August » 2011 » Markets of New York

Some Things to Amuse You While I Go Eat BonBons

Hi!

I’m taking a few late summer days off before the fall season starts. In my absence, I invite you to explore the postings on the site and read about the amazing people, places and things at the markets.

Please mark your calendar for this event next week:

Markets 2.0: The Resurgence of Traditional Markets in NYC:

Join us for this panel event at the New York Public Library Mid-Manhattan Branch featuring SuChin Pak of the Hester Street Fair and Robert LaValva of the New Amsterdam Market, moderated by yours truly. It’s going to be a fascinating look inside this wonderful movement in the city. Thursday, September 1 at 6:30 PM.

And now, here are a few things for you to amuse yourself with while I’m reading cookbooks and guidebooks on the sofa, and munching on peach ricotta crostini:

Earthquake Damage at SchoolHouse Kitchen in Brooklyn:

If you know their Anytime Spreadable Fruit, you understand the tragedy of this image.

100 Images: Markets of New York City

Featuring the people, products and events in the markets over the last year.

Saturday Afternoon at the Hester Street Fair

I love love love how this video captures the spirit of this wonderful market on the Lower East Side. Love the song too (Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side by the Magnetic Fields) – it’s on my “River Running” playlist.

This is just the funniest dog video. Poor sweet boy.

I think 56M of the 57M views are mine.

I’ll be back soon! In the meantime, let me know what you found and ate at the Markets of New York City!

~ Karen Seiger, Author, Blogger, Market Enthusiast

Get Luscious Locks with Hot Hair Pomade from Australian Scent

I had the pleasure of hanging out with Eddie Enriquez Rowe, one of the wonderful proprietors of Australian Scent, at the Brooklyn Flea on Saturday. Australian Scent’s organic, handcrafted body products are some of the luxuries to be found in New York’s markets.

On Saturday, one of Australian Scent’s other faithful customers and I tested the Hot Hair Pomade. Eddie put a tiny, pea sized sample on our hands. We rubbed our palms together to heat the pomade, and then he instructed us to work it into the ponytail, or the long ends of our hair. It was one of those hot, humid day, when your hair frizzes to twice its normal size. I am thrilled to report that once I worked in the tiny bit of the pomade (the jar will last forever), I saw a warm sheen on my hair. My frizz went away, and my curls popped to life. The other tester had gorgeous, thick hair to begin with, but it was a little thirsty. After using the pomade, her hair came to life with a rich glow.

I have to take this opportunity to give another testament to Australian Scent. I have been using their Balm of Gilead and Intensive Wrinkle Therapy Eyes for 18 months, and I can personally verify the quality and effectiveness of their products. Just a tiny bit makes my skin look and feel luminous and cared-for. The Balm also has healing powers. I’d gotten a jagged gash on the back of my hand from Cricket, a sweet, happy puggle with loads of energy and love, but also long dirty toenails. I was worried about an ugly scar or infection. So I put Balm of Gilead on it every day for a month, and the scar healed beautifully. It is now a thin, barely noticeable line. I wholeheartedly attribute the recovery the Balm and its soothing, healing ingredients.

Try the entire Australian Scent line of products each weekend at the Brooklyn Flea each weekend and in fine stores, including Whole Foods!

Weekend Market Picks for August 20-21, 2011 And Orange Foods at the Greenmarkets

As I walked through the market this week, I noticed the beautiful, bright variations of the color orange. Here are some of the fresh and delicious products I found at the Union Square Greenmarket during the week to remind us that summer is still with us. Enjoy all of the seasonal wonders of local foods at our farmers markets throughout the city. The photo gallery features these items and farms:

Orange Carrots from Phillips Farms
Orange Tomato Soup from Central Valley Farm
Bright Zinnias from The River Garden
Sun Gold Tomatoes from Race Farm
Translucent Red Pepper Jelly from Berkshire Berries

This weekend, I’m focusing on Food and Farmers Markets! All the best trends come out of the markets, so here’s a little tidbit to think about as you stroll through the markets this weekend, nibbling on a meatball or a cake pop:: Food in the form of a ball is the new Cupcake!

Saturday and Sunday, August 20 & 21

Chelsea Market: Chelsea Market is an indoor market filled with foodie pleasures. I often have breakfast meetings here, or I’ll pop in for a cookie or a taste of chocolate. That’s the great thing about this market: you can also have brunch, lunch and dinner here, or pick up fine fresh, local, and imported ingredients for a special meal.

Saturday, August 20

Hester Street Fair: I foresee about 19 courses in a meal at the Hester Street Fair – their food lineup is fantastic, as usual. Go to this market to eat. And eat some more. Not to mention the goods, with some of New York’s most creative designers and makers all under the London plane tree canopy on Hester Street.

Smorgasburg: A frequent Market Pick, Smorgasburg is another market where you’d better be hungry to eat right then and there. Seriously tasty stuff, freshly baked, grilled, sauced, and scooped. And the Williamsburg Waterfront Greenmarket has the season’s best produce and tasty food demos.

Sunday, August 21

New Amsterdam Market: It’s the Second Annual Ice Cream Fest! Try 10 amazing artisanal ice creams! Sad to say that advance tickets are sold out, but there will be plenty to taste! This event is a benefit for the market, so come and show your support!

Fulton Stall Market: Situated across the street from New Amsterdam, the Fulton Stall Market has a much different vibe. They’re there to serve the local neighborhood and tourists with delicious food you can grab on the run, fresh produce, and also handmade crafts from members of the {NewNew} Etsy Artisan Group.

Go forth and build up a big weekend appetite! And if it’s food in the shape of a ball, snap a picture and then eat it. Mark my words – it’s a trend.

Photo of the Day – August 18, 2011: Kings County Jerky Company

I grew up thinking that beef jerky meant Slim Jims, tubular bombs of weird meat and salt, sometimes filled with orange cheesefood product. It got weirder when we were working in Mozambique and tried some South African biltong made from ostrich and even game culled from the herds in the big game parks around the country. It was all salty and fairly tasty, but weird.

Thank heaven for the New York artisanal jerky movement that has taken root over the past couple of years. At the forefront is the rich, complex, and deeply satisfying beef jerky from the Kings County Jerky Company. I remember first seeing their jerky at the fabulous food free-for-all formerly known as the Greenpoint Food Market, but they were sold out by the time we squeezed up to their table.

Lucky for us, they have continued to grow in popularity because of their diligence and talent in producing luscious meat products, and even a stunning vegetarian jerky made from fat portobello mushrooms. Their three main flavors are the peppery Classic, the sweet Korean BBQ, and Sichuan flavored Orange Ginger. They are all a mouthful of flavor, and I’m especially partial to the Orange Ginger. The story gets even better because they use grass-fed beef sourced from local farms, and no artificial flavorings. I’ve seen photos of their amazing new kitchen space, and I’m hoping to do our first Kitchen Tour photo shoot there soon.

You can find Kings County beef jerky at the fabulous food markets of NYC: Saturdays at Smorgasburg and the Brooklyn Flea in Ft. Greene, and Sundays at the New Amsterdam Market. Artisanal is the new beef jerky. Or something like that.

Photo of the Day – August 16, 2011: Chane T-Shirt Designs

If ever there was a font of ironic and funny t-shirts, it’s Chane. I’ve seen Chane’s Modsushi Collection at the Young Designers Market, and I recently saw them at the St. Anthony’s Artisan Market on Houston and Sullivan Streets in Soho.

The Modsushi Collection includes food tees, like the one pictured, and many other great ones as well. “I ♥ Mayonnaise,” and “I ♥ Ketchup” resonate with me. The social commentary tees are nothing if not timely: “Laid Off is the New Black,” and “Low Wage Worker.” There are also some more, well, scatological ones that clearly appeal to the less demure than yours truly: ex. “I ♥ Peeing Outside,” which, interestingly, comes in all sizes from XXL to Onesie. All t-shirts are handprinted on American Apparel, Anvil and Tultex garments.

If you’re looking for a message to wear on your chest, Chane probably has just the one. How about this one: “Your Trailer or Mine”?

Happy 99th Birthday, Julia Child

Happy Birthday, Julia Child! You'll always be my inspiration! (photo credit Arnold Newman)

Julia Child is my inspiration. She was tirelessly joyful, adventurous, smart, fun, naughty, and caring. I’d tear up when I’d read about her relationship with her husband Paul, especially towards the end of his life. There was so much love, respect and admiration between them.

She traveled the world for her work at the start of her career, as did I. And then she found her passion in food later in life, as I found my writing passion in the markets. Never before or since has anyone been more herself at all times, whether it was shopping for a bed in Norway, visiting the fish market in Marseille, or filming The French Chef in Cambridge, MA.

I never met her, but I did feel her presence very strongly one cold day in early 2002. My sister Andrea took me to see Julia’s Cambridge kitchen when it was on display at the Smithsonian Museum of American History. There was a streaming video of The French Chef, and we caught the dessert segment. Julia was preparing an Apple Charlotte. I’d heard of an Apple Charlotte, but I’d never seen or tasted one. Even in black and white, you could see the rich, golden goodness of this sweet, buttery structure as it slid right out of the mold. Suddenly, Andrea and I were famished.

It was about 3 in the afternoon, and all the kitchens nearby restaurants were closed between lunch and dinner. We stepped into Jaleo, a tapas bar on 7th Street, and they said we could have some hot coffee and dessert. We sat and perused the dessert menu. We were astonished to find Apple Charlotte listed! It was so incredibly unlikely! I know Julia had put it there just for us.

So happy birthday, Julia! In my author photo taken for Markets of New York City, what you can’t see is that I’m holding my beat up copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

This is my author photo - I'm holding Mastering the Art of French Cooking

Weekend Market Picks for August 13-14, 2011 Featuring ShayaNYC!

Hammered Gold and Rose Gold-filled Rings by ShayaNYC Handmade in Brooklyn

ShayaNYC is one of my very favorite jewelry designers. My husband listened very carefully and got me a Victoria double lariat necklace and matching Delta earrings as a gift for Christmas last year. I just can’t find an outfit that they haven’t been perfect for, and it wouldn’t matter if I did because I can’t stop wearing them anyway.

Designer Shay Mehubad sells most weekends at the Nolita Market, and he just launched his new website – www.ShayaNYC.com. He’s running a giveaway right now – sign up for his mailing list, and you could win a pair of his hand-hammered Isabelle earrings! Can’t pass up a chance like that, can we?

Weekend Market Picks!

This weekend, I’m featuring the wonderful and diverse markets in Williamsburg!

Saturday and Sunday

Artists & Fleas: This market is one of the first of the new breed of markets in New York City. It is a wonderful, indoor collection of artisans and flea market vendors. And I’ll let you in on a secret – they have awesome food vendors too!

Saturday

Smorgasburg: As I’ve said before, I think this market is a wonderful addition to the market and the foodie scene, not to mention the tremendous creative and entrepreneurial spirit that abounds. Go for lunch or dinner, and bring home some tasty ingredients for the rest of the week.

Williamsburg Waterfront Greenmarket: Set in the same waterfront location as Smorgasburg, this weekend farmers market market provides the neighborhood with fresh local produce and artisanal food products.

Moore Street Market / La Marqueta the Williamsburg: I strongly suggest you visit this indoor food market, serving Williamsburg since 1941. The fare is primarily Caribbean and Latin American ingredients, and there are two food counters serving up delicious lunches. Urban Oyster offers a wonderful neighborhood tour that features the history of the Moore Street Market.

Sunday

Brooklyn Flea: On Sundays, the Brooklyn Flea sets up its tents at the Williamsburg Waterfront as well. You know the Flea? The international tourist destination filled with handmade, vintage, home decor, and edible treasures? Yeah, that’s the place.

So hop on the L train and get yourself over to Williamsburg sometime this weekend! Your wallet, walls, wardrobe, and tastebuds will appreciate it!

Photo of the Day – August 11, 2011: Bowery Lane Bicycles

Bowery Lane Bicycles are superlative. Here’s why:

“We conceive, build and finish these bikes for unsurpassed quality, sustainability and style. We use only American steel for our frames, which are forged in a factory that derives 30% of its power from solar panels. The facility is located within New York City limits, which means employees can commute via bicycle or public transport. In short, we produce these bikes conscious of our impact on the country, the environment and the local community.”

In other words, they are local, environmental, practical and extremely retro-chic, especially if you opt for the bell and a reclaimed crate on the back to carry your tasty treasures home from the New Amsterdam Market, where you can find them every Sunday. Or you can contact them for an appointment to talk about the last bike you’ll ever buy.

Bowery Lane Bicycles Made in New York City

Retro Chic Wooden Crate from Bowery Lane Bicycles

Bowery Lane Bicycle at the New Amsterdam Market

Photo of the Day – August 10, 2011: Tea by Tiffany

I am a tea lover. I’d be a tea-totaler if the French weren’t so handy with a grape. My mom used to give me sweet, warm tea in my baby bottle, which explains both my love of tea and my inability to nap as a small child.

So when I say that the cup of iced, sun-brewed English Breakfast Tea from Tea by Tiffany that I drank on Opening Day at the Dekalb Market might be the best tasting iced tea I’ve ever had, you know that I mean it was out of this world. And not just because it was 4000 degrees out and humid that day.

Tiffany’s tea was icy cold but not diluted by melting ice. The color was a lovely red/gold, and there was the perfect amount of simple syrup. The flavor was rich and traditional with no hint of the bitterness that sticks to your tongue with some teas. It was smooth, fragrant, tasty, cold, and delicious.

Tiffany serves a wide variety of teas to satisfy different cravings and preferences. Other flavors she was serving on that day at Dekalb included:

Hibiscus Romance
Golden Monkey Black Tea
Summer Breeze Green Tea with Lemon Grass and Spearmint
White Rose
Blue Moon English Breakfast with Lavender
Rooibos
Spiced Chai

Tea by Tiffany has a permanent location at the new Dekalb Market. Follow Tea by Tiffany on Facebook to keep track of what’s on her menu. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for colder weather!

Photo of the Day – August 9, 2011: Finnish Ruis Loaves by Nordic Breads

Finish Ruis from Nordic Breads at the New Amsterdam Market

We picked up a loaf of Finnish Ruis Bread from Nordic Breads at the New Amsterdam Market a week ago, and it brought back a flood of memories.

I went to junior high school in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and one of my best friends was a girl from Denmark. We were friends for a long time before I realized she didn’t grow up in the US because she spoke 100% perfect American English. But I digress.

We’d visit her country house on the weekends, and to this day I remember the delicious breakfasts her mother made. Rich, dark coffee with warmed milk and home made strawberry preserves spread with Danish butter on heavy, dark Ruis bread, although the Danes call it Rugbrød. The fine taste of the sweet strawberries with the salty butter blended beautifully with the heavy taste and texture of this traditional Scandinavian rye bread.

So when we got our Ruis loaf home, we slathered thin slices with butter and some of my favorite Cherry Blackberry Sage Clove Spreadable Fruit from SchoolHouse Kitchen along with a pot of Earl Grey Tea from Bellocq (both from the New Amsterdam Market as well). Before we knew it, the entire loaf was gone, and it was time for a nap.

Try the delicious and very healthy traditional breads from Nordic Breads Sundays at the New Amsterdam Market and Thursdays at the Rockefeller Center Greenmarket, as well as Whole Foods stores in Union Square, Bowery, Columbus Circle and Tribeca!