Old Market Day

Short but sweet

Chambersburg's Old Market Day last July 21 started out nicely ended--well let me tell you.

Munchies Monster Grill & Catering, a new vendor, offered a tropical smoothie (left)--yogurt, mango, apple, chia seed and that's only what I remember. Not too sweet; just natural flavoring, emphasis on organic and locally sourced fruit. Went nicely with the lamb curry (middle), vegetables in a curry sauce, topped with chunks of lamb, all over rice. Could have used a little seasoning I thought, but then if it was too salty it'd be too late right? The lamb flavor did come through, and I liked that; curry in turn went nicely with the naan bread, by turns crisp and chewy. 

Went to Balkan Traditions, another new truck:

Wanted to order the whole menu but had to settle (for dietary and budgetary reasons) for the lamb/beef gyro:

Basically ground and roasted meat stuffed into a toasted pita topped with fresh lettuce tomatoes onions and (nice touch) feta cheese for that extra tang and fresh dill for that herby hit.  

Couldn't resist trying the tiropita, or Greek cheese pie:

Crisp buttery phyllo wrapped around tender feta and (I'm guessing) ricotta cheese, with eggy binder. More savory than sweet and nice contrast to the meaty gyro.

One newcomer is actually an oldie: Farm Show Milkshakes is going on 65 years out in Harrisburg and comes to the Chambersburg festival for the first time. Naturally it was a hit:

Ordered a mixed shake, chocolate and vanilla--unfortunately my partner half-finished the glass and all I got was chocolate, no vanilla. Which was okay: the French talk a lot about terroir, and I swear I could taste a hint of Pennsylvania grass in the rich rich chocolaty milk.

Was going to take a pic too--but unfortunately (again) my back was turned and my pard finished off the shake. Didn't feel an empty glass with foamy chocolate milk clinging to the sides would help this blog much. Grumble. 

Another oldie that's been a constant presence in every downtown Chambers fest is Olympia Candy Kitchen which took its cue from the muggy heat (must have been eighty out in the street) and set up a refrigerated display case. Naturally one thinks "I can buy from the store anytime" but who can resist chocolate covered bananas? Or worse chocolate covered bacon?

 

No pics alas--finished off both banana and bacon before I could think to take a pic. Suffice to say the bacon was satisfyingly crisp the chocolate crust satisfyingly rich; as for the banana the chocolate was darkly bitter the fruit satisfyingly sweet--nice little contrast in texture and flavor.

Talking old and new: Korean Bulgogi House has been serving spicy goodness since 2011 but this is the first time (could be wrong) it has ever participated in a festival, a welcome 'newcomer.'

Julie--the bubbly proprietor--has come up with a streamlined more portable version of her menu which includes a bulgogi taco: basically a beef taco sprinkled with nori (dried seaweed) for that umami charge, amped up a notch with kimchi (which for the record she makes herself). 

One of my favorite dishes of the day however is a longtime resident of the North Square Farmer's Market, open every Saturday morning during warm weather. Habitually sitting at a far corner--as if indifferent to your finding it or not--is the market's canopied gem, Bernard's Jamaican Jerk Chicken. 

Menu is as simple as day: leg and thigh of chicken, rubbed in jerk spices and grilled over coals. Served over an elemental bed of rice and beans (carbs and proteins, only tasty) and creamy mac and cheese--as Southern and comfort and soul a food as you can get. 

Newcomers I still need to try: Kristtany Tea is one of the latest additions to downtown, and a welcome one, specializing in afternoon tea. Not just the stuff tossed into Boston Harbor but the ritual itself, including cakes, desserts, sandwiches, salads. 

Of course they had to cosplay for the festival, here taking on a decidedly Lewis Carroll look: 

No March Hare, alas. There was a winged fairy but she remained tantalizingly outside of camera range, no matter how hard I tried coaxing her to flutter into the pic. 

Topping off the experience was a visit to the Pie Man

Big guy bigger voice but the pies came in two sizes: regular and personal. I bought two (personal size, again for dietary and budgetary reasons): cherry and peanut butter. 

Cherry was fine--sweet with flaky crust--but the peanut butter was something else. Pie Man had warned me: "that's my best pie;" he wasn't wrong--an intense peanut flavor in a creamy buttery filling. 

 

Which was it--all morning long we kept examining the sky and if you look at my pics carefully you can spot the gray clouds in the background. Some time past noon the heavens gave way and poured a vigorous bucket over our heads; we called it a day and went home with our loot (basically a bagful of Thai chicken skewers and smoked turkey legs). Wasn't a total surprise but wouldn't call the day a total dud either--got at least half a day's fun out of it which in my book is better than none, or better than a day you wish was over already. Short and sweet over drawn-out sour; was it worth it, despite the gloomy weather? I think so, and have the full stomach to prove it.