What's for Lunch?

Taste the World at Dean's Mediterranean Imports

My husband and I have operated our fresh produce stand at Cincinnati's historic Findlay Market for five years. Maybe it's because Daisy Mae's was in a prominent location near an entrance to the market house, but we became a sort of information booth for inquiring visitors. "Where's the restroom?" "Where can I get a cup of coffee?" "Who has a good bowl of soup?" After enough of those questions, I decided to start my Taste the World at Findlay Market food tours in 2012. My plan was to take the visitors by the hand and show them all that Findlay Market has to offer.

Since then, I have led hundreds of guests through Findlay Market during our tours, sharing delicious food samples and experiencing the fun of the market. Because our route may vary from tour to tour and the merchants love to get creative with their samples, each tour is slightly different. Of course, inquiring minds want to know, "What do we eat?" and "How much do we eat?"

Here's a brief description of what our guests enjoyed on yesterday's tour:

1. Seoul black rice with kimchi sweet potatoes from Fresh Table
2. Homemade Greek yogurt topped with honey and crushed pistachios, Barhi dates, Turkish figs, and cashews roasted in-house at Dean's Mediterranean Imports
3. Raspberry Black Tea from Churchill's Fine Teas
4. Thai vegetarian egg roll from Mimi's Gourmet Egg Rolls and Curry Bowls
5. Pumpkin bread pudding and curried chicken salad from Gramma Debbie's Kitchen
6. Handcrafted chocolates from Maverick Chocolate Co.

We tasted the world, and I know our guests were impressed with the variety of samples on yesterday's tour. Thanks to the merchants for creating another unforgettable experience. I think we inspired a new group of Findlay Market fans.

Don't Forget Your Roots

Photo from www.cincinnativiews.net

Our children have grown into twenty-somethings who have already exceeded any expectations we may have had for them. They have attended fine universities, found successful career paths, traveled, and met people from all walks of life. Consider us proud parents.
Along the way, I have occasionally reminded them (and will continue to remind them) to always remember their roots. It's important for anyone to stay connected to where they began. However, I think it may be even more important for those who are successful to remember where the seeds of success were planted.
I write about this as I think about the success of Findlay Market. Findlay Market started as an open-air market where local producers could bring their fresh produce, meat and poultry, and dairy products to market to sell. 160 years later, the market is flourishing and the vision for success continues to shine brightly.
However, I also see Findlay Market in transition. No longer is it solely a destination for grocery shopping, but the market has also become an attraction in and of itself. People visit to absorb the history, take in a special event, enjoy the music, or eat the food. Many people come just to take pictures!
We love our visitors, but we need to be cautious about the path down which we're headed. Findlay Market began as a source for local perishable goods. Over the years, the market evolved to include packaged foods and, most recently, prepared foods to eat-in or take-out. Many Findlay Market vendors offer both raw and prepared foods. Even Daisy Mae's now offers dried fruits and nuts, jams and jellies, and prepared salsas in addition to fresh fruits and vegetables.
Currently, we have a nice balance at Findlay Market. My own observations are that about half the visitors come to shop for groceries and about half come for the experience, the event, or the attraction. Everything works great right now, but I hope we don't tip the scale too far in the direction of becoming just another place to mark off a bucket list. I hope I don't see an overwhelming number of visitors leaving without a shopping bag. Sure, make memories and take pictures. But also take something home. Don't forget our roots.