Friday, March 30, 2007

An Apple A Day Makes The Doctor Go Away

The Green Market at Union Square meets every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. It is a place where farmers, florists, butchers, bakers, and fishermen from the tri-state area (NY, NJ, CT) and Long Island come to sell their freshest produce and meats. Many chefs buy their produce here and the plats du jour at the restaurants are based on what are available at the market that day.

During the winter months, apples that were freshly picked less than 24 hours ago are sold here. These apples, unlike the supermarket apples, do not contain any preservatives or wax on them. However, if you do not like fresh apples, there are also freshly baked apple pies, apple crisps, and warm apple ciders.

Personally, I am not a huge fan of apples but I eat about two apples a week. They are convenient and they do not require cooking time. I also try to eat (at least) two servings of vegetables a day even though I rather be eating a nice big fat juicy burger. :-)

So how many servings of fruits and vegetables do you eat a day?

20 comments:

Olivier said...

humm de quoi faire une superbe tarte aux pommes (une tarte tatin).
Je te souhaite un bon weekend a croquer de bonnes pommes


humm what to make a superb apple tart (a tart tatin). I wish you a good weekend has to crunch good apples

Unknown said...

I never been to the Union Square Green Market...I wish I could !
I was wondering where are the common supermarkets in Manhattan, because I never really saw them.
I just saw some Amish supermarkets and the well known Zabars.

But where are located the supermarkets in which New Yorkers are goins to ?

See You

Anonymous said...

I used to love apples like this but now the only ones I like are the yellow golden delicious. I also love chicken's necks and my mother used to love to eat chicken feet but she prepared them in a different way. I saw your comment on Kate's blog.
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Dsole said...

uhmmm I love green, yellow and red apples! I eat one of them after kunch everyday and sometimes I eat another in the middle of the morning.. and sometimes after dinner too!
But at least one per day!

Ming the Merciless said...

olivier - Thank you. You have a good weekend too.

vincent - We have Trader Joe (Union Square) which is quite popular. Then there's The Food Emporium (a dozen branches or so all over the city), D'agastinos (all over the city), Balducci (Chelsea), Dean & Deluca (SoHo), and many more. I love supermarkets too. Every time I go to Europe, the first places I look for is the supermarkets.

abraham - My brother loved chicken necks too. How did your mother used to cook the chicken neck and chicken feet?

dsole - WOW! That is a lot of apples! I literally have to force myself to eat my apples. I take them to work and eat them as mid day snacks.

Unknown said...

i used to like red delicious, but since a few years ago, only buy fuji. think they taste much better ;-)

stromsjo said...

I’m somewhat tired of apples but that is probably due to the fact that I’ve got scores of apple trees by our cottage. No preservatives there either of course. But apples are amazingly good for your health in all sorts of ways so do continue eating them!

isa said...

Ming - if you are forcing yourself to eat apples, you are buying the wrong kind!
There are about 600 varieties of apples so you should find one that will satisfy your tastes!
Check this out:
http://www.allaboutapples.com/varieties/index.htm

Anonymous said...

I don't keep track! :O
What makes a serving?

GMG said...

OK. Ready for a cider...

Annie said...

If I only knew how to count a serving, I'd be able to answer you. Usually I eat a huge salad once a day, full of veggies or fruits. Apples with walnuts and dates in yogurt is another delight I indulge in. I'd rather have my apples like that.

Ming the Merciless said...

keropokman & isabella - I like Gala apple best because of the crunch and sweetness. When I say, I had to force myself to eat apples, I meant I rather eat chocolate chip cookies as snacks instead of apples but I chose apples instead. :-)

per stromsjo - Lucky you. I have always lived in the city so I always wonder what life is like in a farm or an orchard. There are days when I want to run away to the south of France and be an olive farmer.

tigerfish & annie - I think a serving is a cup. I usually let the restaurant decide that. :-)

kuanyin333 said...

You're asking a health nut! Right now friends are preparing a fresh mango smoothie for me for my dinner preference. My eyes are very shiny because of my alkaline diet. Trust me, it works if you want good skin, hair and shiny eyes. :-)

stromsjo said...

You’re right Ming. We tend not to appreciate what we have around us. That’s what triggers me with this idea of photoblogging my own city. It’s an eye-opener really.

Since we’re into apples, may I add a few for dessert? Should be enough for all of us… :)

Ming the Merciless said...

per stromsjo - That is an AMAZING photo. Did you take it? Where was it taken?

stromsjo said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
stromsjo said...

Ming, I agree it’s a spectacular sight. I snapped this at the Kivik Apple Market in 2004. They produce a gigantic peace of art every year, made exclusively by apples. Here are some more appetizers… :)

TCho said...

My favorites are Fuji apples. mmmmm

Unknown said...

i was at the supermarket yesterday, and i remember this post.

i look at gala apples and fuji apples, i still bought fuji. haha....

i have actually forgotten how gala taste like! i might just buy one of it, so i can appreciate this post more. am i mad?

Bel said...

Gala or Pink Ladies for me. But I find that I must be in "the mood" to eat apples and enjoy them, as much as I love them. Eating fruit is always so much harder than opening the pantry and eating chocolate :o)