Market manager Kardien Gerbrands talks about Swindon’s farmers’ markets

I managed a personal triumph in the kitchen this week as I overcame what had developed into a weird procrastinating inertia around roasting a squash!

Yes folks, I have to admit to the fact that even after five years of writing weekly columns and 25 years of cooking for the family I had never managed to build up the self-confidence to cut a squash in half, scoop out the seeds, baste with oil and stick it into the oven on a baking tray at 180oC for 25 minutes.

Now that I’ve cracked it and finally realised a) how easy it is and b) how delicious the end result is, I feel a bit of a buffoon. The other beautiful thing about it is that the preparation is quick and easy and the cooking takes no more attention than a glance at the timer.

So now I can approach the winter squash season with a newfound confidence, a confidence that comes from experience rather than repeating what Liz from Styan’s Family Produce has told me when I’ve asked her for tips.

I can stand tall and announce that I know how wonderful a risotto made with roasted carnival squash is... because I made it myself!

This is the best time of year for winter squash and the variety at the market will give me (and you) plenty to experiment with; butternut, carnival, acorn, kaboocha, delicata etc. Delicious and easy!

MARKETS

 

  • Bradford on Avon, third Thursday, 9am to 1pm at Westbury Gardens, BA15 1DE
  •  Bradford on Avon, last Sunday, 10.30am to 2.30pm at Lamb Yard, BA15 1FG
  •  Calne, second Saturday, 9am to 1pm, near the library, SN11 0JU
  •  Corsham, third Saturday, 9am to 1pm, High Street, SN13 0HB
  •  Devizes, first Saturday, 9am to 1pm, Market Place
  •  Malmesbury, second and fourth Saturdays, 9am to 1pm, Market Cross
  •  Royal Wootton Bassett, fourth Saturday, 9am to 1pm, High Street
  •  Salisbury, weekly on Wednesdays, 9am to 2pm, Poultry Cross
  •  Swindon Farmers Market, every Sunday, 10am to 4pm, Swindon Designer Outlet, Kemble Road, SN2 2DY
  •  Havelock Square Farmers’ Market, Swindon, every Thursday from 9am until 2.30pm.
  •  Trowbridge, second and fourth Friday, 9am to 1pm, Fore Street, BA14 8HX
  •  Wanborough, third Saturday of the month, 9am to midday, Wanborough Village Hall
  •  Warminster, first and third Fridays, 9am to 1pm, Central car park, BA12 9BT