Food and Drink

Farmers markets beat the snow, and Fire Island reopens

Wednesday will put smiles on the faces of scone-loving fans of Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop. Bread, cookie and sandwich lovers likely will be pretty happy too.

After a three-week shutdown following the holidays, Fire Island opens at 7 a.m. Wednesday.

"While it may have been hard for some of us without our morning ham, cheddar, chive scone, that time was spent on deep cleaning, construction projects and planning for the year to come," said owner and manager Rachel Pennington. "Many of Fire Island's bakers were able to take this time for rejuvenation and also visit other bakeries around the country. On my way back from adventures in Argentina and Chile, my husband and I made time to visit Madruga Bakery in Miami.

"Just like Fire Island, Madruga emphasized personal service and excellent quality, a neighborhood hub with world-class breads and baked sweets."

Madruga is operated by former Fire Island employee Naomi Harris.

Pennington said Fire Island is expanding its savory department, including the rotation of several soups, additional salad varieties and hot sandwiches.

"Our menu will continue to evolve as local products and produce become available," said Carlyle Watt, Fire Island's executive savory chef and manager. "We are excited about the many items developed over our closure."

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Watt highlights a porchetta sandwich, a smoked salmon chowder and a root vegetable and grains salads as new items to look for starting this week. Fire Island is open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays to Sundays.

Thankful Thursdays

Duane Clark said he and the other vendors at the Thursday market are "thankful" for The Mall at Sears maintenance crew. "The mall does a great job keeping the parking lot free of snow to allow ample parking for Thankful shoppers," Clark said.

Clark will have grass-fed beef and yak; Yensis onions and potatoes; honey and honeycomb; salsa; jams; zucchini relish; and smoked salmon products from Tilgner's Seafoods. Clark said Three Bears Farm will have a wide assortment of jams and Non Essentials will have fresh eggs and other items.

The Spice & Tea Exchange will be at the market with spice blends that go well with Alaska seafood. "We will be bringing in spice blends to highlight our fresh Alaska crab and fish like Crab & Shrimp Boil and Northwest Salmon Rub," owner Liz Eldridge said. "We'll also debut a new salt this week: rosemary basil! It's wonderful for finishing fish or grilled veggies."

Daisy Nicolas of Drool Central will be at the market with Moon Liver training treats made from chicken liver, and Liverfish treats made from wild Alaska fish livers, mostly cod.

Center Market

The Wednesday, Friday and Saturday market will be back with plenty of vendors this week.

Earthworks Farm will be at all three markets and owner Dee Barker said "if you're celebrating these great snow days with snowboarding, tobogganing, skiing or just a lovely leisurely walk, protect your exposed skin with our hardworking moisturizing creams, lip balms or lotion bars."

Earthworks' skin care products feature Alaska beeswax and honey and offer a barrier against the biting wind and cold. Other items at the Earthworks booth include honeycomb soap, honey and chaga for tea.

Alex Davis of A.D. Farm is always adding to the items at his stand. A.D. Farm will be at all three markets with pork items, vegetables, cuts of grass-fed beef, goat meat, locally produced honey, Alaska Sprouts items, barley products from Alaska Flour Co., eggs, jam and balsamic vinegar from Mosquito Mama.

Davis' pork cuts include bratwurst, chops, loin roast, roast, fresh-side sliced and slab, ground pork, Italian sausage, spicy sausage, breakfast sausage patties, ribs, bone for broth, fat for rendering, liver, feet and hocks. The veggie lineup includes spaghetti squash, four colors of carrots, Yukon gold potatoes, German butterball potatoes, magic Molly potatoes and fiesta potatoes.

Monica's Confection Connection will be at all three days of the Center Market with a large selection of gourmet candies, including brittles, caramels, gummies, marshmallows and fudge. The highlighted item this week is new salted caramels, walnut brittle and sugar-free fudge.

Rempel Family Farm will be at Saturday's market with yak meat and storage vegetables. The veggie selection includes orange and purple carrots, daikon radish, parsnips, red and green cabbage, purple onions, snow apple turnips, red beets, kohlrabi, five varieties of winter squash and 13 types of potatoes.

Steve Edwards lives and writes in Anchorage. Contact him at akmarketfresh@gmail.com.

Local farmers markets

Monday in the Valley: Colony Farmers Market, noon-6 p.m., 610 S. Valley Way, Palmer

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Wednesday in Anchorage: Center Market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street

Thursday in Anchorage: Thankful Thursdays market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street

Friday in Anchorage: Center Market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street

Saturday in Anchorage: Center Market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street

Steve Edwards

Steve Edwards lives and writes in Anchorage. He writes the Market Fresh column weekly and can be reached akmarketfresh@gmail.com.

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