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The Market:
St. Mark's Church Greenmarket
E. 10th Street and 2nd Avenue
Tuesdays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. (late May-Dec.)
(212) 477-3220
Marketgoer:
Denise Matychowiak,
chef and author of A
Bad Catholic’s Guide to Good Living: A Loving Look at the Lighter
Side of the Catholic Faith with Recipes for Feasts and Fun
This charming market is one of my favorites. Located
in St. Mark's Square, in New York City's East Village, it is very
much a small, community-oriented market that is an anchor of
the neighborhood. I like the way the St. Mark's lion anchors
the market. On this occasion, there were four vendors displaying and
selling their goods.
| In this market, you really have the
feeling of being in the midst of a real neighborhood. The
residents -- old-timers and young hipsters -- come to sit
on the benches and watch each other as they pass the
afternoon. Dog walkers pause for a rest and a snack. There is
little jostling but much good-natured conversation. Sit here
and have your lunch and pick from the finest of the season for
the kitchen. |
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Farmers have been setting up shop in this area since
the early 19th century. The neighborhood was just outside of the
city limits and therefore, the vendors were not subject to sales
tax. Thus, the markets flourished among the lovely, shaded homes.
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Basket of Baby Pumpkins
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Crate of Apples
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See Denise Matychowiak's Aug. 17
report from the Union Square Greenmarket
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What I Bought:
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Seckel Pears (top row),
Empress and Elephant Heart Plums (left to right, second
row), Nectarines (bottom row)
I have been eating a lot of vegetable-based meals and fruit lately, and
on today's excursion to the market, was mainly looking for things to put on a fruit platter or for a quick
saute. The plums were gorgeous. The reddish Elephant Heart Plums are
luscious and juicy -- a heritage plum that must be hand picked with care, as it is bursting with juice.
I also picked up Empress Plums, which are perfect for baking or eating out of hand.
Price: $3/lb. for plums
$2/lb. for nectarines
Seckel Pears
The sign on the table where these were
displayed called this
variety of pear "sweet as candy." They are delicious eaten with farmstead
cheese.
Price: $2/lb.
Concord
Grapes
| This is Concord grape season. It is a bit unusual to see them
in green and purple. This is the Welch's flavor of childhood.
They can be eaten as is. Or put through a food mill
for sorbet, they are excellent.
Price: $4/quart
basket |
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Watermelon
Price: $3
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Beans
and Brussel Sprouts (right)
Price: $3.50/lb. for
brussel sprouts
Yellow Squash
Price: $1.25/lb.
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