The last farmer's market is upon us, folks! It promises to be a chilly but sunny day, so bundle up, grab a hot cup of coffee, and come out in force to support your local farmers, bakers, and artisans on our last market of the season.
I will be set up until 3 p.m., as staying until 7 on a frosty day is just not my thing, especially as I am behind on Christmas preparations. However, I will have the superb pastries you have come to know and love. I will be set up in a different spot, though. Charlotte has me at the end of Market Street this week, towards the corner of Market and Clinch.
Just a reminder--I will be selling my baked goods and pastries at two locations over the winter. Tea At the Gallery is a calm, civilized space for tea-lovers on Kingston Pike in Bearden, and they have been very accommodating and gracious. I should have breakfast items for sale there starting the second week in January, and hopefully some items on their menu as well.
The Local is a new butcher shop opening in on Calderwood Road (across from the Shrimp Dock) in Alcoa that will feature products from local farmers and producers. I will have croissants, granola, shortbreads, loaves of bread, and much more for sale there starting mid-January. Please check out this space--it's a fledgling business with a lot of promise, but it needs your support if it is to thrive.
Finally, it is time for me to announce my baked offerings for the last market. See you there!
-Croissants (plain, chocolate, almond, and ham and cheese)--$3, $4, and $5
-Pumpkin White Chocolate Scones--$3
-Cranberry Orange Scones--$3
-Pomegranate Almond Tarts--$5
-Quiche With Local Greens and Butternut Squash--$5
-*Dark Sticky Ginger Cakes--$5
-*Bourbon-Soaked Fruit Cakes--$12
-Earl Grey Truffles--$1 apiece
-Ginger Liqueur Truffles--$1 apiece
-*Homemade Herbal Bitters--$3/bottle
-*Mulling Spices--$2/bag
-*Bakers' Bundles--$12 (vanilla extract, vanilla sugar, and vanilla beans)
-*Caramel Pumpkin Seed Brittle--$3/bag
-*Seeded Granola--$7/bag
-*Chocolate Rosewater Shortbreads--$2/bag
-*Spiced Caramels--$3/bag
*These items make great last-minute gifts or stocking stuffers!
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Friday, December 14, 2012
Holiday Market 12/15/12
Just a quick update this a.m. before I head off to start baking! Hope to see everyone tomorrow.
-Fig and Walnut Scones--$3
-BLT Scones (Benton's bacon, garden greens, and roasted tomatoes)--$3
-Croissants (Plain, chocolate, ham and cheese, and almond)--$3, $4, and $5
-Black Spicy Ginger Cakes--$5
-Cranberry-Almond Tarts--$5
-Salted Caramel and Chocolate Tarts--$5
-Quiche With Roasted Garlic and Caramelized Carrots--$5
-Dark Rye Loaves--$6
-Extra Tangy Lemon Bars--$3
-Smoked Tea Truffles--$1/ea.
-Orange-Scented Truffles--$1/ea.
-Boozy Fruit Cakes--$12
-Instant Chai Tea Mix--$2
-Instant Cocoa Mix--$2
-Mulling Spice Bundles--$2
-Bakers' Bundles--$12
-Bartenders' Bundles--$12
-Baklava--$1.50/piece
-Pumpkin Seed Brittle--$3/4 oz
-Seeded Granola--$7/12 oz
-Mocha Nib Shortbread With Sea Salt--$2/bag
-Fig and Walnut Scones--$3
-BLT Scones (Benton's bacon, garden greens, and roasted tomatoes)--$3
-Croissants (Plain, chocolate, ham and cheese, and almond)--$3, $4, and $5
-Black Spicy Ginger Cakes--$5
-Cranberry-Almond Tarts--$5
-Salted Caramel and Chocolate Tarts--$5
-Quiche With Roasted Garlic and Caramelized Carrots--$5
-Dark Rye Loaves--$6
-Extra Tangy Lemon Bars--$3
-Smoked Tea Truffles--$1/ea.
-Orange-Scented Truffles--$1/ea.
-Boozy Fruit Cakes--$12
-Instant Chai Tea Mix--$2
-Instant Cocoa Mix--$2
-Mulling Spice Bundles--$2
-Bakers' Bundles--$12
-Bartenders' Bundles--$12
-Baklava--$1.50/piece
-Pumpkin Seed Brittle--$3/4 oz
-Seeded Granola--$7/12 oz
-Mocha Nib Shortbread With Sea Salt--$2/bag
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Holiday Market 12/8/12
When I first wrote up a business plan for Little Blue, I was, as I usually am, idealistic. I wanted to create unique, small-batch baked goods that varied with the seasons. I wanted to use as many local and organic ingredients as possible. I wanted to focus on high-quality, French-style pastries with flair.
Typically, my idealism is quelled somewhat when it meets the cold, hard streets of reality, and I am forced to compromise. However, now that the year is drawing to a close, I am happy to say that not only have I resisted compromise with Little Blue, I have managed to improve my products without having to raise prices.
I say this not to brag, but because it is a legitimate concern of both consumers and business owners. How do you provide consistently superior service and products at a reasonable price when seemingly everyone is doing some belt-tightening? I don't know that I have a clear answer to that. I do know that ingenuity and flexibility are important, as are quality and public relations.
Over the course of the year, I have managed to gather something of a following. A loyal group of folks who come back week after week and who provide me with valuable feedback and the best pep talks I've ever been given. Let's face it. Long days spent by yourself, on your feet, in a kitchen can leave you drained and somewhat pessimistic. Saturdays at the market, however, reaffirm what I set out to do and what I continue to do--disseminate my passion for baking, for delicious and nourishing foods, and for people. Thank you so much for allowing me to do that and for supporting me not only with your dollar but also with your kind words and weekly patronage.
Now for the goods. It's a big week.
-Pumpkin Ginger Scones--$3
-Bacon and Blue Cheese Scones--$3
-Croissants (plain, chocolate, ham and cheese, almond-filled)--$3, $4, and $5
-Quiche With Greens and Potatoes--$5
-Mock Mincemeat Tarts (filling made with Honeycrisp apples, golden raisins, candied orange peel, and apple cider)--$5
-Fresh Fruit Tarts With Pastry Cream Filling--$5
-Seeded Granola--$7/12 oz
-Toasted Rooibos and Vanilla Shortbreads--$2/bag
-Pumpkin Seed Brittle--$3/bag
-Light and Dark Fruitcakes--$12 (the light fruitcakes contain candied orange peel, golden raisins, almonds, toasted coconut, and dried papaya and are soaked in bourbon; the dark fruitcakes contain figs, dates, dried plums, raisins, currants, hazelnuts, and walnuts and are soaked in rum)
-Walnut Baklava--$1/square
-Savory Crackers (Walnut and Blue Cheese, Cheddar-Cornmeal-Smoked Paprika, or Seeded)--$2/bag
-Earl Grey Truffles--$1 apiece
-Grown-Up Party Mix--$5/8 ounces
-Ginger-Oat Scone Mix--$4
-Bartenders' Bundles (4 flavors of bitters)--$10
-Bakers' Bundles (double-strength vanilla extract, vanilla sugar, and vanilla beans)--$12
-Mulling Spices--$2
-Instant Chai Latte Mix--$2/bag
-Bourbon-Flavored Marshmallows--$1/bag
-Instant Hot Cocoa Mix and Homemade Marshmallow--$2.50
Typically, my idealism is quelled somewhat when it meets the cold, hard streets of reality, and I am forced to compromise. However, now that the year is drawing to a close, I am happy to say that not only have I resisted compromise with Little Blue, I have managed to improve my products without having to raise prices.
I say this not to brag, but because it is a legitimate concern of both consumers and business owners. How do you provide consistently superior service and products at a reasonable price when seemingly everyone is doing some belt-tightening? I don't know that I have a clear answer to that. I do know that ingenuity and flexibility are important, as are quality and public relations.
Over the course of the year, I have managed to gather something of a following. A loyal group of folks who come back week after week and who provide me with valuable feedback and the best pep talks I've ever been given. Let's face it. Long days spent by yourself, on your feet, in a kitchen can leave you drained and somewhat pessimistic. Saturdays at the market, however, reaffirm what I set out to do and what I continue to do--disseminate my passion for baking, for delicious and nourishing foods, and for people. Thank you so much for allowing me to do that and for supporting me not only with your dollar but also with your kind words and weekly patronage.
Now for the goods. It's a big week.
-Pumpkin Ginger Scones--$3
-Bacon and Blue Cheese Scones--$3
-Croissants (plain, chocolate, ham and cheese, almond-filled)--$3, $4, and $5
-Quiche With Greens and Potatoes--$5
-Mock Mincemeat Tarts (filling made with Honeycrisp apples, golden raisins, candied orange peel, and apple cider)--$5
-Fresh Fruit Tarts With Pastry Cream Filling--$5
-Seeded Granola--$7/12 oz
-Toasted Rooibos and Vanilla Shortbreads--$2/bag
-Pumpkin Seed Brittle--$3/bag
-Light and Dark Fruitcakes--$12 (the light fruitcakes contain candied orange peel, golden raisins, almonds, toasted coconut, and dried papaya and are soaked in bourbon; the dark fruitcakes contain figs, dates, dried plums, raisins, currants, hazelnuts, and walnuts and are soaked in rum)
-Walnut Baklava--$1/square
-Savory Crackers (Walnut and Blue Cheese, Cheddar-Cornmeal-Smoked Paprika, or Seeded)--$2/bag
-Earl Grey Truffles--$1 apiece
-Grown-Up Party Mix--$5/8 ounces
-Ginger-Oat Scone Mix--$4
-Bartenders' Bundles (4 flavors of bitters)--$10
-Bakers' Bundles (double-strength vanilla extract, vanilla sugar, and vanilla beans)--$12
-Mulling Spices--$2
-Instant Chai Latte Mix--$2/bag
-Bourbon-Flavored Marshmallows--$1/bag
-Instant Hot Cocoa Mix and Homemade Marshmallow--$2.50
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