I really love the idea of waking up on a sunny weekend morning and taking a leisurely stroll through the local farmers market. In this fantasy, the farmers market becomes a relaxing ritual that inspires a weekend of great dishes. In reality, I get a weird sunburn while waiting in an absurdly long line for berries and then spend 45 minutes on a crowded bus trying not to smash my expensive produce. Nevertheless, I've been making an effort to go more often and was recently rewarded with the discovery of romano beans.

I decided on a simple preparation for my first attempt - blanched for a few minutes and then tossed in a shallot vinaigrette. We ate them as part of a Sunday feast with friends that included grilled sausages, a radicchio salad, and grilled garlic bread, but the beans stole the show. They taste mostly like a green bean but have a fantastically meaty texture that makes you want to go back for more. The mild flavor also means you can take them in almost any direction you please.

This past Saturday I hit the market again for another fix. On Sunday I served them alongside Smitten Kitchen's Corn Chowder Salad, this time tossed in a little melted butter and whole grain mustard. Once again, we cleaned the bowl.