April 23rd is important for two reasons. First, its St. George's Day - England's patron saint (think George and the Dragon). For whatever reason he is a lot less popular, and not as celebrated as Ireland's patron saint - St. Patrick. So, please excuse me for not realizing it was St. George's Day. I should have known though - St. George's Day is also the official start of English asparagus season.
I will get to how I used my asparagus in a bit, but first I should share with you some great news. The weatherman reports that Britain is going to face a sunnier, warmer summer than usual. Best news I've heard all week! The approach of summer also means that the Real Food Market at Covent Garden is back. The market opens at noon every Thursday from now till the end of August. Covent Garden is about a ten minute walk from my apartment so I plan to go as often as possible. Think of the market as a mini-Borough Market.
Unlike many farmers markets in London that require the product sold to be sourced within a certain radius of the city, the Real Food Market, like Borough Market, aims to find the best of the best, where ever it may come from. Some of the best comes from Italy, like these baby artichokes...
and these fresh figs...
You can find the delicious breads of The Flour Station bakery at the market. They have a number of different types of focaccia...
We all know that Mr. Thomas brought his English Muffin recipe to America in the 1800s and we love to eat them as the butter melts into all the nooks and crannies. I'm just wondering if something happened to the recipe during the journey across the ocean. These English Muffins seem to be at least three times the height!
The problem with moving to a different country is you almost feel like you are on an extended vacation. This means vacation rules apply with regards to food. You don't count calories and you eat whatever you like. Great for my foodie brain, but not so much my foodie body. In an effort to get back to reality I decided to have a green lunch with all produce bought from the market. The pesto is from an Italian pasta stall at the market.
This is so simple, feeds one, and only dirties one pot. In a pot of boiling, salted water, boil enough pasta for one person. Chop 5 asparagus stalks and 4 sprouting broccoli stalks. A minute before the pasta is done, add the asparagus, broccoli, and 1/4 cup of fresh, shelled peas to the water. Drain everything. Return to the pot and off the heat, and stir in a giant, heaping spoon of pesto. Taste. Add more pesto if necessary. Eat. Preferably curled up on the couch with your favorite TV show on.
Holy wow! Those English Muffins are insane! Gorgeous photos.
Posted by: DeelishDish | Sunday, May 03, 2009 at 05:54 PM
Those focaccias and the English muffins are to die for. Thank you for sharing your trip to the market, I always enjoy reading your post especially related to farmer's market in England.
Posted by: elra | Sunday, May 03, 2009 at 07:43 PM
I love those English muffins!! I love your pictures!
Posted by: Vanessa | Sunday, May 03, 2009 at 11:56 PM
I love it when you include such beautiful photos so that we can share in the experience of what you see! Everything looks amazing and those English muffins look as if three were baked into one. No complaints from me, though - I'd gladly polish off one of them.
Your lunch for one looks delicious and so healthy (the kind of no-cal mentality we should all have during vacation). It's a perfect way to celebrate a very promising summer forecast! 8-)
Posted by: Tangled Noodle | Monday, May 04, 2009 at 04:35 AM
Beautiful pictures as allways!! Love them!
Your pasta dish looks fenomenal lovely! I love making simple & yummie things as you might know!
Posted by: Sophie | Monday, May 04, 2009 at 10:52 AM
The market looks fantastic, it all looks so fresh.
Did you buy any of the artichokes? they look beautiful but I never know what to do with them!
Posted by: Sam | Monday, May 04, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Look at those English Muffins! You mean we actually have a smaller version of a food item in the US? Ha, ha!
The produce looks beautiful! What a delicious pasta dish as well. There is nothing quite like the fresh veggies of summer. They just make you feel healthy all over. :)
Posted by: Lori | Monday, May 04, 2009 at 01:01 PM
Oh man, I always get sooo envious when you post pics of your markets! I seriously want to jump across the pond to eat those english muffins! Love your spring vege recipe, too!
Posted by: megan (brooklyn farmhouse) | Monday, May 04, 2009 at 04:49 PM
I love visiting markets such as that you've just highlighted. Those English Muffins look great--they're at least 4 or 5 times the height of Thomas'!! The artichokes look amazing and your pasta dish sounds and looks so fresh and delicious.
Posted by: maria | Monday, May 04, 2009 at 05:55 PM
I have never been to real food market at covent garden!! I really need to make a visit one day!
You know what, you have got all my fav ingredients on your plate! Nice!
Posted by: mycookinghut | Tuesday, May 05, 2009 at 01:39 PM
Those english muffins are amazing! Another great place to visit one day, on my list! Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: lisa (dandysugar) | Tuesday, May 05, 2009 at 04:24 PM
ah, my kind of farmers market - looks like it was great fun checking out all the different stalls.
The English muffins look ginormous - like a 2 for 1 special.
Your dish incorporating the pesto and asparagus looks delicious - I believe that very little exists that cannot be improved with pesto.
Posted by: OysterCulture | Tuesday, May 05, 2009 at 09:34 PM
The price of asparagus is so cheap! And I love those English muffins, so big ones. It would be wonderful to have some for breakfast tomorrow.
Posted by: zerrin | Tuesday, May 05, 2009 at 11:19 PM
Thanks for sharing the fabulous pictures from this farmer's market! Excellent products and foods here!
Posted by: Natasha - 5 Star Foodie | Wednesday, May 06, 2009 at 03:38 PM
Sam - I did get a few of the artichokes. They were really small - the size a child's fist. I just cut them straight in half and plopped them in boiling, salted water for about 5 minutes. Drain them well and tossed them olive oil, salt and pepper and put them under the broiler for about 5 - 7 minutes till they started to brown. Ate them right out of the oven.
Posted by: gastroanthropologist | Wednesday, May 06, 2009 at 06:03 PM
Oh I want some of those muffins (and some of your pasta too), thanks!
Posted by: Daily Spud | Thursday, May 07, 2009 at 05:54 PM
Beautiful photos. The english muffins really cracked me up. If you get to the bottom of their prodigious height, you'll have to let us know. I know these are the original thing, but I can't imagine getting my mouth around them! Your lunch looks divine and inspirational.
Posted by: Erin @ The Skinny Gourmet | Thursday, May 07, 2009 at 09:03 PM
I'm astounded at that photo of the English muffins! I feel like I could jump on them and they'd bear me up like pillows. You certainly have access to some amazing foods. The problem you described of living in a foreign country has never bothered me before. It should, exactly for the reasons you mentioned, but I love it regardless! I like what you did with the asparagus, broccoli, and peas, by the way. So simple, yet I'm sure it was totally satisfying.
Posted by: Sapuche | Saturday, May 09, 2009 at 06:54 PM