January 17th: Marin County Farmers Market

I had never been to a farmers Market before, so the Marin County Farmers market was quite the experience. During the time we were given to look for our food for lunch, I went from tent to tent trying the samples that the venders were continuously offering. In this brief hour time frame, I tried more new food items than I have ever tried before. As I traveled from tent to tent, I continued to get more and more daring. I tasted Indian food for the first time at this market, and Afghan food too. I was a little scared to try these two types of food because the samples they were offering didn’t look too appetizing to be honest. They both were served on stuffed bread, and then they had a sauce that was on top. The Indian stand had a cilantro sauce on top and the Afghan stand had yogurt and pepper sauce covering the spinach bread. I had both of these samples in my hand for a minute or so before I got enough courage to place it in my mouth, but once I took one bite, I quickly finished the rest of the sample. I tried the most delicious fruits and vegetables while at the market as well. The tangerines at this market the best I have ever had, and this is true about the apples as well. One sample I did not enjoy, and quickly placed in the nearest trash receptacle, was the date that a woman handed me. I did not like the custard center or the texture of this fruit. Well to be honest, I didn’t like anything about this sample. For lunch, I ended up buying a basket of strawberries, an orange, a persimmon, a ham and cheese croissant, and a bottle of blood orange juice. I can’t tell you what my favorite item was because they were all so good in their own ways. I had never had a persimmon before the day at the market, and I was pleasantly surprised. I don’t know how to describe this fruit to someone who has never tasted it, but it has a strange texture, and isn’t as sweet as most fruits. The orange and the strawberries were the best I have ever had because they were so fresh, juicy and full of flavor. While on our lunch break at Muir Woods, I also tried smoked salmon and a Korean pear, two things I had never had before as well. For both of these foods, I have nothing but positives to say about them. As I stated early, I am not much of a fish eater, but I loved this smoked salmon. This whole day inspired me to try and go to the Farmers Markets in Indiana more often because everything I tried was so fresh and so much better than the same item in a grocery store.