Plans are in the works for Farm 2 Cart to expand into weekday lunches around Memphis as early as this month, but for now, the cart, manned by Glen Ring will still be a mainstay at the Cooper-Young Community Farmers Market.
Farm 2 Cart offers sausages (either Italian, Andouille, or bratwurst) served on either a poppy seed or pretzel bun from Little Bites Bakery.
Ring transfers the sausages from the cart’s built-in steamer to the grill for a quick char, toasting the bread and cooking some onions and green peppers in a pan.
I got my order without the sauerkraut, hot sauce, ketchup, and mustard, electing to savor the full flavor of the Italian sausage and poppy seed bun. “Goes down smooth” typically is a beer slogan, but it applies here as well. The steamer-to-grill transfer gives the outer membrane and the bun a bit of texture, but is too brief to dry out the meat or create a hardened casing.
Ring had described the mixture of spices as “subtle,” and though I didn’t try the traditionally spicier andouille, the Italian reflected his appraisal. The layer of peppers and onions wasn’t thick enough to spill onto my hands as I ate, but offered a taste on every bite.
Small-batch, locally-sourced sausages have advantages in food ethics that make them easier to enjoy than the industrial kind, but there’s a tradeoff in the cost of production. You’ll shell out $9 for a sausage, chips and a soda.
That said, Farm 2 Cart makes a clear effort to use and promote local food, and the sausages offer high-quality flavor.
Though it was a relatively mild January day, wind gusts upwards of 20 mph caused at least one vendor to pack up early. The wind added comfort value to an Italian sausage straight from the grill.
Alongside fruits, vegetables and artisan foods like cheese, ready-to-eat meat is a nice option for consumers and also delivers an easy segue to Renaissance Farms, which provides the sausages for Farm 2 Cart and sells meats at the market.
For more on Farm 2 Cart, check out the Food News column in this week’s edition of the Flyer.
Keep up with Farm 2 Cart’s whereabouts via Twitter, @farm2Cart.
