The Pink Lady
This winter's trendy apple seems to be the Pink Lady. Remember when it was the Fuji, and before that the Granny Smith?
By trendy, I mean that Pink Ladies are having a greater presence in supermarkets and are showing up on restaurant menus. I can think of a couple of them off the top of my head: Victoria Gastro Pub in Columbia had Pink Apple compote and another dish or two made from them, and the newly opened Abacrombie offers a salad of frisee, Pink Lady apple slices and Camembert.
The Pink Lady is a relatively new variety developed in Western Australia, a cross between...
...a Golden Delicious and a Lady Williams. The Pink Lady's tart-sweet flavor isn't much like a Golden Delicious; that must be the Lady Williams in it coming out.
I'll have to see if Dave Reid, the owner of Reid's at the Waverly Farmers Market, grows Lady Williams. I've never seen one, although he does have Pink Ladies. They've been around in supermarkets, too, for the past couple of years.
Up until now my favorite hybrid has been the Honeycrisp, but the Pink Lady is right up there.
For a really cutting-edge apple, look for the Sundowner. It's the other commercially viable apple to come out of crossing Golden Delicious with Lady Williams. I've never seen it around either, but the Pink Lady America Web site says it's very good.
I'm not sure what makes a particular variety the Apple of the Moment. I guess it must be an aggressive marketing campaign, although I haven't noticed any ads for Pink Ladies. One thing that certainly helps is a good name. I'm not sure I want to eat a Cat's Head or a Gray Stark. (Yes, both real apple varieties.)
I did learn from the Pink Lady America Web site that there is going to be a "wide range of new apples" coming to the market in the next five to ten years. I'll have to keep an eye out for them.
(Photo courtesy of PinkLadyAmerica.org)
Comments
Yes, this is a lovely apple. I love the crispness and that it's not too sweet. I prefer a bit of tart in my apples. It's pretty, too.
So, I guess it has all the things you need to become the next big thing in apples.
Posted by: Rosebud (The Blogger Formerly Known as Janet) | March 3, 2008 7:15 AM
Hmmm, it could be greater awareness caused by a larger marketing campaign to place Pink Lady in the minds of consumers and chefs - or it could be that's what's available.
I was at the Waverly Market on Saturday and picked up some pink ladies. Unlike October, the pickings are relatively slim so maybe Pink Lady is popular because it's one of the few that's left.
Wish you had posted this on Friday, I could have asked Chris Reid when I saw him - I haven't seen David Reid at the market in months.
Posted by: jay C. | March 3, 2008 7:37 AM
Ah Pink Lady. They toured with us when I was playing the keytar for Pablo Cruise in 2004. Good times. ピンク・レディー !
Well, somebody has mad linking skillz.
Posted by: Owl Meat Grocer | March 3, 2008 7:58 AM
I think Rosebud and Janet are the same person.
Posted by: voodoopork | March 3, 2008 8:06 AM
Jay C - I saw Dave two weeks ago. I get there at 7:00 a.m.
OMG - you're scary sometimes...
Voodoo - that's just a rumor.
Posted by: Rosebud (The Blogger Formerly Known as Janet) | March 3, 2008 8:22 AM
JayCee iff by pinklady you mean heroin and red bull drink, oh yes it is popular with the macareaux and putains in the Marseilles, but I thik you mean apples baby and ask Sam Sessa for his world globe to find the land out under where water goes downthe opposite way la poubelle and apples grow up in fall - Now! Ha-taaah! Don't mock my wooosh, it is americain homage like the road runner, here now Pierre gone woosh. I am what you made me. Ha-taaah! Vive la France!
Posted by: Pierre A. | March 3, 2008 8:36 AM
The Pink Lady- dense flesh, but the skin is a little too thick for my taste. My favorite apple is the Jazz, from New Zealand. Some stores have the Jazz locally grown, but the ones from NZ are much better, in my humble opinion.
Thanks! I'll look for it. Never tried one.
Posted by: Eastside Johnny | March 3, 2008 8:48 AM
This has been my favorite apple for a few years, and our local farmers grow them nicely -- I grab a few every week at the farmer's market. I think it's particularly prominent in the winter here because it's one of the last couple of apples harvested in the fall.
Posted by: Bonnie | March 3, 2008 9:14 AM
Interesting cast of characters. I will have to keep my eye on this site. :)
You have no idea. This is after they've had their morning meds.
Posted by: Amanda C. | March 3, 2008 10:02 AM
I do like the pink lady apple, but my favorite is the "mystery" apple that they sell in the fall at the downtown Farmers Market (I think at Reid's the largest apple/pear/cider stand across from the crepe man). I don't know what variety the "mystery" apple really is, but it is by far the best apple I've ever had. Very sweet. They're rare so Reids didn't have them often or for long. If you can find them this fall, buy them up (but save me some!).
Posted by: KMT | March 3, 2008 11:24 AM
My husband wants to know what has happened to all the Rome Beauties, his favorite apple. I haven't seen one all winter. Does anyone know???
Posted by: Dahlink | March 3, 2008 6:21 PM
I've enjoyed the Pink Lady apples for a few years now. I happened upon it entirely by chance because of a writing class I was taking. We were told to choose a variety of apple we'd never had before and then use stream of consciousness writing to describe our reactions to the taste of the apple.
It's been a favorite of mine since!
Posted by: Kiki | March 3, 2008 6:40 PM
Dahlink - Have you tried Wegman's for the Rome Beauties?
Posted by: Rosebud | March 3, 2008 7:02 PM
Hi, Rosebud. Yes, I have tried Wegman's--and Eddie's and Giant and Trader Joe's, etc., etc. They seem to have vanished from the face of the earth suddenly. I tried bringing home some HoneyCrisps and Fujis, but my husband is devoted to his Rome Beauties. He is creature of habit, which must be why we are still married after all these years!
Posted by: Dahlink | March 3, 2008 9:26 PM
Dahlink - I thought I saw them at Wegman's a few months ago, but certainly could be mistaken.
I have requested various produce/herb items at Wegman's and they've gotten them for me and called when they came in. One example of this was Kafir lime leaves.
I never bought Rome Beauties to eat fresh, but, along with Granny Smith, they were my favorite bakling apple. However, I haven't been doing a lot of baking the past few years.
Posted by: Rosebud (The Blogger Formerly Known as Janet) | March 4, 2008 7:12 AM
Thanks, Rosebud. If the Rome Beauties ever reappear, try eating one out of hand--excellent! (Especially with a slice or two of aged cheddar!)
Posted by: Dahlink | March 4, 2008 8:10 PM
thats exactly how we feel!!!!!!! its so nice to finally realise that there are others out there in this darnedest bleak planet that have the same love and respect for these truely exsquiset mystical orbs of life. amen to you all!!!!!!!
Posted by: steff + jack luv apples | September 2, 2008 6:51 PM
I received my first business loans when I was very young and it aided my relatives very much. But, I need the financial loan as well.
Posted by: JANEByrd | October 9, 2010 5:59 PM