At 5 o’clock, I scrambled to leave work as fast as I could. I wanted some additional time to pick up a few items before the event got under way. My first stop was at the Grateful Bread Company tent for a sample of their Struan multigrain and French breads. I was heading out to Chelan for the weekend and the French bread seemed like an ideal companion for a grilled steak, so I picked up a loaf.

Collins Family Orchard brought overflowing boxes of cherries to the market and I was more than thrilled to help them get rid of a few.

I introduced myself to Jason from Local Roots and snatched their last bag of “not so spicy” mixed greens. These eventually made their way into a cherry, goat cheese, and walnut salad (enjoyed with the aforementioned steak).

After one more look around and a quick contemplation of nut butters and eggs, it was time to reconvene with my fellow food bloggers at Queen Anne’s Eat Local.

I have driven by Eat Local more than a handful of times. I was intrigued, but didn’t quite understand what they offered. Verbatim from their website, here is the description: Eat Local is an artisan food store offering prepared meals made with seasonal, organic ingredients bought directly from local farms. Even though I enjoy cooking on a regular basis, I decided this would be a great option when I am low on time, but still want to consume a local meal. In addition to their frozen appetizers, entrees, and desserts, Eat Local also retails Washington wines, Rockridge Orchards cider, Bluebird Grains, Woodrings spreads, and local cheeses.

(I met and reconnected with a collection of fabulous food bloggers at this event, including Hungry Grrl, Mise en Place Seattle, and Nude Food.)