This month, I’ll be scoping out the market and searching CUESA’s seasonal recipe archives for dishes to wow my friends and family with on Thanksgiving. In addition to the return of some of late-fall and early-winter favorites like citrus, cardoons and kiwi, there are many great things happening at CUESA and the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market this November that you won’t want to miss.

Guest Vendor Pop-ups: On Saturdays in November, CUESA is pleased to welcome guest vendors Tout Sweet Pâtisserie and Three Babes Bakeshop to the market. In addition to French macaroons and morning pastries, Tout Sweet will have a rotating selection of seasonal sweets, including a pumpkin tart featuring squash from McGinnis Ranch and their signature Tesla Tart with citrus from Hamada Farms. At Three Babes Bakeshop, the ladies will be serving up slices of seasonal pies like Key lime, apple crumble and bourbon pecan, plus a rotating variety of whole pies.

Smoker Thursdays:In anticipation of their new BBQ restaurant slated to open later this year, 4505 Meats will be bringing their Southern Pride smoker and BBQ menu to the Thursday Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. Expect smoked brisket, pork shoulder, chicken, sausage and delicious sides on the menu as a preview of what’s to come at their new Divisadero Street location. Their Best Damn Cheeseburger, breakfast sandwiches, and other specials will still be available on Saturday mornings.

Roots Celebration: Root vegetables are at their sweetest in the cooler months, and we’ll be celebrating these versatile, delicious, and nutritious winter crops at CUESA’s Roots Celebration on Saturday, November 16. Join us in the kitchen to taste a variety of root vegetables found in the market, including carrots, beets, radishes, rutabaga, turnips, parsnips and more, and pick up a copy of CUESA’s Guide to Roots as well as root recipes. We’ll have back-to-back cooking demos from Isaac Miller of Maven and Jorge Alvarado of La Mar Cebichheria, and a root-themed famer talk with Grant Brians of Heirloom Organic Gardens. All activities are free and open to the public starting at 10 am in the CUESA Classroom.

Fall Cocktails of the Farmer Market: On Wednesday, November 20, we’ll host an all-star lineup of bartenders and chefs highlighting the best fresh produce from the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market at Beat them to the Punch: Fall Cocktails of the Farmers Market. Co-hosted by the Northern California chapter of the United States Bartenders Guild (USBG) and held in the Ferry Building’s Grand Hall, it will be a cozy night of creative holiday punches, hot spiced drinks and nogs. Guests will receive two full-sized signature cocktails, 11 sample sized drinks, delicious hors d’oeuvres from 10 of the Bay Area’s hottest chefs and a recipe booklet featuring all 13 seasonal drinks to inspire holiday party planning. This is the one holiday party you won’t want to miss.

Special Wednesday Thanksgiving Market: Our Thursday market will be closed on November 28 in honor of Thanksgiving, but we’re having a special Wednesday market on November 27 for all of your holiday feast needs. In addition to many of the regular Thursday vendors, we’ll be joined by Happy Quail Farms, Hog Island Oyster Co., Iacopi Farms, Three Babes Bakeshop, Cremeux ex Machina and more. Sign up for the CUESA newsletter for updates.

For market updates and seasonal tips follow Lulu Meyer @farmersmarketlu or check out @CUESA on Twitter