One of the challenges of being single is getting all the produce cooked while it’s still fresh. I’ve finally come to accept that simply isn’t going to happen until a fresh produce market opens within comfortable walking distance of my home so I can shop every day. Meanwhile, I keep working at ways to reduce waste.

Some strategies have worked and some haven’t. One recent one that definitely has worked is moving to dried mushrooms. They’re available in small packages in the grocery stores and I recommend starting with those while you experiment with different types. There are an amazing variety of dried mushrooms available, even at the grocery–far more dried varieties than fresh varieties.

But, once you’ve experimented some, you’ll probably want to start ordering online because you can order in larger quantities and for a better price.

Google “mushroom farm” and you’ll be surprised at the number of hits you get. Here’s just a few:

• Oregon Mushrooms
• Phillips Mushroom Farms
• Lost Creek Shiitake Mushroom Farm
• Sher-Rockee Mushroom Farm
• Fungus Among Us

(I absolutely love that last farm name!)

But, the place I order from (no, I don’t get a kickback for mentioning them) is JR Mushrooms & Specialties. I picked them on the basis of consumer reviews on Amazon. They have consistently high reviews from a large number of reviewers, some who have bought from that company for years. My own experience confirms their high opinions.

I bought a couple pounds of dried shiitake mushrooms and one pound of dried porcini mushrooms, Grade Extra AB. I just soak the mushrooms in water in the fridge overnight, but it doesn’t have to be that long–a few hours will do it. However, never eat dried mushrooms without reconstituting them first because of chocking dangers. Fully reconstituted, there’s no issues, of course.

The photo at the top of this post is of some reconstituted mushrooms. The photo immediately above is what a pound of dried shiitake mushrooms looks like. The photo below is this morning’s breakfast: a mix of some those reconstituted shiitake and porcini mushrooms, with minced garlic, okra, ginger, and eggs, scrambled in olive oil and topped with a generous dash of salsa, a low-carb, whole-wheat tortilla to the side.

If you’re interested in fresh produce you definitely want to make it to the Saturday morning market. Here’s their website, www.saturdaymorningmarket.com/, a map, and some pretty pictures I took at the market: German bread, pastries, and very fresh fish and Saturday Morning Market.

Midweek, my favorite places to buy fresh produce are City Produce, any day, and Gulfport Fresh Market on Tuesdays.

For very, very fresh seafood, I recommend Island Seafood Market and Bistro.

There are other markets and specialty shops–too many to easily mention–but, the above are my usual produce and fish shopping haunts. For more possibilities, visit the Index page of Inkwatu at inkwatu.com/index/ and look under the Food category.

The tagline of Inkwatu is “Delights, Near and Far.” Many of these delights are independently owned food establishments (restaurants or markets) with tasty food, pleasing ambiance, friendly staff, ethnic authenticity, inventive dishes, and reasonable prices. Some of these delights are activities, events, locations, artists, buildings, aspects of nature, books, and non-food businesses that grab me, that contribute to a sense of well-being, that make living fun.

One of those delights is seeing local entrepreneurs with great ideas become successful. One instance is Ester Venouziou, founder of LocalShops1.com. She began LocalShops1.com (in her own words), because “Many small businesses don’t have the time or money to invest in a quality Web site or a huge marketing campaign. So we wanted to create a place where they all could be listed, for free. We want to show the world the creativity, beauty and uniqueness that Indies have!”

She continues, ” I grew up in Brazil, and some of my favorite memories have to do with shopping, mostly with my grandmother and my sister, on Saturday mornings. We’d go to the produce market, chat with the vendors as we picked up fruits and veggies. Then it was off to a meat market, or to the fish guy. Along the way we stopped at the newsstand, where my grandmother picked up the daily paper. Eventually we’d end up at my parents’ shop, a fabric store named after my mom.”

Ester’s concept—creating an interactive community of local shoppers and shops—is well thought out. As she points out, “On a typical November day, the Tampa Independence Business Alliance reports, if all taxable purchases in Hillsborough County were made at locally owned independent businesses instead of national chains, it would make a $28 million dollar difference to the local economy. Economics aside, supporting the independents helps link us to the past, and ensures our communities retain charm and character in the future.”

The depth and importance of this idea wasn’t lost on local movers and shakers: LocalShops1.com recently won a $250,000 media package sponsored by Humana &. Fifth Third Federal Bank, Tampa Tribune, WFLA news Channel 8, tbo.com, 820 AM newstalk, 1040 ESPN Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay Business Journal, and Tampa Bay magazine. What a tremendous achievement for only having been in operation one year.

Ester—she’s very much a “first name” personality–creates this community through a number of different avenues:

• a magazine (online copy of first issue) managed by Marisa Barbosa,
• expert branding and ads by Malcolm Out Loud,
• a gang of coordinators who are a big part of LocalShops1.com‘s success: Latoya Brown, Gulfport/Beaches/south Pinellas county coordinator; Pat Largo, Pasco county coordinator; Brenda Smoak, Manatee/Sarasota counties coordinator; Jennifer Steele, St. Petersburg/North Pinellas coordinator,
• on facebook: www.facebook.com/localshops1com,
• on twitter: www.twitter.com/LocalShops1com,
• various events such as parties, clothing swaps, etc., and
• where it all comes together, the website: LocalShops1.com.

I have a shopper’s membership with LocalShops1.com. I encourage you to get one, too. It’s free. The website is your key to checking out LocalShops1.com. When you go there, you’ll notice that the front page lists the latest news regarding local shopping including the coming LocalShops1 social gatherings which are key to the success and uniqueness of what Ester has created. Examples are (at the time of the writing of this post) a party at Bradenton Beach and a Clothes Swap in Dunedin as well as a contest with a $50 prize.

On the website, you’ll find a list of more than 800 businesses listed, making it Tampa Bay’s largest network of local, independent businesses and independent-minded shoppers. I say “more than” because the list expands, daily. An important website page is the 1CardOffers page which lists a number of outstanding offers by businesses. This is a page you’ll want to print out and keep in your car. You’ll also want to print out the Sales page which lists current sales, in addition to the above promotions, from the business members. Be sure to check the News page for all the latest on local shopping events.

I want to say it again because it’s so important: memberships for shoppers and basic listings for businesses are FREE!.

There are also expanded plans for businesses starting at 55 cents a day. You can contact LocalShops1.com by email, phone (727.637.5586), or mail (P.O. Box 530144, St. Petersburg, FL 33747). Ester says, “we’re always looking for journalism, marketing and web interns to join our staff; as well as smart, happy, not-pushy experienced salespeople.” Whether as an intern, a volunteer, a business, or a shopper, LocalShops1.com is a phenomenon–you definitely want to be a part of it.

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PASTRIES AT MAZZARO’S

If you have a significant other, you probably already have thought through what you’ll get as a Valentine’s Day gift. Sometimes, though, it’s fun to spread the love around on Valentine’s Day to folks you care about beyond that special someone. Remember getting all those little paper heart valentines from your grade school classmates when you were a kid? Felt good, didn’t it?

If you’d like to recreate that goodwill as an adult–maybe with your colleagues at work, maybe with a group of friends, maybe with an organization you belong to–here are some locally owned and operated St. Pete establishments who’ll create something special for your Valentine’s Day treat.

FOR YOUR FOOD LOVING FRIENDS

My #1 recommendation would be (in all categories, but certainly food) Mazzaro’s. They are so unique and outstanding. Visit this page: www.mazzarosmarketcatering.com/ — that even shows the zip codes they deliver to. Their main page is www.mazzarosmarket.com/. My Inkwatu review is at inkwatu.com/2008/03/12/mazzaros-italian-market/.

Some other foodie baskets with delivery are these three. They are all locally owned and operated places that deliver gourmet baskets. If Mazzaro’s doesn’t interest you, then you might consider one of these:

• Garden Gate Gifts
• Creative Creations (offers cheesecakes, too!)
• Delectable Gourmet Gifts

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CHOCOLATES AT SCHAKOLADE’S

FOR YOUR CHOCOLATE LOVING FRIENDS

I have two chocolate recommendations. First would be the Schakolade Chocolate Factory with which I have had excellent experiences. Their St. Pete number is 727-892-2400; www.schakolad.com/. My Inkwatu review is at http://inkwatu.com/2008/09/24/schakolad-chocolate-factory/.

Or, you might try Chocolate Specialties by Joe (595 Corey Ave, Suite E, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706; 727-360-4800).

FOR YOUR FLOWER LOVING FRIENDS

My hands down favorite for flower gifts–but also a variety of imported Thai gifts–is Thai-rific. See my Inkwatu review of them at inkwatu.com/2008/03/31/thai-rific/. Not only do they have a complete standard florist service, they have a huge tropical flower nursery and they will create handmade orchid leis for you. It’s the kind of gift that isn’t forgotten easily.

Another locally owned and operated florist you might consider is Andrew’s (6101 4Th St. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33703; 727-521-3562/800-248-1824).

To recap, my top three Valentine’s Day gift source recommendations are these:

• FOOD: Mazzaro’s
• CHOCOLATE: Schakolad Chocolate Factory
• FLOWERS: Thai-rific

BUT…even if you don’t live in St. Pete, I’ll bet there’s similar places where you live from which you can order a little love to spread around among your friends.

Happy Valentine’s Day (a few days early)!

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ORCHIDS AT THAI-RIFIC