Market day: Salmon

Eastside Road, September 4, 2010—

ONE OF THESE DAYS I really should show you some photos of the Healdsburg Farm Market. Today it seemed particularly lively; if this odd summer has a peak, it must be now. We tried to get there earlier than we usually do, because we were after some good lettuce. Two farmers provide particularly dependable lettuces, and we scored at both stalls. We stopped at the Mexican guy's stall — he drives up all the way from the Central Valley — for a couple of ears of sweet corn for lunch. Then it was on to Middleton Gardens for lima beans and Musica broad beans; and to Yael for garlic, that delicious Rose de Lautrec that makes the best pesto; and back to the French-speakers for some peppers to stuff with salt cod later this week, and to our neighbor's stall for some particularly handsome "heirloom" tomatoes.

And to the Fish Guy, of coursej, whose stall was busier than usual; we had to wait for several other customers; you always look on breathlessly to see if one of them will take the salmon you've mentally reserved for yourself; hooray, they're after shrimp and flounder and they're leaving the salmon to us.

Then to the bakery for a loaf of Como bread, and croissants for Sunday breakfast; and one more stop to pick up some milk and such.

So tonight it's broiled salmon again, as it so often is these market weekends in the summer, and Nancy Skall's delicious chestnutty lima beans, and one of those tomatoes sliced up. Green salad after; what more could you want?

Rosé, Côtes du Ventoux, "La Ferme Julien," 2009; cheap Nero d'Avola