Category Archives: Gathering

The Kumato Tomato

Posted on December 16, 2011 by alonna| 1 Comment

I recently read that there is tomato called the Kumato that you can find in grocery stores that makes a decent fresh tomato option, when all our local tomatoes are long gone. I was shopping at Weavers Way Co-op this week and there they were; grown in Mexico by Sunset Produce. Normally, I never buy out of season tomatoes, but I was planning to make sandwiches and was craving that perfect additon.  Here they are:

kumato tomatoAbout the size of a golf ball, this red-brown orb is the Kumato.

I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of tomato flavor, juiciness, and quite decent texture. Originally from a ‘lost’ wild tomato and developed in Spain, the Kumato has been available in Europe for number of years. It has an unusually high fructose level so it is sweet, but has a good acidity to round out the flavor. So, we now have a reasonably tasty tomato that travels well.

I am still not going to regularly stock my kitchen with this well traveled produce, but between now and June, when I crave a tomato, I know I have a good option.

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Rick Nichols Tours Reading Terminal Market Part II

Posted on December 8, 2011 by alonna| Comments Off

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 

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Rick Nichols Tours Reading Terminal Market Part I

Posted on December 7, 2011 by alonna| Comments Off

When I saw that First Person Arts was sponsoring a tour of my beloved Reading Terminal Market featuring our beloved wordsmith . . .

Rick Nichols (yes, two beloveds), I jumped at the chance.

The market is undergoing another round of improvements which will allow room for 4 more vendors, upgrade the women’s bathroom, and add a community room to be named for Nichols in honor of his tireless efforts in the 1990s as a food writer at the Philadelphia Inquirer.  He was a part of an effort to persuade this city’s leaders to lend support to the ongoing viability of the market. It is hard to imagine today, as one tries to negotiate the conventioneer bloated aisles at lunchtime, that Reading Terminal Market was ever in danger of dying away. Uncertainty as to whether this treasure would survive was in question several times in the last couple of decades, so we are very fortunate.

My favorite stand at the market is the Fair Food Farmstand.  It was started on a folding table in 2001 by Judy Wicks, with the hope of connecting the local farmers who supplied the White Dog Cafe, with retail customers. Today they represent some 90 local farmers and producers at the farmstand, and nineteen of them are now making cheese.

Bassetts Ice Cream started serving ice cream in 1893 and is the oldest purveyor at Reading Terminal Market. Today Roger Bassett (seen above) and his cousin Michael Strange, are the fifth generation to keep their 40 flavors of premium ice cream churning.

Pennsylvania General Store, opened by Michael and Judy Holhan in 1987, is the best source for locally made foods and crafts. Outside of Lancaster County, they are one of the only places you can find Cope’s dried corn. Cookies, chocolates, apple butter and pepper jam are just a few of the foods they carry here.

Michael Holahan of the Pennsylvania General Store was one of the founders of the markets Forgotten Foods Festival. Shown here as one of the vendors.

Old friends!  Rick bumps into Jack McDavid, chef/owner of the Down Home Diner in the market, who are also both Forgotten Food instigators.

To be continued . . .

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 

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The Great Meatball Hunt

Posted on December 6, 2011 by alonna| Comments Off

According to NPR,

At the recent New York Wine and Food Festival, the Meatball Madness competition was sold out. That madness is spreading all over the country. Americans think of meatballs perched on top of spaghetti all covered in cheese, but meatballs are universal. Weekend Edition commentator Bonny Wolf reports on the latest foodie trend shaking things up.

Before reading that, in mid-November I posted to Chowhound, asking for recommendations for the best prepared food/takeout meatballs. I wound up getting fourteen responses so I guess I am not the only one craving carbs and delicious, meaty orbs. After I finish the Great Croissant Hunt, I will work on my search for the best meatball that you can take home.

I’d love to hear about your favorite Philly area meatballs!  Here is the sources I have so far:

Talluto’s, Norristown and the Italian market
Carlino’s in Ardmore
Sam’s Market in Willow Grove
Silvio’s in Hatboro
Altmonte’s in Doylestown and Warminster

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