Fresh Beans

While shopping at Family Fruit Market today, I noticed that they had fresh in-the-pod pinto beans and fava beans (the latter would go perfect with some liver and Chianti) . My mind was elsewhere and I can't remember if they were $1.49 or $1.69 (or maybe even some other price) per pound, but I hadn't run into them anywhere else yet so I thought I would mention it. (haven't been to any Farmer's Markets this year, so I don't know what's on offer at those).

Family Fruit Market
4118 N. Cicero
Chicago, IL
773-481-2500

Steve:

From mid-May (I think you were out of town):

Le Fave Fresche (link)





Antonius

Steve,

We found some of those fresh pintos at Cermac Produce a few Sundays ago, and they were really fantastic. I simmered them with bacon, onion, jalapeno, cilantro, and chicken stock. Finished with freshly ground black pepper.

They taste almost like the dried, but better. They're more plump and a bit larger. We loved them.

I was hoping to see some more. Thanks for your report.

Can't wait for those butter beans.

Hi,

In the autumn of 2003, I came across a pickup truck parked on an empty lot selling beans on Sheridan Road in Zion, Illinois. There were at least 3 trucks selling either watermelons, squash, greens and crowder peas.

I bought a bushel of crowder peas which took 4 people roughly 3.5 hours to shuck (we did eat dinner somewhere in there).

The crowder peas cost $20 a bushel. Earlier in the season the guy sold string beans for $15. a bushel, I paid $24 from another vendor. He also sells sweet peas in the spring. I have his card, next year I will follow up and advise.

You can buy in more modest quantities ... I tend to go a bit overboard.

Gibbs Garden Market
847/746-1294

According to his card, his range of offerings are: sweet corn, beans, cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, greens, peas, okra, squash and peppers.

I would call in advance

... And (I should have mentioned this above but it slipped my mind)... they had what looked to be very young fresh favas at the Green City Market this morning, according to Amata...

Antonius

Evil Ronnie,

In your part of the Commonwealth were fresh pinto's advertised at roadside stands in the fall, or highlighted in homestyle restaurants as part of the three vegetables?

Annie,

I never, ever saw them in any restaurant, probably because of the extra cost (both food and labor), but they could be found at farmer's markets and roadside stands.

My absolute favorites are lady creamer peas, which are very popular in Texas, along with crowders.

Antonius wrote:... And (I should have mentioned this above but it slipped my mind)... they had what looked to be very young fresh favas at the Green City Market this morning, according to Amata...

Antonius

fresh favas are in the farmer's markets now.

Hi,

I bought Fava's at Mike's Vegetable Stand in Highland Park this afternoon.

Regards,

Steve,

Thanks for the tip on Family Fruit Market, which reminds me of a smaller scale Eurofresh. Tonight, on the way to The Superdawg, we stopped in and picked up about four pounds of frersh pintos, which are simmering along with two of Paulina Market's smoked hocks, an onion, a serrano, salt, and black pepper. Later, I'll add cilantro and some pretty nice Indiana tomatoes.

I'm thinking sliced tomatoes and fried eggplant. Maybe cheddar cheese biscuits. Who knows, mabe a few softshells?