Alfresco shopping
Earlier this week, I finally visited a Farmers Market here in Vegas.
In this case, it was in Summerlin on Tuedsay night in Gardens Park, just off of 215 at Town Center.
Modern Vegas seems far removed from agriculture, with its Mojave climate and mega sprawl. So it's nice to visit a slice of the agrarian way of life pick up some fresh veggies. The Farmers Market trend seems at first glance a little behind here in Vegas. In many cities, Farmers Markets are Saturday morning extravaganzas. Here they are smaller and held on weekday evenings. Nonetheless, I came across some interesting finds.
First I chatted with a couple from Pahrump who were selling watermelons from the back of a truck. The whole bed was filled with big Fandango, Crimson Sweet and Fiesta varieties. I saw a few people purchase multiple melons. Others bought slices cut over the park's grass. The biggest tables at the market were helmed by growers from California... makes sense, nation's breadbasket and all.
But I was more curious about local vendors, though an arrangement of California tomatoes glowed deep red in the slanted evening sun filtered through forest-fire smoke in the air.
Next I chatted with Stephen Bankhead of Hickoryhead Smoked Meats. He runs the log cabin barbecue truck seen on Casino Center on First Fridays. Bankhead told me he was originally from Texas and had worked here as a painting contractor before building the trailer/portable smoker with his son over the period of a couple of years. Now he's following his dream of serving up 'cue to a public in search of sauce and meat. I sampled his chopped pork shoulder. Very tender.
Smoke on, Stephen.
Next I had a nice conversation with Jesse Scott of Buckhorn Ranch in Alamo, a little ranching town up aways on Highway 93. He told me about his flock of goats that he's marketing in Vegas. A fan of the chiva taco, as detailed previously in this blog, I was interested to hear more. He also told me where the ranch is, which I will visit in a week when I head up toward majestic White Pine County and charming Ely. I purchased one zucchini, one squash and one tomato from Scott. They are destined to be roasted with olive oil, shallots and herbes de Provence. I'll be back to the Farmers Market ...
Hickoryhead Smoked Meats 258-8281
www.lasvegasfarmersmarket.com
Totally kooky and funny ice cream
Today I checked in on the new Ice Cream Overload Cafe in Henderson. This is no ordinary frozen treat joint.Building upon ice cream (here Dreyer's), this place creates a smorgasbord of frozen formats in guises like hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, bacon and eggs and so forth. The menu is mind boggling.
I especially like the looks of the sushi and egg roll combos. I'm not much of an ice cream eater and only looked, but I give this place props for inventiveness. If you have bambini, this place might be a place to let them order with their eyes.
Ice Cream Overload Cafe
Horizon Ridge and Stephanie Street
Free Flaming Lips (just buy the beer)
Last week I picked up my two free tickets to the Flaming Lips' September show at the Palms. All I had to do is buy an 18 pack of Miller Light and redeem a coupon at the Pearl box office. Pretty nice deal. It would have had more avant-rock cred if it would have been Pabst Blue Ribbon, but oh well. It's a pretty good deal.
In honor of the show, I picked out some of the Lips' more culinary/taste-sensational sounding titles:
"The Last Drop Of Morning Dew"
"Gingerale Afternoon (The Astrology Of A Saturday)"
"She Don't Use Jelly"
"Clouds Taste Metallic"
"Kim's Watermelon Gun"
Of special note, check out the video for "The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song."
If the notion of a Karl Rove/Dick Cheney hybrid (scientists -- please don't) being covered in hamburgers and a supermodel getting strapped with donuts and being chased respectively by enormous men and deadbeat cops through a post-apocalyptic military fort doesn't make you laugh, you just aren't living. And of course the segment of singer Wayne Coyne getting trussed up with raw steaks and subsequently being chased by a werewolf is perfect turnabout, Lips-style. This viddy is delish.
Wayne, email me. Lunch, my treat.
Long live the lips.
Bonus: The Flaming Lips were the coolest band to ever play the Peach Pit on Beverly Hills 90210. Conversely, here's the lamest quote ever from said series, also about the Flaming Lips:
"You know, I've never been a big fan of alternative music, but these guys rocked the house." -- Steve Sanders (Ian Ziering)"