a touch of country on the upper east side

Every Saturday morning a Farmer's Market arrives in my neighborhood.

Different vendors sell everything from duck, to flowers, to vegetables, to fish, to butter, eggs, and cheese, to baked goods and fresh apple cider.

Since COVID, the organizers have done a great job of keeping all the shoppers socially distanced. There are multiple lines, each marked with chalk indicators, so it's clear where to stand.  

Everyone is masked and polite. (Unlike the bus I was on later today where an unmasked passenger sat with his similarly clad girlfriend.  When I pointed out that the law requires masks on busses, he smiled and gave me a thumbs up — a polite f**k you.)

I meet my friend Zelia. We easily find each other, even with our mostly covered faces. 

We buy our usual: a half dozen ears of white corn; a box of small tomatoes, a half-pound of dry scallops, and six ounces of tuna—sushi quality.

It's nice to be able to do this only three blocks from home. 

And the reward is a well-priced, simply cooked dinner.

Addendum:

Scallops are so simple to cook: Dry thoroughly. Remove the muscles. Coat with a little flour. Season well with salt and pepper. Cook for 2 minutes one side in grapeseed oil, flip and cook another minute and add butter and lemon.

As for corn: place it unshucked, in the microwave for two minutes. It's so easy to peel this way, and it comes out cooked perfectly. And not one single pot or dish to clean afterward. 

Not that I'm the best cook —far from it — I'm just doing it more.