The Essex Market is a little quiet this week because Ron and Ira at Tra La La Juice Bar and Bakery are "closed for vacation". They promise to return and re-open on Sept. 22nd.
Our favorite cheese mongers at Saxelby Cheese are apparently away in Italy, tasting cheese at a big cheese festival but not to worry, they are still open. Amy and Nicole, (the nice ladies filling in behind the counter) gave me a taste of the Krugerrand Farm's aged raw goat's milk cheese, from Richfield Springs, NY, ($28.99/lb.) which was featured at the Amsterdam Market this past weekend. The cheese was light and crisp, and almost tasted smoky. I also tried a Summer Snow sheep's milk cheese from Woodcock Farm in Weston, VT ($27.99/lb.). Very sweet and creamy.
I stopped by Roni Sue's Chocolates and she mentioned she will be featured in a Wine and Dessert Tasting hosted by Swirl Events next Wednesday, Sept. 23rd from 7-9pm. Chocolate covered bacon – tbd.
Batista Grocery seems to have the lowest prices for produce and Mexican specialty items (any kind of dried bean you can imagine) at the moment. They are also expanding their large spice collection. They offer all kinds of spices in big 14oz plastic jugs, from garlic powder to rosemary to dried mint leaves and even chamomile – all for $2.99 – $3.99…seems like a steal of a price for spices.
The Cuchifritos Gallery was closed for what I am assuming to be preparation for their upcoming opening of FEED, an "itinerant, interactive experiment in and about public markets" in collaboration with the Fragmental Museum.
there’s quite a story as to what happened during an after the installation of the show at Cuchifritos. the show will not go on, and i will try to get kenny shopsin to comment, as thanks to him and another smart food person, the show was quickly relocated to the garbage room. the show, basically, was corrogated, waxed and sprayed used food boxes. in the right environment, it’s a brilliant commentary. inside a market beside active food stalls, well, who knows who and what it could attract.
Nico, please email me at: lodownny@gmail.com and tell me more about what happened. It seemed like it was going to be an interesting show…