Archive for July, 2010

I was reading my City Market News email the other day (you can sign up for it here), and learned that July is “Local Produce Month.” And well it should be!  Nothing tastes as good as a local strawberry in season.  If that isn’t cause for celebration, I don’t know what would be.

If you check out the produce at both Balemans and Pete’s Frootique right now, there are so many locally grown fruits and vegetables available.  Besides the already-mentioned red deliciousness (the berries at Pete’s are from the Belleisle), you can also find new potatoes and peas fresh from the Balemans’ own farm at Oak Point.

Why is it that local produce tastes so much better, anyway?

Maybe part of it is that our long winter of imported vegetables (which always seem to lose something in their travels) is still fresh in our memories.  Perhaps it’s the “now, for a limited time” factor that puts the extra zing in the taste buds this time of year.

I’m not sure, but what I do know is that I’m going to need a bigger market basket!

Was just looking at the Saint John City Market’s website to see who’s playing as part of the Summer Music Showcase this weekend, and it’s Laura McNeil and her jazz trio.

This is some bio material I found on the Facebook event page:

Memorable, intelligent songs; Laura’s voice offers a mix of passionate soul and smooth delicacy. From 1920′s style piano and classic jazz to modern ballads and r&b, her intimate style draws the listener in.

A veteran performer, Laura hit the road at age 7 with a family trio travelling throughout NB. Winner of the international Competition “Teen’s N Talent’ at age 17 in Urbana, Illinois, she studied music briefly in college then split her time between teaching music and travelling with various bands as a keyboardist/bgv and featured soloist throughout Canada and the US. She has appeared live on TV and received radio play for several cuts from the “Thirst For You” CD co-written and recorded with husband Mike Biggar.

She opened for Astrid Young in 09 in Hampton, NB and performed on stage as a bgv on the recent Matt Andersen Live at the Phoenix DVD. Her much anticipated CD project of originals is due for release in mid-2010.

You can also hear some of Laura’s music on her official page at ReverbNation.com.

Laura McNeil and her jazz trio will be playing from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM this coming Saturday, July 17, 2010.  Just one more reason to spend some quality time at the Market.

In a word, yes.  Like many Maritimers, I absolutely love it. But I will admit that it can be a bit of an acquired taste.

Meet Palmaria palmata. This brownish-purplish stuff is a seaweed commonly called “dulse,” and it’s available at Perry’s, Slocum & Ferris, Balemans and Dean’s Meats in the City Market.

You can buy it in a bag to snack on, or in flake form to use as a seasoning in soups, salads and chowders. Its unique taste is a bit difficult to describe, but it’s somewhere along the lines of a salty, seafoody spinach. (For a taste reminiscent of roasted pumpkin seeds, try cooking it on a hot skillet. The dulse will turn neon green!)

Dulse is harvested from the tidal waters of the Bay of Fundy and dried in the sun.  The best dulse is said to come from Grand Manan, a small island community about two hours’ boat ride from Blacks Harbour.  Besides being a tasty treat, dulse also contains many nutrients and is excellent in aiding digestion.

Helpful hints for the uninitiated:

If it’s your first time trying dulse, the biggest error you can make is chewing it too long.  After two or three chews, swallow it.  If you chew it too much, the texture changes dramatically (it becomes almost gelatinous) and even a local might have a hard time enjoying it.

• Remember that it’s excellent in aiding digestion.  Also remember that there is an expression about “too much of a good thing.”  If you try dulse and absolutely love it, don’t go overboard!  Everything in moderation.

Not everyone is meant to be a lover of dulse.  I used to joke that we feed it to toddlers who don’t know any better so they won’t remember the experience of acquiring the taste!  But definitely give it a try.  Not only is it a “must-do” when you visit the Saint John City Market, but you just might be surprised at how much you like it!