619585 Wed May 13 11:58:32 -0700 2009 5 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 4680449 A new farmer's market will be launched today during the annual Point Richmond Stroll. From 4 to 8 pm. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ourneighbors/ci_12346876 Wed May 13 11:58:32 -0700 2009 43515 adrienne156 1 4682438 Thanks!!! What a nice farmers market. It was very pleasant strolling the tree-lined streets with shops, restaurants and areas to sit. Here's a picture from Point Richomd Online http://www.pointrichmond.com/09/09StrollFarmerMarket.jpg There was a really good group of vendors also. http://www.pcfma.com/marketproducers.php?market_id=65 The big hit seemed to be Sara's Pies of Pinole. By time I got there at 5:30 she was sold out. There were apple, strawberry rhubarb and some other pie. There were a few vendors not on the list. Pirate's Bounty was selling peanut brittle - plain, coconut and butter rum. The butter rum sample was nice. Narsai David had a stand selling condiments and sauces. The chutney was good. I've always been a fan of Narsai's mustards. It is the only Dijon mustard I've ever liked. All I sampled were tasty. Ceccini & Ceccini will be selling asparagus there the next two weeks. Haven't tried it yet, but the prices were good, as low as $2.75 lb, and the spears looked good. Another nice thing is that this is the only farmers market in this part of the East Bay on Wednesday. The closest otherwise is San Leandro. Thu May 14 00:03:56 -0700 2009 4680449 10264 rworange 1 4702531 While walking around the farmers market today, there was a sign in the old Baltic restaurant location saying that a German restuarant would be opening there in August. A welcome addition to the market today was the Kensington Marmalade Company, Despite my best intentions I never get over to the Kensington Sunday market, so it is nice to have this more availble to me. The blood orange I sampled was lovely. I've been enjoying the Stafford's Picnic Jam I bought a while back. Also tasty is the Rangpur Lime & Valencia Orange http://www.kensingtonmarmalade.com/rangpur-lime-valencia-orange-marmalade.php As far as produce, IMO, Chao Farm is the star here. It is a tiny stand at the end of the market near Hidden City Cafe. They don't have a large variety of produce, but what they have is prime ... and great prices. For $2 a basket I had some of the best strawberries I've had in a long, long time. They were smaller than usual and the sign said 'picked this morning'. They picked them at peak ripeness and they were so fragrant. I mixed some with some plain yogurt and the juciness and sweetness were enough. I didn't need any sweetner. They also had the sweetest, plumpest sweet peas for $2 a basket. Each fat little pod was packed with peas. They sell onions, garlic and a few other items. One stand selling Asian veggies had beautiful pea shoots. Their cucumbers were great also and only $1 lb. I have to give this market credit for having some of the best prices. Most market seem stuck in the $2 track. There were oranges for 85 cents lb and some stone fruit for $1.50 Wed May 20 21:32:58 -0700 2009 4680449 10264 rworange 2 4703783 RW, did you happen to see the East and West Gourmet Afghan people there? I read that they were going to be there, but haven't had a change to make it over yet. Fantastic stuff. Thu May 21 10:23:12 -0700 2009 4702531 43515 adrienne156 3 4704036 Yep Thu May 21 11:35:35 -0700 2009 4703783 10264 rworange 2 4704048 I also noticed the sign about the German restaurant. I hope it is successful! It's too bad they can't be ready sooner to take advantage of the Point Richmond Summer Music Festival that begins next month. It's held on the second Friday of the month and in September, the second and fourth Friday. It would be nice to listen to some tunes then walk over to get a bite to eat. There was some great looking produce and fruit, all at reasonable prices. Glad to know I can stock up to get me through to the weekend when I go to the Marin Farmers' Market on Sundays. Thu May 21 11:38:31 -0700 2009 4702531 102410 AntarcticWidow