Second Helpings Of Square Meals

If you didn't catch last week's Toyota Farm to Table caravan during its stop in Market Square, we're hoping you stop by today during the Farmer's Market for a taste of what you missed.

Because so many people told us how much they enjoyed the Farm to Table feast in the Square we decided to cook up something special for you. Why not bring a chef home with you!  Well, in spirit, at least.  Via the recipes you sampled last week!

Today you'll have the chance to cook like Bill Fuller, executive chef of Big Burrito Restaurant Group —  the savvy restaurateurs who run Mad Mex, Eleven, Casbah and so many other great eateries around town.  Treat friends and family with a healthy and delicious gaspacho a la Casbah and astonish your coworkers when you pull out your brown bag lunch of Thai Melon Salad.  They'll say, "Oh, leftovers from Soba?" And you'll say, "Oh this? Just a little salad I whipped up with some things I picked up at the farmers market. I like to eat local."


Of course, you don't have to limit your palate pleasures to the recipe of the day. Each week the Farmer's Market delivers a harvest bounty of fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, herbs and spices and cheeses — plus a smorgasbord of hot, prepared foods that Pittsburghers love. And top it all off before you head back to work or home, don't forget a little desert in the form of pastries, homemade fruit pies or a slice of yummy cake.

So if you're hungry today for some of the freshest, most delicious food in Downtown — prepared by one of the city's best chefs — stop by Market Square for the Farmer's Market. We'll see you there.

PS   a heads up on today's concert schedule: the Star 100.7 and KDKA is sharing the spotlight with a local foundation that works with youth in our community.  Local blues band Billy the Kid will perform 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. followed directly with the MGR Foundation's Youth Rally.

Thursday Concert Line Up

Concerts run June 3 - August 26

Noon - 1 p.m.

June 3 - Lincoln Park Steel Drum Corps

June 10 - Henry Mancini All Stars (Lincoln park performing arts singing troop)

June 17 – The Delaneys (popular Pittsburgh based rock band)

June 24 – NOMaD (Pittsburgh Country Music band favorite most recently selected as the exclusive performing act by Harrah's casinos to debut for a three month run at a yet unnamed venue at Bally's Atlantic City beginning summer 2010.)

July 1 - The Granati's "For those about to Rock Academy" featuring Beaver County rockers David and Hermie Granati with some of their most gifted up-coming students.

July 8 - Sarah Marince (Pittsburgh Native – now living in Nashville, pened for many national acts such as Taylor Swift, Kenny Rogers and Kellie Pickler! She just released her second cd entitled "You're My Summertime)

July 15 - Harmon Creek (female country duo previously featured as semi-finalists on CMT's Can You Duet )

July 22 - The Great Scotts! (Fun 80s 90s acoustic cover act) this is Donnie Iris's nephew but that’s not for advertisement.

July 29 - Walter Ino (internationally touring musician based out of Pittsburgh who's bands include Strangeway, 7th House, and lead guitar player for South by Southwest 2010 performer Danielle Barbe as well as Jenny Galt a former contestant on American Idol)

Aug 5 - Amy Colalella – (winner of the Miley Cyrus as Hannah Montana's search for the next pop star contest)

Aug 12 - Billy the Kid – (Pittsburgh based blues band that has one many blues competitions from here to Nashville and back).

Aug 19 - Beatles Tribute Band

  The Thursday concerts are produced by:

Star 100.7                                  KDKA Radio

To tempt your palate: Market Square Weekly Farmers Market returns soon!

Your lunch break is about to get a lot more delicious... The Thursday Market Square Farmers Market is returning this June for its sixth year in the new Market Square.

Starting Thurs., June 3, Market Square will be bustling with local vendors selling all things tasty from the center terrazzo -- fresh produce, smoked meats, authentic salsas, decadent baked goods and even flowers and wine to keep on hand for a romantic weekend.

The farmers market will be a great time to stop by and check out Pittsburgh's newest public space -- stroll over, pick up some pierogies and baklava, and enjoy your international lunch in a piazza with a truly international feel (the whole place is oriented to pedestrians rather than vehicles). 

The Market Square farmers market will be open each Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. all summer and into the fall -- the market doesn't wrap its season until Nov. 18, the week before Thanksgiving.

The Thursday Market Square Farmers Market will feature all your favorite vendors from last year.  See the full list of vendors on our website, DowntownPittsburgh.com.

And a new addition this year for you fromage fans: Clover Creek Cheese Cellar, which sells artisan cheeses made with Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture-Certified grass-fed raw milk. Customers will also be able to special order grass-fed beef.

If delicious food is not enough to get you to the new Market Square, there will also be live music, brought to you by Star 100.7 and KDKA Radio. So you've got no excuse not to check it out. We'll do a special blog post next week with this summer's performers. 

And keep in mind, you don't have to wait until June 3 to find farm-fresh foods Downtown. The Citiparks Farmers Market opened last Friday, May 14 at the City-County Building on Grant Street. It runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Friday.

For up-to-the-minute updates on all things Pittsburgh, follow Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership on Facebook and Twitter.