Key Lime Pears, Martha Stewart, Ruth Reichl

July’s heat wave brought us Spare the Air Days – and swarms of new visitors from local communities who found respite in the cool breezes on the free ferry rides. Special sightings of Gourmet Editor-in-Chief Ruth Reichl lunching at Boulettes Larder and shopping at The Gardener delighted shoppers & store keepers alike. Ms. Reichl intimated to someone at The Gardener that the food at Boulettes Larder was “sooo good”. Martha Stewart visited again – and showed off the Marketplace to friends – making a point to wave at her favorite mushroom man - Ian Garrone of Far West Fungi.

July’s heat certainly nourished the gorgeous peppers that are starting to appear at the Thursday Night Market – Catalan Farm and Payne Farm have exquisite organic varieties. These mild to fiery beauties aspire to be roasted over a grill. Top freshly roasted sliced peppers over a fettuccine lightly kissed with a cream sauce and you will have table guests who will never leave. While many of us use August to escape to local beaches and lakes for the last few weeks of summer, several of the Ferry Building merchants are busy planning their culinary calendars for the year ahead. The summer bounty can be fleeting – and many hurry to capture the tastes in unique and useful ways. Farmers pour over seed catalogs looking for rediscovered heirloom varietals. Becky Courchesne of Frog Hollow Farms is busy canning peach preserves for the winter months. Thaddeus & Freeman Barsotti of Capay Organic are jarring heirloom tomatoes for sauce and farmer Bill of Everything Under the Sun is drying fruit for winter sales. This epicurean creativity allows many of us to experience summer flavors year round.

> Visit the Ferry Building Marketplace

Rare Honey at Bay Crossings

Rare Capay Lavender Honey is now available at Bay Crossings. Shop owner and Publisher Bobby Winston is also an avid beekeeper – and honey aficionado. He carries a variety of local honey – but he’s especially proud of the limited batch of this rare amber gold. Capay Fruits & Vegetables is a second generation organic farm secluded in the Coastal Range’s Capay Valley 90 miles northeast of San Francisco. On this exquisite farm bees feast and frolic amongst the 240 acres. Their hard work is our reward. Honey is best on still warm freshly baked bread. If you care to indulge - accompany with Straus Creamery Sweet Butter (available at Cowgirl Creamery).

Fresh Catch at San Francisco Fish Company

Allen Kuehn reports from the docks that Local King Salmon will be available through August at San Francisco Fish Company. Also in August he’ll have soft shell crabs from Maryland, and a nice assortment of small whole fish perfect for summer grilling, Tai Snappers, Bronzini, Striped Bass, Huachinango from Mexico. Stop by mid-month as local fisherman are expected to bring in Wild Halibut.

Talk and Book signing with farmers market expert Nina Planck

Nina Planck is a food writer, entrepreneur, and expert on farmers' markets and local food. Nina created the first farmers' markets in London and was Director of the famous Greenmarket in New York City. She’ll sit down with CUESA on Saturday August 19th at 11:30 am and talk shop about farmers markets.  Nina's new book, Real Food: What to Eat and Why, is about why butter and other traditional foods are good for you.

Ferry Plaza Farmers Market Biodiversity Celebration

Learn about food crop diversity and healthy farm ecosystems at this panel discussion featuring farmers and biodiversity experts on Saturday, August 26th 10 am to 1pm. Speakers include Daniel Imhoff, author of Farming With the Wild; Miguel Altieri, professor of agroecology at the University of California at Berkeley; Erica Renauld, Research & Farm Manager for Seeds of Change; and a Ferry Plaza Farmers Market grower. 11:30-1:00 Biodiversity Salad Bar: Sample the diverse and unusual crops local farms have to offer!

Book Passage events

Elizabeth Grossman talks about High Tech Trash: Digital Devices, Hidden Toxins, and Human Health on Tuesday August 15 at 7:00 pm. The Digital Age was expected to usher in an era of clean production, an alternative to smokestack industries and their pollutants. But as environmental journalist Grossman reveals, digital may be sleek, but it’s anything but clean. Deep within every electronic device lies toxic materials that make up the bits and bytes.

On Saturday August 26th, 2:00pm - Viviana Carballo talks about Havana Salsa: Stories and Recipes. With more than 70 mouth watering recipes, this vibrant memoir by food writer Carballo shares the Havana of her childhood—warm nights, pounding surf, energetic music, and the memorable meals that nourished and delighted her and her family throughout the years.

A perfect pair­ Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant & Cowgirl Creamery

Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant & Cowgirl Creamery have combined their expertise into a new collaboration ­ the Cheese & Wine Match. Each month the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant and Cowgirl Creamery will get together for joint tastings. Based upon the wines that the Wine Merchant has selected for their monthly Wine Club, Cowgirl Creamery will select cheeses that pair well with those wines. Each month they will post the selections at their shops in the Ferry Building Marketplace. Treat your palate to a Food and Wine pairing class at the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant, on August 10. For more information visit www.fpwm.com or email wineclass@fpwm.com.