When I was fifteen my dad told me to get a job. So, he drove me to The Red Barn in Ghent, and I dropped off my resume. That was in May 2001, and I am currently employed by the same restaurant. Although the menu has changed drastically over the past nine years, from the outside it still looks like a great big red barn.
Saturday nights from May to December, I wait tables and assist in catering special events for the owners, Chris and Bert. The couple live on a local farm and a few years ago they started growing their own produce to feed hungry Red Barn patrons. The couple also support local farms like Grazin’ Angus Acres. They also started tapping into several local farmer’s markets all across upstate New York, and this summer I will be helping them at the Kinderhook and Hudson markets.
This past Saturday was my first market in Hudson from 9 am – 1 pm. What are we bringing to the table?
pink lemonade- $2
homemade potato chips, $2 per small bag
watermelon slices- $2
fruit kabobs- $2
chicken and veggie pot pies- $8/$14
lobster pot pie- $20
My day stated at seven am, and I am not a morning person, nor am I a coffee drinker. Anticipating the long day, I dusted off my coffee machine the night before and auto set it for seven. Unfamiliar with my coffee machine, I set it wrong and woke up around six smelling my hazelnut coffee already brewing, so I had to reheat it later. Thankfully, the coffee helped me through the morning.
While Chris and I were in Hudson, Bert and his nephew, Ben were managing the Kinderhook market, and our two teams had a competition going to see who could sell the most food. Personally, I think Chris and I won by a landslide, selling out of chips, watermelon, and our only two lobster pot pies [plus one of Bert's that Chris later hand delivered to someone]. Bert and Ben sold a lot of stuff as well, but the lobster sealed the deal for us.
At the end of the market all the vendors started trading produce and other items that they didn’t sell. Chris and I scored four locally grown heads of lettuce, sugar snap peas, and a beautiful bouquet of flowers.
Finally, I went home around 2 pm to my parents, ate lunch, napped, and drove back to the restaurant around 5 and stayed until 12 pm. Long and exhausting day, but the market was kind of fun.
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