Top 10 Market Finds for 2011

10 picks from our expert for a delicious year at the markets

Photos by Caron Golden

*Editor's note: Our favorite market shopper Caron Golden submitted a fabulous end-of-the-year post on her top 10 picks of the year at San Diego's farmers' markets. Only I was halfway up the mountain on my New Year's Eve ski trip when I got it in my inbox. So we're publishing today, and we think this is the perfect top 10 list to start off your 2011 shopping adventures.

1. Sage Mountain Pastures Beef: In June, farmer Phil Noble of Sage Mountain Farm  introduced his farm-raised beef to the Hillcrest Farmers Market. I’ve only tasted the ground beef but it is a flavorful, rich meat. Buy pound packages of the ground beef or half, quarter, or one-eighth of a cow, pre-cut and frozen.
2.  Mexicola Avocados: I love these tiny purplish avocados. You can even eat the skin if you want. I found them at Koral’s Tropical Fruit Farm stand at the Hillcrest Farmers Market last January, so you should be able to get them again next month.
3. Tajin: This tangy seasoning is just salt, dehydrated lime juice, and chiles—but it lifts up the flavor of chopped heirloom tomatoes, which is probably why Valdivia Farms uses it on their gorgeous tomatoes for customer tasting plates. It’s also great on the rim of a cocktail—like a Michelada. For under $2 a bottle, it’s cheap thrills. You can find it at Hispanic markets like Northgate Gonzalez.
4. Blazei Mushrooms: I just wrote about these almond-flavored mushrooms grown by Mountain Meadow Mushrooms in Escondido, but they’re so delicious and unusual, they deserve to be on this list. Get a bag of dried mushrooms and breathe in—you’d think you were smelling a batch of marzipan. The fresh ones are meaty and hold their flavor in cooking. Sauté and add to hearty grains like wheat berries or pappardelle pasta. You can find them at Specialty Produce and the mushroom stand at the Hillcrest Farmers Market.
5. Pubcakes: Have cupcakes jumped the shark? Not these, which Pubcakes owner Misty Birchall makes with beer. Birchall has a fine palate and expertly matches the flavors and heft of the brews with the perfect ingredients to turn out moist and tasty pastries.
6.  Padron Peppers: How can something so simple be so addictive? Toss these (usually) mild peppers in olive oil and sea salt, then char them in a hot pan. Add a cold aperitif or icy beer and you’ll have happy guests. Suzie’s Farm grows and sells them at various farmers markets.
7. Red Walnuts: These Livermore Walnuts are such a fun surprise in a salad or on a cheese plate. Add them to pesto or cookies—however you’d use walnuts—but enjoy them for their deep cabernet-colored skin. They’re sold at various farmers markets by Terra Bella Ranch.
8. Wild-Caught Abalone: I love visiting Catalina Offshore Products because I never know how I’ll be surprised. They really caught me off-guard back in April when I stopped by and found the guys huddling around a newly arrived catch of wild abalone. Of course, sampling was involved as they cleaned one, scored the muscle, sprinkled it with salt and orange juice, then chopped it into pieces to eat raw. What a treat! Try it yourself sometime, substituting the OJ with lime juice and adding a little chile sauce.
9. Sangak: This thin bread that’s a staple in Iran is now made locally and daily at Balboa International Market in Clairemont. Buy some hot out of the oven along with their house-made labne or Greek yogurt. Get some olives, pistachios, feta, Persian cucumbers, and have a delightful little feast.
10. Poppa’s Ceviche: Poppa’s Fresh Fish Company owner Mark Lane not only sells fish at the farmers markets, he’s now creating prepared foods. I like most what he started with first—his ceviches. Lane is constantly experimenting and has fun trading with fellow market vendors for produce so you never know what he’ll come up with. My favorite is his shrimp and watermelon ceviche but it’ll be fun to see what he comes up with during the next couple of chilly months.

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