All summer and fall, I have been a “CC” line on a group email delivered to kitchen staff members at the Hotel Murano’s Bite Restaurant.

The emails from Executive Chef Matt Stickle almost always have the same subject line “Farmers Market Special.”

For months, Stickle has spent Thursdays sourcing ingredients at the Tacoma Broadway Farmers Market, which will operate its final Thursday market of the season tomorrow, Oct. 28, from 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at Ninth and Broadway.

When Stickle shopped, he wandered the stalls, talked to farmers and then returned to the Bite kitchen to craft really interesting specials that ranged from pheasant marinated in porter to ancho marinated skirt steak, cedar-wrapped duck breast and wild salmon with blackberry compound butter (with a paired blackberry martini). The highlight of my Thursday was clicking on Stickle’s emails to see what he was cooking. Now, you get a look, too. Click “more” to see a gallery of photos and descriptions of his farmers market specials from July to October. Also, read a Q&A with Stickle about incorporating seasonal, locally produced ingredients into the Bite’s menu. Read more »

Coming to South Tacoma this summer: a new farmers market.

The seasonal market will operate on Sundays, with an opening date of June 20. The market intends to start small with room for less than 40 vendors.Most vendor spaces will be dedicated to farmers selling produce, with space for a few vendors selling prepared foods.

The idea for the market stretches back at least 18 months. Neighbors long have been vocal about attracting either a farmers market or a store with fresh produce to the area.

Organizers got verbal approval Monday for the farmers market to be located in a lot … Read more »

Laura Edwards, manager of the Tacoma Farmers Markets, reported that the soup feed at the Sixth Avenue Farmers Market last Tuesday raised $1,500 for Chanetta Ludwig, who TNT Diner readers may know as “The Bee Lady.” Ludwig’s husband died unexpectedly in August and the benefit was to raise money for the family.

The winner of the soup contest was Joel Mertens, chef of Masa, with a roasted corn and poblano soup. Click “more” to read the press release.

Infinite Soups will serve the winning roasted corn and poblano soup at their stores. More info here and here. UPDATE: I just got a call back from Infinite Soups owner Wendy Clapp. Not only will her restaurants serve the soup, but they’ll also donate all proceeds from the sale of the soup to The Bee Lady. The soup is on the menu now. Go eat.

Infinite Soups locations:

Infinite Soups (mother ship location)
Where: 445 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma; 253-274-0232

Infinite Soups Lunch Counter at Sanford & Son
Where: 744 Commerce, Tacoma
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