Ashlawn Farm in Lyme, Connecticut

Although the Ashlawn Farmers’ Market is more than an hour’s drive from our home, we decided to go and spend a July morning sampling gourmet dips and juicy, red strawberries. The reason for this being – I had heard from some friends that it is one of the best markets in Connecticut. I can’t tell you if it lives up to its reputation or not, simply because I have not been to each and every farmers’ market in the state, but I can tell you this, it is pretty darn good. I could have done with more produce but if you overlook that one tiny detail, the market has some great features.

The ambience was relaxing – a boy band was belting out peppy numbers, shoppers walked by lugging eco-friendly totes while kids and dogs played in the sun. The band took me by surprise when I got up close and saw the lead vocalist – a young boy with a mass of curls, yet to reach his teens! From the market, I got fresh-baked bread with a crust of rosemary, garlic and parmesan, butter infused with balsamic vinegar and a sea-green mini-basket of strawberries. The berries were not humongous like you find in stores, which probably means they were grown without the chemical enhancers.

The adjoining Ashlawn Farm Cafe had some of the best coffee I had ever had in my life. Loved their ice-cold latte and blueberry muffins. I think I have to make many more trips to the farm, even if it is just for breakfast at the cafe.