have you had a run-in with the almond toast? you should.

there is truly nothing like a beautifully crafted, crusty outside, comforting inside - bread. nothing. pair it with some fine cheeses and serve up a bottle of red and i'm in. you can imagine my delight when flour city bread found their niche in the row of buildings that hug the rim of the market and back up to pennsylvania avenue - parked between java joe's and fare game meats. these people are passionate about their craft and it shows and it is so very appreciated. a welcomed, needed addition to the rochester public market.

granted, some will bark, "$5 for a loaf of bread, eeek really?" yep and it's worth every penny, everyone waiting in line will tell you so. everyone is allowed their opinion and i guess it really comes down to what you're into. every week offers up an artists collection, the foodies will squeal in delight of the selection offered - brioche, foccacia, baguettes, rounds, spectacular combinations: rye & fennel being one example, croissants - almond, chocolate, spinach & feta. need i say more? yes, one more thing: almond toast. do one good thing for yourself and indulge in a slice of almond toast. brioche spread with a homemade jam and almond paste, topped with sliced almonds. pair this with a cup of coffee and you need nothing more, life is complete. gawd, it will make you melt.

flour city bread is open on thursdays from nine.to.noon and saturdays from seven.to.one. if you wake up on sunday with a hankering, you can luckily find them at the brighton farmer's market. this past season, they were part of the good food collective CSA, another great bonus.

joyful face.

through a sea of people during high tide at the market, there was the most lovely vision: buckets and buckets of sunny yellow sunflowers sitting beside this woman with this angelic face and kind, joyful spirit, dressed in her pretty yellow blouse. her name is lovie, it's true. she and her son alex, grow these flowers in red creek, sodus, new york. in 1968 they left mississippi and headed north, landing in the area with $7 to their name. they opted to work on a farm picking apples to get on their feet, alex's father then worked at duffy-motts and secured a va loan to purchase land in red creek just a year later. they have been farming and selling their goods at the rochester public market since 1969.

their stand is located in the main shed, 98a. they offer all different types of legumes throughout the season - butter, lima, cranberry & italian pole beans; butter and crowder peas; edamame. beautiful flowers and pussy willows. we had to have the flowers that day, $5 a bunch, yielding two vases full! and yet worth so much more. i walked to the end of the shed but the camera on my wrist was tugging at me to head back to capture more photos.

mark your calendars for sunday, september 18th for the 7th annual artists row art fair, 10 to 4 - more information to follow soon.

you say tomAto, i say tomOto.

tomatoes: little fire-orange. yellow. red. purple. gems of summertime.

every year, on the cusp of summer, i have big plans to plant tomatoes. it is the perfect fantasy to waltz into my backyard, barefoot and pick my very own tomatoes. it never really happens, maybe next year - my famous last words. however, i did find the perfect runner-up to that idealistic plan - tim gilman farms. for 43 years, his farm has been in existence. for the past 14, he has been trucking his treats from murray, new york on thursdays & saturdays to share the love of the most delish, flavor explosions we call tomatoes. tim gilman farms is located under the main shed, stalls 122&124. they participate in the rochester public market year round and once they make the jump to their winter location, i will note this post.

there are baby romas, on the vines, grape & heirlooms. it's completely overwhelming really. all pesticide f r e e! it's never even been a consideration on their part, which makes you love them more. dawn and andrea will guide you through the varieties. pricing is beyond reasonable, ranging from $2-$6, depending on variety & quantity. you can reinvent these little guys in anyway that you see fit....a fresh tomato sauce, bruschetta, caprese salad, freshly sliced on a slice of toast with cream cheese or just by their naked little selves.

you can also find homegrown green beans, peppers, cilantro & cantalope offered throughout the season...all lovely. but the tomatoes, the tomatoes carry nostalgia for all things summer.