I can't wait for spring, and not just because Baltimore could be in for another 7 inches of snow. I miss Falafel Guy.
I don't even know his name, but I know where to find him when the farmers' market under the JFX is open for business. Anyone at the market can direct you to him.
The day I made my way to his booth last summer, he tucked chickpea croquettes inside an oversized wrap along with fresh beet matchsticks, fancy greens and – sounds weird, but trust me here – sliced strawberries. They were perfectly ripe, red-to-the-core local strawberries, too. I seem to recall two sauces – one creamy, one spicy – but memory fails me here.
Falafel Guy came to mind this week when Joe Surkiewicz rang me up to vent:
"Why are there no falafel stands in this city? There should be good, cheap food that you can get from a cart. It's why it's a backwater."
It must be noted that Surkiewicz, who works near City Hall as communications director for Maryland Legal Aid, once had the luxury of a crepe cart just across the street from his office. It was at Lexington and Gay streets, right by the War Memorial Building.
So why the bellyaching?
The crepe cart disappeared. And it wasn't Surkiewciz's idea of cart food anyway.
"It was very expensive, eight or 10 bucks – from a cart."
The farmers' market is only a short walk from Surkiewicz's office. My suggestion to him: Come spring, start working Sundays. It'd be worth it.
Photo credit: AP