Alemany Farmer's Market and Candied Citrus

I have been wanting to go to the Alemany farmer's market for quite a while -- technically I have kind of already been there . . . I made a big to-do a about going a few months ago; we got on the freeway, went in circles around Bayshore drive, eventually found where it was supposed to be, sat in line for a parking space for around a half an hour, got out of the car full of excitement ANDDDDD realized that the farmer's market happens on Saturdays. It was Sunday. Flea market day. And this brings us to my first actual trip to the Alermany farmer's market.

It seems everyone compares the Alemany market to the Ferry Market , so I'll spare you the comparisons and say that I thoroughly enjoyed the Alemany market.

Among the many treasures at Alemany, I found mandarinquats - a citrus I bought simply because I had never heard of it before. I love to eat cumquats whole, but the lovely citrus man advised that I either candy the 'quats or use them in drinks.

I was feeling a bit lazy so instead of using the 'quats in some sort of suped up drink I opened a bottle of wine and decided to candy the fruit. I made a simple syrup (1 part water, 2 parts sugar) and brought it to a boil. Once boiling I threw in my thickly sliced mandarinquats, brought it to a boil and then lowered the heat and let it simmer for 20 or 30 minutes (until translucent). I poured the candied 'quats in a jar and voila! (I later used some of the citrus-infused syrup in a drink with a little gin and tonic - mmm, and you could garnish with a slice of 'quat!)

Having never heard of mandarinquats, I poked around on the internet and found that Chez Pim has chronicled her own 'quat candying adventures - to read her tale click here.