People of MCM: Volunteers Lea and Jesse

Posted on August 20, 2013 by Mission Community Market in Arizmendi Bakery, Blue House Farm, People of MCM | Leave a comment

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I found these two market regulars goofing off at the Blue House Farm booth and decided to interview them!

Meet Lea and Jesse! Lea has been a volunteer with MCM since our very first season in 2010. She worked particularly hard during that crucial first year, both at the market and behind the scenes recruiting awesome bands to play at MCM, creating and documenting recipes for the blog, and encouraging friends and acquaintances to volunteer. She still does her part as an essential member of the MCM volunteer community, sending tons of great helpers our way, facilitating community partnerships, and always coming through in the clutch when we’re short-staffed. Her partner Jesse has not been immune to her recruiting efforts, as he’s volunteered with the market as well. Jesse also works part-time for Blue House Farm running their stand at other markets and occasionally helping out at the MCM stand.

Where do you live?

We live a few blocks away in the Mission.

How often do you visit to the Market?

Coming to the market is a fun standard thing to do on Thursday nights so we are here pretty regularly.

What have you seen change here since you were volunteering in 2010?

The market has grown so much in the past few years. So many more people visit each week and it has become a much more established community event. There are many more vendors and it’s also been a great change now that the market is running year-around.

What is your favorite thing to buy here?

I (Lea) am totally addicted to Arzimendi Breadsticks. I get them almost every time I come here and frequent their shop on Valencia as well.

What is something you would like others to know about the Market?

Volunteering is a great way to meet people and become more engaged with your community. We have a lot of fun when we volunteer and enjoy seeing the same faces week to week. Also, a lot of small businesses get their start here and it feels good to get to know them and support them as they grow.

Featured Vendor: Boffo Cart!

Posted on August 20, 2013 by Mission Community Market in Blog, Boffo Cart, Vendor of the Week, Vendors | Leave a comment

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If you haven’t yet had a chance to taste some of the delicious dinner options from Boffo Cart, you’re missing out on some of the best food that MCM has to offer.

Operated by Rhasaan Fernandez of Sam’s Log Cabin in Albany, this street food vendor joined the market in April 2013. Boffo Cart offers a unique menu each week that has something for everyone–vegetarians and omnivores alike. The best part is, everything is made with organic, in-season produce. Rhasaan makes his own calzone and piadina dough, and can often be found shopping for his ingredients from the MCM vendors before the market. Come on down to see what this talented chef has whipped up with all the produce from the vendors you’ve come to know and love.

Featured on the Boffo menu this week:

  • The Italian Chopped Pork Sandwich (Pasture raised pork seared with onions, marjoram & basil)
  • Piadina (thin homemade Italian flatbread) with tomato, basil & mozzarella
  • Eggplant Parmesan Calzone with a twist, featuring Japanese eggplant, thai basil, tomato, and bird chilies
  • Panini with Gypsy peppers, onions & mozzarella

Get on down to MCM this Thursday 4-8pm, and come hungry!

 

Jarred Spring Garlic Dressing w/ Roasted Potatoes & Peppers

Posted on August 14, 2013 by Mission Community Market in Blog, Blue House Farm, Happy Boy Farms, Jarred SF Brine, La Cocina, Mercado Kitchen, Recipes | 1 Comment

Photos taken by Daniel Sullivan Jr. Instagram: @dsulliphoto

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Emiliana Puyana from Jarred SF Brine aims to positively impact the world through tasty, crunchy pickles. After growing up in Venezuela, Emiliana pursued her love of food by attending the Culinary Institute of America in New York. Now she has created Jarred SF Brine, a pickle business that operates out of La Cocina using local and sustainable fruits and vegetables picked at the peak of their seasons.

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Before talking with Emiliana, we didn’t know much about cooking with pickles. Pickles are usually eaten straight out of the jar, right? Thankfully Emiliana has a wealth of knowledge about easy ways to pep up everything from salads to cocktails using her delicious creations. She offered the inspiration for this recipe and has many more ideas to give. Check out the recipe page of her website, or better yet, stop by her stand at MCM this thursday to taste her pickles and ask for some inspiration on how to cook with them.

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This Pickled Spring Garlic Dressing recipe can be used in endless ways–try it as a seafood marinade or for dipping artichokes. We decided to roast Fingerling Potatoes from Happy Boy Farms thanks to their buttery texture and thin skin which doesn’t need to be peeled. For a little smokey spice, we added Padron Peppers from Blue House Farm. You can find the full recipe after the jump.  Read more

Welcome Rosi Bustamante to MCM

Posted on August 9, 2013 by Mission Community Market in Blog | Leave a comment

Greetings and saludos!  I am honored to serve as the new Executive Director of Mission Community Market and look forward to hosting our beloved open air market and the future Mercado Plaza.  I have been a Mercado fan since it opened, and can’t believe my luck that I am now helping it grow!  I look forward to partnering with vendors, local organizations, the City, neighbors, youth, schools, and YOU to make the Mercado our own and use it to build a stronger community.

Just a bit about myself:  I am from Tijuana, Mexico, and have lived in San Francisco for 15 years.  I moved to The Mission to raise my kids in a Latino environment, which is why my two boys attend a Spanish Immersion school, Buena Vista Horace Mann, two blocks from el Mercado! My professional background has always been in the nonprofit sector, focused on fundraising and building partnerships–two ingredients essential to MCM’s growth!  We will need everyone’s support to make that happen, though – please be on the lookout for opportunities to help us grow to meet community needs in a fun, welcoming, and healthy way. Feel free to drop me an email as well if you’d like to collaborate.

Come and say “Hola!” at the market every Thursday – I will probably be wearing red, and would love to meet you and your family.

Salud! [meaning ‘cheers’, but also, ‘health’!]

Rosi Bustamante

Executive Director

Mercado Kitchen: Cinnamon Raisin Apple Muffins

Posted on August 6, 2013 by Mission Community Market in Great Valley Poultry, Hale Apple Farm, Mercado Kitchen, Recipes, Terra Savia | 2 Comments

Photos taken by Daniel Sullivan Jr. Instagram: @dsulliphoto

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Following the advice of farmer Dave from Hale’s Apple Farm, I used these beautiful pink pearls for this recipe as they not only offered a vibrant pop of color but also a unique flavor difference. As pink pearl season has sadly ended, we’re confident that this recipe would be equally delicious with any of his apples – ask Dave what’s good this week and perhaps even use a mix of two or three of his varieties! Recipe found after the jump.

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Some notes before you start: Depending on the size of your muffin tin, this batch should produce about 12-15 muffins. I opted for using coconut oil to grease my muffin tin instead of paper liners but you can use the method that best serves you. The batter won’t expand too much when baking, so don’t be afraid to add a little extra to each cup if you want a nice shapely muffin top. Lastly, we kept nuts out of this batch but if you want to add a little meaty crunch, go ahead and throw in a half cup of chopped walnuts when adding the apple chunks and raisins.

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