Who ARE these people?? They are Todd Delo (and friends) who bring you Big Daddys Big Dawgs every Saturday. They are hard to miss since they occupy the space in front of the market! They feature all-beef hotdogs, and this year they also offer brats. Note: all the condiments they use are MICHIGAN products. Isn't that cool? The Bloody Mary chips are the winningest item, but they also sell Great American Gourmet pretzels and more.
Why did Todd get into this business? A couple of circumstances dovetailed to make it happen: after 27 years in the automotive field, the recession hit which affected his job. At the same time, his young friend, Kristin, was studying Culinary Arts at the Capitol Area Career Center. They talked, and planned, got some help from Holt's Incubake and the rest will soon be history. FYI: Kristin is the other one wearing the attention-getting hat. Check them out; they will be able to tell you more details and will be happy to sell you their tasty products.
A  new vendor I want to mention: Ofilia's El Burrito. They have two locations in Lansing Mega Mall and the Lansing City Market, but they are new at the HFM. Although they have an extensive menu at their other locations, they are kinda testing the water at our place and offer their wonderful breakfast burrito...which must be good, because they keep selling out before I arrive at 12:30! However, I was able to buy some wonderful, satisfying hand-made tortilla chips and delicious salsa. I found the chips quite hearty, and was able to eat some, feel good and not feel compelled to gobble them up in one sitting...unlike Lay's products...okay, Fritos, which I truly can't eat just one. My doctor says that motto is true, and the company may well  have found just the right combination of fats, salt and carbs that turn off the brain's signal that tells us when we have had enough. So! It's not my fault if I can't eat just one, right? The company made me do it! My plan? To buy more of Ofilia's chips and less of Lay's.
ALSO NEW: We are all so excited about our grant-funded Demonstration Kitchen! Which, by the way, was designed and built here in Michigan by Burdick and Associates in Adrian. There are so many possibilities! So far we've done a couple demonstrations on how to prepare certain foods, one being Tabbouleh Salad (recipe on the HFM bulletin board). In the future, we may do kitchen skills demos, healthy cooking workshops, cooking classes and even wine and food parings!
Next week: More news about vendors and other things we're excited about at the Holt Farmers Market.
               
                                      And yes, It's Still Sunny in the Holt Farmers' Market!