Salicornia. Sigh.

I made poor Amy wait while I chatted extensively with two vendors, one right after another, because they were connected to countries I love. When I finally caught up with her I apologized and told her we were safe as long as we didn't run into anyone from Italy.
Cue Robert:


He, of course, grew up in Italy. I did not wander over to his booth because I sensed this inherently, but rather because of that glorious green stuff in the corner of the photo which made my heart skip a beat when I saw it. Apparently it is called salicornia and the only time I have ever eaten it was at a seaside cafe in Camogli, Italy. A succulent that grows in salt marshes, it is the perfect compliment to fish, as I overheard Robert say (and as I experienced in my perfect meal last summer.)

Robert's salicornia, which he gets from the Oregon coast, was divine. The rest of his booth showcased gloriously large oyster mushrooms and another called Hen of the Woods. Robert and his wife are both chefs and run the booth at the farmer's market as wild mushroom wholesalers. They are not online so to get their delicious rarities make sure to head down to the north side of the farmer's market next Saturday!

Michel Rogerson, Bookbinder Extraordinaire

I've always wanted to take the covers of vintage books and repurpose them as journals, so imagine my delight to find this stand today at the farmer's market:



Michel Rogerson the artist hand binds each book that he makes. Thumbing through a few of them I was impressed with the quality and precision of his work. They are each wonderfully unique and well made. Also, keeping in mind his local clientele, he advertises scripture repair. Brilliant! Find him at the SLC farmer's market on the south side of the park or at rodentbonzbindery.com

Tree Hugger Granola

Tree Hugger Granola is delicious. It is "Euro style" which means that it's softer and fresher than what you might be used to.You can stop by for a taste (I sampled the Lemon Ginger Blueberry and it was as amazing as you'd imagine) or pick up a bag at Dan's or a number of other venues they've smartly listed on their website:

http://www.treehuggergranola.com/

Shirl Girl Designs

I love these aprons! Since Shirley (founder and creator of Shirl Girl Designs) lives in Logan and likes to quilt, I asked if she was familiar with Suppose, the Preston quilt shop. Of course she was, and had even used some of their fabric on her aprons.

Check out Shirley's facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shirl-Girl-Designs/114321931947563 (her website still seems to be under construction).

East Side Produce Stand

This little stand is all the way on the east side of the market,  away from the other fruits and veggies. But check them first, because their produce, though limited in quantity, is sold at very good prices. They don't have a name, but I'm told they'll be between the gelato and cookie stands for the rest of the summer.

Squeeze Me Lemonade

I can't give a good review of Squeeze Me Lemonade. The people who are working there seem friendly and their shirts all coordinate for the most part. They have a blueberry lemonade for $4 which I really wanted to try, but they won't give samples until you commit to buying one, which is kind of a raw deal as far as I'm concerned. What if it's gross? What's the point of trying something, realizing you don't like it, and having to buy it anyway?

They also sell crepes, which I should mention are pre-made, so you can't get them without a whipped-cream/cream cheese filling. If you don't like either of those things, you should know that before you get to the front of what can be a very long line.

Here is the website as listed on their banner, however, since it seems to be broken, I'm not linking to it: http://www.squeezemecatering.com/

The Berry Stand

I know some would say it's kind of weak to go to a farmers market to buy a prepared dessert sold by people who aren't growing the produce. Even so, these desserts are GOOD, and if I'm walking around the market with one, people will stop me and ask where I got it. They don't have a website and don't sell it in stores, so the only chance you have to try one for yourself is to come to the Farmers Market (they are also in Park City).