Tag Archives: farm market

Rick Nichols Tours Reading Terminal Market Part II

Here is the final part of our tour of Reading Terminal Market with Rick Nichols. For Part I, click here.

Molly Malloy’s, a new gastropub at the market, gave us a taste of Lancaster Brewing Company’s Shoo-Fly porter. Interesting.

These two look mischievious. On the left is Domenic Spataro, of Spataro’s Cheesesteaks, whose father opened up in 1947 as a buttermilk stand and at 94, still comes in to help out.

Rick touting one of his favorite market finds:  brussel sprouts from Benuel Kauffman of Kauffman’s Lancaster County Produce. As you can see, there are all kinds of other goodies he brings in from Lancaster.

Anna Florio of La Cucina at the Market hosted us in the lovely space she offers cooking classes.


Tommy DiNic’s roast pork sandwich with broccoli rabe is a “transcendantal experience” according to Rick Nichols; I agree. Here is he is explaining how this masterpiece starts with a pork shoulder in the wee hours of the morning and is cooked long and lovingly until tender and ready for sandwiches. Even before the profiles from the Food Networks Diners, Drive-ins and Dives and the Travel Channels Man v. Food, the lines of people at lunchtime could be daunting.

General Manager, Paul Steinke walks us through the current market renovations, business strategy and goals for the future . . .

 While Anna Florio and friend prepares four kinds of apples for us to taste, generously donated by the Fair Food Farmstand. Rick’s new favorite is the Gold Rush with a lingering hint of ginger on the finish.

Details:

Reading Terminal Market
12th & Arch Streets
Philadelphia, PA  19107
215.922.2317
Monday to Saturday 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, Sunday 9:00 am to 5:oo pm 

Maple Acres Farm Market

Maple Acres, tucked just south of Plymouth Meeting Mall, is being run by a fourth generation of farmers.  Like most businesses of this kind, they are keeping a lot of balls in the air:  overseeing ‘pick your own’ peas and strawberries, giving hay rides and monthly farm tours, raising cows, chickens and pigs, not to mention growing a wide variety of vegetables.

Corn and tomatoes are the big sellers here but throughout the season they carry everything from asparagus, broccoli, eggplant, string beans, peppers of all sorts, seasonal leafy greens, garlic, scallions and more.

It is important to note that they are not certified organic, but try to use as little pesticides as possible.  Maple Acres also sells produce from other local farms.  I have found the staff to be very friendly and knowledgeable about their offerings.

I counted 12 different kinds of eggplants.  Just gorgeous!

Their website is kept up-to-date with what is being offered at the moment.  If you like canning, you can pick up their tomato seconds for a very reasonable price.

There are two things that I freeze for winter use:  corn and sour cherries.  Maple Acres has lovely corn all summer long.

A bonus:  They have 8 acres of pick your own zinnias.  This a cheap way to have fresh flowers whenever you have a little extra time and energy.

They carry Merrymead Farms milk, their own free range eggs and have a limited amount of meat from their own cows and pigs.  If you have your heart set on a particular cut, they take pre-orders.

The Details:

They take credit cards and there is plenty of parking.

Address:
2656 Narcissa Road
Plymouth Meeting, PA  19462
(610) 828-7395
http://mapleacresfarmmarket.com
 
Hours:
Mon-Sun 8:30 am – 6 pm