When I tried the peach I'd bought from the Farmer's Market it was so juicy I ran back to the sink with sweet peach juice dripping down all over my chin and fingers. It was how I remembered peaches tasting when my family would drive through Georgia and North Carolina on vacation.
I drove towards the fleamarket and saw a gigantic sign by Ortiz avenue advertising a "huge fleamarket" so I thought that was it and turned north. What I found was a small hispanic fleamarket...kind of scary. But excellent selection of hispanic favored produce--peppers, plantains, tomatillos, and the like. I might go back there if I decide I want to make enchiladas verdes soon. I got back in my car and left, determined to get to the *really* huge covered fleamarket.
I found it, parked, and was very excited to see a produce stand with big beautiful displays of peaches, strawberries, grapes, pears, apples, mangoes, corn, zucchini, crookneck squash, peppers, tomatoes, asparagus, watermelon, cantaloupe, butternut squash, bananas, lemons, limes...I haven't tried the peaches yet since they were not quite ready, but if they are anything like the strawberries then they too will be most excellent. Max claims they are the best he's ever had--even better than the ones we bought from Plant City during the Strawberry Festival!
The fleamarket itself is pretty big. It took me two hours to walk through every colored aisle, and some of the rows. Large blocks of vendors are missing in places since it is no longer "season". The middle aisle is pretty much the Junk Food aisle and you can buy funnel cake, Italian icies, sausage, gyros, chilli dogs, fries, homemade potato chips, pretzels, etc. But I did see a place selling salad! A Puerto Rican stall was selling beef "empanadillas" (which to me just looked like giant empanadas) so I bought two of them. They are probably entirely made of trans fat, but oh well. I didn't see the giant tub of Country Crock on the counter until it was too late.
The fleamarket itself is pretty big. It took me two hours to walk through every colored aisle, and some of the rows. Large blocks of vendors are missing in places since it is no longer "season". The middle aisle is pretty much the Junk Food aisle and you can buy funnel cake, Italian icies, sausage, gyros, chilli dogs, fries, homemade potato chips, pretzels, etc. But I did see a place selling salad! A Puerto Rican stall was selling beef "empanadillas" (which to me just looked like giant empanadas) so I bought two of them. They are probably entirely made of trans fat, but oh well. I didn't see the giant tub of Country Crock on the counter until it was too late.
There were at least 3 or 4 Lucky Bamboo/Money Tree sellers. I bought a replacement for the bamboo cluster I had for just $8. The same guy also had a dollar-store type deal so I picked up a bamboo cutting board for $4. A lady selling gorgeous party dresses caught my eye and a pretty pink shirt from her set me back $17.
Max had asked me to find a black leather phone case that closes magnetically, and of course they had 3 stands selling them so I picked one up for him for $4. I tried looking for a faceplate for my new Samsung Impression but I guess it is a little too new since none of the stalls had anything for me.
I loaded up with tons of produce from a very nice elderly man on the way out. Limes: 5 for $1. I put everything in my cooler and went back to the SECOND building which had larger items--mattresses, appliances, even cars. There were several nurseries represented so I made a note of the bromeliad/orchid lady and was very good, I didn't buy any more plants. But I probably will go back, she had such a diverse selection.
Max had asked me to find a black leather phone case that closes magnetically, and of course they had 3 stands selling them so I picked one up for him for $4. I tried looking for a faceplate for my new Samsung Impression but I guess it is a little too new since none of the stalls had anything for me.
I loaded up with tons of produce from a very nice elderly man on the way out. Limes: 5 for $1. I put everything in my cooler and went back to the SECOND building which had larger items--mattresses, appliances, even cars. There were several nurseries represented so I made a note of the bromeliad/orchid lady and was very good, I didn't buy any more plants. But I probably will go back, she had such a diverse selection.
Now that I'm back and cooled off (it's not air conditioned), we are going to grill some chicken along with the fresh corn, zucchini, and squash I bought. Should be tasty.
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