Edamame, Lobsta Truck and Poetry

By Chip Dahlke

Call me an idiot, but I didn’t know that edamame was grown in New England. Tender Mercies Farm brought it to the farmers market last Saturday and they say there’s plenty more where it came from.

Originally grown in Japan, edamame has taken the United States by storm much like the Beatles did in 1964 when they appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show. The Beatles were of course a rock band and not an immature soy bean, but you get the idea. Maybe you don’t get the idea, maybe there is no idea, maybe we should just get back to edamame.

In Japanese, edamame literally means “twig bean”. This should not be confused with Twiggy, a slender British model who was also part of the British Invasion back in the sixties. No matter how far you want to run from comparisons, sometimes they just pull you under like a great Tsunami.

Edamame pods are usually boiled or steamed. The beans are picked out of the pods and eaten. The pods are tough and not consumed. Think of edamame like you would of lobster or pistachio nuts. You will need to do some work to get to the heart of the matter, but once there, the result is very satisfying. I suppose we could throw artichokes into this same mix.

In 1275, a Japanese monk named Nichiren wrote a parishioner thanking him for the gift of edamame left at the temple. This was the earliest recorded written history of edamame. Have you ever wondered who actually researches this stuff? Someone out there probably has a PhD in the oral and written history of edamame. If I had come home from college with such a degree, my parents would have immediately cut off all financial support and wondered where they went wrong. They would have changed their mind when I landed a big job at NASA. Today, you would have a job waiting at McDonalds. It’s one thing to be able to explore your bliss and another if that bliss is completely useless.

Let’s talk nutrition. Edamame is a soybean and therefore rich in carbohydrates, protein, dietary fiber, and micronutrients. If you are allergic to soy, edamame is probably something that shouldn’t be on your diet unless you enjoy going into anaphylactic shock. I read somewhere that all food in the “Jack in the Box” fast food chain is fried in soy oil. I wonder if their Kids Meal comes with a epipen?

So if you’re otherwise not occupied or allergic to soy, come to the farmers market and pick up some edamame.Steam them little pods up, sprinkle on some sea salt and have at it. You won’t be sorry. 

New Vendors

Although they’ve been with us for a couple of weeks, I wanted to introduce you to two new vendors that have joined us for the rest of the season.

Sharyn Farrell from Bee Happy has come aboard with an assortment of honey products. Bee Happy’s hives are located at our old friend David Brown’s Hayhouse farm soaking up all that good karma. This is good honey that’s good for you. Don’t worry, Bee Happy.

Stonington Vineyards has joined us. Last Saturday night, Carol and I along with E list Erica and her husband Joe went down to Mile Creek Beach Club for a light summer meal of cheese that Erica had brought back from Paris, some Cato Corner and Beltane cheese, a fresh salsa from farmers market vegetables, a roasted red pepper hummus from Yummy Hummy and two bottles of white from Stonington Vineyard. Without sounding too much like Martha Stewart, it was perfect. The next day Carol and I went up river on her parent’s boat for lunch at the Blue Oar. Again, a bottle of Stonington made it into the basket. This was the most relaxing weekend all summer thanks somewhat to our new vendor. Get yourself a piece of the summer with a bottle of Connecticut wine from Stonington Vineyards.

Garbo Lobsta Food Truck

It’s lobster roll time. Big chunky pieces of lobsta fresh from the cold waters off New England. Some homemade Rhode Island Clam Chowder, clear broth, loaded with potato and onion. It’s the taste you’ve craved all summer. It’s sit on the stonewall with a glass of fresh squeezed lemonade on beautiful summer morning. Think back to those childhood memories. Maybe it’s a fog shrouded morning on the coast of Maine. Maybe it’s a ferry out of Point Judith or Woods Hole. Perhaps it’s just a day at Misquamicut or Rocky Neck. Whatever it is, it’s all in that lobster roll. I think my work is done here. 

Hollis Haskins Reads her Poetry

Sometimes we like to tone things down. After all, we can’t have Nine Inch Nails tribute bands every week. Eat your lobster roll while listening to some poetry. 

Guest Vendors

Stephanie Morton, the handweaver of rugs, is with us on Saturday. These would make great gifts for that upcoming wedding.

Diane Earl of wooden bracelet fame checks in.

Melissa Punzalan rolls out her jewelry for another Saturday. Everyone thinks I make fun of Melissa. I’m running out of things to say about this child stealing, shoplifting Zombie. Maybe I should say she’s one of the best designers I’ve seen at the market. I hope it just doesn’t go to her head.

Laurie Annya Linfoot, our recycled craft queen is coming. I like her recycled silverware used for plant markers.

Lox&Loaded is spreading cream cheese happiness throughout the market.