French Market, Forest Park

French Market, Forest Park

I opted to go to the French Market in Forest Park today -- Eric Larson of Marion Street Cheese Market had told me he'd be there, so I thought it'd be a good day to go.

Found out a little about French Market, FYI: the "business" is owned by a French Company that negotiates with municipalities for space, sets up arrangements with local retail establishments (e.g., Marion Street Cheese Market), and provides tent booths for vendors, all for about $37/week.

The Forest Park French Market today featured disarmingly awkward French nuns selling pastries (a weakness of mine, and I don't even like baked goods that much). They had some magnificent looking fruit tarts -- I bought a bag of very good madeleines (branded St. Mary Magdalenes).

The Wife bought some plump, deep green Michigan asparagus -- two pounds for five bucks (not a great deal, but the asparagus looked pretty good). There were also tomatoes, clearly marked "From Florida" (which is a market rule: if it ain't local, ya gotta say so).

Funny men in hats promised that come July, they will have many peaches, some of which they developed themselves and for which they hold "several patents."

The French Market in Geneva opened a few Sundays ago, it is run by the same people but I am sure the vendors vary some. The French nuns are also at the Geneva Market, they operate a shelter/soup kitchen in Chicago. Not much in the way of produce yet, this market seems to attract a lot of crafters and people who are selling party type things like Pampered Chef or home made pickles. This Market operates on Sundays from 9 until 2 near the Geneva Metra station.

David Hammond wrote:The Forest Park French Market today featured disarmingly awkward French nuns selling pastries (a weakness of mine, and I don't even like baked goods that much).

I have a weakness for awkward French nuns myself .

d4v3 wrote:

David Hammond wrote:The Forest Park French Market today featured disarmingly awkward French nuns selling pastries (a weakness of mine, and I don't even like baked goods that much).

I have a weakness for awkward French nuns myself .

Ahh, you receive my meaning. Sometimes, I spend an entire afternoon listening to "Dominique" and watching reruns of The Flying Nun...but enough of that.

By now, of course, I've eaten most of the St. Mary Magdalenes, and what I like about them (and miss in many madeleines) is a density and toothsomeness similar to dry cake, except it isn't dry, it just pebbles away when you chew it, moist and quite satisfying, a pleasing tightrope walk between cookie and cake.

Hammond

Are they from the same abbey as the French nuns at Algonquin Crossing? http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=2386

King's Thursday wrote:Are they from the same abbey as the French nuns at Algonquin Crossing? http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=2386

KT, HA (!), no.

The nice nun lady who sold me today's cookie treat was from the Fraternite de Notre Dame on Central in the Austin neighborhood. Here are some of the sisters making like longshoremen -- the one in profile may actually have been the very one I spoke to this morning (but, you know, sometimes it's hard to tell).



Not having grown up in the RCC, I'm a little unfamiliar with the ways of the nunnery, but I must admit I am charmed by their gentle way of interacting with overt sinners.

Hammond

I thoroughly enjoyed a croissant from the nun, it was buttery, flaky and not too greasy. The tomatoes from the guy on the other side of the market from the French nun came from Southern Illinois and were pretty good, a bit on the acidic side, but still quite tasty. The coffee from Blue Max is outstanding.
LO

LO wrote:The tomatoes from the guy on the other side of the market from the French nun came from Southern Illinois and were pretty good, a bit on the acidic side, but still quite tasty.

I talked to the tomato guy about his sources, and his tomatoes and strawberries are grown in a green house outside St. Louis. I guess acidity is to be expected at this time of year.

Hammond