What's In Season Now - Chicagoland - March

In Like a Lion Out with the Ramps

Those interested in last month's What's In Season, see here.

Every week come Monday, I check the Chez Panisse web site--it's always updated for the week ahead by Monday. I surely appreciate Alice Water's approach to eating, so her menus are inspirational in that sense. I also check to get an idea of what's in season. Not what's in season for me...

This month, we will not see local asparagus, peas or green garlic, all items on her menu this week. We do have a couple of interesting items this month. March is generally maple syruping time in the Midwest. Here's a listing of some maple festivals (some were last weekend, sorry!). In addition, those little wild onions that gave Chicago its name, ramps (try Google), will begin their short season in March. Read about past ramp digs at Spence Farm here and here, and consider the Rampfest on March 28.

Beef, lamb, chicken, pork - Winter markets; farm direct, Cassie's Green Grocer, Freshpicks.com
Grains - Winter markets, farm direct
Eggs - Winter markets, farm direct, grocery, Cassie's Green Grocer, Freshpicks.com
Farm raised tilapia - Winter markets
Farm raised rainbow trout - Grocery
Great Lakes fish - pike, whitefish, pearch, white bass, lake trout, carp - Grocery, speciality stores
Microgreens, sprouts and related - Winter markets, Freshpicks.com, grocery
Lettuces - Winter markets, farm direct
Carrots - Winter markets, farm direct, Freshpicks.com
Potatoes - Winter markets, farm direct, grocery, Freshpicks.com
Apples - Winter markets, farm direct, grocery
Herbs - Winter markets, farm direct, Freshpicks.com
Mushrooms - Winter markets, Grocery, Cassie's Green Grocer, Freshpicks.com
Onions - Winter markets, farm direct, grocery
Burdock root - Freshpicks.com
Horseradish - Freshpicks.com
Radish - Winter markets (limited quantity)