Squeat Mungry

Jeffrey Steingarten: Everything Something Edited to add: Hey, Bourdain's list looks just like mine!

Okay, at least today's lunch is more respectable. I walked over to Ratto's deli in oldtown Oakland. This place is an old-fashioned Italian-style deli -- an institution that looks pretty much the way it must have when it opened in the 1890's, and they make some seriously good sandwiches! I'm sitting here at my desk munching on a hot (as in spicy) salami sandwich with mayo, dijon, provolone, pickles, lettuce and cucumbers on a round 'panini' roll. Yum! I also picked up some Arbequina olives from Spain because I think they'll go really well with the Bingham Hill Harvest Moon cheese from the FM. Of course I just realized I'll have to leave them in one of the office refrigerators overnight because of the lecture! Hope they're still there tomorrow. Maggie, I'm sad about the flowers, but even sadder about the vase! It was an elegant little thing, with a curve that made it look kind of like a small crystal shofar. Oh well. I can't have nice things!! Speaking of nice things, watch out for that marmalade-jam combo! That stuff is quite addictive! More later, Squeat PS Just to namedrop -- chances are I'll actually get to meet Giuliani tonight. One of my best friends is the coordinator of the lecture series he's appearing in and more often than not we get invited backstage afterwards. So far I've met Lily Tomlin, Former US Ambassador to the UN Richard Holbrooke, and Bill Clinton among others. We actually 'worked' the Clinton gig at a special photo shoot where we ushered people into and out of the Presence. On my desk is a picture in which I look like a total alien and Ol' Bill looks like he's about to feel up my friend! Edited for trying to type and eat at the same time.

Echinops! That's it! Thanks. Er, re the tuberose. Well, I thought I was being so clever. I had (note past tense) a smallish crystal vase in my bathroom with a hole in the side that let me hang it on the wall beside my sink. I cut off the budding tuberose to fit and put them in. Overnight, they drank so much water and blossomed so much they pushed the vase out from the wall! I woke up to a beautifully fragrant mess of broken crystal and dying tuberose on the bathroom floor. Bah! I'm here at work about to come out of my skin because I forgot I made coffee at home and got my customary iced coffee on the way in to work at Primo's (good coffee but no Graffeo)! I'm definitely going to the Giuliani lecture tonight, so will have to work out an Oakland solution for dinner. I'll keep you posted. Cheers, Squeat PS Yes, I do check eGullet more often now that I'm blogging. Thanks for all the positive response! (Makes me feel like Sally Field at the Oscars: "You love me! You really, really love me!")

GG, You're the second person to have guessed Dickens! But really the name is based on a childhood memory of my father imitating a "fast-talking New Yorker" saying, "Let's go eat, I'm hungry!" As someone pointed out on another thread, it's the answer to the question, "Jeet yet?" Cheers, Squeat

I'm glad people are enjoying the detailed lists. Makes me feel like less of a dork! Sorry Jackal10, still haven't gotten to Acme! Yipes there's a lot of stuff at that market! Now the clothes are done and I have to fold, then shower and off to work. Tonight I'm probably going to go hear Rudi Giuliani speak at Oakland's historic Paramount Theatre, so I don't know what's up for lunch or dinner, but will post. Also don't know how soon I'll have a chance to continue with the FM list! Cheers, Squeat

Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market Part III Springhill Cheese: (Petaluma) Salted Butter Jersey Butter Dry Jack (Me: "Which I've had -- it's excellent!") Garlic Cheddar Cowmilk Cheddar Firehouse Chedder (Me, again unable to read: "Farmhouse cheddar?") Sage Cheddar Jersey Cheddar Giana (Me: "They have Giana, which I've never heard of.") Old World Portuguese Sun-Dried Tomato Jack (Me: "Okay, I'm gonna go in for the Portuguese, now." Then ensued a hilarious encounter between me, a lady fellow customer, and the cheesemonger arguing over which samples were the best!) Hamada Farms: Eggplant (???Tsatsuma) Seedless Mandarin Oranges October Sun (Me: "Those look like... plums?") Persimmons ("All kinds of dried fruit.") Nectarines Dried Persimmons Fresh Prunes (?What are fresh prunes?) Dried Peaches Cherries Melons (Me, quite innocently: "They've got some goodlooking melons!") Pomegranates Walnuts Grapes: Natural Thompson's Thompson's Seedless Crimson Crimson Seedless Cypress Flower Farm: (Moss Beach) Hydrangeas (Me: "Ah, they've got some gorgeous stuff here!") Amarynths (??? Sounds like "Echinots". Me: "Those are cool!") Calendula (The guy here was really friendly and I told him all about eGullet and the blog. I'm sure he'll be tuning in!) Statice Marigolds Stargazer Lilies (Me: "Those are beautiful!") Snowberries Daisies Sweet Peas Freesia Tuberose (Me: "Oh, and some of the most gorgeous tuberose, that I'm gonna have to buy!" I did. Then: "Okay these tuberose may not have been the best idea, 'cause they're really, really tall and I'll probably break them!" Somehow I didn't.) K & J Orchards: Asian Pears ("Known as 'Yah Li") Persimmons (Me: "Some more persimmons! These are more orange than I'm used to.") Asian Pears (Can't make it out...'Shin Li'?) Very Crunchy Sweet Asian Pears (Again I garble the name. 'Alychthias'?) Very Sweet Crispy Juicy Asian Pears ('Hos Li'?) (Wish I had thought to spell out the names of these pears. They were beautiful.) (I think it's Taiwa Farms? I seem to be having a stroke here.) Arugula Peppers Chard Pea Greens (Me: "You don't see those all the time!") Organic Eggplant Herbs Tomatoes (Me: "They've still got some tomatoes, too!" I mourn the passing of the tomatoes. Like an idiot I didn't buy any.) Early Girls Rapini Greens Frog Hollow: (Me: "Frog Hollow has some of the best fruit going.") Pluots Bosc Pears (Me: "I like those! I might have to get some." I didn't.) Asian Pears More Pluots Warren Pears Capay Organic: (I say, "Copay". Doh!) (Me: "All the organic farmers here are certified [by the state of California, that is]." I was reminded by Capay's certification sign.) Tomatoes ("They've got some AMAZING tomatoes!" Still didn't think to buy any.) Rhubarb Butternut Squash Downtown Bakery: (I had been looking for this stand in their former spot: "Oh, HERE's the Downtown Bakery! They've moved! It used to be at the back! Beautiful pastries here!" Guh.) Cheesecake Bread Pudding Pain au Chocolat Brownies Almond Pecan Twists Ciabatta Rolls (Sounds like I say "Kabatta", but I'm pretty sure this is what it was.) Brioche Organic Coffee Stand: Organic Coffee

I got up early to do laundry, so I'm departing from my usual ways and making coffee and toast to munch on whilst waiting for the clothes to do their thing. The coffee again is Graffeo, and I am not kidding people, do yourselves a favor! Delicious. When I was in college I lived across the street from their San Rafael roastery, and I can still conjure the aroma two decades later. Delicious stuff! I'm also toasting some of the Acme ciabatta, which I'll have with some orange marmalade/apricot jam. This is another San Rafael college memory. There was a wonderful restaurant on 4th street called Le Croissant, and the cooks there told me the secret of this marvelous spread. You buy a jar each of the marmalade and jam, mix them together in a bowl and store the mixture back in both jars. If only I could recreate their perfect cheese omelets! Cheers, Squeat PS Yes Jackal10 I will be working on the list while the clothes are drying!

jackal10: I think Acme should be in the next part of the list (coming very soon, I hope). They don't seem to have a website, but here is an interesting article on sourdough with some info on Acme. Cheers, Squeat (Up early and doing laundry.)

Elyse, it's the giant Uber-Safeway on Market Street at Dolores. (I live at the corner by the statue.) Squeat Edited to add: The produce store is Golden Produce on Church Street, literally across Church from Safeway.

Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market List Part II [sierra Vegetables was also selling Black Turtle Beans... while I was transcribing I thought I was done with them.] Mountain Valley Orchard Gourmet Preserves: (Sign: "Taste the Real Fruit!") (Me: "They've got quite a spread!") (Sign: "No Sugar":) Mountain Bing Preserves Orchard Peach Preserves Country Blueberry Preserves (Sign: "Just a Little Sugar":) Black Cherry Preserves Bing Cherry Preserves Peach Preserves Raspberry Preserves Apricot Preserves Champagne Jelly (Me: "That sounds good!") Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Jelly White Zinfandel Wine Jelly Merlot Wine Jelly Plum Berry Delight Hot Apricot Pepper Jelly (I sound quite enthused about this jelly: "Doesn't that sound good?!") Spicy Strawberry Pepper Jelly Hot Pepper Jelly Spicy Peachy Pepper Jelly Hot Plum Pepper Jelly Black Raspberry Preserves Red Raspberry Preserves Seedless Marionberry Preserves Seedless Boysenberry Preserves Seedless Olallieberry Preserves Lime Marmalade (??? Something that sounds like "Oys Marmalade") Meyer Lemon Marmalade Strawberry Rhubarb Marmalade Rhubarb Marmalade Strawberry Marmalade Blueberry Marmalade Plum Marmalade Marionberry Marmalade Raspberry Marmalade (Here I rave about some "beautiful, giant pomegranates" from someplace that sounds like "Bellachian Farms", but I can't find them on the FM website or on Google.) Same place: Eggplant Concord Grapes White Grapes Flying Disc Ranch: Medjool Dates (This is where I bought the Medjool dates. Me: "I've just tasted a Medjool date. The texture is incredible. I have to get some of these! Hold on." [by this time I was obviously talking to the recorder as if it were a friend and shopping companion!]) Dirty Girl Produce: Radicchio (I bought one. Me: "Mmmmmmm, radicchio! I might have to get some..." They also had a type of green speckled radicchio I had never seen before.) Carrots Beets (I got some of these, too.) Turnips Arugula Parsley Strawberries (On the tape I sound so surprised that they have strawberries that you would think they were offering the actual food of the gods! Me: "How can that be true?!") Dandelion Radish Romaine Cabbage ???: Organic Early Girls Black Plums Green Zebras Organic Fresh Garlic Organic Radishes "Spiciest Arugula this side of the Embarcadero!" Mizuna Summer Squash (Me: "They've still got summer squash!" Er... dork.) Dried Chelsea Cherry Tomatoes Persimmons Everything Under the Sun: Sprouted Organic Veggie Burgers Wheat Grass Barley Grass Fenugreek Sunflower Sprouts Garlic Sprouts Garlic and Onion (sprouts I assume) Daikon Radish Sprouts (Me: "They've got all kinds of sprouts here.") Krout Sprouts Broccoli Sprouts Clover Alfalfa Fennel Alaskan Green Pea Wheatberries Black-Eyed Peas (sprouts, that is) Soy Beans Mung Beans Garbanzo Beans (Me: "They've also got Buckwheat") (Me: "They're also selling prepared product called: Pea-Sprout Pesto Almond Delight Sprouted Chipotles Hummus) (??? Me: "And Brooks and Daughters' Sprouted Hummus" Er, that's what it sounds like!) (Me: "One of my favorite booths is) Eatwell Farms: (Me: "They've got a big stand of organic lavender. They sell lavender products as well.") Lavender Salt Rosemary Salt True Lavender Honey (?? That's what it sounds like!) Lavender Sugar Scrub Lavender Hydrosol Sugar Pumpkins Butternut Squash Chard Rosemary Sage Napa Cabbage Hot Peppers (Me: "Five for a dollar!") (Me: "They also have a few tomatoes left here at Eatwell!") Sur La Table (Me: "I'm not gonna go in there 'cause I don't have that kinda money!") More soon, Squeat

Ugh. I'm finally home, scotch in hand. I had planned to stop off at my local produce store and get some arugula and a shallot. The plan was to roast some of the beautiful white beets I picked up at the Farmer's Market and the shallot, chop and toss with some EVOO and red wine vinegar, and consume with the pork pulled from the leftover ribs. However, I had to work too late and the produce store was already closed. So this is NOT going to happen. I am reheating (in the toaster oven) a quiche lorraine I made and froze last week, then am going to bed. I won't bore you (any more) with how awful my workday was, but this seems like a good time to describe my neighborhood a bit. I'm very lucky! The produce store I mentioned is a block away and is awesome! In some ways it rivals the Farmer's Market. For such a tiny place, they have an incredible array of always fresh and ripe produce, much of it organic. Plus, they stock all kinds of hard-to-find ingredients. Their prices are terrific too! The ironic thing is that they (like me) are directly across the street from an enormous Safeway. I feel like shaking people I see buying Safeway's inferior produce. It's RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, people! Also near my house is a small local grocery called Bi-Rite with a discerning eye. Though not cheap, for a local grocery they stock some amazing things, like prosciutto di parma, dry-aged beef, a boggling assortment of condiments, etc. They also feature top-quality produce. Half a block away from them is the best bakery around, Tartine. Their pastries are simply amazing, with the best lemon tart I've ever had, and I would rather eat their croque monsieur than my own, and (bragging again) that's saying a bit! Misgabi, this is the toaster oven I'm working with. Anyway, thanks for putting up with my blog so far. I am hopeful that it will be more interesting tomorrow. I'm now going to continue with the Farmer's Market transcription, in the hope that it is of interest to at least some. Cheers from a very tired Squeat Edited to add that the quiche turned out pretty well.

Okay, I am a disgrace to the food blog. Lunch was a hot dog. One lousy hot dog. Actually, it was a really good hot dog, with mustard and pickle relish, from Top Dog in downtown Oakland. (I live in San Francisco, but I work in Oakland these days, which is across the Bay. Oakland, you may recall, is the town of which Virginia Woolf lamented, "There is no there, there.") Top Dog is actually quite good stuff. They are based in Berkeley. Their brats are excellent as well. I had the regular all-beef "Kosher-style" Top Dog. This day has gone from bad to worse here at the office. When you hear from me next I will be nursing a well-deserved scotch! Cheers, Squeat PS I drink water at the office all day. I never drink soda. Not out of health concerns -- I just don't like it!

At the office now... drinking coffee. I know I should, but I usually don't eat anything before lunch. Was running late, so didn't have time to make the sandwich from the ribs. Not sure what lunch will be. Things are kind of catastrophic here right now. I'll keep you posted. Arrrrrrrrgh! Monday! Squeat

For those of us who are awaiting our bags and will be trotting off to Target in the next couple of days to purchase cheap toasters, please go into a little bit of the technique involved in selecting a darkness setting. Let us learn from your mistakes. Word. This (the Cubano), along with the enticing possibility of a Croque Monsieur is what is interesting me most strangely about these fantastic pockets! I understand that Cubanos are pressed sandwiches, but couldn't you possibly grab the teflon baggie, throw it down and smash it with a plate? Cheers, Squeat Edited to spell my own name correctly. Please see my food blog for information on Scotch consumption!

I know it's not polite to brag, but these ribs absolutely rock! I'm having them now with the 'cress tossed with the shallots. I am thinking of a sandwich for work tomorrow (this stuff is ripe for pullin'!) with the Acme ciabatta. (Which I have frozen, by the way... I live alone and hate to waste food; when I found out you could freeze bread quite successfully it was a revelation!) I forgot to mention what else I bought at the Farmer's Market: Point Reyes Blue Cheese: this stuff is rightfully famous. At the Cowgirl Creamery, I asked for a cheese similar to Morbiere. They offered (these people go out of their way to please) Harvest Moon from Bingham Hill in Colorado. This is a fantastic washed-rind cheese, and the comparison was not off, though it is closer in my opinion to a reblochon. It is very aggressive and really fills the mouth! Um, what else? You know about the ribs and the bacon... the dates... the watercress... the Acme ciabatta... Oh! I bought some surprises for misgabi, but can't reveal those in the blog (shh!). Oh yeah I bought some tuberose -- not food I know but they were there at the FM and I like to stock the bathroom with fragrant flowers. Cheers, Squeat

Okay, the ribs are almost done. I've been basting them for the last 15 minutes with some apple cider vinegar. I pulled a chunk off with some tongs and oh boy! The aroma is like nothing I've ever experienced from a toaster oven. I guess you get to brag a little, too, on your own blog. I forgot to put the apples in. I'm going to enjoy the pork with the rest of the watercress, tossed with some balsamic and chopped shallots (I'm throwing those in the pan with the ribs) and EVOO. Oh. I've had a scotch and a half (Dewar's -- my standby blend).

misgabi! Thanks for such a swell ride! Isn't this fun? You're a tough act to follow, and I'm sure to bore everyone to tears with my blog, but at least I'll enjoy it. Thanks! Squeat

Thank You. the number of egullet members who like burnt bread is currently at 2. i'm keeping score. Looks yummy to me. Make that 3. Squeat "Make Mine Burnt!" Mungry

Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market List, Part I Captain Mike's Holy Smoke: White King Lox Steelhead Trout Smoked Salmon Black Pepper Garlic Smoked Salmon Essence of Salmon (salmon jerky) Northwest Style (Sign: "Rivals any lox, anywhere!") Secret Recipe Smoked Salmon Spread Alderwood Smoked White King Salmon (Sign: "This doesn't happen every day!") Smoked Sockeye Salmon Indian Smoked Salmon (Sign: "Basted with honey and smoked longer.") Salmon Candy (Sign: "This stuff is dangerous!") Smoked Albecore Tuna Alderwood Smoked Sturgeon Alderwood Smoked Black Cod Bodega Goat Cheese: Fresh feta-style goat cheese (Cheesemonger: "I just made it yesterday, so... extremely fresh." Me: "Oh, that's good stuff!") Aged goat cheese from raw milk Hayes Street Grill (an outpost of the restaurant): Crabcake Sandwich $8.50 Salmon BLT w/Tartar $8.25 (For some reason I pronounce tartar "TAR-TAR"...I really do know how to say it.) Crabcakes w/Mixed Greens $7.50 Hobb's Bacon (Me: "That's good stuff.") and Scrambled Egg on Baguette w/Tomatoes Hobb's BLT on Baguette Wild Mushroom and Scrambled Eggs Oyster Po'Boy Orange Juice Crepe Factory: (Me: "They've got all kinds of crepes, sweet and savory. Pretty reasonably-priced.") Cocina Primavera: Huevos Rancheros Housemade Chorizo and Potato Tostada Tostadas de Ceviche Tamale Plates Aidell's Sausage: (Me: "Which is incredibly good!") Chicken and Apple Sausage Burmese Curry Sausage Maple and Smoked Bacon Spicy Bier Sausage (Me: "'Bier' spelled the German way.") Della Fattoria: ??? (Garbled -- sounds like "Coleman"?) Campagne Sicilian Semolina Kalamata Olive Ciabatta Seeded Wheat Little Guys (Me: "Something called 'Little Guys'!) Andante Dairy: (These are goat and cow cheeses.) Acapella (Me: "Sold in either a round or a pyramid!") ??? (Garbled) Rondo Cadenza Legato Pianoforte (Me: "That's neat!" Dork.) Hoffman's Game Birds: Fresh Chicken Fresh Chicken Parts (Me, unable to read sign: "Fresh Chicken Pots? ...Parts!!) Fresh Pheasant, Quail and Smoked Product Muscovy Duck Guinea Fowl Petaluma Farms Fresh Eggs Organic Medium $3 for 18 June Taylor Jams: (Sign: "www.junetaylorjams.com") Pears in Cassis Syrup Vegetarian Mincemeat Pluot Butter Apple and Rose Geranium Vanilla Butter (I sound very excited by this.) White Nectarine Butter Apricot and Almond Greengage Plum Butter White Peach Conserve Blood Oranges and Clementine (??? sounds like I say "Ratachia"?) Apricots in Almond Syrup Clementines in Blood Orange Syrup (Me: "That sounds good!:") Fruit Syrups: Cumquat Blood Orange and Clementine Blueberry Strawberry Lemon Verbena Cherry and Almond Conserve Grapefruit and Meyer Lemon Marmalade (Me: "That sounds good!:") Three Fruit Marmalade Blood Orange Marmalade Seville Orange Marmalade Lime and Ginger Marmalade Plum Conserve Santa Rosa Plum Conserve White Crane Springs Ranch: (Me: "I see some excellent greens and herbs. They've also got berries on branches." This is where I got the watercress.) Heirloom Organics: (Sign: "A Delicious, Safe Place to Shop!" White Turnips Navajo Carrots German Beer Radishes (Me: "Never heard of those!) Collards Mustard Arugula Red and Green Chard Bok Choy Fennel Romaine (??? Sounds like I say, "Something called 'Peen Chard'.") Sierra Vegetables: Chiles Sweet Peppers (Sign: "Survived the first frost last week. The rain will be hard on the few remaining!. Enjoy them now!") Scotch Bonnets Jamaican Habaneros Extra Hot Chiles Jalapenos Pablanos Ancho Gigantia (Sign: "3 Types of Fresh Anchos") Chiles and Sweet Peppers Chile Jam: Patamia (mild) Farm Blend (medium) Rojo (medium hot) Verde (hot medium) C. Chinensis (really hot) Smoky (mild)

Okay I just put the ribs in the toaster oven at 250. I've decided to post the Farmer's Market List in parts, mainly just to get a break from transcribing it. It's really long and I don't expect everybody (or even anybody) to read the whole thing, but I'm having fun with it. I've indicated few of the color commentary bits. I'll paste the first part in at the end of this post. On second thought, I'll make the parts of the lists as individual posts. First part will follow this post. SuzanneF: Yes, salted water. I was taught this method by my grandmother and my mother. The bath before the icewater bath is a salt bath. The salt seems to draw out the moisture from the greens, making them more thirsty to drink in the fresh crisp icewater. They really crisp up well! Everyone used to think I was crazy for doing this, but then I got validation a few months ago when I bought Edna Lewis and Scott Peacock's The Art of Southern Cooking. There on page 71, he describes the exact method I use! Guess it's a southern thing, or something. If you like I'll post what he says about it. Fifi: Actually when I got this recorder, I made sure with the guy that sold me that I COULD transfer what I recorded to my computer. Unfortunately I have lost the instructions and the jack/cord thingy to do that with. Plus I don't know how. Maybe I'll take it back and show it to them and try to see what I need. But still no one could hear it, unless eGullet were able to somehow host it? (I don't have a website.) ronnie_suburban: I actually had some of the Nueske bacon last night for dinner, with some fingerling potatoes roasted in the rendered grease! I liked the flavor a lot, but it seemed a little more chewy than crispy. I don't know if that's because I roasted it instead of frying it, or if it's because the bacon itself is so lean. Do you have experience with it? What's your take? torakris: Actually I do eat the stems, if I'm not going for a fancy presentation. On my sandwich I just chopped them roughly in with the leaves! Cheers, Squeat

Okay. Decided against the bacon for lunch, because I'll be having baby-back ribs for dinner. Went with a cream cheese and watercress sandwich (watercress also from the Farmer's Market at one of my favorite stands for greens -- will indicate the name when I get the list ready -- be patient, I was at the market for like 3 hours naming all the stuff! cream cheese the garden variety Philly stuff) with lots of salt and cracked pepper and drizzled with balsamic on the Acme ciabatta. Then 2 medjool dates from the FM from a guy who was only selling dates. I'm munching on some tortilla chips now. Sadly, the lady at the greens stand said this was the last watercress of the season. Wah! I love watercress -- I buy it every week during the season. Does anyone else think watercress is underrated/underutilized? Some people say they don't think it's worth all the effort stemming it, but I think anything rewarding is worth a little effort right? But I guess all my greens get a little extra attention. I use the salt-water, ice-water, spin-dryer method on all my greens... just makes them so darn criispy and fresh! (Sorry, but it's my blog and I'll rant if I want to!) Maggiethecat, I seriously enjoyed your iambic pentameter blog! Unfortunately, my coffee machine is a cone on a pot... Ramblingly yours, Squeat Edited to add: I toasted the ciabatta -- so good!

I wish I did have access to that article! Fortunately, thanks to Alton Brown, I do have an electric kettle with a wide top that I can boil eggs in.

Fat Guy, I've actually already ordered a set! Which reminds me, I need to go buy a toaster. I'm also going to try to pick up an electric skillet. jackal10: Acme is definitely my bread of choice. They have a new baking facility right in the Market Hall that is connected to the Farmer's Market. You should hear the disappointment in my voice on yesterday's recording when they didn't have my beloved ciabatta! Happily, it turns out they were just pulling the ciabatta from the oven. I'm planning on toasting some up and roasting some of the Nueske's Applewood Smoked Bacon I picked up at Golden Gate Meats (also in the Market Hall) for lunch! There's a list of everything they were offering on the recording. I'll type it up and post it. Hi Misgabi! That tape is a keeper. I'm keeping it around to play when I feel depressed. I have never laughed so hard!!! I mostly can tell what I was looking at because I'm naming things as I go, but there are some unintelligible spots, and I really mangled the names of some things. (I also crack up completely several times on the tape itself.) bloviatrix: The market when you visited was at its temporary location at Justin Herman Plaza while they renovated the Ferry terminal where it is now housed (just across the Embarcadero from there). It is even more fabulous now! And you're right: the farmers are so friendly and informative, and no one ever tires of talking food there, which is one reason I love it so much! More soon, Squeat

Hello eGulleteers! I have been tagged by the delightfully entertaining misgabi for this week's food blog. Incredibly enough, I am without a stove this week! My dear old workhorse died last week at the presumed age of 77, when she developed a slow leak and her gas had to be shut off. Arrangements are being made for a replacement, but I'm still negotiating with the landlord, and no installation is expected before Saturday, at the earliest. So join me as I try to wing it with my toaster oven and electric kettle. It will truly be an atypical week for me, foodwise!! Also, a caveat for those eGulleteers whose eyes grew wide when they saw the words "San Francisco": While it's true that I'm lucky enough to live on what I consider to be the most beautiful street in a gorgeous city filled with beautiful streets, I am not as lucky (or ambitious, I guess) as those who live in the Marina or Pacific Heights and jet to Spain to dine at El Bulli. Don't anticipate vicarious thrills brought on by descriptions of my lunch at Fifth Floor or dinner at Gary Danko or Chez Panisse or the French Laundry. Even though I enjoy fine dining, and have in the past had incredible meals at some of our justly famous restaurants, that sort of thing is simply not in the budget this week (or hardly ever). That said, I think the stove situation will call for dining out more than usual, so stay tuned for reports on affordable dining in SF! Let's see. So far this morning I have had a bowl of Total cereal with banana slices, and three cups (typing is a challenge at the moment) of Graffeo coffee. This is some seriously good coffee people, and they ship. Get on it! Yesterday, as every Saturday, I went to the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market. This place is amazing. Farmers from all over Northern California show up each week with the freshest, most beautiful produce imagineable. And here I have to tell a little story and thank misgabi and the eGullet food blog for some of the most fun I've had in recent memory! As I'm leaving the house yesterday morning for the market, my eyes land on a small microcassette recorder I had obtained for another project but never used. I think to myself I'll just take it along and maybe make a few notes to myself to use in the blog. On the streetcar on the way downtown I get the idea of doing a narrated tour of the entire market to give an idea of the incredible diversity of produce and products available there. So that's exactly what I did! Now, I am normally somewhat shy (although I don't seem to have any trouble mouthing off here on eGullet) and don't like to draw attention to myself in public. Well, I learned a few things about what happens when you go through a crowded market narrating everything you see into a little black box: 1. You look insane. 2. You feel insane. 3. You hurt yourself when you get back home rolling around on the floor laughing at yourself! First of all there is my ridiculous voice. I honestly don't know how the many people I talk to every day keep from cracking up. I sound like a cross between David Sedaris on helium and Ira Glass on cocaine, with maybe just a little of Sarah Vowell on Prozac or something. Then there is the ridiculous narrative itself! Somehow without being aware of it I offered a kind of stream-of-consciousness running commentary on the whole affair. "Oooh, don't those look good?" "What the heck is that?" "Never saw those before..." Conspicuously talking to myself in public had somehow brought out the inner babbling moron in me! This is some seriously funny shit, and I wish I could post it somewhere so eGulleteers could hear for themselves what a complete jackass I am! Me garbling the names of the French cheeses alone deserves a post on the mispronunciation thread. Anyway, I am in the process of typing up the list of stalls and their wares, and will post it here if there's any interest. (It's taking a while 'cause I keep falling on the floor laughing!) Anyway, sorry for rattling on so much. I'll try to be more concise in the future. I've got baby back ribs from the market marinating, and I'm going to slow roast them in the toaster oven for dinner, probably with some apples. Cheers, Squeat

Sidratha, Welcome to eGullet from another long dislodged tarheel! (I was born in Wilmington, though my kin are mostly Bladen County folk.) I, too, am hoping Varmint or someone will post recipes enabling us to recreate the wonderful eastern North Carolina BBQ from our past! Varmint? How'd you end up in MO? (My brother now lives in Columbia, where he runs an art-house cinema/cafe.) Cheers, Squeat