Just a quick FYI for all you farmer’s market fans… the Rock Center Greenmarket returns today, and will be open 8am to 5pm every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday through September 2nd.  Curious what vendors are going to be there on which days?  The full list is after the jump…

Wednesdays
Ballard’s Honey
Beth’s Farm Kitchen
Binder Farm
Brandywine
Bread Alone
Breezy Hill Orchards
K5 Flower Farm
King Ferry Wine
Knoll Krest Farm
Lavender By the Bay
Meredith’s Bread
Migliorelli Farm
Millport Dairy Farm
Red Jacket Orchards
Valley Shepherd (w/ Gelato!)

Thursdays
Andrew’s Local Honey
Ardith Mae Dairy
Beth’s Farm Kitchen
Carucci
Hammond Dairy
K5 Flower Farm
Martin’s Pretzels
Migliorelli Farm
Millport Dairy
Nordic Bread
Not Just Rugelech
The Orchards of Concklin
Paumanok Vineyards
Red Jacket
Tundra Brewery
Wood Homestead

Fridays
Anthony Road Winery
Beth’s Farm Kitchen
Binder Farm
Bread Alone Bakery
Jersey Farm
Katchkie Farm
Las Delicias
Migliorelli Farm
MK Orchid Farm
Nature’s Way Farm
The Orchards of Concklin
Salento Farm
Valley Shepherd Creamery

My usual Wednesday lunch time ritual of stopping by the Dag Hammarskjold market (on 47th+2nd) was interrupted there for a few weeks partly due to the fact that I wasn’t cooking at home too often. Evidently I was missing out not only on seeing the first incoming pumpkins (summer is officially done), but also on some new lunch-like offerings from the vendors.

One of the new vendors, Hot Bread Kitchen from Brooklyn, began showing up at the market around the springtime. I never really bought anything from them since they specialize in loaves of bread, and I rarely eat a loaf of bread before it’s hard as a rock. It hurt a little because their bread looks sort of amazing. Then last week I saw that they are making a new bread that was special for Ramadan, Moroccan M’smen. If you find fresh parantha or Cosi bread addictive, I highly recommend getting your hands on this! Butter and salt makes everything better, and they are generous with both on these. I devoured mine while waiting for Brownie, but hopefully they will keep this around because my wheels are spinning on what could be done with this! Chicken Tikka Roll, anyone?!

If you’re looking for a bit more sustenance, Not Just Rugelach has begun offering chicken pot pie from a cooler for $5 or $10. Not being a savory pie eater, I will leave this for someone else to decide on its deliciousness. I’m sure it’s most likely awesome warmed up in your office microwave, since most things from Not Just Rugelach are pretty great.

Reminder: today is the last market before the annual cancellation caused by the UN General Assembly.

Related:
The Weather is Perfect For the Dag Hammarskjold Farmers Market

Today is the first day of the annual summer Rock Center Farmer’s Market. As in years past you can find them set up at the North Plaza, Rockefeller Place at 50th Street every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. from now through September 3rd. The vendors vary each day so I’ve put together a little guide to some of my favorites.

Millport Dairy is one of the vendors you can look forward to seeing today (they also come to the market on Thursdays and Fridays). They hail from Lancaster, PA and serve up some delicious whoopie pies, Shoo-Fly pie quarters and halves, as well as cheese.

In the past they’ve been pretty good about the cheese samples–the garlic chive and hot pepper jack are especially good.

Valley Shepherd Creamery is another vendor to look forward to tomorrow (and Friday for that matter). They sell a variety of dairy products including sheep and cow’s milk cheeses, yogurt, and a rotating menu of gelato cups.

Katchkie Farm will be back Fridays with sandwiches, beet chips, chilled beet soup, 100 Mile Lasagna, Katchkie coleslaw, chilled cucumber soup, chilled zucchini-tomato Soup, and basil-spearmint iced tea. Their featured sandwiches will be: a DiPaola Turkey Sandwich with Hawthorne Valley Cheddar Cheese, Katchkie Farm Microgreens and Mayo and for the vegetarians a Katchkie Farm Eggplant, Zucchini, Radishes, Lettuce, Sandwich with Katchkie Pesto and Hawthorne Valley Cheddar. We hope that they’ll be bringing back their $8 lunch special from last summer, their turkey sandwich stuffed with beet chips was awesome.

Rockefeller Center Greenmarket, North Plaza at 50th Street every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. from now through September 3rd.

Related:
A Look at the Rock Center Greenmarket from Years Past

It’s springtime! OK, not yet. But it feels…like springtime! And if 50 degrees isn’t enough to get you crawling out into the sunlight, then maybe the freshest outdoor lunch options in Midtown East will. Every Wednesday year-round, local farmers fill Dag Hammarskjold Plaza on 47th & 2nd with everything from fruit to focaccia. You can also stop by for chicken empanadas, chocolate whoopee pies, and strawberry apple cider all on the same block. The best part? You can get all of the above for under $10.

A just out of bounds spinach and mozz quiche the size of your face after the jump…

The first vendor on the corner focuses on all things fruit. Think: Juice, cider, donuts, pies. In the middle of the block, the guys under the green “Not Just Rugelach” tent have apple cider donuts too – jelly-filled ones. But for a real lunch, grab one of their hefty quiches for $5 or stuffed roast pork buns for a dollar! The $2 empanadas go like hotcakes too.

Federico, who works behind the display, says they sell about 150 empanadas each Wednesday and easily twice that number in the summer. For those with a sweet tooth, like myself, grab a half-pound of their “famous” rugelach ($4.50). There are four flavors, but my favorite is walnut raisin apricot. Generally, I avoid raisins, but even I can’t get enough of those pastries.

Many of the same vendors show up each Wednesday. And for those thinking beyond lunch, you can get cheeses, meats, whoopee pies, and Ronnybrook’s Creamline chocolate milk to-go for dinner or an afternoon pick-me-up. Sure, you might want to microwave the savory stuff for a minute, but it doesn’t get much better than $8 for three fresh empanadas and a whole apple pie.

Dag Hammarskjold Farmer’s Market, 47th & 2nd Ave.

Photo courtesy of Blondie and Brownie

I usually prefer fritos or cheetos in my sandwiches, but beet chips could work too!  Blondie and Brownie hit up the Rock Center Greenmarket last Friday, and had this inspired lunch from Katchkie Farms: turkey sandwich stuffed with beet chips and a delicious looking bowl of cold zucchini soup. If you’re still deciding where to eat today, this looks like a damn good choice. (The Greenmarket is open Wednesday through Friday, but Katchkie Farms is only there on Fridays.  On Thursdays you can find them, and this sandwich, at the new Port Authority Greenmarket.)

Related:
Rock Center Greenmarket is Now Open

The annual summertime Rock Center Greenmarket opened for business on Wednesday.  It’s located on Rockefeller Plaza between 50th and 51st and features all sorts of fresh fruit, produce, bread, and cheese.  Plus Blondie and Brownie are reporting that Katchkie Farms (the same farm that is in at the Port Authority Greenmarket on Thursdays) will be at Rock Center every Friday (i.e. today) selling sandwiches and lasagna (?!?)  The Rock Center Greenmarket will run every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 8am to 6pm through September 4th.

Related:
A Look at the Rock Center Greenmarket from Years Past

If no amount of veggies could get you to enjoy the Port Authority, there is still the Dag Hammarskjold Plaza Greenmarket (on 47th & 2nd) every Wednesday from 8am to 4pm.  And the annual Rock Center Greenmarket opens on July 29th.