Hop into Miles Farmers Market for a tasty selection of delectable spring favorites

By Laura Briedis

If you have not planned your Easter brunch or dinner yet, don’t fret. A feast of fresh flavors awaits at Miles Farmers Market.

“We have been in town for more than 50 years, so we feel like we are family and part of everyone’s holidays,” says Justin Golobek, store manager. “For Easter, we have everything you need for Lenten meals, Good Friday, and Easter brunch and dinner.”

“Our hams are the highest quality in town,” he says. “The Miles traditional spiral cut ham comes with a glaze packet if you want to add a bit of sweetness. We also have a fire-glazed ham, in which the brown sugar and honey glaze is torched onto the ham, so it is crispy and crunchy.”

Though ham is a traditional Easter meal, Miles Farmers Market also sells lots of kielbasa, beef brisket and lamb—along with Miles Very Own Jumbo Eggs—during Easter and Passover.

And if you don’t feel like cooking, there are plenty of prepared meals in the market’s bistro. You will find a plethora of heat-and-serve options, including side dishes like au gratin potatoes and asparagus, to name just a few.

When it comes to Easter, everything seems to be popping up in pastel colors, and that is especially true in the Miles bakery. From the traditional lamb cake to brightly colored cupcakes, everything looks as pretty as it is delicious.

“Our baking team makes so many sweet treats, including the popular nut and poppy seed rolls and kolache cookies,” Justin says.

They also bake bread every morning, from Italian loaves to dinner rolls, and during the holidays they also make hot cross buns and paska. These traditional Easter breads have origins tracing back centuries to England and Romania, and are still favorites for many families here in Northeast Ohio.

As your one-stop shopping market, Miles also features chocolate aplenty, as you will find hand-dipped chocolates scattered throughout the store.

“We dip our own milk chocolate and offer goodies like homemade turtles, chocolate pretzel rods, chocolate-covered cookies and s’mores bars,” Justin notes.

In addition to chocolate made in-house, there is a mix of local chocolatiers and European gourmet chocolates interspersed throughout the store.

Signs of Spring
Stroll down any aisle at Miles Farmers Market and you can feel that spring is in the air.

• St. Paddy’s Favorites: While Memorial Day may be the unofficial beginning of summer, St. Patrick’s Day heralds the beginning of spring. Miles Farmers Market is brimming with all the food needed to celebrate this Irish holiday. You will find a generous selection of corned beef, both in the Butcher Shop to cook yourself as well as grab-and-go meals in The Bistro. And don’t forget to buy some potatoes and cabbage to make it an authentic meal. Also, don’t miss out on Miles’ Rowdy Irishman Sub you can grab from the deli. Made on Miles’ own grilled rye bread, it is piled high with corned beef brisket, Amish Swiss cheese, whipped salted butter, a thinly sliced dill pickle, horseradish aioli spread and the best coleslaw in Cleveland.

• Local Produce: As soon as the first crocuses peek through the landscape, it signals that fruits and vegetables are also taking root and getting ready to start sprouting. “The first locally picked produce you’ll find in our market every spring are those that grow wild, such as fiddlehead ferns, garlic scapes and ramps,” notes Justin Golobek, store manager. Also starting to fill the produce racks in early spring are local asparagus, rhubarb and spinach, followed by collards, peas, cabbage and strawberries in late spring.

• Bouquet of Colors: With sweet fragrances and pastel colors, spring flowers are in abundance at the market. From Easter darlings like lilies and tulips to a bevy of other potted and cut flowers, they are sure to bring a little spring to your home.

Call 440-248-5222 to place an order for Easter meats or bakery items. Miles Farmers Market is located at 28560 Miles Road, in Solon. Visit MilesFarmersMarket.com for more information.