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I went to the feria chanting (in my mind), cucumbers, tomatoes, parsley, lemons. Because these were what I needed to buy for birthday (not mine) tabbouleh.

The swiss chard, mandarines, avocado, eggplant, scallions, radishes, broccoli, penca (more on this in a sec) and potatoes were just add-ons. You know, like you do.

And here’s what I bought (all prices in CLP, which is currently 473 to the dollar. Egads, that’s low! But it’s springtime, and the produce is looking pretty good, though the tomatoes and avocados are still wearing their winter prices a bit.

1 bunch swiss chard 200 CLP .42
1 bunch scallions 300 CLP .63
1 bag penca (cardoons, an edible thistle, related to the artichoke) 600 clp
1 bunch radishes 500 $1.06
1 kilo potatoes 500 $1.06
1 kilo lemons 300 .63
1 kilo mandarines 500 $1.06
2 eggplants 600 $1.27
2 bunches parsley 400 .85
1 avocado 600 $1.27
2 cucumbers 800 $1.69
4 large tomatoes 1000
1 head broccoli 500

Total haul=6600 CLP = $13.95

At the feria today, I heard Colombians, Peruvians, Bolivians, Chinese people and one French guy speaking Spanish. I love this about this street market. Also, strangely, the police were out at the uncharacteristically large feria libre (like a fleamarket) part that stretches up Portales (the continuation of Agustinas), but not bothering anyone. It was huge, huge, I tell you.

And there were uhm, Barbies, among other items.

This post is part of a sort-of series of posts where I talk about what I buy at the local feria here in Santiago, and how much it costs. Search for feria haul and you’ll find many more. Here’s one now! Also, asparagus has just hit the market, but I like the later asparagus (which they also harvest thinner) better than what’s out now, so I’ll wait. First strawberries appeared about two weeks ago.

Also, the veggie photo is a little odd, because I was just testing the light here, and it turned out to be the only one where the cucumber mandarine combo wasn’t a little, um, un-family friendly. The penca is in a little loaf pan in the back. It looks like finely chopped celery, and that was only half of it. And the Barbie photo is a little odd, because frankly, the sight itself was a bit odd.

Cardoons, or penca tastes like a cross between celery and cucumber, with a slightly nutty taste. It is spectacular with lemon, olive oil and salt, but I have been known to eat it plain, out of a glass with a spoon while composing a blog post.