Temescal Farmer's Market & Summer Corn Chowder

One of the pastimes I missed most over the last 6/7 months was leisurely lolling at the Temescal Farmer's Market. 
Every Sunday, the otherwise hellish DMV magically transforms into a lively, bountiful farmer's market full of beautiful seasonal produce, gorgeous bi-racial couples and their equally gorgeous offspring and one verrry long coffee line.
Long coffee lines are nothing new in the Bay Area (or LA, or NYC or wherever else there's coffee worth waiting for) but the Blue Bottle coffee cart never fails to disappoint. Why we are all willing to wait in Disneyland-in-July-like lines (for Disneyland-in-July-like prices no less)is another topic entirely.
Without fail though,DH loyally waits in the coffee line while I give the produce booths a quick once over and come up with a game plan. Where are the best tomatoes? Who has the best price on stone fruit?

Twenty minutes later, we meet up to sip on our long awaited coffees, snack on pretzel croissants (my favorite) or a Pizza Politana breakfast pizza (DH's favorite) and crack into the Sunday crossword.
It is, quite simply, the perfect start to a lazy Sunday.
I missed it so much we opted to cut our Mini-Moon a day short to get back and go to it.

We gathered all the fixin's for corn chowder, salad Nicoise and a ton of stone fruit...is it just me or has this season's stone fruit been particularly outstanding?!

Corn chowder may be our most loved summer soup and Deborah Madison's corn chowder recipe is king for two reasons: #1. It can be made vegan without sacrificing any flavor and #2. The cobs, basil stems and potato skins are used to make the quick stock (LOVE using all parts!).

DH prepared simple sardine & aioli on rye toasts and paired the chowder with a 2007 Pinot from the Ellenbach vineyard. Next time around, I might roast half the corn to add a little smoky flavor but its pretty perfect as is.

A Labor-less Labor Day

our new (tiny) grill

After enjoying an eventful, family-packed weekend in LA, DH and I trekked up the 5 early Monday morning to arrive in East Bay with a little daylight still to burn. We were happily greeted to sunny skies and temperate weather so decided to celebrate in true Labor Day tradition: Grill. 

Coho Salmon and whole sardines

corn on the cob; soaking

We decided to christen the tiny portable grill we'd received near the start of summer...or what we once thought of as summer months. Anyhow, DH's sis and her bf came by and brought some fun friends and we all sat around the fire, eating, drinking cold beers and telling silly stories of times past.
Grilled corn on the cob, wild-caught coho salmon and garlic-stuffed sardines made a delicious and effortless dinner. 

root beer floats

And for dessert, what could be more appropriate than good, old fashioned root beer floats!
Hope everyone had an equally easy and enjoyable Labor Day Day and weekend.