Katie Bee Raw Honey’s cutest salesperson

Traveling to see famous sites is one thing.  But if you don’t stop for local finds, you’ll just be missing out, I say. Like the Boise Farmers Market.  Where foraging for food and meeting farmers and other famous folk is just plain fun!

Take this guy for instance . . . just packing and re-packing crisp red Jonathans from Kelley Orchards near Weiser, Idaho.  When I arrived at the market, his bushel basket was full to the top . . . but not for long.

Or what about just standing and gazing at this booth?  Fall doesn’t get any prettier than what they see in Givens Hot Springs, Idaho, I guess, and they brought some of it to Boise on Saturday.  Their banner reads Direct from our Ranch to your Home, and I guess it is since they toted gourds and “punkins” all the way from Hardtrigger Canyon.  Heck, I would have bought some just ’cause these folks are so darned friendly.

Their booth wins my vote for the color award! Couldn’t resist taking a picture of this display of green and gold gourds. (Or is this squash? I’m a city girl, OK?)

Ah, but there’s more.  Like what this guy was sellin’: Kobe beef and lamb — weighed right on the spot.

And plumcots that you see here dubbed flavor rich by the sweet lady who offered me a sample.  (She’s right.  They WERE flavor rich!)

The freshest, prettiest greens came from Farhan’s Family Farm where you could pick up an almost flawless head of buttery tastin’ lettuce for a whole lot less than what you’d pay in sweat equity if you were to plant them yourself.

I even met someone famous — Abdi Haji who was the recipient of the ICSA 2012 Outstanding Local Farmer Award.  And no wonder.  Spend two minutes with this guy, and you’ll be smiling the rest of the day.  Nice veggies, handmade signs, and a chance to meet a hard worker proud of what he does.  Doesn’t get any better.

By this time, though, I was getting hungry.  You can only pass by booths of pastries, fresh coffees, and assorted concoctions so long before you succumb, and I was ready.  And what choices I had!

If you crave carbs (and who doesn’t?), Boise’s got you covered.  Mini doughnuts cooked right on the spot by this guy first caught my eye.  (After all, if they’re small, there aren’t many calories. Hmmm.)

But not far down the closed-off street, I met these ladies from Rolling in Dough who’ve just opened a new location downtown at 928 West Main Street, Suite 100.  From the looks of things, their new shop will be a don’t-miss destination, especially as folks rush into the office craving a doughy delight.

Also tempting was The Creperie’s fare — freshly filled crepes cooked and rolled up right on the spot.  (Click here for a shot of the The Creperie cooks in a previous post.)  I saw a lot of folks walking around holding a paper sleeve cradling their worth-the-wait breakfast crepe, but no one could tell me their favorite.  They’re all good, they said.

What I really wanted was this huge poulichette from Le Café de Paris, but I do have restraint. Sometimes.

Instead, I helped myself to a sample of Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette from the Urban Rustic Gourmet just ’cause these happy ladies were so insistent. And exuberant!

And then, like the sucker I am, I bought a handmade pork-filled hot tamale from these cute kids.  (Yes, it’s still the breakfast hour, and I’m eating a tamale.  What?)

Their mom dipped into her stash of tamales down in this cooler and pulled out one that turned out to be just what I wanted:   a tender,  not-too-spicy tamale that you can eat any time of day!

I washed it all down with a sample of BuckSnort Root Beer . . .

and then wished I weren’t traveling so I could take home some beautiful glads from this gentleman wearing a flower-bedecked apron and a big ol’ smile.

These ladies from Molly’s Mills let me sample a bread cube dipped into The Idahoan, a seasoning blend of garlic, jalapeno, onion, and sea salt.

In the background of my culinary adventures was soft music played by this young lady who’s only in middle school but sounds like she belongs in the symphony.

And I smiled as I watched this affable balloon man dazzle a kid with his twisting expertise.

It was a good morning, even if it was only a one-shot affair for me.  But if you’re in the Boise area, you can treat yourself to all this and more if you head to 11th and Grove any Saturday from 9 to 1.

The Boise Farmers’ Market is a whole lotta fun — and tasty, too!

For more information, check out the Facebook pages for these vendors:

BuckSnort Root Beer: https://www.facebook.com/pages/BuckSnort-Root-Beer/115085721852351

Garcia’s Tex-Mex Grill: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Garcias-Tex-Mex/141373435900415?rf=105027992873328

Le Café de Paris: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Le-Cafe-De-Paris/113500942016120

Rolling in Dough: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rolling-in-Dough/208111073874

The Creperie: https://www.facebook.com/TheCreperieMobile

Urban Rustic Gourmet: https://www.facebook.com/urbanrusticgourmet

For Katie Bee Honey, click here.

Boise Farmers Market

11th and Grove

Boise, Idaho 83701

208-345-9287

For previous posts on farmers’ markets, check these out:

Saturdays are special at Red Stick Farmers Market: http://ohtheplaceswesee.com/2013/09/15/saturdays-are-special-at-red-stick-farmers-market/

It’s Family: Knoxville’s Market Square Farmers’ Market: http://ohtheplaceswesee.com/2012/08/26/its-family-knoxvilles-market-square-farmers-market/

And for more on our adventures through the Inland Northwest, go to our Inland Northwest page at the top of this blog. Thanks!