Introduction to Food & Beverage Management

Pumpkin pies always spreads up like wildfire in fall. I’m not much of a fan from them, probably because I was not born from this country and I think its an acquired taste. Pumpkin pies however remind me of that Halloween feel and Thanksgiving. I always remember the day on which my mom bought one and as I took down my first bite, my face just went into the nasty tasting alert, I did not like it and just stopped eating. The people on the green market seems to like it though, its 5 dollars for a small one and the fact that I saw a lady bought seven pies at once makes me want to try them again and who knows? maybe now that I’m older I may be able to enjoy them.

Reyon Gittens

Intro Food and Beverage Mgt.

Prof. Akana

11-16-11

Ochra at Borough Hall’s Green Market

Ochra at Borough Hall Green Market

I come from a country where weird vegetables are the norm. There is one fuzzy vegetable that I have a special love for. That fruit would most definitely have to be Ochra. One day on my way to class, I was astonished to see that right here; in the heart of Brooklyn is a green market that actually sells this uncanny vegetable. It was on display at a vegetable stand in the Borough Hall Green Market for $3.99 a pound (lb). A fairly good deal for ochra in America.

Ochra most definitely has a taste that takes some getting used to. With its fuzzy exterior and slimy interior, this vegetable is not the pretty’s one around. However, it is something that can go well with practically any dish. Even if you’re a lover of fried foods, Ochra tastes amazing when fried.

All in all, it is apparent that this fuzzy little vegetable is one of the many underappreciated vegetables but I’m extremely overjoyed that there are farmers in America that appreciate it and brings it to consumers like me so that it can continue to be enjoyed.

I don’t really know much about raspberries, but I guess that is how it was for most of my life. Raspberries were like a surprise in my life because it was until the age of twelve that I even knew or there existence. I was at a family gathering, which always happens every Saturday in the summer, my aunt happen to come with a bag of groceries and I helped her. As we were putting the groceries away, o found a little plastic containers with little red looking cherries, but looked to soft to be cherries. I asked her what they were and she told me that they were raspberries and to go ahead and try one. I was curious to know, so I did and I loved it. From that day on when ever I have the opportunity to buy some I always do.

While i was looking around Union Square Green Market i saw a variety of fruits and vegetables. Some i knew about and some other exotic ones i hadn’t. Everything i saw had something special to them making them unique until, i came across What Grass. The Wheat grass was so plain and so unimpressive looking compared everything else that those features alone are what stood out for me. I then asked the vendor what was the difference between wheat grass and the grass in my front lawn. He then replied listing a plethora or benefits and treatments of wheat grass. I did not pay attention to much of what he said but somehow my eyes and interests had subconsciously opened up as soon as he mentioned colon cancer. I was almost instantly taken back a few years ago when my family actually HAD followed the Wheat Grass diet for some time because my father had discovered a tumor in his colon. Luckily the tumor was removed and tested negative for cancer. Upon recalling this memory, i bought 5 dollars worth of wheat grass and handed it to my mom. Not only did I ensure a weeks worth of grass soup for dinner, I also ensured the safety and cleanliness of my colon.

Brooklyn Borough Hall Greenmarket

I can remember having my first black and white cookie and unfortunately it was a bad experience. It was extremely stale and I felt it was overpriced especially since it was not as great as i hoped it will taste. However, I still finished it because I do not like wasting food.  I was around 5 years old when this happen to me. It has been thirteen years since then and I have not had a black and white cookie since then. However, my trip to the Baker’s Bounty was wroth my time. The minute I went to their stand there black and white cookies caught my eye. I have not paid much attention to this greenmarket even though it is located near CityTech. Unfortunately, I could not buy one but the next time I will make the time ti try there black and white cookies as well as their many other products. I hope there as good as they look.

Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket

One of my favorite memories from my childhood is when I was spending my vacation at my dad’s farm in Canton, China. He used to grow lots of delicious vegetables and fruits in his farm. Before dinnertime, I would go get my favorite vegetable, which is tomato from the field for dinner. I never realized that those tomatoes had the greatest taste until I came to America. Tomatoes in New York City are big, and watery. However, the tomatoes in the greenmarket that is located in Grand Army Plaza looks ugly and expensive but people still buy them. So, I bought three of them to give them a try. The night that I brought it to my mom to cook it, it had became the best tomatoes I’ve ever tasted since I came to New York. It brought me back to my childhood and it reminded me of the tomatoes that I had tasted in my dad’s farm.