Food Shopping Above West 100th Street

Well I've ducked out long enough on the blog site, and will start posting again. This has been a depressing spring in the Upper West Side. The West Side Market at 110th Street closed and there is no place to shop along Broadway in the neighborhood between 100 street and 125th Street that has the variety and reasonable prices they had.. It's very sad, because the West Side Market was open 24/7 and had everything I'd ever wanted on two continents for the past 40 years. They had the special German Linseed bread and Chocolates that I used to have to search for when I lived in Heidelberg, they had a huge selection of juices, including European black currant juice, Indonesian noodles, red curry, and fish sauce, all manner of sauces, soups, and curries, health cereals, including a low glycemic cereal that I was addicted to for only 1.99 , and a vast array of produce, including bok choy, giant radishes, tropical fruits, and strawberries year round. (Strawberry Shortcake for Xmas) The Associated that took over the University market at 116th Street is as expensive as a Food Emporium, and the D'Agostino's on 110th street tries, but it is tiny and limited as to selection. The vegetables at both places are extremely pricey. The Gristedes at 107th Street closed, and is being replaced by a Garden of Eden- the most expensive food store in the City. The other day I was in the Dags at 110th buying three bagels for a dollar, and the woman in front of me spent $53 on nothing at all. A ready made salad, a vegetable brush and some sponges, some yogurt, a couple of frozen dinners, bread, juice, and cheese. She didn't seem to care, but I was mystified as to what cost so much. We've been reduced to buying vegetables near the Post Office at the Used Vegetable Market at Amsterdam and 104th Street. It's not really called that, but the produce is extremely cheap and looks like second hand produce. Some things, like the Corn, are always bad there, but the Onions, Green and Red Peppers, Lettuce and Tomatillos are usually a good deal. Of course they always have Plantains, and I've learned to plop a few slices in the pan with onions, peppers, garlic and cilantro near the end of roasting chicken or pork for a nice side dish.