Petaluma Farmers Market/Eats on the street

Every Wednesday, the city of Petaluma hosts a Farmer's Market. Tonight was the first time I dropped by, and I was quickly overwhelmed by all of the available food. Fresh, organic produce notwithstanding, there were at least a dozen food and drink stands, more than I could handle in one visit. These sorts of unexpected treats are the essence of low-hanging fruit. Picking a main course was an obvious choice, but since it wouldn't be ready for 30 minutes I got to pass the time with other selections. Caught in the carefree atmosphere, I started with dessert and coffee:

Peanut butter sandwich cookie from Baker Girl. Two mouth-melting peanut butter cookies are held in concert with a sweet peanut butter creme filling; the elements of this cookie collide in a way that opens a tiny portal to a peanut butter dimension, both beautiful and frightening in its deliciousness. Now, I love and respect chocolate-dipping as a natural evolution of the peanut butter cookie medium, but this sandwich is a hardcore option for PB enthusiasts.

First Course:
Crepe with tomato, brie, and pesto from Brittany Crepes and Galettes. Their savory selections are served in a sturdy buckwheat crepe, free of dairy and gluten. The hot tomatoes and gooey brie took me back to Paris. I had a tough choice between this and a salmon crepe (but there's always next week.) The simplicity and unpretentious construction is really the best thing about a dish like this, and I put it in a category similar to sub sandwiches, pizza, or ramen: it's everything that you love to eat, wrapped in a pancake. I should have them cater my shooting-fish-in-a-barrel party next week.

Main Course:

Paella from Bro's Bar-B-Que. The gargantuan pan drew a crowd hungry for aromatic spices and saffron-infused rice. The shrimp and chicken each came out flavorful and juicy. Barbeque is a street market staple, but this was an especially welcome offering.

Had I the stomach, I would have happily stacked my plate higher with polish sausage, carnitas, brisket, and a pizza. There's always next week...

Bruises on The Fruit

I have a few treats that I like to stock up on whenever I'm in Humboldt County, and among them is the vinaigrette dressing from Roy's Club in Eureka. The balance of savory and tart is just perfect for salad or crusty bread, and I feel better just knowing that I have some in the fridge. I scooped up four bottles while out on a quick shopping run, and came back quite satisfied with my loot. While taking the bag out of the car, I must have over-twisted the bag...and...see for yourself. I must warn you that the following image may not be appropriate for young foodies:

Four bottles of Roy's vinaigrette, a bottle of Mazzotti's house Italian, and a nice-looking organic peanut butter all smashed to bits, their delicious herbs and oils oozing over the pavement. In times like this I remember advice from Mark Twain: When angry, count four; when very angry, swear.

Not like this...