On every summer Saturday and some weekdays as well the best restaurants in town are generally open only a few hours and located in either a parking lot or a park.
A farmers market is more than fruits and vegetables. It’s a gathering spot for local entrepreneurs who specialize in in everything from butter-and-lard-crusted pies to Polish-style pierogis.
Among my favorites is the Richland Park Farmer’s Market, 4701 Charlotte Ave., home to more than 70 local farmers, bakers, food-makers and chefs and open Saturdays from 9 a.m.-noon. It’s in a wide pleasant park with a playground for the kids and plenty of room for market goers to parade their pets.
I have happily eaten my way from one end of the market to the other and found more than a few must-haves to take home. Here’s my personal tour.
Alebrije: The intoxicating aroma of grilling meat will lead you right to this stand run by a chef from Mexico City. The grilled chicken has a beautifully crispy, slightly charred skin and impossibly moist meat. Pair it with the red rice. Perfect combination.
FatBelly Pretzel: The way these salt-studded pretzels are rolled leaves them with a fat belly, hence the name. Chewy on outside and tender on the inside, just as they should be. The stand also sells kolaches, muffalettas and pretzel cookies. Don’t miss the homemade whipped pimento cheese as a dipping sauce for your pretzel.
Cocorico: I could eat the ham, brie and butter baguette sandwich every day and never get tired of it. You can also pick up plain baguettes, quiches and other French-inspired treats.
CaityPies: The crust is made with butter and lard. That would be enough for me. But the seasonal fillings are inventive and intensely delicious. You can also get a bacon, egg and cheese hand pie to snack on while you peruse the other stands.
Deep South Pies: And while we’re on the subject of pie, Deep South has the perfectly sized dainty hand pie crusted with crunchy sugar and baked so you can feel slightly virtuous about it. Fillings include cherry, peach, apple and chocolate with a savory spinach and cheese version available as well. They’re fun to take home and snack on later.
Fear and Loafing in NashVegas: The first time I bought treats from this stand I didn’t notice they were vegan until I got them home. It didn’t matter one bit. The guava and “cheez” empanada studded with everything bagel seasoning is addictive. And don’t leave without the caramelized onion knobka, a light-as-a-feather knot of dough with the onions folded throughout it.
Hot Sauce Nashville: This small-batch producer sells my go-to hot sauce in three flavors – garlic, green and ginger. It’s fruity and spicy at the same time and nothing else is like it.
Jim’s Spaghetti Sauce: This has a bit of a story behind it. Jim’s Steak & Spaghetti House in Huntington, West Virginia, has been serving this sauce since 1944 and it’s a bit of a cult favorite in the area. The restaurant won an America’s Classic Award from the James Beard Foundation in 2019. An offshoot that just produces the sauce is now in Nashville. It’s unlike any other spaghetti sauce I’ve ever had – slightly sweet, spicy and very meaty. I have a hard time leaving the market without a pint of it.
I should probably mention that the market also features beautiful organic produce, seafood and meat. And that there are high-end mushrooms, locally sourced honey, homemade pastas, spices and other condiments on sale.
I’ll let you know when I get that far.
Catherine Mayhew is a former restaurant critic for The Charlotte Observer, cookbook author and master BBQ judge. Follow her @thesouthinmymouth on Instagram to see what she’s eating and email her at food@mainstreetmediatn.com with suggestions on your favorite restaurants and food trucks.