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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2009 5:54:28 GMT
Grapes are still in season but not for very much longer.
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Post by bjd on Nov 5, 2009 12:39:57 GMT
Yes, I'm still buying grapes but not for much longer. I saw the first local kiwis at the market on Wednesday but they are still hard as rocks, so I'll wait a few weeks.
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Post by rikita on Nov 6, 2009 2:14:11 GMT
bought a kaki at a bio-store today. was very sweet and much nicer than the ones i usually buy at the turkish market. but also much more expensive...
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Post by imec on Nov 6, 2009 2:40:16 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 6, 2009 3:38:00 GMT
pssssssst ~ it's another name for persimmon
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Post by imec on Nov 6, 2009 3:45:16 GMT
Really? Thanks.
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 6, 2009 5:20:09 GMT
"Persimmon" sounds better. The botanical name of the most common cultivar is Diospyros kaki, the first part of which doesn't sound all that merchandiseable. The black sapote -- Diopyros digyna -- is the kind of persimmon around here and is in season now. I posted some pictures of it a couple of weeks ago. Look here at Reply 105. Now, is that way more than you wanted to know? |
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Post by bazfaz on Nov 6, 2009 8:45:46 GMT
We still have delicious muscat grapes in the market. But this week has been cool and wet (75 mm/3 inches of rain) so the strawberries may not be there on Sunday. And where are the cepes? We have had the rain, now we need 10 days of warm sun.
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Post by imec on Nov 6, 2009 12:54:58 GMT
Now, is that way more than you wanted to know? That's great, thanks! The ones we see here (no idea where they come from) are very bright orange. I hope they're still in the store this weekend - I have to try one. I did actually try one years ago and it was outrageously sour - which is odd as everyone comments on how sweet they are - must have been unripe? |
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Post by bjd on Nov 6, 2009 13:04:40 GMT
Apparently they have to be soft and becoming a bit translucent before you eat them. I don't like the taste, but the trees look nice because they often stay on the tree once the leaves have fallen off, so you get these bright orange decorations on the branches.
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 6, 2009 16:10:08 GMT
Imec -- you've never heard the expression "like an unripe persimmon"? It's beyond sour, has some kind of astringent pucker effect that makes the face draw up like the mouth of a marble bag.
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Post by bazfaz on Nov 6, 2009 17:03:15 GMT
There is an old lady in our village with a face just like that.
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Post by rikita on Nov 7, 2009 14:45:59 GMT
actually i have eaten once that are quite hard and still taste good, though a bit softer is nicer. there are some that indeed have a strange taste to them, but i haven't had any of those recently. i don't like it when they are too soft.
i like the name kaki better though, persimon isn't that usual here, usually they call them kaki or sharon.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2009 18:25:07 GMT
The main thing that I remember about persimmons was how much the bluebottle flies loved them. My paternal grandmother had at least half a dozen persimmon trees on her property, and even though she ate them, nobody else did, so the ground was always covered with rotting persimmons and the flies who loved them.
Oh, and yes, rotting persimmons stink.
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Post by imec on Nov 7, 2009 20:28:14 GMT
So I just bought one - shall I just cut it open and eat it? Do you eat the skin? What do I do with this thing?
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 7, 2009 21:40:53 GMT
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Post by rikita on Nov 8, 2009 19:27:55 GMT
i sometimes eat them like an apple, if they aren't that soft, and if they are soft, i cut them to slices and eat those.
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Post by imec on Nov 9, 2009 21:41:25 GMT
Well, I've just tried my kaki. Either I'm missing something or we don't get good kaki's round here. This thing was mostly tasteless except for the fact that it made my mouth all sort of pucker - not sour or tart, but like it was loaded with tannin like tea that was left to steep far too long. I only ate a quarter of it.   |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2009 22:13:19 GMT
Imec, do you know what variety of persimmon that is. The most astringent tasting (yes,tannin) is the hichaya. Judging by the photo you had one that was hard or fairly crisp. The sweet ones I know that grow here are not so perfect looking but are smaller,cracked and soft. If there is a farmer's market tomorrow(may be cancelled because of storm) I will take some photos of and find out more. I would hate for this experience to have steered you away from trying others.
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Post by imec on Nov 9, 2009 22:22:48 GMT
Sorry casimira, I don't know. It had a similar texture to a ripe mango - but without the juice.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2009 22:33:17 GMT
Well,if we ever do have a Any Port North American Holiday Regatta I will bring some of my persimmon preserves. You will love.
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Post by imec on Nov 12, 2009 4:24:37 GMT
I checked the sign in the store - it said Fuyu - which is kinda like what I said to the damn thing after tasting it.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2009 13:23:06 GMT
Fuyu Persimmons are the more delectable. I suspect you ate one that wasn't quite ripe yet.
Does anyone have CHESTNUTS in season where they are? I found a recipe last evening for chestnuts and leeks sauteed in a white wine vinegar together as an accompaniement to roast chicken or the like. Will post if anyone's interested. Sounded divine.
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Post by rikita on Nov 20, 2009 18:54:37 GMT
i think in my area only inedible chestnuts grow. for eating i only know them from markets and stuff.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2009 22:22:18 GMT
Same here -- there are chestnuts all over the streets of Paris, but they are not edible.
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Post by rikita on Nov 22, 2009 22:04:42 GMT
i think first time i heard about eating chestnuts was from some book i read as a child, and found it really fascinating, and wondered why all we ever did with them was make little people and animals - wanted to go out to collect some and eat them, but my mom told me not to. quite disappointing.
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 22, 2009 22:07:56 GMT
i think first time i heard about eating chestnuts was from some book i read as a child, and found it really fascinating, and wondered why [highlight=yellow]all we ever did with them was make little people and animals[/highlight] - wanted to go out to collect some and eat them, but my mom told me not to. quite disappointing. One of the more intriguing sentences I've read lately. I'm envisioning the Rikita household as a giant Teutonic cottage of the Gods. |
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Post by hwinpp on Nov 23, 2009 4:08:08 GMT
Watermelons. Hand- pushed water melon carts are slowly replacing the coconut carts.
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 23, 2009 4:28:56 GMT
Coconuts are still in season here. This stand has been set up for a few weeks. (pic taken 10/29)  |
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Post by hwinpp on Nov 23, 2009 5:38:14 GMT
The coconut won't completely disappear, Bixa. They're available all year round. But we have the young green coconuts for sale here. People don't drink the coconut water from the brown nuts (?).
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