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| - The Quintessential Madison Experience
I've lived in Madison for over 30 years now and I have to say that the Dane County Farmers Market in late summer / early fall is my absolute fave Madison experience. Armed with a couple of totes, a cup of coffee and a pastry (or two) from Batch Bakehouse, my daughter and I always seem to hit the market when the crowds hit their peak and we love every minute of our slow stroll around the Capitol Square. We talk about the past week, I share fatherly insights on how to shop for produce and we jointly plan our weekly menu on the spot as we see what's in season that week. I can't think of a better way to bond with my daughter and kick off the weekend.
While everyone has their personal favorite aspects of the market, here are a couple of mine:
* Every trip to the market starts with a Farmer John's curd run. Best curds in the land, bar none.
* Even though I have absolutely no room in my garden for new plants, I always end up browsing through the perennials at the Flower Factory. And I appreciate that the staff is always willing to answer any questions I have about the plague or pestilence threatening to do in my garden beds.
* Try as I may, I am physically unable to make my journey around the square without sampling the fine cheeses from Hook's. Anything dish I cook with cheese always tastes better when I use their products.
* The Green Barn Farm stand located at the corner of Mifflin and Wisconsin Ave is where I start picking up my produce. I'm partial to them since I grew up not far from where they operate and their prices are always competitive.
I'm swimming against the flow here, but the Spicy Cheese bread from Stella's is vastly overrated. Do yourself a favor, and instead of blowing $8 on an undercooked loaf of bread with a couple nuggets of melted cheese, buy some aged cheddar from Hook's or some chevre from Capri and pair it with a baguette from Batch or Madison Sourdough. Unlike the dough blob from Stella's that hardens into an inedible brick after 30 minutes, you'll be able to enjoy this treat all afternoon. Trust me, do this once and you'll never go back.
After wrapping up a lap or two around the square, there are a variety of activities you can do: maybe brunch at Marigold or Graze, a bike ride around Lake Monona, a leisurely stroll down State Street or maybe a tour through the Capitol to soak in the Madison experience. It's all good...
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