Turning up the heat at the farmers market
Published 8:00 am Tuesday, July 31, 2018
- McClure removes some green beans she had been blanching in a pot for the salad.
The aroma of pan-fried mountain trout and freshly-prepared vinaigrette wafted through courthouse square in Columbus Saturday, attracting the attention of many shoppers at the farmers market that morning. Executive Chef Sarah McClure, of Southside Smokehouse & Grille in Landrum, showed guests how to “Market Like a Chef,” leading several guests on a personalized shopping trip through the market before using several ingredients she purchased to show audiences how to prepare a “Southern Market Style” Salad Nicoise. McClure is the first of several local chefs who will be leading cooking demonstrations at the Columbus Farmers Market — which takes place from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays — through November. (Photos by Ted Yoakum/Tryon Daily Bulletin)
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Sofia Lilly, winemaker with Tryon’s Overmountain Vineyards, serves wine to pair with the Salad Nicoise.
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Erika McMillan, the manager of the Columbus Farmers Market, shares more information about the “Market Like a Chef” series with guests while McClure works.
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McClure’s take on the classic French dish substituted pickles — which could easily be purchased at the farmers market — in place of olives.
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The chef prepares a trout filet, which she had purchased from one of the vendors at the market, for the dish.
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McClure puts the finishing touches on some samples for the hungry crowd assembled around her cooking station to enjoy.