Guest Blogger: Joe Kuo Talks About Madison's Capital Square Market

When I first arrived in Madison, WI I was disappointed by the littleness of this dinky town with most stores being closed at ten pm.  That was soon to change.  After being here for seven years and still counting, I am always mesmerized by numerous outdoor activities found across the isthmus.  My very favorite was actually a walk around Dane County’s Farmer’s Market On the Square every summery Saturday—rain or shine.  Reported as the largest producer-only farmer’s market with around three hundred vendors in the United States and located around Madison’s landmark—the state capitol, Dane County’s jewel has become a place for Madisonians to introduce to out-of-towners with a potential travel speed of one small Japanese step per thirty seconds...However, there is always something exciting every Saturday: tasting a new vegetable or fruit in season, hearing an interesting conversation from passersby, and bumping into a familiar face over the counter or while walking.

June and July are two wondrous months for strawberry lovers.  Numerous vendors would display pints and quarts of freshly harvested strawberries.  A quart usually costs $3-4 and buckets would be sold in selected booths.  These strawberries, although are smaller than the ones found at Trader Joe’s or Costco, are brilliantly red and sweet that joy could be found in each red gem.  One tip: make sure to wash every strawberry before ingestion in case of E. coli outbreaks

The summer time is also a season of flowers.  Two of my favorite stands to shop for flowers are (1) Snug Haven Farms (and this place has the best spinach in town that are even used in the acclaimed L’Etoile Restaurant) since the lady with glasses and ginger hair used to fix my tie during the good ol’ days at Choral Union and tossed me an apple when she first spotted me around the farmer’s market a few years ago…and (2) Lewiston Perennial Farm with a wide variety of beautiful and high-quality flowers that sell like hotcake within the past twenty-five years and more.  My friend Michael brought a stem of lilies from the Lewiston Perennial Farm stand for his girlfriend, and the stem lasted for two weeks and a half!  You would also spot brides-to-be and bridesmaid shopping for wedding flowers! 

            Due to Wisconsin’s fame as being America’s Dairyland, cheese products can be found across Capitol Square.  While entering capitol square from State Street, folks would hear bakers promoting “hot-n-spicy cheesebread” and smelled pastries fresh out from the oven.  The stand, occupied by Stella’s Bakery, has been a favorite for many market goers.  The bread is mostly dense with flower and pepper, and cheese could be found at around a quarter of the bread.  The price of the cheesebread has also noticeably increased from time to time, but it is still a popular breakfast item to share.  The pastries, such as the strawberry rhubarb Danish and muffins, and other savory treats from the stand are amazing and worth trying. 

            Another stand with great baked goods is the Pilgrim’s Pantry.  This stand is easily noticeable with the friendly Amish family standing behind their baked bread and pies.  The booth does not have an elaborate sign, but their Dutch apple bread ($5) is a must-try.  After bringing the Dutch apple bread to parties and cook-outs, many folks would tell me that the bread is their favorite dessert since it is moist in the inside—contrary to most apple breads that are crumbly on the outside and dry in the inside. 

And who would forget about cheese curds?  Wisconsin is definitely known for cheese, and many artisan cheeses can be found throughout capitol square.  The best cheese curds, in me and my friend Dean’s opinion, are produced by Forgotten Valley Cheese.  These white curds are a bit healthier than the average cheese for health conscious like me and are nice items to share with friends.  These curds are sold in 3/4 pound bags for $4.

For meat lovers, D&G Custom Meat Processing is the place to go.  With over thirty years of service, this place maintains high quality in its products.  I brought summer sausages (around $5 for a large one) from the stand to picnics in the past, and the sausages have always been a highlight of the picnic due to the wonderful flavors and the gorgeous meat quality.  Beef sticks are also sold as snacks at a decent price. 

My tour ended with an exploration of maple syrup.  Not known to many, Wisconsin as a state produces tons or gallons of maple syrup per year.  The products shown, produced by Krause Farms, looked similar to other stands that sell maple syrup.  Not being a connoisseur of maple syrup and not loving it enough to drown my pancakes into a pool of brown, I purchased a bag of maple syrup candies for $1.75 and shared it with my German friend later during the evening.  The candies were rich in maple flavors, which are more intense and enjoyable than the maple suckers I tried before.  These candies actually have the texture of mini-cookies or cakes, for everything was densely packed.

            The Dane County Farmer’s Market has lots to share with the community.  During the winter, the market would be indoors in a senior center or at Monona Terrace.  Many stands also allow visitors to stop and taste the product, including one cherry from Door County or goat cheese.  In here, I have introduced some of the best items I had during my residence in Madison…and I know that there are more for me to discover! 

This post was written by Joseph Kuo on July 7 pertaining to a visit on July 2.