"It's got extra awesomeness!" said the more talkative of the four men selling cases of New York State grapes — Delawares, Canadice, perhaps five varieties in all — along with pints, quarts, gallons and glasses of red and white grape juice, in answer to why the juice was so delicious.
Though he might instead have been talking about the day, which was, to not overstate things, stupendous. It was an absolute treat of early-fall brisk air and warm sun — as well as possibly the greatest greenmarket day (okay, week) of the year, as the seasons graciously overlap.
Sweet corn and a rainbow of tomatoes are still on offer, along with mounds of red and purple-black plums, nectarines, yellow peaches, okra, string beans, peppers, lettuces, eggplant, garlic, collard greens, kirby cucumbers, cantaloupes and watermelon. But added to these now are also butternut squash, deep-green acorn squash and even the green-striped yellow delicatas.
There are also expanding selections of apples — and not the old ones that sat for months in airless rooms, but fresh, sweet ones straight off the tree and smelling of juice and honey — plus fresh fruit pies and Asian pears. And of course there are those grapes.
Ironically — or in maybe it's just bad luck — R. and I are flying to California on Tuesday night, and have dinner plans for Sunday, and so hardly needed any groceries. Which for maybe the first time struck us both as a shame.
In San Francisco, I'll be reading from and talking about "The Gastronomy of Marriage" at the Omnivore bookshop, on Thurs., Sept. 24, from 6 - 7 and on Friday at the Alexander Book Co. from 12:30 - 1:30. I'll also be at Book Soup in Los Angeles on Sat., Sept. 26, from 2 - 3. If you find yourself in the neighborhood, I do hope you'll drop by.
But if you instead find yourself around Grand Army Plaza next Saturday, with a cup of coffee in hand and an inclination to sit on a bench and take in the day, know that at the second Bread Alone stand (the one nearer to the library), on the far left side of the long, glass bread box, are Paris Apple Tarts and Almond, Cinnamon-Apple Spiral Danishes, which are arguably the best pastry options in the greenmarket and hands-down pieces of heaven. Enjoy.
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