Dine Roundup: Farmers Market’s Fresh Fest in Baton Rouge and more

Photo courtesy of Red Stick Farmers Market

Only a few weeks remain for Red Stick Farmers Market‘s Fresh Fest celebration. Each weekend, the local market highlights different summer produce. This weekend’s theme is Melon Mania. More than 50 regional farmers and vendors will be selling farm-fresh produce, pasture-raised meats and baked goods. You won’t want to miss the yellow watermelons, cantaloupes and Asian sun melons, either. The market is held 8 a.m.-noon. Saturday in downtown Baton Rouge between Fifth and Main streets.

Chef Katelyn Alaniz of City Club of Baton Rouge will offer suggestions for using melons in seasonal recipes during the 10 a.m. Fresh from the Market cooking demonstration inside the Main Street Market. The Lagniappe Dulcimer Society will also provide music inside the Main Street Market beginning at 8:20 a.m. Get more information on Red Stick Farmers Market’s Facebook page. Check out the remaining Fresh Fest schedule below.

July 25: Cool as a Cucumber
Aug. 1: Everything Eggplant
Aug. 8: Super Salsa

Blue Bell gets investment help from oil tycoon 

Could we soon see Blue Bell back on the shelves? Thanks to an investment from Texas businessman Sid Bass, the answer could be “yes.” Blue Bell Creameries announced Tuesday that Bass became an investor and partner of the company. Though a figure was not released, Blue Bell CEO and President Paul Kruse says Bass’ investment is “significant.”

“The additional capital will ensure the successful return of our ice cream to the market and our loyal customers,” Kruse says in a press release.

Blue Bell production halted in April after an outbreak of listeriosis that officials linked to the ice cream. There is no word on when sales could resume. The Houston Chronicle reports that trial production runs are expected to begin this month at Blue Bell’s Sylacauga, Alabama, plant.