Farmers' Market Conversations

As part of our research for our FCA&C project, which this blog is all about, Christine spent much of our Farmers' Market quizzing customers about how they cook the food they buy at the market. Christine drew the recipes there and then. It was great fun and very interesting, as the people that go to Farmers' Markets plainly have a great love and interest in the food.

The first conversation was with Idil from Turkey studying at St Andrews who had bought a steak and said she'd be cooking it for 10 minutes with a little salt and oil.

Some customers were very specific- off to buy a quiche;cheese; olives and bread. They were keen to share their favourite produce or to stock up on specifics to last till their market the following weekend. Gabriel said a slice of sour dough bread toasted with mango and chilli jam wold be her recommendation. Amanda Baker suggested specific recipes for chocolate chip cookies and victoria sponge cake to match her second name, however Amanda brought a gorgeous bread recipes that was more wholesome which I've yet to bake but must...photos to follow!

A market shopper is a discerning consumer and knowledgeable cook. Stewart Heming from Fife had Sean and I salivating as he described how he would cook the loin of Puddledub pork with fennel seeds and chilli, garlic and rosemary from his garden.  Stewart explained his preference for  the loin as the layer of fat keeps the meat moist.  Stewart's conversation reminded me of the beautiful pots with piped writing denotating pot purpose in Andrew McGarva's Country Pottery book. Its a joy and page 83 is where you'll find Stewart's finishing touch.

Julia's easy peays leek and potato stew/soup with sweet potato, creme fresh and dark red cheddar cheese from the cheese man was delivered to me with clarity. I'm not sure what my drawing of the windmills has to do with the recipe, but I do remember lots of laughter

Elspeth recommended a heartwarming buffalo sausage stew with seasonal vegetables from her garden. Prerequists being onions and a tin of tomatoes followed by roasted or boiled tatties- I think the correlation with the cold weather meant a fair number of recipes were heartwarming dishes

Emily and her parents were in St Andrews on a day trip from Kirkintiloch. They were heading to cheesemonger in the St Andrews to buy their cheese having bought oatcakes and chutney from the market. 

I love the opportunity to capture the conversations as drawings as most shoppers were relaxed and happy to have a quick sketch to illustrate their recipe. Chloe and Ross both had preferences that meant their mum would be busy in the kitchen but it was heartening to hear them specify ingredients and preferences for chilli wraps or chicken and ham pie with pastry. I love the details in their description of picking out the green pepper or whether to include peas or not. Fiona at the stall next to us recommended a delicious tagine with ginger, garlic, chilli apricots ,chickpeas,cumin,saffron, aubergine, potatoes, carrots,courgettes. We laughed when we came up with a purpose of the beautiful soap that she was selling- wash your hands before handling food is so obvious but how lovely to do so with cinnamon soap in advance of making your apple pie!