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.”
MariaV says
November 26, 2008 at 9:25 amYour 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.
Ellie says
November 26, 2008 at 9:33 amA newly-sharpened knife is like a little slice (ha!) of heaven.
Gigi says
November 26, 2008 at 10:00 amHmm, mops. Should I mop? How long has it been? That long??? *retching sound*
Angelina says
November 26, 2008 at 10:16 amYay, you included a pix of my uncle’s store!
kristin says
November 26, 2008 at 10:16 amI 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.
Angelina says
November 26, 2008 at 10:17 amI 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.
Alwyn says
November 26, 2008 at 10:28 amSiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. 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.
Philly says
November 26, 2008 at 10:58 amShould of let me know. We could of done lunch.
Janice Vaillancourt says
November 26, 2008 at 11:20 amAn 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.
Jess says
November 26, 2008 at 12:53 pmI miss 9th street. We have a pretty sweet farmer’s market here in Baltimore but nothing like 9th street. I miss the pizza!
samantha says
November 26, 2008 at 1:27 pmI 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.
Jennifer says
November 26, 2008 at 1:37 pmI 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.
Reeb says
November 26, 2008 at 2:20 pmIt’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?
Catherine McP says
November 26, 2008 at 7:53 pmThe 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)
Bush Babe says
November 27, 2008 at 7:19 amI 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
The Domestic Goddess says
November 30, 2008 at 4:02 pmI 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.