If you want to get excited about cooking, whether you are an absolute beginner or a master chef, try visiting a farmers' market.

Every Tuesday and Friday, as I walk through my local farmers' market at Copely Square in Boston, I continue to be in awe of how beautiful it is. As the summer progresses, the harvest colors become more and more vibrant and exotic.

heirloom tomatoes

Copley Square, right in the heart of downtown Boston, has to be one of the most beautiful locations ever for a farmers's market. It's right at the Copley T stop, so there is really no need to drive to this market. (Plus parking would be really hard to find and ridiculously expensive!)

Boston Public Library view from Copely Square

One side of the market is the Boston Public Library.

Built in 1848, it is a beautiful building, a great resource and it has an added bonus - a great coffee shop and restaurant. My friends and I often meet up there.

Trinity Church view from Copely Square

One the other side of the market is the Trinity Church and the tall John Hancock glass tower.

Did you notice the cows in the picture?

The cows are on parade in Boston right now (August 2006)! As previously in other cities, artists create all sorts of fanciful cows which are displayed around town. After an appropriate amount of time, the cows are auctioned off for charity. They even show up at the farmers' market.

I love the fact that the Copley Square Farmers' Market not only sells every-day kinds of foods, but also some really exotic stuff that you rarely ever get to see. Many of these beautiful (and tasty!) foods are just not available at the grocery store. At least, not at mine! It's also a great place to bump into neighbors and tourists alike.

zucchini flowers

These are zucchini flowers, which basically have to be bought the same day they were picked. For the startcooking.com crowd, they are probably not a hot item to buy, since they don't really represent a "basic," but they are beautiful. Personally, I have never cooked or eaten them. But they keep showing up each week so they must be selling.

Amy Glaze (one of my food blog heroes) has some seriously gourmet-looking recipes on her blog for deep-fried zucchini flowers and stuffed zucchini flowers. Does anyone else have any experience cooking with zucchini flowers?

nasturtiums

Edible flowers for salads are always a delight and a surprise! Just remembers not all flowers are edible! Fortunately, the vendors at the farmers' market give good advice. (And, since they are regulars, they can't afford to poison their customers.)

The Copley Square Farmers' Market is made up of all Massachusetts farmers. In addition to produce, they also sell lots of breads and baked good, fresh herbs still in the pot, honey and goat cheese.

bread and a bonus cow

There is always a line of people at this bread stall.

(Can you see the blue cow? Look just through the second shelf from the top!)

The explosion of color at the farmers' market is what I find extraordinary.

orange tomatoes and blackberries

purple onions

sunflowers

The Copley Square Farmers' Market runs from May 23^rd to November 21^st, every Tuesday and Friday from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. I can't wait until apple and pumpkin season!

By the way, I did finally buy a pot of basil two weeks ago, and I haven't killed it yet!

Now you know why I love my local farmers' market: a riot of colors, an amazing selection of fresh food, and friendly local farmers who are happy to answer questions. (When you come to Boston, make sure to visit Copely Square!) When I want inspiration to make simple, tasty, beatiful meals, the farmers' market is just a short walk away.

What makes you excited about cooking?"

P.S. Here is a list off all of the fabulous local Massachusetts vendors at the Copley Square Farmers' Market.

• Atlas Farm, from Montague
  (Certified Organic)
• Breadsong Bakery, from Auburndale
• Cook's Farm Orchard, from Brimfield
  (Integrated Pest Management)
• Crystal Brook Farm, from Sterling, Mass
• Dick's Market Garden, from Lunenberg
  (Integrated Pest Management)
• Farm School Apprentice Program, from Athol
  (Certified Organic)
• Hamilton Orchards, from New Salem
  (Integrated Pest Management)
• The Herb Lyceum, from Groton
• Iggy's Bread of the World, from Cambridge
• Keown Orchard, from Sutton
  (Integrated Pest Management)
• MacArthur Farm, from Holliston
• Stillman Greenhouses and Farmstand, from Lunenburg
• Siena Farms, from Lincoln
• Old Friends Farm, from Amherst

This post is an entry in Food Destinations Around the World #2: My Local Greenmarket.

Food Destinations will soon be moving to a new home at extra.justhungry.com.

Tags: food destinations 2, food, markets, Boston, Copely Square

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