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Scapes from New York: Literally the offshoots of garlic (as well as onions, leeks, and chives), scapes are trimmed away so the plants will direct their energy into growing bigger bulbs. The more immediate benefit: a green that can be chopped into a salad, scrambled with eggs, or sautéed on its own, with a gentler garlic flavor that won't drive away your loved ones.
Bialas Farms
New Hampton, New York
At the West 97th St. Greenmarket
(This venue is closed.) Blueberry pancakes ($8) were studded with big berries, but the pancakes seemed too sweet themselves, even discounting the confectioner's sugar; small bowl of mixed fruit included. Bacon ($1.50 extra) was overfried; coffee was drinkable.
Funky Diner
466 Columbus Ave. (82nd-83rd Sts.)
212-873-0600
The name is almost too cute, but when I finally settled on an almond cookie ($1.75), I found it exceptionally light; indeed, the raised lip concealed an air pocket. Can Muffin Madness manage that with the peanut butter chocolate chip?
Muffin Madness
Johnson City, New York
At the Union Square Greenmarket
Wednesday only
Not cooking tonight? Stop by anyway: The Greenmarket's preeminent supplier of fresh seafood offers smoked selections all year 'round. Bluefish ($6.59 per pound) had an oily denseness that was even a bit heavier than expected, but I must try the monkfish; curious about the sea robin, too.
Blue Moon
Mattituck, New York
At the Union Square Greenmarket
(This venue is closed.) My Mission-style veggie burrito sported sweet potatoes, red peppers, onions, and sliced jalapenos as well as the other typical fixin's. Profits go to Broadway Community Inc., a soup kitchen, shelter, and advocacy organization that also provides food-service training; exhibit one, seen here, was just $5, guacamole included.
Local Flavor Burrito Shop
At Broadway Presbyterian Church
114th St. and Broadway
Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, 11:00-4:00
Vegetarian fajita burrito ($6.45) with sauteed onions and peppers, plus rice, beans, and guacamole, sour cream, and purportedly hot tomatillo-red chili salsa.
Chipotle
2843 Broadway (at 110th St.)
(one of many locations)
212-222-1712
(This venue is closed.) The crispy lamb with chili pepper ($10.95) is even more mouth-watering once you've taken a bite. You'll quickly recognize cumin as an unnamed but dominant flavoring; it's common throughout China's colder climes. (The restaurant's cuisine has roots in the northeast, not far from Korea.)
Celery dumplings (12 for $4.95) proved to be pork-and-celery, without crunch, but still an interesting variation on a theme; the broth in the lamb soup ($6.95) was terrific, and there's plenty to share. (Shown below, that's just an individual-serving bowl, in front of the amuse bouche of peanuts and kimchi-like cabbage.) Can't wait to explore this menu further.
Fu Run
40-09 Prince St., Flushing
718-321-1363
The milk was canned, but the fresh-squeezed orange juice practically jumped out of my morir soñando ($3). Folks who asked for an OJ, I noticed, generally took it with lime juice, also squeezed to order.
Juice cart
On this occasion, on Broadway near 156th St., Manhattan
(This venue is closed.) On an early afternoon visit, the thigh-and-leg value box ($3.50) included not only fries but an extra piece of chicken as well. Greasy, and despite the orange-red tinge, lacking in any distinctive flavor.
New Caporal
3772 Broadway (156th-157th Sts.), Manhattan
212-862-8986
Fiddleheads ($7 per pound), young ferns that never got to spread their fronds, make a snappy stir-fry, provided you uncover them during their brief late-spring appearance.
On a previous occasion: Though Deep Mountain offers maple candy ($13 per pound) in coconut and ginger versions, I went for the pecan (native to the mainland, albeit south of the Mason-Dixon, I told myself; seems more traditional). Call me a maple sugar purist, though; another time I'll take the unflavored version, and maybe a jar of maple butter for back home.
Deep Mountain Maple
West Glover, Vermont
(at the Union Square Greenmarket)
Thank you!
