Spring fever is real. There is plenty of "winter" left in Southcentral, but the first day of spring has passed.
And Sweet Caribou is celebrating with a bunch of new macarons at their store at 701 W. 36th Ave. Owner James Strong says the shop will unveil new flavors on Thursday, including blueberry and lemon basil, with the lemon basil from Alaska Natural Organics, and strawberry rhubarb.
Other spring flavors include Yuzu citrus, passionfruit orange guava and blood orange.
Strong says Sweet Caribou's annual staff trip to Paris was helpful, not only for the new spring macarons, but for overall inspiration.
"The annual Sweet Caribou staff trip to Paris was a success; we weren't sure if our head pastry chef Sam Wagner was ever going to leave," he says. "Between strolling through the delightful markets of fresh food, learning new baking techniques and sampling new and delightful pastries, it is always hard to leave."
Center Market
The spring theme continues at the Center Market at the Mall at Sears.
Rob Wells will be at Wednesday and Saturday's markets with sprouting dahlia tubers.
"It really is spring, and you can tell that the sun is waking us all up," Wells says. "I have been spritzing my tubers with water often, and it seems to help those with 'eyes' open into a green sprout of life. What a wonder it is."
Wells says he will have extra tubers with him this week and is also taking orders for May delivery of preplanted dahlias.
"This week, I will be seeding my tumbler tomatoes, and taking orders for some of these heavy-bearing cherry tomatoes that can hang from your house or sit on your deck for delicious snacks this summer," he says.
Earthworks Farm will be at all three markets with a full lineup of Abeille Alaska beeswax and honey body care products.
"We finally have two of our most popular soaps back in stock, the impressionist inspired Snow on Water and our very effective French clay Spa Bar," owner Dee Barker says. They also are unveiling a new soap this week that contains shredded spruce needles, good for "scrubbing off the garden dirt or grease or whatever else you might get into this summer."
A.D. Farm will be at all three markets with cuts of pasture-raised pork, vegetables, goose and chicken eggs, raspberry jam, honey, grass-fed beef, cuts of young goat, Alaska Sprouts items, Mosquito Mama balsamic vinegar, items from Tonia's Biscotti, Evie's Brinery items and live lettuce and spring mix from Alaska Natural Organics.
Alaska Seeds of Change will be at Wednesday's market with bok choy, chervil, chives, kale, a lettuce mix and Swiss chard. It will have a limited time at the market, working the booth from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Catherine's Cupcakes will be at all three markets and will feature a new butterscotch cupcake — a tiny vanilla cake with butterscotch filling topped with butterscotch buttercream and a butterscotch drizzle.
Monica's Confection Connection will be at all three markets with a nice selection of sweets. Options include gourmet brittles, regular and salted caramels, gummies and fudge.
The Rempel Family Farm will be at Saturday's market with yak meat, carrots, purple onions, snow apple turnips, green cabbage, red beets, parsnips, kohlrabi, winter squash and 12 varieties of potatoes. The Rempels also have cuts of yak meat.
Thankful Thursdays
Farm 779 is featuring fermented garlic dill pickles at this week's market at the Mall at Sears. Owner Julie Meer says the pickles are "fabulous fizzy and crunchy whole food probiotic goodness."
Meer also will have original recipes of Old World-style krauts and blends featuring Alaska grown vegetables, coconut kefirs, kombucha, kvass, gluten-free treats, and coconut and bee-based body products.
Alaska Pasta will have a wide selection of pastas, including gluten-free fettuccine. Its ravioli selections are smoked salmon, five cheese, butternut, "kitchen sink" and roasted garlic chicken with tarragon.
Duane Clark will have salsa, honey, honeycomb, zucchini relish, jams, potatoes, carrots, Yensis onions, grass-fed beef and yak, and seafood.
Non Essentials will have pies, breads, vinegars, duck eggs, chicken eggs, and birch and berry syrups.
Drool Central will be at the market with treats for dogs. They have a limited market time — leaving at 2 p.m.
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
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