It is the season of sweets. And savory things too.
Get some behind-the-scenes lessons from the talented bakers at Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop about the baking process. The bakery is offering classes on Sunday and Dec. 21.
This Sunday, Rustic Bread Exploration will offer guests lessons on the scaling, shaping, proofing and baking of traditional rustic breads. The class is 6:30-9 p.m. and costs $90. On Dec. 21, Viennoiserie Voyage is 6:30-8:30 p.m. It costs $80 and will demonstrate how the Fire Island bakers use the sheeter to create numerous layers of dough and butter. Highlights include both croissants and puff pastry.
And Fire Island is ramping up for the holidays with expanded hours. Starting Dec. 17, the bakery will be open daily through the end of the year with the exception of Dec. 25-26.
It's a great week for bread-lovers. Rise & Shine Bakery is baking again for next Wednesday. Breads available include levain, spent grain, fresh rosemary dark chocolate and cherry, and fruited almond. Visit riseandshinebread.com for more details or to order. Orders can be submitted starting Thursday.
For those looking to satiate their sweet or savory tooth with gluten-free items, the Center Market at The Mall at Sears has a new vendor -- Sweet Flours Bakery.
Sweet Flours will be at Wednesday's Center Market with their wheat-free and gluten-free breads, including their popular jalapeno cheddar and honey oat breads. They also will have a variety of cookies, brownies and pastries.
Other vendors at the Center Market this week include:
A.D. Farm: Alex Davis will be at the Wednesday and Saturday markets with his pork products, vegetables and other items. His suckling pigs sold out quickly during Thanksgiving season. "This week, I hope to have 15 of them to the market for your Christmas feast," he said. His other pork items include chops, roast, steak, side, hocks, fat and sausages. He will have potatoes, beets, Brussels sprouts and carrots, along with barley items.
Country Health Foods: Duane Clark will be at both markets with grass-fed lamb, yak and beef. He will also have locally produced honey, Alaska Sprouts items, shrimp, salmon, halibut, smoked salmon and smoked black cod. He is stocking fresh bread from Turkey Red in Palmer, including rye, sourdough and baguettes.
Sweet Caribou: The macaron makers are back with more tasty treats. "This week we feature our full lineup of holiday flavors," said owner James Strong. Those flavors include gingerbread-eggnog, dark chocolate-pomegranate, orange-cranberry, peppermint bark and pumpkin cheesecake and the always-popular maple bacon macaron. They will also have cupcakes and brownies on both Wednesday and Saturday.
Earthworks Farm: They will have Abeille Alaska body care products created with honey and beeswax. They will be at both Wednesday and Saturday markets.
Monica's Confection Connection: Monica Droz will have traditional peanut brittle, creamy cashew brittle, sweet pecan brittle, jalapeno peanut brittle and cayenne cashew brittle. She will also have holiday gift tins at Wednesday's market.
Alaska Vegan & Gluten Free: Kristin Donaldson will be at Wednesday's market with a full lineup of food to go, including her new items: Moroccan tagine and glazed lentil walnut apple meatless loaf. Other favorites include red lentil dahl, carrot ginger soup, red beans and wild brown rice, and vegan parmesan cheese.
Farm 779: Julie Meer will have raw peony honey at Wednesday's market. She also will have beet kvass in three varieties and four varieties of kefir, along with other healthy foods.
La Grassa: The pasta makers are back on Wednesday with spinach and original hand-cut pasta, vegan strozzapreti, Rempel Family Farm roasted squash and pecorino ravioli, mushroom and ricotta ravioli, and a new Alaska potato gnocchi.
Rempel Family Farm: The Rempels will be at Saturday's market with their yak meat, raised on their Valley grass and organic vegetables. And this week their vegetable supply increases with red onions. "We finally got them cured and cleaned. They really are quite attractive," said Mark Rempel. Other veggies include beets, carrots, cabbage, daikon radishes, turnips, rutabagas, sugar pumpkins, winter squash, parsnips and 12 varieties of potatoes.
Drool Central: Daisy Nicolas will be at Saturday's market with treats for canines.
Top Shelf Artisan Market
The Palmer market "is featuring beautiful Christmas wreaths, trees, local lamb, seafood, yak and beef," Meer said. The vendors include La Grassa, Farm 779, A.D. Farm and Country Health Foods.
Steve Edwards lives and writes in Anchorage. Contact him atakmarketfresh@gmail.com.
Local farmers markets
Monday: Mat-Su Farm Market, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Palmer Depot
Wednesday: Center Market, 10 a.m-6 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street
Friday: Top Shelf Artisan Market, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., 550 S. Alaska Street, Palmer
Saturday: Center Market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street