A couple of weeks before leaving Napa for Carmel, I figured it was about time I visited the renown Sonoma Plaza afternoon Farmers’ Market. This popular farmers’ market is only once a week and only in the extended summer months (May through October), as it starts at 5:30 pm till dusk. It takes place on the driveway to, around and from the Sonoma City Hall, which is easy to find as it is smack in the middle of the Plaza.
It is indeed a farmers’ market offering quite a selection of produce and foods, but also an event, with music and quite an array of great food trucks that feature from coffee to burgers, to seafood and Thai food. People like to set up their camping chairs on the lawn and under the trees of the park, and enjoy some music, a food-truck picnic and possibly some wine while also stocking up with fresh produce.
I must admit it made me feel like I was in Hawai’i, and the deja vu was complete when a lady walked past me wearing a muumuu and hat with a lei on. I shook my head and refocused to see that I was actually in Sonoma. If I lived in Sonoma, I would be attending this market just about every week.
I was not there to shop, just to take photos before heading to satisfy a specific food truck crave, but I admit I was very tempted by these glorious peppers! Aren’t they stunning? They are all organic, and for those who are interested, the grower is Triple T Ranch & Farm in Santa Rosa, California, who have been growing organic produce since 1983.
After my exploration of the farmers’ market, I headed to the tasting room for Roche Winery. On Tuesdays, during this farmers’ market, The Fig Rig food truck is parked next to it and visitors can enjoy scrumptious food from the Fig Rig and wine from Roche. Perfect combination!
I arrived there as food service was starting, and things were just getting busy. I had been hoping for the Fried Green Tomato BLT I had been seeing in pics all over social media a few weeks earlier, but, well, green tomato season was over, and all tomatoes were ripe. The specials for the evening were a Porchetta Slider ($8), an Eggplant Slider (also $8), and their famous Blue Cheese Fries ($8). I had been hearing about the blue cheese fries from just about everyone I talked to about heading to The Fig Rig, so I had to order those, and then I selected the Porchetta Slider, as I am not fond of eggplant.
I was going to drive home, so no wine for me. Instead, I picked up a lovely elderflower lemonade from the soft drinks refrigerator at Roche. I love elder everything!
Now, before we get to how delicious the food was, you have to know that The Fig Rig is the latest venture by the team at The Girl and The Fig, which happens to be one of the best restaurants in Sonoma. So you know the food is going to be fantastic! The Girl and The Fig happens to be right next to Roche Winery, so this Tuesday market set up is perfect for both.
The food was hot, freshly made and delicious. The slider flavorful and juicy, and the fries tender and crisp at the same time. What I did not realize was that the slider already came with its own portion of fries, so between those and the blue cheese ones, I found myself with quite a bit of fries. But you can never have too many fries, right? I still managed to take most of my fries home with me, which I enjoyed reheated in a toaster oven the next day.
Seriously, if you are in Sonoma, you want to find out what The Fig Rig’s schedule is so you can enjoy whatever is the special on that day.
The Sonoma Plaza Farmers’ Market, also known as the Valley of the Moon Farmers’ Market, concluded yesterday afternoon, and will reprise next May. If you will be in the Sonoma Wine Country next summer season, you might want to put it on your schedule.
Sonoma Plaza by City Hall – Sonoma, California | website
122 West Spain St. – Sonoma, California | website
Sonoma, California | website
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I was so excited to see this because I may be headed to Sonoma this year! 😀
Awesome! Be sure to get in touch, as I am just over the hill in the next Valley: Napa! 🙂