Nov 26, 2008
Bossy’s Favorite Things.
If you read only one of Bossy’s Favorite Things all year let it be this: open-air markets.
Bossy is lucky that her nearby hometown, the place of her birth and rearing, has an amazing open air market, the oldest in the United States, complete with fish heads, jack rabbit pelts, and raucous vendors of every ethnicity.
Bossy has been shopping at this market since she was a child, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth and Bossy didn’t necessarily see the virtue of wading through fish scales to get to the free Pecorino samples.
But now Bossy sees the market as the perfect antidote to sterile suburban supermarkets, and she finds it as necessary to her well-being as breathing air, especially the smoky air emanating from the fires built in market barrels.
There have been times in Bossy’s adult life when this market has been a part of her daily or weekly routine, but lately Bossy only makes the trip a few times a year to collect ingredients for the Big Ticket Holidays, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Easter– and yes Bossy is an Equal Opportunity Holiday Celebrator.
Yesterday, Bossy had the good fortune to carpool to this market with Bossy’s friend Martha and Bossy’s mother. Cheese, cumin, sausage, citrus, and four sharpened knives are just a few of the things Bossy came away with– and about shopping at this market? There’s no other place on earth Bossy would rather be called, “hon.”
Your open air market puts my open air Market (Union Square Market) to shame, Bossy. I’m jealous. Somehow “hon,” “sweetheart,” and “beautiful” aren’t offensive there.
A newly-sharpened knife is like a little slice (ha!) of heaven.
Hmm, mops. Should I mop? How long has it been? That long??? *retching sound*
Yay, you included a pix of my uncle’s store!
I am saddened and a little bit terrified by the thought that the supermarket (and the stuff in my cellar) is my only option from now until the farmers markets re-open in May. I am also jealous of your market.
I forgot to mention, it is the one with all the dead things in the window. I am not sure what he makes of having a vegetarian niece.
Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Open air markets are just about my favorite sensual experience. In my opinion, one must visit them in every city to which they travel. They are the perfect sampling of personality, cuisine, and soul.
Should of let me know. We could of done lunch.
An open-air market at the end of November! You won’t see that in Northern Ontario where we have 6 inches of snow and are getting another 3 inches today. I love open-air markets.
I miss 9th street. We have a pretty sweet farmer’s market here in Baltimore but nothing like 9th street. I miss the pizza!
I agree. I love open markets and I miss mine in Montreal. Here there is a big market but only on the weekend and only if you get up at 5.30am. This is not something I can do. I prefer a lovely market at 10am with coffee in hand.
By the way, Bossy. Where do you find all the time???
Come and check me out at 3limes. Bye for now.
I love, love, love open markets. We got so spoiled in Washington. And then we moved to SW OK. Nothing.
Now we’re near Omaha and I’m hoping I find one open at least in the summer.
It’s like a little slice of Europe!
Our outdoor farmer’s market just closed too. Now where do I get lacinato kale??? I should have planted some but noooo, I could get it at the market so why bother?
The Hubbys from Philly, I am a Minnesoootan and we live in Phoenix..whenever we go to Philly, this is exactly the 1st place we go..and the last, we buy a HUGE tupperware type cooler and dry ice and bring home the cheese and sausage baby! We are going the last week of Jan., CANT WAIT! (for the food and the cold weather)
I heart your markets Bossy. I have a store 50km one way. Two stores 50km the other way. And a real supermarket 110 km another direction. Your kinda markets… about 5 hours drive away. I am starting a vege garden. And buying a cold room.
I wonder if you can bring back fresh good on Qantas from America???
BB
I love that very market. There’s a place on that street that has a bakery to die for and a cheese shop I could live in. But something tells me they won’t let me live there. Don’t get me started on the ravs I’ve bought there.