US Airways - February 2014 - (Page 15)
Diversions
explore
Pursuits of
Pleasure
Food Fight
Which of the nation's
two most storied
public markets deserves the top title?
By John Grossmann
★
PHOTOS FROM TOP BY D. HURST/ALAMY AND JEAN-DANIEL SUDRES/HEMIS/ALAMY
Imagine a nationwide call-in
radio show, not for regional
squabbles about hometown baseball
teams and in-and-out-of-favor quarterbacks, but rather about food destinations. A referee might well be needed to stop the
verbal sparring between Philadelphians and Seattleites: the former loyal to Reading Terminal Market,
the latter shouting out for Pike Place Market.
Sure, there are great markets elsewhere, but
there's no denying that Philadelphia and Seattle are
especially blessed. Good as it is, New York's Eataly
telescopes in on a single cuisine, and with only three
years under its belt, it lacks the character and lore
that come with history. The Ferry Plaza Farmers'
Market in San Francisco is also terrific, and whenever I'm in town I make a beeline there for some
Frog Hollow Peaches and Hog Island Oysters. But
it's just not a bustling, everyday food bazaar like
Reading Terminal and Pike Place. They're the real
daily deal.
Philadelphia's iconic market, which in bygone
years had sawdust on the floors and three stands
selling buttermilk, opened in 1892. It's housed in a
stately, pink-brick Renaissance Revival building that
was once the Center City terminal of the Reading
Railroad. Seattle's pride and joy was born in 1907
after greedy wholesalers hiked the price of onions
tenfold. A dozen brave farmers bypassed the wholesalers and sold their produce from horse-drawn
wagons on cobblestoned Pike Place. Both markets
are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
But which is better?
Having posed the question, I felt obliged to take
an informed, leisurely stroll to arrive at an educated
answer. So with an
open mind and an
open mouth, I made
two-day forays to both
markets, awarding
points in a range of
pertinent categories
to assess the utility,
character, ethos -
and, of course, the
food.
The contestants
are in the ring. Let
the East vs. West
Public Market Smackdown begin!
Hours of
Operation
Reading Terminal is open 358 days a year,
Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and
Sundays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The dozen Pennsylvania
Dutch restaurants and vendors go dark Sunday and
Monday, close at 3 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday,
and at 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. [6 pts.]
Pike Place is open year-round except Christmas,
Thanksgiving, and New Year's Day. Breakfast begins
at 6 a.m., shops and markets start selling at 9 a.m.,
and some of its restaurants and bars don't close until
1:30 a.m. [10 pts.]
From top: Pike
Place Market
in Seattle, and
Amish woman
selling fresh
pretzels at
Reading Terminal Market
usairwaysmag.com
FEBRUARY 2014
15
http://www.usairwaysmag.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of US Airways - February 2014
Table of Contents
CEO Letter
From the Editor
Did You Know?
Making It Happen
Diversions: Public Markets
Diversions: Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale
Diversions: The Philadelphia Mint
Connections
Style Spotlight: Cruise Control
Adventure: Skiing Salt Lake City
Adventure: Arizona Wet & Wild
Gear Up: Workout Tools
US Airways: History of African Americans in Aviation
Travel Feature: Eleuthera in the Bahamas
Great Tastes: Phoenix Dining
University of California at San Diego
Celebrate Black History Month: HBCUs
Best of Health: Desert Institute for Spine Care
Best of Health: Miami Beach Foot & Ankle Surgery
Visit Tri-Valley, California
Must Read: I'll Take You There by Greg Kot
Puzzles
Readers Resource Index
Your US Airways Guide
Video Entertainment
Audio Entertainment
U.S. and Caribbean Service Map
International Service Map
Airport Terminal Maps
Passenger Info/Contact US Airways
US Airways MarketPlace®
US Airways Fleet/Customs & Immigration
Giving: The Hope Takes Flight Campaign
Window or Aisle?
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