tiny apple-tasting event

[jinian]

rubricity invited Wim and me to Golden Gardens tonight to watch the sun set and freeze our butts off, and I suggested the addition of an apple comparison, so we had fresh seasonal fruit for dessert. Here are my notes, somewhat augmented by further munching while writing.

Honeycrisp
This was our known good apple. The early-season Honeycrisp has a less intensely sweet flavor with a touch of pleasant sourness, and its crunch is phenomenal. Seconds were had by all following the tasting.

a really fresh Golden Delicious
I have always disdained the GD for its mealy texture and insipid taste, but my mom swore up and down that a fresh one was a completely different apple. Mom wins; the new-crop GD is actually a color only a bit more golden than a Granny Smith's clear green, has a perfectly agreeable mild crispness, and tastes wonderfully tart. However, this paragon was very difficult to find, as the first GDs I saw this season were the end of a pallet and were so flagrantly mealy to the touch that I didn't even consider buying one. You'd think a major commercial apple would have better keeping qualities, but I guess a lot of children like sweeter fruit (and may not realize what they're missing).

Sansa
Wim brought this Canadian variety back from Whole Foods one day. It's got the rosy skin/white flesh look that I love, with a very fragrant bite, a beautiful fine-grained crunchiness, and a delicate flavor. I prefer more strongly flavored fruit, but this is a very pretty apple. Lovers of Rainier cherries should look into it.

Gravenstein
I had heard of this variety but don't remember tasting it before, and I think I would. It's got strongly tart-sweet flavor that would make outstanding pies or crisps and a great heady smell. Unfortunately, the one we had was just this side of mealy, so it may not be a great apple for eating out of hand if you're picky about texture. I am, though, and I still had seconds. Must try it cooked.


Other highlights of the weekend:

• Reptile Zoo in Monroe with amazing turtles


• Burning van on the way to the RZ


• AIDS Walk with many cute dogs and a mangosteen-juice promoter


• Much mighty housework


• Many new books thanks to sibs-out-laws' store credit from moving

Comments

Fresh seasonal fruit for dessert?

[rubricity.livejournal.com]

That's crazy talk!

;)

Re: Fresh seasonal fruit for dessert?

[jinian.livejournal.com]

Perhaps it is merely too sophisticated for some tastes.

Re: Fresh seasonal fruit for dessert?

[cheesepuppet.livejournal.com]

Is there something you'd like to say to me?

[oyceter]

Mmmm, jealous! I saw my first apples today at the market, though I technically may have missed the first ones last week while I was in NYC. I am desperately hoping that we'll get Honeycrisps this year, just from your descriptions!

[cheesepuppet.livejournal.com]

Honeycrisp quickly became our house favorite when we tried it a couple years ago.

My personal favorite is the Cameo. If I could only have one apple, that would be it. Honeycrisp would be my second choice.

I haven't tried a lot of apples though, maybe I should branch our.

[rubricity.livejournal.com]

What are the flavors of the Cameo that you especially like? If we know what you're looking for in an apple then I bet Kylee and I could make some good recommendations.

[cheesepuppet.livejournal.com]

I like how it's sweet and crisp; a lot of flavor but not a lot of tart. Kind of like a dessert apple....if one were to be so crazy as to call fresh seasonal fruit a dessert...