Lents International Farmers Market

The Market

The Lents International Farmers Market's name is fitting because it is very much international and accurately describes the neighborhood and the feel of the market. The market is a modest market that reflects the proud, diverse, and hardworking heritage of its residents. The vendors supporting this market were, in some cases familiar, and in other cases completely new and inspiring. The location at 92nd and Foster has long been a neglected part of Southeast Portland. However, the renovated Crossroads Plaza provides the community an opportune setting and meeting area to bring the neighborhood closer together and offer alternative options of locally produced foods and goods. Lori best described this market as close to what a farmers market may have looked like 100 years ago or in a small hamlet buried deep in Europe's countryside. Most of these vender's were local and cared very much about the area, their products, and making us happy customers. 

So what did we buy this week. We bought some apricot jam from Sturm's Berry Farm. The lady we talked to used to run the berry picking machine on the farm until she decided to start up the jam side of the business and "moved into the Kitchen" as she described it. They expect fresh strawberry's to be available next week with fresh raspberry's soon to follow. Our plan for the apricot jam is to serve it with freshly baked Baguette and Brie. We also bought fresh spinach for a spinach salad and some fresh cut flowers.

As we were leaving we spied a Russian bakery down the street. We decided to look around because I have been looking for a special bread, which it turned out they did not have. As we were leaving the woman who was helping us, opened a dessert showcase and took out a couple of desserts and handed them to us for us to sample. I asked her how much and she said "free". That doesn't happen at Fred Meyer unless they cut the product into tiny bits and hand you a coupon with your sample. These are really nice and friendly people.

The Table

As I said, we started with Brie and warm baguette topped with the apricot Jam. Dinner was grilled tenderloin and the spinach salad, and more warm Baguette. Dessert was an eclair and something I didn't recognise but it was made of dark cake, a hard chocolate shell and whipped cream.

Warm Baguette, Brie, and Apricot jam



The salad was very simple: Spinach leaves torn to size, tangerine slices, candied walnuts, cransins dressed with a Mustard vinaigrette.

This was a simple and very Delicious dinner. The Russian bakery desserts were heavenly.