Eat Arkansas

Arghhh.... the traffic there, coming into town from the West, is already nightmarish. Those new stoplights have added 5 minutes to a trip.

Speaking of white asparagus, many years ago I was living in Helmstedt, Germany, although then it was known as Helmstedt, West Germany. It was a region that took grand pride in its locally-grown white asparagus, to the extent that during the harvest season, the markets in town would post the time the freshly-dug spears would arrive in the store, and lines would form to await their arrival.

One morning Frau Probst, my hostess, rushed into the house at midmorning with a bag of fresh white asparagus, and in a few minutes her husband arrived from work and their son from school, and we sat down to a lunch of sweet, tender, buttered asparagus, lightly cooked, which I was instructed not to spear with my fork, not to cut, not even to bite, but to slurp the whole foot-long spear into my mouth, a la spaghetti, leaving a stream of butter dripping down my chin.

"It's the only way," I was assured, "to enjoy asparagus (Spargel)." I was convinced.

The asparagus is white because, as the plants pierce the surface of the soil, more soil is piled on top, preventing the plants from developing chlorophyll and woody stems as they grow.

The harvesting tool resembles what we use to pry dandelion plants from our lawns, leaving the asparagus spears long, whole, tender and unforgettable.

By the way, doesn't anyone eat dandelion greens anymore? Back in the day, I enjoyed many a back-to-nature hippy salad that featured them.

Oh my! I'm planning a stop by tomorrow after I do my yearly Greek Food Fest'ing. Good thing I'll be going on a full stomach!!

I heard a nasty rumor that Whole Foods nee Wild Oats nixed their move to the new shopping center at University and Markham.

What's up with that?? I hate driving so far for decent food. There's a huge demand for such things in the heights/hillcrest area, but no one seems to want to cash in.

Hillbillypharmacist, it may be worse than you fear. While I was at Fresh Market today, I ran into a friend who is well-connected, and he said not only has the move to midtown been nixed, but also Whole Foods will be closing the Wild Oats store here.

The Whole Foods sale hasn't even gone through yet. When (or if) it does they will be closing smaller stores. If you want a store in here you need to click my name to go to their website and request a Little Rock store. They more requests, the better the chances.

That Promenade rumor was probably just Whole Foods site selection specialist doing research. It could take up to two years for Whole Foods to decide what they're going to do with all their Wild Oats stores.

Be proactive and send in a request now. If we have a Fresh Market and a Whole Foods competition will work in the consumer's favor.

A Gourmette friend went to inspect the new Fresh Market. 4$ apiece for the large artichokes pictured. Meat was outlandishly priced. Fish was worse. While you proclaim that there are hard to find items, I have found each cheese mentioned at Boulevard in the Heights. I plan a venture out there soon to find out for myself - BUT, a $4 artichoke doesn't give me a good feeling. I would hate to lose Wild Oats!

Sorry, Max, I am a teacher retirdee, limited budget ya know. Think I will stick to the the farmer's market or better yet, the truck farmers in Scott or Cabot, or Lonoke for veggies. A good pot of greens and a good pan of cornbread makes pert near the perfect dinner. Oh, forgot the home grown maters and the spring onions fresh out of the ground..

>>doesn't anyone eat dandelion greens anymore? Back in the day, I enjoyed many a back-to-nature hippy salad that featured them<<

To our neighbors dismay we keep a small patch of dandilions growing. They are one of the most healthy greens you can eat. The pulverized root is good for tummy ailiments and improves liver function. Dandelion is a safe diuretic in cases of water retention due to heart problems.
A.ka. "wild endive"

Fresh Market is no more expensive than Whole Foods, which now owns Wild Oats.

Lwood, Dandelion's diuretic propterties are enshrined in their name in French, "pis-en-lit"--"piss-the-bed" :-)

OK- here is the scoop after checking it out- Terrys Finer Foods and Silveks in the Heights are still my choice.
Fresh Market- no local produce- strwbwerries from CALIFORNIA??!! in Ark in May?
They have a few more cheeses, though many more packaging options. Terrys has same fish choice except calamari.
Fresh does have lamb shanks, so that's worth a rare trip.
Terrys- call you by name, you wife by name, your kids ny name, your own charge acct-send the kids up there to shop, pay at the end of the month. The know what you like. Order it for you if they don't have. Call ahead and it is packaged and ready to go.
Silveks- the REAL deal bread and pastry-wise, PERIOD. and the KROGER sushi chice is better than Fresh, and you can by inexpensive flowers for Mrs Diogenes, while you are there.
LOCAL BUSINESSES PROFITS STAY HERE IN THE COMMUNITY.

It was packed when I was there. Since I'm from Conway, Wild Oats, Terry's, Silvek's and Fresh Market are ALL a drive. If I'm coming that far, the distance between the three isn't that important. I have never seen heirloom tomatoes at WO. Maybe I'm just not looking in the right spots. I have never seen serrano ham anywhere in LR except for Boulevard. Both were available at FM.
Yes, a large choke was $4....but so was a package of 9 baby ones. Friend with me said that for the most part, the organic choices were cheaper than our "good Kroger".
I'd love to shop at Terry's, but they're not open when I'm trying to shop. Ditto for Silvek's. I do agree that FM's cheese selection is on par with Boulevard. However, FM has water buffalo milk yogurt and yogurt from Europe. Yes, an esoteric treat, but one of my favorite things in life.

My local Kroger has beef tenderloin for $21/lb....it's $15 at FM ($12 if you buy a whole one in a bag....which is also what Sam's charges). So FM isn't the bargain capital of the city, but if you're a foodie, you'll be happy.

A couple of other observations: Results for prepared foods have been mixed. The lemon/rosemary chicken I had last night had nary a hint of lemon or rosemary and was dry to boot. I'll opt for Sam's juicy, growth-hormone-injected $5 chick over the $8.50 FM choice. The edamame succotash and meatballs were both tasty.

FM has Niman Ranch bacon which was the clear winner in a test by the persnickety Cooks Illustrated. Tried it, loved it, superb "bacony" flavor and texture, though Petit Jean comes close.

FM's organic milk is $1 higher than Kroger's so won't be buying milk there for my two kids who drink milk at every meal.

I am LOVING this new food stuff. (I'm gaining weight from just the pictures.) In fact, I'm, for the first time, leaving Conway to shop at Fresh Market. The pictures alone are killing me. Kroger's produce has been as crappy as I've ever seen it. And Wal-Mart's...as always, sucks.

And the seafood...you big-city folks have it made!