Wednesday - Green City Market + Manny's ?

My wife has been working at a new cafe in Chicago a few times a week (I'll post something soon on the professional board on her place), so I'm running solo tomorrow on my market run*. So, if anyone wants to meet at the market, around 9:15, let me know. Tomatoes and peaches are running out, and if we even have a shot, this may be the last shot (also here's your chance to meet the famous Farmer Vicki).

Afterward, I plan on an early lunch at Manny's, so again, if anyone wants to meet there around 11, feel free to join up.

Rob

*Green City Market is on Clark just north of North Avenue.

I hope others got to the market yesterday, even if I missed them. It was an especially good market; papples*, black walnuts, weirdly delicious grapes. Of course there was this from Nicholl's Farm:



(also spelled cardoons)

Here's what they looked like:
Does this give a better sense of proportion, that's a 1/2 bushel.


Note, even with one stalk or head or whatever a quantity of cardoon is called, I have a lot. If anyone wants some on Sunday let me know (first come basis).

The other cool thing (is $15 too much to spend on a pound of butter?):


*Papples may also be known as apple pears or Asian pears, and have become suddenly quite chic in the 7th grade.

Speaking of Asian pears, I've had them a number of times over the years, but I just had a really good one for the first time that I picked up last weekend at the Brookside farmer's market here in KC. This was really a terrific piece of fruit...usually I find them too hard and more like apples than pears in shape and texture. And without any endearing flavor to boot. This baby was definitely a pear, but definitely different than a western pear. A little firmer texture, but still the easy give of a ripe pear. Full pear sweetness, but a hint of apple crispness. I must say, I was quite pleasantly surprised.