On Assignment April 4: Market, Arts and Spring Refreshment

Market Fresh

Spring is here, which means it’s the perfect time to hit up the Crescent City Farmers Market for the freshest produce, jams and jellies, pickles, flowers and more. Three markets located Uptown, in Mid-City and in City Park make it easy for most to connect with a market near you. (Produce boxes are also available for home delivery through Top Box Foods Louisiana). I like to indulge in the season’s best from the City Park Sunday morning market, where I can scoop up some locally produced honey, small batch cheeses, fresh baked bread or a pastry and bright red strawberries for a spring breakfast that doesn’t require firing up your oven or stove.

Artistic Expression

This week The Helis Foundation unveils its latest sculptural addition to the New Orleans Botanical Garden. New Orleans-born artist Fritz Bultman’s “Good News I” is currently on loan and on display at the Oscar J. Tolmas Visitor Center. Bultman’s work became known worldwide as part of the Abstract Expressionist movement that launched the artistic careers of such notables as Jackson Pollack, William deKooning and Lee Krasner.

Garden Dining

In addition to “Good News I,” the New Orleans Botanical Garden has relaunched its Kitchen in the Garden event series each Wednesday night. Visitors are encouraged to explore the gardens while enjoying food created onsite by Chef Pat White (available for pre-order.) Recent menu items have included smoked salmon flatbread, Spanish-style pork tenderloin, and guava BBQ chicken sandwiches (plus dessert options) for a unique picnic experience.

Road Trip

If you’re up for a weekend drive, the annual Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival celebrates its 50th anniversary this year in downtown Ponchatoula. The festival boasts strawberry royalty, a strawberry eating contest, food, music and of course, lots of Louisiana-grown strawberries. While there, pick up a flat (or two) of berries and whip up something sweet, like this classic strawberry custard pie from our archives or these mini strawberry tarts (plus some blueberry lagniappe recipes) from our sister publication Louisiana Life.

Snoball Special

Back at home, if you’re looking for a refreshing way to cool off, check out Chance in Hell Snoballs in the Bywater on #SnoballSunday for true snoball innovation. Think: key lime pie, malted milk chocolate Whoppers, spicy cherry bomb (cherries chili de arbol and lime), dill pickle and ginger mint lemonade. Small batch snoball goodness in a cup.

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