Stoned (Fruit)
I don’t think you’re ready for this gelée…Real Farmers Market of NYC
I’m very thoughtful about what I eat. What I watch…that’s a little bit of a different story.
Sometimes my brain just loves to fall into a fantasy. Into the world of housewives with impeccable wavy hair and nails, fights over feelings not facts, and — lately — learning all about high-end real-estate through Jonathan and Ryan. IYKYK. A guilty pleasure that is totally gluten-free and never covered in dough.
After a few years being part of the Greenmarkets, I realized that the good drama isn’t just the domain of reality TV. It’s all around us. Behind the neat rows of fresh greens and seasonal fruits, there’s the wonderful craziness of New York City farmers markets.
Every market has its own flavor. Fort Greene has a low-key chic vibe. McCarren Park is high-energy, fashion-forward crowd.. But, Union Square is the epicenter of all the action and, yes, drama.
The best source for the latest juice are the kind security guards, Cory and Travis.
There’s always something going on behind the scenes and some funny story (not quite fit to print) about the week’s markets. And they see it all. From pickpockets roaming the crowds, to extremely aggressive saxophone players, to customers who dress up like Little Bo Peep, or those who test tomatoes by sticking their fingers completely through them. And the cute little doggies who mark their territory, whether it’s a vendor’s tent or a visitor’s basket. You never know what’s going to happen on market day or who will be passing through.
It’s not the screaming-at-each-other kind of drama that makes the Farmers Market a good pitch for reality TV, but rather in the vein of The Crown, how all the minutiae of customers, farmers, late frosts, torrential rain, and all the personalities that make up each market. There even has been a romance that blossomed into marriage from two stand workers! Where else can you dip into a place every week where hundreds of people come to shop, shmooze, and create a market community that is totally unique?
So Bravo, if you’re listening, here’s the pitch: the Real Farmer’s Market of NYC.
The first stone fruit of the season — nectarines and peaches — made their debut last week. Nectarines are a “bald” peach, a shiny skinned fruit with tangy and sweet flesh. When baked, the flesh stays firm, unlike peaches which have softer flesh, which get even softer when cooked.
This week’s seasonal fruit pie features yellow nectarines from Sycamore Farms along with blackberry, and blueberry from Phillips Farm. We cooked down the blueberries in maple and some lemon, which forms the thick sweet jam base of our fruit tarts.
Want to reserve your favorites first? Place orders for our classics in advance.
Over 10 years ago when I first experienced auto-immune issues, my acupuncturist recommended I drink Kudzu root thickened in water, as a soothing and healing drink for my gut. Kudzu root powder is a white starch similar to cornstarch, however it is from the nutrient dense Kudzu plant, and has been part of Eastern medicine for many centuries. It originated in Asia, it is found often in noodle dishes and desserts. It has a thick consistency when cooked, something I like to enjoy as a more nourishing, vegan option to gelatin. Kudzu gelée is what I call this creation.
