That’s Natural!

by Tammy Stuever-Alhadef

A new summer market will offer locavores the chance to take home farm fresh food and provide an opportunity for art lovers to mingle with local artists.

The Loco for Local farmers’ market, slated for Thursday evenings at the Sangre de Cristo Art Center, begins early next month and runs throughout the summer. The weekly market will feature live musical performances sponsored by the Pueblo Performing Arts Guild, art activities for the kids and products created by folks in the area.

Created by Tisha Casida, owner of That’s Natural Marketing, the event will feature only items grown or created within a 300 mile radius. She said it was important to her that things not be imported.

“We wanted to give local producers a great venue to showcase their products and engage with the community.” Casida said.

While most of the producers are from the Pueblo area, she said she didn’t want to exclude producers from the San Luis Valley or Paonia.

“If we hadn’t added that 300 mile radius, we wouldn’t have a lot of summer fruits,” she said.

Medina Farms and Ditomaso Farms and other local producers will offer a wide range of produce. A Wren’s Nest Farm and Larga Vista Ranch will both offer pasture-raised pork as well as an assortment of other products, such as farm fresh eggs, milk shares and naturally-rendered lard.

Hopscotch Bakery will be there, offering handmade ice cream sandwiches and jams. Market-goers can quench their thirst with a glass of Katie’s Famous Lemonade or enjoy a cup of locally roasted java from Solar Roast Coffee.

Lunarstar Pottery, Vera’s Old World Glass and other local art studios also will sell their wares.

Casida said the weekday evening format will give people the opportunity to come out and grab groceries for the weekend as well as the opportunity to have a good time with friends.

“I think it will be great for families and the 13,000 people working downtown,” she said.

The event kicks off July 2 with live music from Fireweed and the Haunted Windchimes.

The market is scheduled from 4 to 8 p.m. every Thursday beginning in July and runs through Sept. 17.

For more information e-mail Tisha Casida or call That’s Natural! at 719-252-1763.

Victoria’s Deli and Quality Catering is relatively new to Pueblo – at least under this name. Victoria’s is Rio Bistro owner Elizabeth’s answer to classy, delicious breakfasts and lunches that balance the luxurious meals offered at the fine dining Rio Bistro. It offers Pueblo treasures such as the Breakfast Burrito (with a twist, of course) and offers lesser known foods, like chocolate croissants, German sandwiches, and homemade soups. Tisha and I took it upon ourselves to sample several of the offerings in order to spare our dear readers. But I think the readers will want to visit this gem themselves.

Over a five-hour period – okay we had meetings and conference calls – we enjoyed the Blueberry Cream Cheese Turnover, a Cinnamon Roll, a Shortbread cookie with Chocolate Ganache and Pinon Nuts, a Breakfast Croissant with Chorizo, a Breakfast Croissant with Roasted Bell Pepper and Avocado Spread, and our regular espresso beverages. At lunch we ate the Turkey Melt on Sourdough bread with Roasted Bell Peppers and cheese. The breakfast croissants were generously filled with scrambled egg and the selected toppings. The turnover was filled with blueberry-sweetened cream cheese and the crust was golden, crispy, flaky, and tender.

The cinnamon roll was tender and moist with just enough sweetness to perk up any coffee drink.

Guillermo Casillas, whose baking skills are legendary in Pueblo, cheerfully explains the ever-changing variety of pastries. “ADD is great – when it comes to food!” He says that consumers need to have their palates pushed to encourage tasting new foods. Chef Ben Bedard and Elizabeth have given him creative baking license – and a large baker’s rack – and he is preparing fresh goods daily.

Visit Victoria’s and discover your favorite Europe-inspired breakfast! Victoria’s Deli is open from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at 218 S. Victoria Ave in The District. Call them 719-546-2354 for their daily specials, to make reservations for lunch meetings, and to order catering services.