Radishes

Can anyone tell me where to get good radishes in the greater New York Metropolitan area?

I've been chomping on radishes all summer. I'll never forget the first time I saw a French person eat a radish. I thought it was a gag. My future wife cut a large slap of butter, put it on a plate, spread a pile of salt right next door, and ate a buttered, salted radish. I had never seen such an exotic custom, but my wife assured me the entire French nation eats radishes like that.

It turns out to be the case.

Ever since my stroke and bypasses, I am on a reduced butter/salt diet. But man, do I love radishes. And for some reason I can never find the same taste, crispiness and freshness in an American radish. I think they have a different breed in America, they like the fat radish that conserves well in transport and stockage. It is kind of like the difference between the old vines in Europe and the UC Davis clones.

I like eating a radis masale, not a radis clonale.

I'll trade a rare bottle of Muscadet for a good source of radishes in New York. Let me know if you have sources.
- Joe Dressner 8-25-2005 9:28 pm


There are these scraggly looking guys from upstate who run an organic farm and sell in the greenmarket at union square (that hotbed of semitic unrest). They may be Wobblies, for all I know..

However, there radishes earler this summer were sublime, without a trace of aryanism.
- VincentFrick (guest) 8-26-2005 2:53 am


i eat radishes often - good radishes, even dare i say - sublime radishes. again, i must throw this out there......get out more often. and yes - the union sq market is overflowing with radishes. the french kind, tho the terroir is not quite the same. butter and salt or just salt are/is delicious but a little anchovy dressing is lovely, and pretty much anything that you like that's dip-py can work so don't despair about the butter thing. come on home, cycle around, grab some radishes and remember how good those haricot verts were that you think you can't find here.
- mona moore (guest) 8-26-2005 11:14 am


sir, you have a few of us wondering exactly where it is that you hide yourself when you're on this side of the pond. radishes, green beans??? sheesh!
- the sheriff (guest) 8-26-2005 7:01 pm


Dear Mona:

I will bet you $12.99 that I cannot find good radishes and green beans at the greemarket. My wife and daughter will be the jury. Let's meet there a week from today at 11:30. I might point out that Mona's taste in radishes is suspect given the fact that she puts anchovy dressing on the defenseless critters.
- Joe Dressner 8-27-2005 9:48 am


i'll be heading to our weekend farmer's market in an hour. certainly we don't look for radishes at this time of year but corn and heirloom tomatoes are the big draw. also i'll pick up some fingerling potatoes and perhaps some peppers. and most likely a homemade pie. i do find the prices to be a bit disturbing. sometimes i think the farmers take advantage of the situation.
- the sheriff (guest) 8-27-2005 12:19 pm


I, too, will be heading to our local greenmarket on 16th st. in a little bit. I will be sure to try some of these non-existent radishes, as well as stocking up on about 10 pounds of heirloom tomatoes for the week.
- BradK (guest) 8-27-2005 12:26 pm


Brad:

you eat ten pounds of tomatoes a week?
- Joe Dressner 8-27-2005 12:49 pm


Sheriff:

What crops do they have in Fairfield County?
- Joe Dressner 8-27-2005 12:50 pm


At the peak of heirloom tomato season? Well, maybe not ten, but 5-7. That's about all I'll eat when they're at peak and I have the opportunity to buy them.

Try finding a Pink Brandywine, German Stripe, Purple Cherokee and Green Zebra in France!
- BradK (guest) 8-27-2005 1:26 pm


Do you also put anchovy sauce on your tomatoes?
- Joe Dressner 8-27-2005 4:36 pm


yes sir, just back from the farmer's market. i procurred a blueberry pie, some apple scones, 4 ears of corn, an heirloom tomato, some fingerling potatoes, a cuke, some lettuce and some mix-ins for the salad, peppers and 2 portobello mushrooms. i had 6 dollars left over so i got a bunch of wildflowers for the table. that was my $50.00.
- the sheriff (guest) 8-27-2005 4:58 pm


I'm back, too and have just munched on an heirloom variety of radish called French Breakfast. Not bad, but I like the Pink Beauties I also picked up, better.

Now I'm enjoying one of my favorite summertime meals, open-faced heirloom tomato sandwich on rye with a touch of mayo, Himalayan pink salt and fresh pepper. The German Stripes looked especially good today, so I picked a bunch up, along with some Purple Cherokee, Red Zebras (no Green Zebras today) and a non-heirloom red from the rich soils of Pennsylvania.

I also picked up an Italian variety of kale, some garlic, red onions, basil, yellow squash, zucchini and organic brown eggs. Had I remembered to go to the bank, I would've been able to get some of the fresh local plums and peaches and some beets, but I only had $30 in my wallet.

Unfortunately, the market didn't have any '96 Cour-Cheverny. I suppose the French markets have the edge in that regard.
- BradK (guest) 8-27-2005 5:20 pm


Just a lot of fancy names without any taste.

I've been to that market!
- Joe Dressner 8-27-2005 6:20 pm


you certainly are grumpy with your public.
- the sheriff (guest) 8-27-2005 8:37 pm


I believe you would like the Pink Beauties, Joe. Nice 'n crisp. I passed on the white icicles because, well, when I want all white food, I eat at Connell's.
- BradK (guest) 8-27-2005 9:06 pm


I grew some French Breakfast radishes in Somerville this year. they were strong and bitter. The soil has so much lead in it i thought they would be sweet. Go figure. I'll plant another row in September and you can try them when you visit.
- Guy Gonflage (guest) 8-27-2005 9:21 pm


I never realized until this weekend that my public is doused in anchovy sauce!


- Joe Dressner 8-28-2005 4:21 am


Have you tried Community Sponsored Agriculture? We've only gotten radishes a couple of times, but everything has been good: http://www.justfood.org/csa/ --- they have a few pick-up spots around town.
- cliff (guest) 8-28-2005 2:16 pm


we're minimalists. we're doused in butter & salt only.
- Kris (guest) 8-28-2005 3:41 pm


we grilled the sweet corn last night. absolutely the finest of the season.
- the sheriff (guest) 8-28-2005 4:40 pm


I ate my mother-in-law's Choucrote in Alsace this afternoon. Nothing natural at all about it.

What a delicious dish.

No fancy names, no anchovy sauce.
- Joe Dressner 8-28-2005 6:26 pm


we had awesome rad's on long island http://www.sangleefarms.com/index.htm
scary spicy
- real rado (guest) 8-28-2005 8:57 pm


the mrs. makes choucrote.
- the sheriff (guest) 8-29-2005 2:27 pm


We long since gave up on finding tasty radishes and so had to buy a house in Col. County where we could have a garden and plant bootleg radish seeds from France. Probably therefore the most expensive radishes in existence (although the hubby says that we just bought the house so I could have a washing machine, so, bah!!) Alas, they're probably not so good now (were away so didn't get up last weekend) and there's not been enough rain here either for good radishes). . . but next time there are good ones you get a bunch. Also we have some gnarly but tasty radis noir of epic proportions. Will bring one back for you. Have the Muscadet ready.
- MegOc 9-08-2005 9:54 pm



My husband is from England and he likewise bemoans the lack of worthy radishes in the US. I thought he was full of it until I read this posting...
- anonymous (guest) 1-13-2006 2:39 pm


How's is your marriage going otherwise?
- Joe Dressner 1-13-2006 3:02 pm


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