Grocery Shopping

The order of today was to take our scooters out to St. Bernard Parish to the farmers' market in Arabi.

The Rough Rider

We went in order to pick up preserves canned with love and out of tradition by Josie, a pleasant, older woman who makes jams, jellies, and pickles on her homestead way out in bayou country.

She uses local produce to make jams, jellies, and pickles that you can't get on your grocer's shelves.  We picked up some pickled mirlatons.  We picked up some pickled onions ("Have you tried these yet?  You have to," Josie said.  We picked up fig preserves, cherry jam, blackberry jelly, raspberry jelly, two jars of pickled quail eggs, and a jar of pickled green beans, among other sweet and savory delicacies.

Josie was concerned that our two scooters would not have enough room to hold all the jars we purchased.  No worries, we assured her.  This is how we run errands.  We know how to transport fifteen jars of preserves on two wheels apiece.

She wasn't convinced.  "If you ever need it, I can deliver the jars to La Belle Esplanade bed and breakfast," she said.  "I know where it is.  It's the house you just painted more orange than a satsuma.  I don't get into Orleans Parish often, but it won't be any trouble to drive down Esplanade Avenue."  

2216 Esplanade Ave from the front

We admitted we may take her up on the offer in the future, but driving a scooter through Downtown New Orleans, through the 7th Ward, the 8th Ward, and through the Lower 9th into Arabi is a pleasant way to spend an hour and a half.  

Though she wasn't convinced that we could carry all the jars we had already purchased, she added another.  "Have you ever had Chinese white eggplant?  It is very different and delicious."  We admitted that we have never tried it.

"My grandmother stumbled onto Chinese white eggplant about 15 years ago.  She pickled it and everybody loves it.  Whenever I can get my hands on some, I soak it in brine and spices.  You and your guests are gonna to love it," she added as she dropped a jar into a bag for us.  We had it for lunch.  It is as delicious as promised.

In other news, four cruiser bicycles will be delivered next week.  Two men's and two women's models.  These will be available free of charge, first come first served, to pedal around this wonderful city, maybe as far as Arabi.

Just how orange is a satsuma anyway?

2216 Esplanade Avenue, New Orleans, LA is more orange than that, at least on the outside.

A votre sante.