Visiting Chef Series – Chef Rich Sweeney

On Valentine’s Eve the Hillcrest Farmers Market welcomed Chef Rich Sweeney from R-Gang Eatery at the heart of the market for a decadent dinner for two demonstration.

Chef Sweeney’s meal included sweet and savory shrimp on the barbie over a salad of fresh mixed greens, citrus, and tomatoes with an apple vinaigrette.

The shrimp were marinated in a maple gastrique and started earlier that morning- Chef Sweeney suggested that when recreating the dish you start the gastrique earlier in the day for the fullest flavor. A gastrique is typically a sauce that, in its simplest form, is made of citrus and caramelized sugar. Chef Sweeney used maple syrup, brown sugar and lemon juice. Before firing up the barbecue you should also soak your bamboo skewers for at least 20 minutes to prevent them from burning up on the bbq.

A few other pointers from Chef Sweeney on shrimp include erring on the side of caution when seasoning them; they tend to be briney, and you don’t want to over season them. Also, cook them over medium heat for only a couple of minutes on each side. You can always put them back on the bbq if they are undercooked, but overcooked shrimp are not so tasty. Remember, less is more. One of the favorite tidbits of information that was shared on Sunday was in reference to dressing a salad- because the dressing has vinegar in it, it will wilt the lettuce in a hurry if you apply it directly to the top of the salad. Chef Sweeney suggests that you have your salad in a large mixing bowl, and pour the dressing onto the side of the bowl. As it drips down the side, roll the lettuce with your hands throughout the bowl to get maximum dressing coverage, with minimal wiltage.

To reach Chef Sweeney, you can stop by R-Gang Eatery, located on 5^th Ave just south of Pennsylvania in Hillcrest, or you can e-mail him and his crew at www.rgangeatery.com. If you sign up for the R-Gang newsletter, they promised to forward this weekend’s recipe to everyone!

If you missed the Visiting Chef Series this month, check back for updates on up and coming events at www.hillcrestfarmersmarket.com! And swing by the Info Booth from now until March 6^th to enter to win two tickets to Mardi Gras on March 8!

SUPER (Bowl) SUNDAY!

Thank goodness for good weather! This Sunday at the market we embraced the football theme and created the head of a football player with paper plates, markers, crayons and a few stickers. Kids that came by the booth let us know who their favorite teams were, and they personalized their crafts by coming up with improvisations to what we created. Many cut out eyes to create a football mask, some added popsicle sticks, and a few made girl NFL player plates!

This coming week, in honor of LOVE, Chef Rich Sweeney from Hillcrest's very own R-Gang Eatery will be performing a decadent dinner for two Valentine's dinner demonstration! Join us at 1pm at the heart of the market where Chef Sweeney will show everyone how to make their own Valentine's dinner with what is available at the market.

Stay Fresh and Fabulous! www.hillcrestfarmersmarket.com for all Farmers Market info!

Celebrating Chinese New Year at the Market

This Sunday we celebrated Chinese New Year at the market. With the year of the Rabbit approaching on Thursday, February 3, we had kids that came by the info booth creating and designing paper plate rabbits and multi-colored paper lanterns. Paper plates, googly eyes, puff ball tails, and all of the crayons and markers were used for a blistery and successful day at the market.

Coming up- February 13, our Visiting Chef Series returns to the market with Chef Rich Sweeney from R-Gang eatery. He will base his menu on what is available at the market and show everyone how to prepare a tasty Valentine's meal for two! Come by the info booth next Sunday, February 6 for more details.

Stay Fresh! And as always, visit www.hillcrestfarmersmarket.com for all of your market information!

Sunday, January 23

Another beautiful Sunday to be at the market!

This week we used recyclable materials to teach market-goers fun ways to reuse things they already have at home and create fun projects. Using an easy template from the internet, the kids that came by the Information Booth used thick paper shopping bags from various grocery stores to make party hats. We used the art supplies that we've collected over the past months- crayons, markers, feathers, stickers, and secured the hats with twine, tying a bow under each persons chin as they finished decorating their hats.

Next week we'll be celebrating the new year (again) by ringing in the Chinese New Year- The Year of the Rabbit. Come to the Info Booth for fun facts about the new year, and create your own good luck charm.

As always, for everything else Hillcrest Farmers Market related, be sure to visit hillcrestfarmersmarket.com

Sunday, January 16th

What an awesome day! It was one by far one of the warmest and most beautiful days to be at the Hillcrest Farmers market this year!

We kicked off on Sunday with Arts & Crafts at the Info Booth- paper doll chains. Kids (and a few parents) used foam with a sticker backing to design outfits, along with crayons, markers, colored pencils, stickers, and even a few feathers.

Coming up soon at the market:

Sunday, January 30 - Chinese New Year Arts and Crafts. Come visit us at the Info Booth and help ring in the New Year.

Sunday, February 6 - Super Bowl Sunday at the Market! Pass through the Info Booth and let us know who your vote for the winning team is!

For everything else Hillcrest Farmers Market related, be sure to visit hillcrestfarmersmarket.com

Artist at the Market

Hillcrest hosted a live art demonstration and mini gallery last Sunday at the Farmers Market. The local artists that were featured were twin sisters, Nicole and Roxanne Mather. Nicole and Roxanne received their Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees from the University of California, San Diego. Their technique consists of acrylic and oil paintings on canvas and wooden material. This dynamic duo is community-oriented, beautifying local private and public spaces. Roxanne’s artwork will be featured in Hillcrest’s newest nightclub, Eden; available for your viewing pleasure at the club’s grand opening.

Our artists entertained us with their inspiring talents during a live art demonstration that took place throughout the entire market day. On-lookers stopped to watch them paint three creative and fun artworks and were able to look through their entire collection, they had plenty to choose from!

If you are interested in more of their work, contact Nicole or visit Roxanne's website!

Freshening Up The New Year @ The Market!

The Hillcrest Farmers Market kicked off 2011 with New Year’s resolutions arts and crafts. Both children and parents took part in creating a photo and frame of their New Year goals. They got to choose from Popsicle sticks, metallic dried noodles, fuzz balls, pipe cleaners, and more. Some goals included living freely, eating healthier, exercising more, and eating more pasta! It was a Happy New Year from the Hillcrest Farmers Market!