Seasonal produce at excellent prices brings me to the feria most weekends. I’ve been missing it since being back from first Argentina, and then Peru. But the stars aligned just right, and after a solid 48 hours of social time, beer, wine, whiskey (?!, just a taste, though single malt, where have you been all my life?), it was time to pedal down to the local market and get some fruit and veg to start the week. The week, which has started already because I’m working on a translation and because though it’s a four-day weekend in Chile, it is not a four-day weekend in my apartment, and I’ve got to get this place in shape for a guest and also, see the aforementioned translation (mmm, delicious tourism translation, my favorite).
So after the beerfest in Malloco (thanks Colin and Carolina of foodychile for organizing it) and the birthday party for a cyclist/ writer friend (so lucky to have a few of these), I can get my antioxidants on. And here’s what I hauled home on the handlebars:
And here’s what I bought:
kilo of strawberries (900 CLP, $1.80)
whole bunch of loquats (1300 CLP, $2.65)
giant scallions (250 CLP, $.50)
broccoli (500 CLP, $1.00)
cauliflower (500 CLP, $1.00)
2 mangoes (800 CLP, $1.65)
1.5 kilos of oranges (500 CLP, $1.00)
1/4 kilo of arugula (about 1/4 of this pictured, 800 CLP, $1.65
2 avocadoes (only one pictured (500 CLP, $1.00)
total about 6,000 CLP= (approx) $12.00
The broccoli and cauliflower are not precisely in season, and the mangoes are from far away, but I have them and I will eat them (though not together). The loquats I bought because I came upon two Chinese men buying them (one eating, one selecting) so the fruit was my mad impulse purchase. I love nisperos (as they are called here) because I love the trees, how the fruit looks while it is growing, that they are called ameixa amarela (yellow plum) in Portuguese and that they have a short growing season. Spring to early summer and then they’re gone. Like my allergies, which started up just about this morning. Oh, loratadine, wherefor art thou, loratadine?
And now, another view, because who can stand to have all that pretty around and not photograph it? From the birthday boy’s house, up in what I like to call “the hinterlands” (far east/closer to the mountains than where I live).
Welcome back, Eileen! Beautiful photo of your fruit harvest.
Thanks, Sally! My allergies are killing me, and those strawberries aren’t helping, but oh! the shakes I’ll make. Hope you are well, too, and would love to catch up, soon!
Strawberries! Jealous! So far, no berries in Laos (except frozen and SUPER pricey at the expensive market)- and I realize, I really miss them! So glad I’ll be back in Michigan next spring/summer for berries!!!!
all we expats do is just moan about the (delicious) food, right? How are you getting on with your Laotian oven? The brownies sounded promising. More vids of the wee one “driving” please! And yes, berries are amazing, but they come into season just as my allergies kick into gear, and I’m allergic to strawberries. Bad combo. I eat them, anyway!
Excited to know what you made of/with your treasures.
*big eyes and excited grin*
stir fried broccoli, twice, scallions on a sandwich, mango strawberry orange juice, and a few other things. Still nomovd on the cauliflower, but it will keep for a while!
That´s one of my favorite things about Chile- the fruits and vegetables are so much cheaper here so it´s much easier to eat healthier.
Also, for some reason Loratadina does nothing for me! I had to bring my own Zyrtec and Claratin.
you are not the first person to say loratadine does nothing for them. I brought some from home, but so far have only had to take one tablet. I think it worked some, but not sure. I used to take “neoclaritina” here, but I don’t know if they still sell it. That was years ago. Glad you’ve got your meds on though!
We have cauliflowers growing on our farm but most of them went to flower too fast, you are right, wrong time. However I did find a small lovely one last night and cooked it up with a cheese sauce. It was only when I sat down with my daughter to eat that I saw all the little caterpillars on it! (after washing) She is vegetarian, so she didn’t appreciate the “meat”. That is what we get for being organic.
mmm, organic cauliflower. Sorry about the caterpillars. I just made some yesterday afternoon, sprinkle with olive oil and bake in the cast iron skillet (I make “steaks” out of them, cutting down through the head). Tasty, and some crunch. But yes, it’s time to switch to summertime veggies, especially up north where you are! The spinach and cherries and strawberries make up for it, mostly!