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specialty foods

Cheese Dip for a Special Day

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CHEESE DIP FOR TWO
Author: The View from Great Island
Serves: 2
INGREDIENTS
*Ingredients available at the farmers’ market
  • ¼ pound Fontina cheese*
  • ¼ pound Gruyere cheese*
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 Tablespoon white wine*
  • Fresh thyme*
  • Fresh chives*
  • Baguette slices*
  • 1 clove garlic*
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Remove the rinds and cut the cheese into cubes, about ½ to 1 inch. Put them in a small cast iron pan or another broiler friendly pan, about 6 inches. Add the oil and wine. Sprinkle the herbs across the cheese.
  2. Broil about 5 inches from the broiler for about 10 minutes or until the cheese is browned and bubbly.
  3. Slice the bread. Heat a grill pan over medium to high heat and toast the slices until they are browned. While the bread is warm, run the cut side of the garlic along the surface to give a subtle flavor.
NOTES
I used Mercy Cheese from Argyle Cheese Farmer and High Rock Cheese from Homestead Artisans of Longview Farm.

Local Artisans Enrich Holiday Offerings at Saratoga Farmers’ Market

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Upper Hudson Coffee, photo by Pattie Garrett

As you pull open the doors of the Lincoln Baths Building to enter the Saratoga Farmers’ Market, an extra treat awaits. The market is hosting in addition to its usual array of locally grown and produced fruits and vegetables, cheeses, meats, milk, honey, maple syrup, and specialty goods a set of holiday vendors through December 30.

These vendors are setting up shop on the building’s second floor, transforming the space into a market within the market. They offer locally roasted coffees, craft beers, baked bread, cheesecakes, jerky, salad dressings, and chocolates. The holiday market also features artists and craftspeople who create innovative attire, metal works, fine art prints, ceramics, jewelry, watches, and clocks. And for your canine companions, look for the specialty dog treats.

The holiday market, like the Saratoga Farmers’ Market, is aimed at building relationships between local entrepreneurs and residents of the Saratoga area. In the spirit of Small Business Saturday, it gives the entrepreneurs a space to showcase and sell their goods. At the same time, it offers market shoppers seeking creative gifts for families, friends, and themselves an opportunity to find them. The goal, says market director Julia Howard, is to open up the farmers’ market – long known for the best farm fresh foods grown, raised, or produced in the region – to creators of local foods and arts of all kinds.

“We see this as a special benefit for our regulars,” Howard says, “and as a way to support the local economy even more during the holidays.”

To visit the holiday market, go upstairs, via the staircases near the Lincoln Baths entrance or the elevators located in the middle of the building. You will find vendor stalls lined up around the railings and tucked into various nooks and crannies. The atmosphere is festive, yet relaxed. Unlike the frenzy of a shopping mall, vendors are available to describe their products, answer any questions, and share stories of how they came up with their creations.

Howard notes that some space remains upstairs for additional artisans. Those looking for an opportunity to display and sell hand-crafted items can contact her at julia@saratogafarmersmarket.org.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is 9 a.m.to 1 p.m. Saturdays at the Lincoln Baths Building in the Saratoga Spa State Park. Its holiday market runs through December 30. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.