I came across this piece in my file but realized I never posted it...
I love Manhattan no matter the weather, season, time or neighborhood-it is my blood. But there is something about the early morning and dusk that I love best. Maybe it's the promise of what's to come-the day, the night that lies ahead. Maybe it's the temperature of each-early morning in its delicious chill or dusk in its sultry warmth. Maybe a combination of both.
I'm waiting for a good friend to come downstairs from her apartment, by about noon today it will get too hot for me but it is better than it has been- in the low 80's with no humidity than with humidity so I'm content. My friend and I are going to the Hester St Fair today, I've been looking forward to it since it opened early this summer but it has really been way too hot to go to such a thing before now. It's partially outside and partially indoors in an un-air condition warehouse, it's part flea market part farmers market. Now, I'm about to make a controversial statement but I've never shied away from that before so here goes: I hate farmer's markets. Perhaps it's not that controversial but it definitely is not the prevailing wisdom but I like being a little different than everyone else. It's also not entirely true, my hating of farmers markets. I just hate buying from them-I adore looking through them. Even I, with no sense of smell can actually smell the fruits and vegetables, I love talking to the vendors and I love the colors and bins piled with monochromatic abundance. But when I buy, I am shocked at the price and am disappointed by the taste. 2 weeks ago I bought 2 tomatoes from a market that were $7.50-to me that's a lot of money. They were gorgeous, one was yellow and green stripes one orange and green, one called Hawaiian pineapple and the other black pineapple. When I cut one open that evening they were just ok. I can buy gorgeous but delicious fruits and vegetables at Whole Foods or Dean and Deluca or even my local supermarket if I go at 6am.
The real reason I wanted to go to Hester St is for flea market and the prepared foods. People taking the best ingredients and making fabulous dishes representing every country in the world. And if time allows I might want to try to go to the Essex St market which is full of cheese and other dairy vendors. YUM!!!!
So, Hester St. was somewhat disappointing-very small, no vintage anything and no room to grow in it current location. The spice vendor had a gorgeous array from around the world including some very modern choices such as ginger sesame salt but there was also a bacon something so I couldn't buy a thing. There were craft vendors which I'm not that interested in. The ice cream vendor was a charmer and I had chocolate which was 72 percent and mixed with port topped with a grilled banana-all pretty fabulous. The Stumptown pour over iced coffee was equally wonderful but the Swedish shrimp salad was just ok. Maybe I made the wrong choice, and I should give it a second chance but I like Brooklyn Flea better all the way around. We had plenty of time to go the Essex St Market, which I hated. It was dingy and the meat was so exposed, with flies all around it that I didn't trust it. And the cuts did not appeal-well do be honest they were positively gross. Have you ever seen a cow's foot-would you really want to cook that and put it into your mouth? Give me Whole Foods or Dean and Deluca any day!!!!!
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