York I will buy you a Katz"s Deli sandwich! Watch out for Rick Sanchez!
Alaska? Are you spying on me? I moved from there last November. =o Currently living in Wisconsin, so you're a little behind. And I'm with RichardHead about his comment. They have me subing in Michigan until Tuesday and it's absolutely dead here at the branch (small town). Eatocracy helps me pass the day, hence so many posts/off the wall comments, X)
I feel better now. Guess I should call Vitto and cancel the contract. So-No Moderator time-out if we are good Boys?
OhMY-BigBrotha is watchin us. Dang Jdizzle don't tell "em Michigan. All them boys from Illinois are now on there way. Don't think Kat would RAT us out.
Aw, we read the comments because we care!