Come to the North Market for a Saturday of farm-tastic activity during the 18th Annual Farmers’ Festival on Saturday, August 15th. The North Market Farmers’ Festival will highlight bushels of locally grown farm-fresh produce, a homemade jam and jelly contest, the Chef Challenge: “You say to-may-to, I say to-mah-to”, children’s activities, cooking demonstrations and live music. A heck of a good time will be had by all!

The North Market Farmers’ Market is one of the largest in central Ohio, featuring more than 20 farmers offering an array of locally-grown fruits, vegetables, flowers, plants and herbs. Farms scheduled to participate this year include Anderson Orchard, Beech Meadow Farm, Blue Jacket Dairy, Bridgman Farm, Combs Fresh Herbs, Ehmann and Sons Greenhouse, Elizabeth Telling Farm, Hinkle Farm, Honey Run Farm, K & R Garden Fresh Produce, Oakvale Farmstead Cheese, The Orchard of Bill and Vicki Thomas, Persinger Farm, Quiverfull Farm, Rhoads Farm, Somerset Herbs, Stevens Bakery and Orchard, Summer Thyme Farm, A Tasteful Garden, Toad Hill Farm, Toby Run Growers, Wayward Seed Farm and Wishwell Farms Produce.

“There’s no better way to get to know your growers than to come out and meet them in person at the North Market Farmers’ Festival,” says David Wible, Executive Director of the North Market. “Our farmers market has been going strong for 30 years and our farmers are trusted members of the North Market family and Columbus community.”

Saturday Farmers’ Festival activities and attractions include:
• North Market Merchants & Farmers’ Market opens at 8 a.m.
• Amateur Jelly/Jam making contest for North Market customers at 9 a.m.
• Musical entertainment by Loosely Strung, 9 - 11 a.m.
• Joy Unspeakable, The Living Statue, as “Old Country Boy,” 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• Mark Wood Cowboy Fun show, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
• Face painting by Rita, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Cooking demonstration 10:30 a.m. by Steve Lawrence of CaJohn’s Flavor & Fire
• Musical entertainment by Slate Ridge, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• Columbus Dog Connection, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• Cooking demonstration by, 11:30 a.m. by John Hard of CaJohn’s Flavor & Fire
• “You say to-may-to, I say to-mah-to”, Iron Chef style cooking contest, 12:30 p.m.
• Musical entertainment by One More Time String Band, 1 - 3 p.m.
• Cooking demonstration, 1:30 p.m. by Janel Hedgepeth of Barley’s Brewing Company
• Cooking demonstration, 2:30 p.m. by Anthony Frazier of Urban Chefs
• Musical entertainment by Folkwood Players, 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.

The Farmers’ Festival runs on Saturday, August 15 from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. and is a free event. For more information about the Farmers’ Festival or to sign-up for the Amateur Jelly and Jam contest, please call Mary at the North Market at (614) 463-9664 or visit www.northmarket.com.

The North Market in conjunction with Dispatch Food Editor Robin Davis has expanded its class offerings and established the “North Market School of Cooking” scheduled to launch this fall with Davis at the helm. The North Market School of Cooking classes will be comprised of a range of offerings including classes on the basics, ethnic cooking classes, special Sunday sessions with Robin and the ever-popular Chef Series classes.

The Chef Series returns with a lineup of tried-and-true favorites including Matt Prokopchak of Trattoria Roma, Rocco Valentino of Pastaria and Paul Yow from Barcelona. New additions include Spencer Budros of Pistacia Vera, Richard Blondin of The Refectory, Michael Jones of The Greener Grocer and Matt Linebrink of Latitude 41. Chef Series classes are designed as demonstration events where participants get to mix and mingle with their favorite chefs, garner a closer insight into their personalities and savor a three course meal prepared during the course of instruction.

The North Market is also offering a chance to join Dispatch Food Editor Robin Davis in the kitchen for “Sunday Sessions.” These afternoon classes pull together some of Davis’ favorite meals from Land and Sea to Restaurant Favorites. In addition, Davis will be offering a hands-on Thanksgiving Boot Camp to a limited number of people who want to learn how to make the holiday meal. She’ll take you through everything from how to baste and roast a turkey, make perfect gravy and finish it up with a delectable traditional dessert.

“I’m asked all the time about cooking classes in Columbus. People are more interested than ever about learning how to cook,” Davis said. “I think this will really fill a need in a fun, friendly environment. And I love teaching cooking classes. It gives me a chance to be face to face with readers and viewers and share an afternoon of cooking and camaraderie.”

Also new this fall is an ethnic series, including a sushi class by Nida Perry of Nida’s Sushi, a Vietnamese class taught by Thang Nguyen of Lac Viet, and an Indian cooking class by cooking instructor Pradip Ramachandran.

Finally, the School of Cooking also has a line-up of entertaining and technique classes including a Harvest Menu and Northern Italian Menu, being taught by Sheri Lisak, a former assistant to Betty Rosbottom. Classes on baking, vinaigrettes and more are also on the schedule for those interested in learning the fundamentals of cooking. 

Fall Class Schedule

 Chef Series, Wednesdays 6:30-8:30 p.m.

$65 per session or $300 for any five sessions, limit 24 per class

• Wednesday, September 16 ~ Rocco Valentino - Pastaria                     
• Wednesday, September 23 ~ Matt Prokopchak - Trattoria Roma                                           
• Wednesday, September 30 ~ Spencer Budros - Pistacia Vera             
• Wednesday, October 7 ~ Michael Jones - The Greener Grocer
• Wednesday, October 14 ~ Matt Linebrink - Latitude 41
• Wednesday, October 28 ~ Richard Blondin - The Refectory
• Wednesday, November 11 ~ Paul Yow - Barcelona                                                   

School of Cooking Classes

Weekday Evenings 6:30-8:30 p.m. and Sundays 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

$50 per session or $125 for any three sessions (unless otherwise noted), limit 24 per class

 September

• Thursday, September 10, Sushi ~ Nida Perry - Nida’s Sushi
• Sunday, September 13, A Harvest Menu ~ Sheri Lisak
• Sunday, September 20, Sunday Session with Robin Davis ~ Restaurant Favorites at Home

October

• Monday, October 5, Sauces, Gravies and Vinaigrettes
• Thursday, October 8, Vietnamese Cuisine ~ Thang Nguyen - Lac Viet Market
• Sunday, October 11, Sunday Session with Robin Davis ~ Land and Sea
• Sunday, October 18, Northern Italian ~ Sheri Lisak
• Monday, October 19, Baking 101

November

• Sunday, November 1, Sunday Session with Robin Davis ~ Comfort Food for Company           
• Sunday, November 8 ~ Thanksgiving Boot Camp, $100 per person, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
• Thursday, November 12, Indian Cuisine Made Simple ~ Pradip Ramachandran
• Sunday, November 15, Holiday Cookies: Drop, Roll and Chill

The Dispatch Kitchen is located on the second floor of the North Market. Registration is required and enrollment is limited for individual classes. Class reservations may be made online, by phone 614-463-9664, by email info@northmarket.com, or in person at the business office on the second floor of the Market building.