Treasures of Eastern Market

**Gannon** · April-18-09, 01:25 PM

I was just inspired to start this thread, as an accumulation of perception from those who visit Eastern Market...especially on Saturday mornings.

I was wandering through Shed 5 and responded to a come-on from one of the vendors...which I rarely entertain. She happened to be offering tastes of olive oil on tiny pieces of bread. That was enough to stop me in my tracks.

I've seen lots of things in the Market before, but never small-scale production olive oil...within five minutes, the lovely and perfectly honest Maria El-Haddad gave me the elevator pitch on her change of life, adhering to the purpose of some land she'd inherited that has produced oil from these same trees for over a thousand years.

I was sold on the life change story...

So...scamper on down to the Market before they close up, and lighten her stock of Ze Tune, spelled with accents on both the first e and the u [[seems I cannot find the special characters font, but you get the idea). Shed 5, in the SE quadrant in a small tabled booth.

NOW, to get on with this thread...I'd LOVE for us to collect stories of vendors we've encountered in the Market...

...like two of my pillars, the Honey and Maple Syrup guys, who I've finally found after their eminent domain ejection from Shed 2 before the construction started. Turns out Mr. Syrup is going in for some operation this week, so good thoughts and prayers his way.

Cheers all, on this fabulously sunny Saturday afternoon...

**Gannon** · April-18-09, 01:39 PM

Geez, I just checked her website...what an amazing story.

I cannot wait to taste the oil now...heh.

http://www.zetuneoil.com/main.html

Cheers!

LodgeDodger · April-18-09, 09:30 PM

Gannon, at what time were you there today?

Also, I like the flirty farmer guy. I think his name is John. He's a lot of fun.

**hamtownharry** · April-18-09, 10:17 PM

gannon,

you are truely my hero!love ya man. keep up the good work at the deli

**motorfamilymotorcity** · April-19-09, 09:23 AM

Eastern Market. One of my favorite places to be on a Saturday - especially in the spring or the fall.

I'm off there next Saturday -I will look out for the olive oil - soury as it sounds!

As usual, I have some Eastern Market pics. These were taken last fall when the weather was still nice.

**xD_Brklyn** · April-19-09, 09:41 AM

Thanks for the tip. Have plenty of olive oil around here available from Italy and Spain, but don't think I've ever seen olive oil offered from Lebanon. Will have to try it out.

**thecarl** · April-19-09, 11:45 PM

Originally Posted by Gannon

I was just inspired to start this thread, as an accumulation of perception from those who visit Eastern Market...especially on Saturday mornings.

i'm so glad you asked! i remember bringing two of my friends - one from new york, and another from boston - to see one of detroit's gems - eastern market. we were about to cross the bridge over to gratiot central, when we approached a peanut vendor. he looked at my new york friend, and said, "hey, sister - what you doin hanging out with white folk, you trying to upgrade? you best keep yourself to the suburbs."

diver1369 · April-20-09, 12:14 AM

well, I'm glad to read that your out-of-town friends got the full Detroit experience. Unashamed ignorance.

**reddog289** · April-20-09, 12:21 AM

Got to get up early and go to Eastern Market one day.But not flower day.

**Gistok** · April-20-09, 01:16 AM

Whew Gannon!

For a few seconds there I thought you were going to have a Terryh "Nubian Princess" moment...

**Gannon** · April-20-09, 09:06 AM

Gistok,

Heh, thanks...it could've headed that way, indeed.

But like I said, she is lovely AND perfectly honest, so I saved her the grief of ending it ugly later.

I'll stick to her oils and helping promote her business...she spoke of moving from suburban Lansing to Chicago for some yuppie lifestyle 'upgrade', but had her awakening when she visited this land after inheriting it...she couldn't sell it or turn her back on the legacy.

If it wasn't FOR my better senses, I would've fallen head over heels...

Cheers!
John

**Boomer313** · April-21-09, 02:04 PM

Nothing like a Vivio's bloody and a cold Stroh's. In fact, I'll take a couple of rounds of that. The Supino's pizza is awesome.
Looking forward to another day of taking my bike to the market [[via the truck rack), riding the Dequindre Cut to the River Walk. Doing that circuit. Checking out the event at Hart Plaza. Then making my way back to Eastern Market for some fun.
Boomer313