Boy, it just doesn’t get any better, starting with sun and more sun last Saturday! It was another busy day with lots of shoppers, new vendors and the wonderful different fruits that are coming into season. Did you happen to catch a late addition Food Truck to the market; Lumpria World, out of this world Filipino cuisine: Vendor Photo To make your dinner special this Saturday, stop by the wine booth and pick up my Cooking with Wine Recipes and a bottle of your favorite wine. You can download this week’s recipe “Osso Buco” by clicking here (PDF file). Cook’s note: sometimes it is hard to find good veal shanks. I found the best place is at B&E Meats in Des Moines. Just make sure you ask for all of them to be the same thickness. Food Truck Scene Stella Fiore Pizza, Hallava Falafel, Box Nature Sushi are all back this week. To see when the prepared food vendors are at the market, log onto market vendors. HealthPoint logoVendor Spotlight Look for the HealthPoint information booth. They have just finished an entirely new facility on Pacific Hiway South. They are new to the Des Moines area and provide medical and dental care, as well as complementary and alternative medical services, at 11 King County locations. They also work beyond their clinics to promote healthy communities, including some that are among the most culturally and economically diverse in King County. BECU_logoSponsor Corner The market welcomes first time sponsor BECU. They are a not-for-profit credit union committed to making your financial well-being a priority. Check out their information booth whether you are looking for a savings plan, financing, or business services, they offer a complete range of accounts with better rates and fewer fees than you’ll find at traditional big banks. Music Back by popular demand this Saturday is the band with a funny name “Flannel Asparagus.” This group of talented gentlemen (you can tell they are gentlemen by all the gray on their heads) will also be at the market on August 24, September 7 and October 5 & 19. Community Groups Art Commission LogoThe Des Moines Art Commission will be manning their booth to inform people of all the upcoming summer events, including the Concerts in the Park and Shakespeare in the Park, just to name a few. Ask them about the new Sculpture Gallery that has been recently installed around our city. For over 20 years, King County Master Recycler Composters have provided King County residents outside the City of Seattle with waste prevention and recycling information and tips they can use in their everyday lives. Through a variety of outreach venues, these volunteers donate invaluable time encouraging residents to make informed decisions about preventing waste and using resources wisely. Check out their booth this Saturday, and also on August 24, September 14 & 28 and October 19. Upcoming events Mark your calendar for August 10th, as our annual Health & Fitness Day where Des Moines local businesses present their specialties. Look for the booth with demonstrations on the half hour. This coming September 14th   is going to be another Blockbuster of a day at the market. It is our annual Kids Back to School/Safety Day. Also it will be another Kids Fishing Derby. And, for all you food lovers, it is our first annual Food Truck-In with over 10 trucks offering a wide variety of entrees. Look for more information as this day draws near, as things are still in flux. Look for lots of stuff for kids to see and participate in. Our annual Chili Cook-Off this year is on the last day of the market, October 26th. If you think you have the “right stuff” to complete against the 20 teams that will be mixing it up, click here for the application and cook-off rules. Don’t forget the Des Moines Area Food Bank “Picnic in the Park” continues their free summer lunch program for all school age kids. Look for them from noon to 1pm in the grassy area next to the marina office. Seniors don’t forget, if you qualify and are using the food bank you can receive a voucher for the market to purchase fresh fruit and produce, this program is paid for by the Des Moines Legacy Foundation, and distributed by the Des Moines Food Bank.]]>