This is going to be a long post, so get comfortable:
Today is one of those days in which I like being up early, and done work early. I still don’t like waking up early. If only I could convince myself to get up on time by reminding myself about the “good feeling” of being up and out at 6:30am. My brain doesn’t like to reason at 5:30am. The closest I can get to reasoning is “Get your ass out of bed. 5 or 10 more minutes won’t make a difference.” This has a varied success/fail rate.
This morning I decided that after work I’d head to the Friends of Riverdale Farm farmer’s market. I grabbed $25 in cash. My budget. After buying breakfast, ($3 in change) I had around $23 left (No really, I can add, but I had $1 in change in my wallet already).
After work I hopped on a streetcar. The farmer’s market was only 3 major intersection + a 5-10 minute walk away, in Cabbagetown. I thought I’d get there near closing time but had confused the timing: It doesn’t end at 3, it starts at 3. With 40 minutes to spare I wandered around the farm.
More, with many photos, after the cut….
First stop: Asperagus, garlic scapes, strawberries and mixed greens. $17. Whew.
*Note, I didn’t buy the potatoes, I only photographed them.
Next stop: A green grape tomato plant for $2. Yes, I’m going to grow tomatoes. The girl told me that she planted them for the first time last summer and was successful at it even though she’s a lazy gardener. Sold! (You had me at $2.)
$5 and change left. What to do? I found a guy selling seeds for $3 and $3.50 and did something that felt odd: I bargained (yes, I’m a Jew who feels uncomfortable bargaining). “I hate to do this, but I’ve only got $5. Can I get these two?” Sold. I bought arugala – because Apartment Therapy says that it’s a good one for apartment dwellers to grow – and Mustard red giant (brassica juncea). I promised a few vendors that I’d return (as if they’d remember). Notably, the guy selling chocolate (made with pedal power generated electricity – a link that is a nostalgic gift for those who click on it and remember), the organic meat people (although I have an organic butcher close by and never go) and the lady selling her crackers.
I snapped more photos on my way home. Cabbagetown is very cool. Avril Lavigne used to live there.
On my way home I noticed a new cafe called agenda cafe. A guy- early to mid 20s, darkish skinned – on the corner was handing out balls of falafel. Deep fried goodness. Crunchy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside with the right seasoning, it was perfect, and the tastiest I’d had since my trip to Israel in February. I remarked to the guy (with trepidation because I never know who I’m talking to), “This is almost as good as the falafel in Israel.” With a slight Israeli accent he answered, “We’re Israeli.” Ah ha! And so I told him that I’d recently been there. He replied, without a hint of sleeze, “Come in. We’ll take care of you.” I wasn’t hungry and had bags to carry but promised that I’d return. Whoda thunk that the best falafel in Toronto (south of Eglinton – and I haven’t had falafel on or north of Eglinton in years) would be found in the gaybourhood?
Five hours later it occurs to me: “agenda [cafe]” is spelled with a small “a”. So is “aroma”, as in “aroma cafe”. I guess Israelis don’t capitalize proper nouns because there are no capital letters in Hebrew. 
Here is my bounty at home:
My apartment is filled with the fragrance of strawberries. These are way better – sweeter and more fragrant 0 more “normal” – than the ones I got at the previous farmer’s market, possibly because these ones are organic and those weren’t.
The tomato plant is in a big plastic yogurt container, waiting to move to a terra cotta planter. The asperagus ends have been cut and the stalks are sitting in water, covered in a plastic bag, to maintain freshness.
Dinner, because I wanted one that was quick and easy after the gym: Herb salad (the one bought prior to today) topped with sliced garlic scape, fake chicken strips and buffalo mozzarella. I whisked together a vinaigrette of olive oil, fresh lemon juice and grainy mustard. YUM! For dessert I’m eying a carton of Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia frozen yogurt. Or maybe a protein shake with strawberries, blueberries and bananas. Or Baklavah.
In unrelated news, after three weeks off from the gym (went back last week and been working out almost daily) and eating both really healthy food (lots of greens) and lots of junk food (cookies, ice cream) I’m the lowest weight I have been in awhile. Go figure. I think my body naturally sheds weight when the temperature warms up. It’s a reminder that I’m part of the animal kingdom.
