Kicking Back Udi's Style

It’s finally here – the cusp of August and September. The time when nearly every produce imaginable is in it’s peak season at the Farmer’s Markets.  Elite chefs and home cooks alike bask in a landscape of deep reds to vibrant yellows and cool greens. From ripe tomatoes, crisp cucumbers and run-down-your-arm juicy peaches, plates become a painter’s palate and the flavors are endless.  With this culinary celebration though, comes the gloomy realization that this summer, like many before it, is slipping by too soon.

 

Working for Udi’s at the Stapleton Farmer’s Market, I delight in suggesting many of you which breads to enjoy with your dinner, or which would make a great PB&J. So I take this opportunity to make my most treasured suggestion. This Sunday, take with you a blanket and a buddy. Next, pack a tiny container of olive oil with a pinch of salt and pepper and some of your favorite cheese. When you arrive, head for the produce stands and pick up some fresh herbs and plump tomatoes. Next, come see us at the Udi’s stand - pick up a loaf or two, and head for the closest patch of green grass.

 

With only six Sundays left of the Stapleton Farmer’s Market, and the others in Boulder and Cherry Creek ending in October, why not use this weekend to soak up the last of the summer sun? Take the time to close your eyes and listen to the sounds of a young and vibrant community. Sample your cheese. Tear apart the bread, smear the tomatoes on it’s crumb, sprinkle with herbs and drizzle the olive oil over it. Bite down into your delicious sandwich a la fresca.

 

This summer will wave good-bye before you know it. The extraordinary spread of perfect fruits and vegetables available around you, are its parting gift. Take the time to enjoy them, before welcoming in autumn’s harvest.