Franny and I wanted to cook a Grass-fed Party Holiday dinner, one that would really celebrates not only good food and friends but also all the American producers that are doing their part to provide us with delicious, wholesome food. We met up at NYC’s Union Square farmer’s market, where Franny picked up some apples for her delicious pie and I loaded up on beets, winter squash and lovely fingerling potatoes.  It was a cold and snowy day so we got some hot cider and planned our menu for the following day, excited about being able to incorporate all the great winter ingredients we were able to find.  The market is currently winding down, but there are still lots of apples (they can keep for a long while) potatoes and squash.

Union Square Farmer’s has been a big success: it has enriched the city, the producers who sell their products, the sustainable farm movement, and it has also inspired world-class chefs to higher culinary heights.  What I love most about the market is all the good deals and excellent quality that is at my disposal. Not all Americans are so lucky, nor are producers. There are a lot of powerful interests out there that want to keep the producer and costumer away from each other. Union Square might be in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in America but its market caters to all New Yorkers providing fresh produce, meats, cheese and eggs at prices that are reasonable and still fair to those that are producing the food.  It has meant that many independent farms can forge a life for themselves and live off the land and it has also provided New Yorkers with healthy, fresh food at a great price.    

There have been more and more farmers markets opening up across America, which is good news for us all but especially for producers who work so hard to feed us. Some producers live far from city centers, this is especially true of ranches out west. Fortunately, these ranches have been able to make use of the web, this has meant that they can compete and serve custumers high quality grass-fed meats all over America.  My holiday dinner will be a combination of Union Square produce and La Cense grass-fed beef!   Franny and I are going to be posting recipes from our holiday dinner this week.   I served a delicious La Cense Prime Rib. I would also like to wish everyone a happy holiday season!