market
We went to our farmer's market for the second time today. We spent $50 between us and yet when we came home, we couldn't believe how little it had bought us. 50€ in France would have been three bulging sacks of groceries from the market; here it's just one.
All the fruits and vegetables have a standard price of $4 each. That's fine for a pint of blueberries, but for a pint of cherries?!? If it's cherry season, cherries a plentiful and cheap. In France we'd get a kilo and a half for 5€. And it's not just a difference in prices between the US and France: at the farmer's stand we ran over (splat!) at the rest stop near Buffalo, we paid $4 for a quart of cherries. It's also $4 for a bunch of greens, or for pint of beans, or a pint of peaches (i.e. 3 peaches). So the conclusion that we're beginning to reluctantly draw is that our farmer's market (like the one in North Berkeley) is quite pretentious and overpriced. Other evidence: $1.50 per three-clove head of garlic. Someone selling "roasted beet bisque", which the rest of the world knows as "borscht". Heirloom tomatoes for $6 a pound!!!!!
However, the market isn't all complaints for us. There's a very good bread guy (except for his baguettes, which are overpriced and paltry shadows of French baguettes) and he has pretty good pastries too (gasp! they're not afraid to use butter liberally). The meat guy is excellent -- his ground goat last time was richly flavorful and so we bought veal cutlets today. We still have two goat hearts in the freezer and we can't wait for pork season in December. The eggs at one place with pictures of its chickens are fabulous -- on par with our favorite ones in France.
So, we just have to learn what we can buy there: bread, pastry, meat, shellfish*, herbs, and eggs. Cheese is good but not quite worth the money, but then again, we haven't found a good alternative yet. Yogurt blows. Veggies, especially staples like onions and garlic, are too expensive, as are certain fruit.
* We haven't bought any yet, but I hazily recall the price being reasonable on oysters, clams and lobster.
All the fruits and vegetables have a standard price of $4 each. That's fine for a pint of blueberries, but for a pint of cherries?!? If it's cherry season, cherries a plentiful and cheap. In France we'd get a kilo and a half for 5€. And it's not just a difference in prices between the US and France: at the farmer's stand we ran over (splat!) at the rest stop near Buffalo, we paid $4 for a quart of cherries. It's also $4 for a bunch of greens, or for pint of beans, or a pint of peaches (i.e. 3 peaches). So the conclusion that we're beginning to reluctantly draw is that our farmer's market (like the one in North Berkeley) is quite pretentious and overpriced. Other evidence: $1.50 per three-clove head of garlic. Someone selling "roasted beet bisque", which the rest of the world knows as "borscht". Heirloom tomatoes for $6 a pound!!!!!
However, the market isn't all complaints for us. There's a very good bread guy (except for his baguettes, which are overpriced and paltry shadows of French baguettes) and he has pretty good pastries too (gasp! they're not afraid to use butter liberally). The meat guy is excellent -- his ground goat last time was richly flavorful and so we bought veal cutlets today. We still have two goat hearts in the freezer and we can't wait for pork season in December. The eggs at one place with pictures of its chickens are fabulous -- on par with our favorite ones in France.
So, we just have to learn what we can buy there: bread, pastry, meat, shellfish*, herbs, and eggs. Cheese is good but not quite worth the money, but then again, we haven't found a good alternative yet. Yogurt blows. Veggies, especially staples like onions and garlic, are too expensive, as are certain fruit.
* We haven't bought any yet, but I hazily recall the price being reasonable on oysters, clams and lobster.