Holiday Gift Ideas at the IWFM

From menu planning to cooking, cleaning and making chitchat with relatives, the holidays can be stressful! But this Saturday, the Indy Winter Farmers Market has you covered with one-stop shopping! 

All of our more than 40 local vendors have something to make your holiday a little tastier, a little prettier and a whole lot easier. Plus, supporting Indiana farmers, producers and artisans fits perfectly with the holiday spirit, don't you think? 

Whatever your role this holiday season, we have local products that are sure to impress:

• You're the host/hostess
• You're on appetizer duty
• You're making the main meal
• You're doing the desserts
• You're a guest of honor

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You're the host/hostess:

• Stock the guest bathroom with festive local soap varieties from Body Eclectic Skin Care
• Offer up soothing creams and balms made with local herbs from Hobbit Gardens
• Set a beautiful table with a pumpkin and flower centerpiece from Harvest Moon Flower Farm
• Serve in style with a sturdy platter from Hole Pottery
• Make cleanup a snap with specialty dishwasher detergent from Gaia Natural Cleaners

You’re on appetizer duty:

• Cut up some tasty local focaccia from Amelia’s Bread for an easy starter
• Set out some Smoked Salmon Spread from Lena's Mediterranean Kitchen. Trust us.
• Spread some raw Sunflower Seed Pate from Raw Gourmet Delights
• Stock the cheese plate with local dairy treats from Ludwig Farmstead Creamery
• Set out fresh cream cheese cured in olive oil from Sapori D'Italia
• Pretzel bread from Brotgarten is easy and fun!
• Offer something sweet with authentic European treats from Piccoli Dolci

You’re making the main meal:

• You’ve got a long day of cooking ahead! Start strong with granola from Muddy Fork Bakery
• Make sure you have the best tools -- wooden utensils from Dickinson Custom Furniture!
• Still haven't snagged a local turkey or ham? Becker Farm should have a few left!
• Load up on local greens from Harvestland Farm of Aspire Indiana
• Pick up the prettiest mushrooms from Shamrock Farm
• Need sausage for stuffing or tomorrow's breakfast? Check out Simpson’s Farm Market
• Incorporate squash into your menu with expert help from Randy at Stout’s Melody Acres
• Ensure your greens stay fresh with living plants from Eden Farms
• Round out the meal with a side dish of ferments from Farming for Life
• You’re going to need onions! Stock up on essentials from Funny Bone Farm
• Thanksgiving dishes mean savory herbs! Go fresh with picks from South Circle Farm

You’re doing the desserts:

• The apple experts at Wild's Apple Farm recommend delicious, local nittany or granny smith apples for the best possible apple pie or crumble
• Fill those fruit pies with local fruit from Fruit Loop Acres
Snag some pie pumpkins from Full Hand Farm
• Save yourself some time and snag a pre-made pie crust from Rollin' in the Dough
• Step up your al a mode offerings with Spiced Pumpkin Rosemary ice cream from Lick
• Offer the kids Wildflower Ridge Honey sticks for a no-mess, mobile dessert
• Don’t forget your gluten-free family with treats from The Measuring Cup!
• Balance out the sweet by offering guests fresh-ground coffee from Harvest Cafe Coffee & Tea

You’re a guest of honor:

• Try a tasty gift with a message -- addictive granola from Project Endure!
• Everyone loves a specialty oil from Artisano’s Oil & Spices
• Cater to fido with a tasty local treat from Pet Lovers Organic Bakery
• Don’t forget the cat of the house! KG Acres Farm & Featherwerks has great catnip fish toys!
• Who doesn’t love getting chocolate? Try the Cashew Buckeyes from Litterally Divine Toffee & Truffles
• Gift your hosts something to sip the next morning with a calming tea variety from Humbolt County Tea Co.
• Stock your hosts' shelves in style with beautiful jams from Home Ec.

List compiled by Maggie Loiselle, social media strategist for the Indy Winter Farmers Market, who's thankful for a year off from holiday hosting and cooking as she and her partner, Seth, prepare to welcome their first child this month.

Talking Local Food with Bluebeard Co-Chefs John and Abbi Adams

John and Abbi Adams
(Photo courtesy Edible Indy)

Did you know you can find fresh produce from the downtown gardens of Growing Places Indy on the menus of some of your favorite local restaurants? 

For the first in a series of Indy chef profiles, John and Abbi Adams, co-chefs at Bluebeard in Fountain Square, share why they love Growing Places Indy and buying local:

What's your food philosophy?
Our food philosophy is about taking the best ingredients available at the moment and preparing them using proper cooking techniques to maximize each individual ingredient's flavors. Our cuisine stems from different types of inspiration that could come from a meal we've had, our childhood, places we've worked, something we've seen or read about or simply what our farmers had ready for us. We cook with the season and find that it guides through our ever-changing menu and allows us to stay inspired to create new dishes every single day.

What has been your most memorable meal?
Our most memorable meal was a progressive dinner we had in NYC. We began in Korea Town with Korean BBQ. We then headed to a Sake Bar Haggi in Times Square, where we ate uni, calf's liver sashimi, chicken skin skewers and drank lots of sake. Next was the Spotted Pig in Greenwich, where we had had duck rillettes, mackerel sashimi, duck fat fries and chicken liver toast. For dessert, we went to the Lower East Side for cheese and wine at The Inoteca on Ludlow. We had truffled rochetta and drank an unfiltered Chardonnay from outside of Piedmont, and I can still remember how magical the pairing was.

Why do you buy local from Growing Places Indy?
We source from Growing Places Indy for several reasons. We support their mission using urban farming to promote sustainable agriculture and healthier eating practices to people in our city. We have a personal relationship with the organization and find that it allows to interact better with them and even have things custom grown for us. Lastly, the quality is super high, and we know that the product will always be the best that they can produce. The offerings change all the time, and I find that I'm always excited about what's new. But, consistently, we order the micro greens. They make our plates look beautiful and add a fresh, pungent accent to them while even adding some nutrition.