small farms food fest

In a valiant effort to embrace autumn this year — my normal tendency is to deny its existence entirely, as it has come to symbolize the impending arrival of six months of winter, which I hate — I have eaten apple-cider donuts twice already. I've loaded my kitchen with apples. I've relished the return of boots and leggings, with only slightly less fanfare for light jackets. And I'm really trying to make the circuit of the season's last big festivals before my extended hibernation. So, we went back to Shelburne Orchards' Small Farm Food Fest.

The food! So delicious. We devoured an "everything" slice (green beans, onion, sausage, spinach) of pizza made in NOFA-VT's mobile oven. There was a buckwheat crepe filled with chevre and drizzled with strawberry-rhubarb compote. A savory tomato-ricotta galette was light, flaky and dazzling. Corn on the cob, brushed with soft butter? I would like about three more ears of that. We took two mini tarts (lemon-meringue and caramel-apple) home with us, and finished the day with amazing homemade popsicles: honeyberry (mulled-cider spices, honey and strawberry chunks) and peach-plumb.

Not a bad start to the upcoming season, hmm?

It was also really great to see such a strong showing from Vermont farmers and food producers, who haven't had it easy this season with spring flooding and, now, the havoc caused by Tropical Storm Irene.