Features

How to do lunch from the Farmer’s Market

May 5, 2014

By 11:30am, my stomach is growling and I’m already distracted by sweet dreams of lunch to come. I try to pack a lunch, but some days (ok… a lot of days!) I opt to spend five extra minutes hitting snooze in exchange for the mad hunt for lunch in a 5 block radius of the office. And now that spring is (supposedly) here, farmers markets are back in full force, which means the lunch options are endless! We all have hectic days, but if you happen to work near a farmer’s market, you can get a pretty amazing lunch in the same amount of time and money it would take you to peruse the shelves at Pret or yawn in the Chipotle line.

Here’s our guide to great lunching if you work near one of the 130+ farmers markets in New York City. And what’s even better is that if you go just once, you can pick up enough stuff for a couple of lunches, 4pm-hit-the-wall-snacks with friends, and dinner ingredients.

Union Square / Flatiron

The Market: Union Square Greenmarket is along the northwest section of Union Square

Open: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays

Estimated price for lunch: $3.75 – $9.00

Estimated time to purchase and prep: 15 minutes + travel. And you know you’ll wait just as long at one of the usual suspect restaurants in the neighborhood.

Pick up these ingredients to stack up a quick and delicious lunch

Apples and pears from Migliorelli Farm for less than $2 a pound

Apples and pears from Migliorelli Farm for less than $2 a pound

Bread Alone Organic Whole Grain Bread for $4.75

Bread Alone Organic Whole Grain Bread for $4.75

Organic Arugula at $4 for 1/4 pound

Organic Arugula at $4 for 1/4 pound

Gluten free bread options are also available!

Gluten free bread options are also available!

Ham and cheeses from Millport Dairy for $6 each

Ham and cheeses from Millport Dairy for $6 each

Say hello to John from Millport Dairy when you stop by! 

Say hello to John from Millport Dairy when you stop by! 

Stack this stuff, and pop it in the toaster oven for a few minutes, and voilà! You have a delicious lunch for less time and money than most takeout spots in the neighborhood, and all the ingredients are fresh, delicious, and from local farms. 

Local Ham Sandwich

Local Ham Sandwich

This local ham sandwich stacks:

 

You can also make a veggie version of this by stacking

For the Mondays when you’re knocking over small children in a sprint to find lunch, you can grab one of Buon Pane’s Focaccia Pizzas. At only $3.75, it is one of the most affordable, balanced, fresh lunches around. Grab a few for the week while you’re there, like our beloved friend Matt does.

Buon Pane Focaccia Pizza

Buon Pane Focaccia Pizza

Farmers markets are open for lunch all over New York. So give that chopped salad a little vacation, head outside, meet some growers, and try out lunching at your nearest market!

Columbia University

Location: Broadway between 114th Street and 116th Street

Open: Thursdays

Easy lunch ingredients:  

Midtown West / Columbus Circle

Location: 9th Ave and West 57th Street

Open: Wednesdays (Starting 5/7/2014!)

Easy lunch ingredients:

  • Pears, apples, and a glass of cider from Breezy Hill Orchard
  • Breads from Meredith’s Bakery to pair honey and fruit butter from Toigo Orchard
  • Arugula from Morgiewics Produce to pair with a sharp cheddar cheese from Millport Dairy

City Hall

Location: Broadway at Chambers Street

Open: Tuesdays and Fridays, but there are more options on Fridays

Easy lunch ingredients: 

World Financial Center

Location: South End Ave at Liberty Street

Open: Thursdays

Easy lunch ingredients: 

Brooklyn Borough Hall

Location: Court Street and Montague Street

Open: Tuesdays and Thursdays

Easy lunch ingredients: 

  • Bread from Baker’s Bounty topped with jam from Wilklow Orchards
  • Delicious vegan turnovers from Body + Soul (Thursdays only!). Pick up an oatmeal raisin cookie for an afternoon treat. They are surely top 3 cookies in all of NY.

Do you have other great farmers market lunch hacks? Let us know here, on Facebook, or on Twitter! Can’t wait to see what you find. You’ll be able to share your finds on the Foodstand App soon. Make sure you are signed up to be the first to know when the app launches!

You Might Also Like