Jul
19
2008
Organic Produce is something we would all love to have in our kitchen at all times, but depending on where you live it can be very inconvenient to come by. You might have to take a train just for some fresh fruits and vegetables. Since it so far, you would like to be able to buy a lot, but you can’t because you can only carry but so much. Also, since it is produce the shelf life is not very long.
I have the answer for all of you who have been in this predicament and the answer is Urban Organic. Urban Organic is a great company with a wonderful concept. Every week or bi-weekly as you prefer, you will get a box of organic fruits and vegetables delivered to your home. It will be a variety of in season produce. Depending on which size box you order, the price varies from $24.99 to $44.99. It is an adaptable service - You can have a list of certain items you are never to receive, for example I never receive kale because I HATE it. The weekly listed is posted online, so you can also weekly change items for a fee.
I just received my new box on Thursday and received lettuce, tomatoes, potatoes, yellow squash, canteloupe, pears, peaches, nectarines, bananas, carrots, plums, corn and red chard. I did not get the kale that was also on this week’s list.
So log on to their website and check out this great service for convenience and a great way to stay healthy!!
Sep
26
2007
Yesterday as I was walking around Manhattan, I was noticing figs everywhere. All of the Indian fruit vendors have them on their stands. Figs have become the “en vogue” fruit. With the popularity of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food at an all time high, the fig has landed with reckless abandon everywhere - even in my local Shoprite supermarket in Brooklyn. I no longer have to schlep all over town to some super expensive gourmet supermarket to find a fig - now they are everywhere and I am loving it.
For the Caribbeans out there, I am not referring to the baby bananas that West Indians call fig or more appropriately spelled figue. The fig is the fruit that is used in Fig Newtons. Now I know everyone knows what a fig newton is. But fig newtons use dried figs and in years past, dried figs were all you were able to find. This rampant availability of the fresh fig is a new phenomenon. If you have not tried a fresh fig, you must go out and buy one NOW. They are not the seedy, grainy dried fig that you may not like. A fresh fig is a refreshing, sweet fruit that is delicious on a warm sunny day, like the Indian summer we are having today in NY. They are one of the most popular fruits eaten in the Middle Eastern desert countries. They are light and refreshing with a high amount of potassium to give you the energy to cope with the heat.
The fig is native to Western Asia, but was transported successfully to the Mediterranean. The fig is a very sturdy plant, able to grow in dry as well as sub tropical climates. In addition to Western Asia and the Mediterranean, figs are grown almost all over the world - from California to Columbia to China to India.
Although some people prefer to peel the fruit, I enjoy it as is. I bite into it as though I am biting into a perfectly ripe peach. Another great condiment now readily available in many supermarkets in fig spread. I first discovered fig spread several years back when I was working at Whole Foods. We used to make a pizza with fig spread, arugula and parmesan. It was one of our most popular pizzas - absolutely delicious! It is great on crostini with some cheese on top - like firm goat cheese or machego!
So go out there and buy those fresh figs and embrace the increasing globalization of the world that is enabling us to have access to all the produce the world has to offer!!
