Festive fare
THE prospect of December at Granny Smith Natural Food Market looms for us mid-year, when we speak with farmers, makers and suppliers to see – and taste! – the celebration foods that we can stock for the the holy days’ festivals of Christmas and Hanukkah. We muse on ideas for a festive theme, read catalogues, search the web, work the telephone and, perhaps most satisfying of all, enjoy the fruits of serendipity. This last was how we discovered Gena Karpf at the Castle Hill-Hawkesbury Harvest Farmers’ & Fine Food Market on a beautiful Saturday in May 2011…and her extraordinary confections. Gena is the founder of Sweetness the Patisserie in neaby Epping. From her boutique kitchen Gena and her staff create beautiful mallows, paté de fruits, the finest rocky road you’ll ever eat, and wonderful fruit mince tarts. And there’s Montelimar-styled soft nougat bursting with plump berries.
Granny Smith hampers
Granny Smith’s Anne and Jess have also created some beautiful, simple hampers from Whisk & Pin’s large cookies, Bunna Bunoo olive oil, Green & Black’s organic chocolate, Beck’s hot chocolate, Ecosilk carry bags, Australian Gourmet Hazelnuts, Brookfarm’s macadamia ’snacmacs’ and heavenly Eden Gate blueberry jam. Wrapped in clear cellophane, each features a paper ribbon in red, blue, purple or green.
Festive organic meats
Certified organic berkshire-kurobuta black pig ham and pork from Jack and Miriam Neilsen’s Pasture Perfect Pork at Ashford, sustainably-farmed Regal salmon from New Zealand’s Marlborough Sounds – presented sous vide, and organic turkey and chicken can be ordered now for your festive table. (Indeed, the salmon needs to be ordered by Thursday 8 December.) You can mark your preferred pick-up day on our order form. The form also has all of Granny Smith’s contact points should you have any questions when completing it.