August 30
...serving up your daily dish.
Here's a novel idea: let's separate the fun of produce shopping from the weekly calendar. Instead of waiting for Thursday and the Bloomfield Farmers Market, or Saturday and the Montclair one, how about fresh tomatoes or Jersey-grown white corn any day of the week?
That's the concept being tried by David Dirko and Lori Ann Dittman of Nutley, in a space at the corner of Watchung and Broad Street in Bloomfield, which was until recently an antiques store.
D&L is not a farm stand, but it does emphasize local produce. Jersey tomatoes were cheap at 89 cents a pound; sweet white Jersey corn a little pricier at 50 cents an ear. We arrived late in the day, and store had been picked clean of most of its fresh herbs. 
But D&L aims to please and will carry what people want. When we expressed a preference for Kirby cucumbers, not in stock, Dirko promised to carry them from now on.
Franklin- you park, either at the curb or in the parking lot- both are available and would bite you if they had teeth.
Did you buy your license at Sears?
Posted by: exit_151 | Aug 30, 2005 3:14:03 AM
Yes I know what a curb is, but are you sure about parking curb-side?
Is it legal to park curb-side so close to the corner?
Is it safe for myself and my car to park curb-side at such a busy intersection?
Since the store is located on a very busy intersection I am surprised the corner property is zoned for a commerical business without a parking lot for customers being required?
Posted by: Franklin | Aug 30, 2005 7:46:16 AM
There is a parking lot behind the Health Club and I Fratelli. You can reach it from Watchung, but if you are taking a left into the lot, it can take some time if there is a lot of traffic. You can also reach it from Broad by turning into the IHOP and driving all the way around the back toward Watchung.
Posted by: conan the grammarian | Aug 30, 2005 8:21:47 AM
Folks, "Franklin" isn't at all interested in serious discussions about where to park. Or anything else. You really haven't noted this yet, that "he" apparently sees himself as the Merry Prankster of Baristanet? (But then, this is "someone" who creates a new email "address" for every thread.) Yet if you do run into "him" while buying Jersey tomatoes, feel free to toss one at "him."
Posted by: cathar | Aug 30, 2005 9:31:05 AM
I'm very excited to have a place to buy fresh produce. I can never quite make it to the Farmer's Markets.
Thanks for the info, Barista!
Posted by: fyi | Aug 30, 2005 10:16:02 AM
Cathar:
Thanks for the title. I will wear it with pride.
I trust you will be fair and balanced and point out the other Barista posters who fabricate e-mail addresses with their postings i.e. ROC, et al.
Now let's be fair!
Posted by: Franklin | Aug 30, 2005 10:34:55 AM
Said other posters, "Franklin," at least carry with them the consistency of just one email address. (And I find it interesting that you "peeked?" By way of prep work?)
You lucked into that one where several folks automatically assumed that the name "Franklin" meant you were a black male, thus that your posts conveyed irreproachable racial authenticity to the craven honkies who couldn't tell romaine lettuce from turnip greens anyway. That one amused me. But I haven't found your attempts to be the Baristaville equivalent of "Professor" Irwin Corey near as funny since.
And I'm not Fox News, Franklin. I haven't sworn to be "fair and balanced." I can, however, tell a shuck artist when I read his postings. So enjoy your title while you can.
Posted by: cathar | Aug 30, 2005 10:47:55 AM
Cathar:
There you go -- once again -- making assumptions about a person's race and gender.
Does it matter?
Time to open your eyes and to open your mind.
Posted by: Franklin | Aug 30, 2005 11:09:51 AM
No, Franklin, I'm not making any assumptions whatsoever about race and gender here. You could be an alien for all I care. I am, however, commenting on what others assumed about you. Hardly the same thing.
Fooling people, unfortunately, often does matter. Time to open your eyes and your mind to that sad truism. You can have your fun and I may in turn have mine, that's all. What diverse senses of humor we both display, right?
Posted by: cathar | Aug 30, 2005 11:33:41 AM
In a previous posting I noted that Franklin was a last name -- as in Benjamin Franklin.
One of the characters on the TV show "the 'odd-couple" once made the following comment about making assumptions....specifically that to assume something will make an 'ass' out of "u" and "me"...
So never "ass-u-me" anything.
Glad to see agreement about the power of humor to bring the absurities of life to reality!
A laugh a day can keep the doctor away!
Posted by: Franklin | Aug 30, 2005 12:13:46 PM
Actually, "Franklin," you said your friends call you "Ben" or something to that effect.
Again, however, the only thing I've ever chortled about with respect to you is the way you, in Tom Wolfe's wonderful phrase, "mau-mau'ed" some of the flak catchers (and tossers) on this website, For my daily yoks, I'd rather peruse "The Lockhorns" or "The Wizard of Id" than your posts.
Uneasy lies the head the assumes the sobriquet of "Merry Prankster," lad. And try to remember who so dubbed you.
Posted by: cathar | Aug 30, 2005 12:56:26 PM
I love corn. Though folks should note that the "sweet" variety can be found in yellow, bi-color, or white.
Don't forget corn may be the most genetically engineered foods around (corn folks like to distinguish their “hybrid” varieties from the evil genetically “modified” foods).
Posted by: Profchriss | Aug 30, 2005 1:21:00 PM
Ran right up there and parked on Broad St with no problem. This is going to be a fine addition to the ever-expanding Broad St food scene. Full selection of produce (local + non), as David goes to Hunts Pt 3 days a week (M/W/F). I'll be back!
Posted by: lurkerlady | Aug 30, 2005 1:46:51 PM
Franklin,
I can't believe you object to parking the 50 feet or so away at the curb - or the 30 feet away in the parking lot.
Do you have legs?
I never said to park in front of this store--but at the curb or parking lot.
You are altogether to weird- and quite Frankly (hahaha)it doesn't matter what color you (or your car) are.
Posted by: exit_151 | Aug 30, 2005 2:08:52 PM
Does anyone else find the verbal confrontation between cathar and Franklin too boring and mundane for words? Talk about stereotyping!
Posted by: MontclairMom | Aug 30, 2005 2:12:04 PM
Even I find our chat a little boring, MontclairMom, but that right above your post is another "replying" to Franklin just goes to show you how well he eventually gets people going. He knows his audience. In the most cynical way.
Remember, too, I did suggest tossing a tomato at "him" if anyone gets the opportunity.
Posted by: cathar | Aug 30, 2005 2:24:48 PM
actully franklin irks me-however, i know i irk a few...but i do always use my same name- and feel i have given away much about my identity--and i don't bop in and out just to stir the pot--and i hate the "YO" because it is is disrespectful....frankly, i find it odd that Cathar even bothers to get into it with him/her or it--- since there has yet to be a post where Franklin when confronted with any facts or stimulating conversation disappears from the scene.
Posted by: cstarling | Aug 30, 2005 2:29:27 PM
Strange how these postings have gone --
I merely inquired about where to park.
Yes I can ampulate 50 feet -- is that a relevant question to have asked?
My original question posted was a legitmate concern.
I am concerned about parking and walking near what I believe to be a heavily trafficked intersection; it's a safety issue (at least for me).
I regret that the postings have taken some strage turns -- but my question was sincere!
Posted by: Franklin | Aug 30, 2005 2:34:56 PM
DAVID DURKO?!?!?!? Well...isn't he the entrepreneur!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is the great guy that reneged on his COMPINSURE Computer Maintenance Program by not returning calls...the ad which was found on NJ.com and subsequently pulled after messages left and complaints entered by more customers than just myself.
Buy tomatoes from this guy?!? I'd like to THROW a few!!!!
Approach him and get a statement on this issue, will ya Baritsa???
Posted by: Surrounded | Aug 30, 2005 3:52:45 PM
Hmmm...I guess it's too late because I already went there. Thanks Liz.
The Compinsure guy is David DUrko. Funny how those names are so close AND how anything close to the name brings out the anger in me! And it is pretty damn close!
I'll have to go buy some corn just to see, for sure, for myself.
Posted by: Surrounded | Aug 30, 2005 4:42:40 PM
You also called us "baritsa", but we know you were typin' mad...
Posted by: Liz | Aug 30, 2005 4:50:27 PM
Yes, I think I temporarily went insane. I feel a bit better now. I apologize!
Posted by: Surrounded | Aug 30, 2005 5:07:46 PM
Frankly Franklin I don't think you regret anything and doubt the sincerety of your question.
By the way- what does ampulate mean- it's not in merriam webster's.
Does it have something to do with the drugs that your taking?
AMPULE
1 : a hermetically sealed small bulbous glass vessel that is used to hold a solution for hypodermic injection
2 : a vial resembling an ampoule
Is this why you're concerned with parking near a busy interesction and walking to a store? Does that mean you don't shop in downtown Montclair 'cause you might have to walk on the sidewalk near the street where cars are being driven?
Posted by: exit_151 | Aug 30, 2005 7:11:06 PM
