From Laos, with Love by Jim Franck

For a Farmers’ Market that was founded on the principle of “Buy Local” and prides itself on the quality and abundance of the food that our neighboring geography provides, it's a nice touch of irony that someone who makes our market so special is as un-local as you can get.

Besides our terrific Hmong vendors, one of our market’s most special virtues comes to us from about 8,000 miles away and a geography and climate that is distinctly “un-Wisconsin” - Tuy Anong Deth, our “Queen of Smoothies.”

The place Tuy calls home is a good-sized town probably none of us can even pronounce: Louangphranbang in north-central Laos. That’s where she met her husband-to-be, Brady, when he had briefly returned to Laos from the U.S. in 1999. Brady had originally immigrated here in 1981 to escape the war. Before marrying Brady, Tuy had at worked at her mother’s liquor store and had also been a secretary for the Laotian equivalent of our DNR. She was obviously destined for Madison, WI!

Tuy moved here with Brady, in January, 2000 and took up work in a west side dry cleaners and did sewing work on the side.

She began her smoothie career in April, 2007 by renting the cart you’ll find her in at our market. Tuy gained a permit to sell in the high traffic area of students down on the Library Mall and it became a 7-day a week job. She’s at her prime location, across from the University Bookstore, every day of the week, Monday through Sunday, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. She does interrupt her Mall stint briefly on Saturdays to work the market on the square from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and, of course, our market from 9:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. When she leaves us at noon on Sunday, she hustles right back down to the Mall.

Tuy still has family back in Laos. Her mother works as a cook in a hotel there. She has a brother who now lives here in Madison and her sister will be taking up permanent residence here too. Brady, the wind beneath Tuy’s wings and father of their two children, Anita, 7 and Kyle, 5 works in dehumidifier assembly at Therma-Stor. He’s the prime mover, literally, of their food cart hauling it from place to place with their van then jockeying it into position by hand. They reside on the east side.

For one who spends a good part of her life in pursuit of the perfect smoothie, you’d expect Tuy to have a favorite. She does. It’s her banana strawberry combo.

Brady, on the other hand, has a surprising favorite: None. He doesn’t like smoothies! He prefers water.

Be sure to stop by Tuy’s when you’re at the market. Whatever your tastes, she’ll whip up something that will put a smile on your face, cool you off, and give you pause when you realize that smoothie traveled 8,000 miles to get to you!

Enter the Salad Cookoff!

Coming to the market August 10, 2008.

All cooks welcome! Participate in our second Chef's Challenge of the season. Prepare a salad using five ingredients from the Northside Farmers Market, one ingredient from Pierce's Market and OUR SECRET INGREDIENT.  Winners take home a cash prize, a gift certificate and "BRAGGIN' RIGHTS." 

Please read the official rules here then call Dale Matthews at (608) 217-9631 or email nfmmanager@yahoo.com to enter. Please call Dale Matthews with any questions.

Don't want to cook? Public tasting begins at 11:05am.
  

What are you doing on Sunday?

Help set up the market on Sunday mornings and meet a bunch of really nice people. Fresh air, new friends and a really great feeling that you're doing your part to support our local farmers and our agricultural economy.

Call Chris Moore at 242-8572 and
start this Sunday! We can use your help!

New Products for Sunday

Our NFM Vendors anticipate these new products at the July 27 market:
  
Elk and red deer meats
Eggplant???
Salsa baskets from Harmony Valley
Chocolate chip biscotti
Kale
Gooseberry and Currant Preserves
Rhubarb and Cherry Syrups
Chocolate raspberry jam
Blueberry jam
Farm fresh chicken
Hot peppers
Grape nut muffins (low fat)
Baconwurst
Swiss mushroom patties
Sweet peas

Healthy harvest reports that their organic tomatoes may be in short
supply this Sunday.

No fresh or frozen perch until after Labor Day.


What else you'll find at the market:
Alaches, Angus beef, beans, beets, black caps, bison, blueberries, gourmet brats, corn, espazote, fresh eggs, cabbage, cheese, chocolates, collard greens, green onions, herbs, honey, hothouse cukes, kohlrabi, milk, papaldos, pepichas, peppers, potatoes, preserves, radishes, spinach, squash flowers, strawberries, sour cream, syrup, tomatoes, yogurt.

Fresh fruit juices, smoothies, coffee, biscotti, healthy and delicious cookies and fresh bakery every Sunday.

This list could change due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

Ingredients
several small zucchini or summer squash

olive oil

approx 1/2 tsp zatar spice (per packet)

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/4 cup feta cheese crumbles

Many of our vendors carry nice squash for this recipe. I got mine from Juan Gonzales.

Directions
1. Slice onion thinly and chop zucchini into 1/2" thick slices.

2. Lay out a 15" piece of aluminum foil and place a serving of zucchini in center.

3. Add onions to taste.

4. Drizzle with a good portion of olive oil.

5. Sprinkle with zatar and seal packets well.

6. Grill along with your main entree, turning occasionally, about 20 minutes.

7. When done, turn out onto plate and garnish with feta crumbles.