PUHI — It is 10 a.m., but lunch summons at the Kaua‘i Community Market hosted by the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau at the Kaua‘i Community College parking lot. Evan McAfee already has his sample sandwich on display while Ursa Swift
PUHI — It is 10 a.m., but lunch summons at the Kaua‘i Community Market hosted by the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau at the Kaua‘i Community College parking lot.
Evan McAfee already has his sample sandwich on display while Ursa Swift fidgets nervously as the crowd of shoppers builds at the Midnight Bear Breads tent.
“You get to buy the vegetables and items you need and can still enjoy lunch before going home,” said Melissa McFerrin of the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau who placed her order for a lunch sandwich before the crowd got too big. “People do that. They place their order and while Evan builds the sandwich, shop in the marketplace.”
McAfee is the artist behind The Market Veggie Sandwich which offers a choice of three organic unbleached flour breads (prepared by Midnight Bear Breads), a variety of veggies, topped with three specially-created sauces: Roasted Garlic Mayo, a vegan item; Wasabi Mayo, another vegan item; and Pesto, the finishing touch on the sandwich.
“The specials usually vary with what the vendors have,” McAfee said. “We have vegetables from here at the KCC Market, some from Kilauea, some from Hanapepe and others from Wailua Homesteads. It depends on what the vendors have.”
At the heart of the sandwich is the grilled eggplant and caramelized onions which McAfee said takes about an hour to prepare before the market opens.
Other selections include avocado, tomato, cucumber and lettuce topped with the sauces.
Bread choices include the Olive Ciabatta, Sundried Tomato and Garlic Ciabatta and Chedder and Spice Ciabatta, all featuring organic unbleached flour.
“He didn’t want any, but wait until I start eating, he’s going to have part of this,” said a shopper who made a stop at the KCC Market en route to the Pop Warner football game in Hanapepe.
While McAfee did his sandwich, Swift handled the customers with their selections from 11 different types of breads.
“You have to come early to get the best selections,” McFerrin said. “There are people who come to the market just for the breads and there usually is a line when the market opens.”
Selections at the Midnight Bear Breads include Olive Ciabatta, Chedder and Spice Ciabatta, Sundried Tomato and Garlic Ciabatta, Garlic and Basil Baguette, Sea Salt and Rosemary Baguette, Seeded Baguette, Italian Herb and Cheese Baguette, French Rolls, Cinnamon Raisin Swirl, Sourdough and Cracked Wheat.
All of the breads are available in large or small loaves with the exception of the French Rolls, Sourdough and Cracked Wheat.
“When they started, they came with Hanapepe Cafe because we didn’t have any bread offerings and they bake their bread at Hanapepe Cafe,” McFerrin said. “Now, they bring the soup from Hanapepe Cafe and handle the breads.”
She said having the bread offering makes a big difference at the Kaua‘i Community Market which opens from 10 a.m. and runs until 1 p.m. each Saturday at the KCC parking lot.
“The bread brings value to the market,” McFerrin said. “The Midnight Bear Bread and Hanapepe Cafe has lines for their breads and sandwiches. This is one of the goals of the market: come here, shop local or create your own all-local meal to either eat here or take it with you.”
