Almost Makes Me Forgive St. Louis for the Cardinals
Our Sunday rack of ribs, a small haul and this week's farmers market schedule.
Rack ‘Em Up, St. Louis Style
Belated Mother’s Day wishes to all the mothers who were celebrated and all of those who celebrated their mothers on Sunday. This occasion hasn’t been part of life for Barb and me for many years, as our moms passed away long ago and we don’t have children of our own. True that Sunday was my half-birthday, but that’s less a reason to celebrate than to fret about how fast time is rushing by.
Still, no reason for us not to enjoy a good Sunday dinner. The photo above is a rack of regeneratively produced St. Louis ribs, delivered in my most recent order from 99 Counties.
I want to take the opportunity to praise the Breville multi-purpose convection oven I purchased last summer and use virtually every day. These ribs, cooked in the oven on my countertop, were every bit as delicious as they’d have been if I had an outdoor grill. Easily one of the best purchases I’ve made.
So what exactly are St. Louis style ribs? According to the Master Class website, “This cut has more meat than baby back ribs and more fat, which enhances their flavor.” Says the Tender Belly site, “St. Louis-style ribs are flatter than baby back ribs, which makes them easier to brown. There is a lot of bone but also a higher amount of fat, making them very flavorful.”
I can’t argue with any of that.
The preparation was simple. I used a homemade dry rub of kosher salt, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, Ancho chili powder, cumin, coriander and smoked paprika. This two-pound rack cooked for an hour at 375 degrees. During the last five minutes on each side, I applied bbq sauce (Old Arthur’s, a Black-owned brand based in Evanston, Illinois that has a family bbq history dating to the mid-19th century). They came out beautifully, with crunch on the outside and moist meat inside.
That cleaver in the above photo is another of my favorite recent purchases. It made cutting the slab into individual ribs as easy as cutting through butter.
I sure do love to cook. I like to think that my mother, a prolific cook who instilled the love of and respect for food in me, would be proud.
A Small Market Haul on a Busy Weekend
I had stocked up on Thursday at the Daley Plaza City Market and I had a lot going on this weekend (including a visit to the new Chicago Fair Trade Museum for its Fair Trade Fair, which I’ll cover in tomorrow’s Local Food Forum).
So I was only able to make one quick market hit, on Saturday at The Lincoln Park Farmers Market, where I picked up two soft pretzels from Chicago’s pHlour bakery (soft pretzels are one of my favorite snacks and pHlour’s are excellent); a Ranch Dill Pickle dip from Pickled Prince of Chicago; and the asparagus and first-of-the-season leeks from the extremely nice and talented folks from Los Rodriguez Farm in Eau Claire, Michigan.
I’m planning to make the rounds more this week with plans to revisit the new market, The Farmer at The Green, in the West Loop on Tuesday; and first-this-year visits on Wednesday at the Uptown Farmers Market and Andersonville Farmers Market; Saturday at the 61st Street Farmers Market; and Sunday at the Logan Square Farmers Market. Holler if you’d like to meet up at any of these places.
Here’s the weekly regional farmers market schedule.
This Week’s Regional Farmers Market Schedule
This Saturday brings the season opening of Oak Park Farmers Market, another pillar of our local food community scene.
Tuesday, May 16
Lincoln Square Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., Lincoln & Leland Aves., Chicago
The Farmer at the Green, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., 320 S. Canal St., Chicago
Woodstock Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Historic Woodstock Square
Wednesday, May 17
Andersonville Farmers Market, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., 1500 W. Catalpa Ave., Chicago
Green City Wednesday Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1817 N. Clark St., Lincoln Park, Chicago
Palos Heights Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 12217 S. Harlem Ave.
Uptown Farmers Market, 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Sunnyside Mall (betw. Magnolia & Beacon), Chicago
Thursday, May 18
Daley Plaza City Market, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., 50 W. Washington St., Chicago
Growing Home Englewood Farm Stand, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., 1844 W. 59th St., Chicago
LaGrange Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 53 S. LaGrange Rd.
Lincoln Square Thursday Farmers Market, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Lincoln & Leland Aves., Chicago
Friday, May 19
St. Charles Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Baker Memorial Church, 307 Cedar Ave.
Saturday, May 20
Batavia Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., N. River St. betw. Willow and Spring
Division Street City Market, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., 100 W. Division St., Chicago
Downers Grove Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Main St. Train Station
Downtown Evanston Farmers Market, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., University Place and Oak Ave.
Grayslake Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 201 Center St.
Green City Market Lincoln Park, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1817 N. Clark St., Lincoln Park, Chicago
Green City Market West Loop, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mary Bartelme Park, 115\ S. Sangamon St.
Kankakee Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., S. Schuyler Ave. & Merchant St.
Oak Park Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 460 Lake Ave.
Park Forest Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., 152 Main St
Palatine Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Palatine Train Station
61st Street Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., 6100 S. Blackstone Ave., Chicago
The Lincoln Park Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2001 N. Orchard, Chicago
Woodstock Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Historic Woodstock Square
Sunday, May 21
Frankfort Country Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Breidert Green & 1 N. White St.
Logan Square Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 3107 W. Logan Blvd., Chicago
North Park Community Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 5515 N. Kimball, Chicago*
Northwest Side Farmers Market Collective Pop-up, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., 4626 N. Knox Ave., Chicago **
95th Street Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1835 W. 95th St., Chicago
Wicker Park Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., 1425 N. Damen Ave., Chicago
*Not weekly; next market on June 11.
**Not weekly; next market on July 2.
And Another Neighborhood Rabbit Photo
It’s Monday. Best hop to it.