Pacific Northwest BBers: Charentais melon?

[KValley]

For those living in more cosmopolitan areas of the PNW, who have access to TJ's, Larry's, Whole Foods, QFC, Pike Place, (i.e., urban civilization), have you seen Charentais melons? I am on the lookout... I found them in Illinois at a Dominicks, but haven't run across any here. I'm headed to Seattle this weekend and to Portland at the end of the month, so if you find any, please give me a holler!

TIA! Julie

[KValley]

bumping this up- I'm on a mission!

[Terrytx]

Describe a Charentais melon. I was at Central Market and picked up some melons I had never heard of. They are called Spring melons and look like a very small honeydew. They taste is a combo of honeydew,pear and watermelon, with the texture more crunchy like the pear. The guy at the market said that they were the only ones that have them in the whole city.

[mandarin2j]

Julie-

Very exotic sounding melon! Does it have any other names that it might be marketed under (like how filberts are hazelnuts outside of Oregon)? I'm at QFC all the time, so I'll look around. If you're going to be in Portland on a Saturday, you might check at the Portland Farmer's Market downtown in the park blocks by PSU. Lots of the farmers grow fancy things I've never even heard of before.

Another place you might give a jingle to while you're down here is Zupans. I never get over there, but they have a fantastic assortment of ultra-fresh, ultra-tasty, and downright strange produce.

-Amanda

[KValley]

Terry & Amanda,

A description would have helped, non?

There is a picture of one on pg 45 of the August '01 Food and Wine, and the description reads: A very pretty melon- small and striated, with dense, satiny orange flesh and flowery aroma

These melons come from the Charentes region of western France (hence the name), and they've been grown in the U.S. only recently. They are the best melons I've ever had- juicy, intense, like a concentrated cantaloupe. The reason I'm so keen on looking for them is that DH is now in the Charentes region and is bringing home Pineau de Charentes (Cognac blended with grape must). It is incredible served in a Charentais melon, halved, as an aperatif (you spoon it up like soup, then eat the melon flesh. It tastes like France! I wanted to make a Charentais meal for my brother and SIL, who've never had P des C, when DH comes home at the end of the month.

Amanda, the Farmer's Market is an excellent idea and gives MIL and I a mission together when I am there on the 28th. Thank you!

[browneye]

Hey Julie, I was at Larry's in Redmond yesterday, and there were all kinds of exotic melons!! Unfortunately, I could NOT for the life of me remember which one you were looking for. :o I am going back down there today for some tomatoes (mine are not on yet either!) and will look for your melon. I will also look at the picture in F&W magazine, because it is possible that they have renamed some of the melons here. I'll report back later today!
:)

[browneye]

Well, sorry, julie, no Charentais melon at Larry's. There is one called "Sharlyne" which is striated, and somewhat more oblong in shape than a cantelope. There were also a bunch of other melons. One thing is for sure, I need to try some of those different melons! I didn't see the August Food & Wine, just July's so I couldn't get a good visual on it.
I bet you could find one at Pike Place Mkt, though.
Sorry couldn't help ya out!

[KValley]

THANK YOU, PAULA!

You are so wonderful to have checked for me! I will keep searching and let you know what I find.

Do you know how long it's been since I've been to Pike Place? Years...this would be a great excuse to go back there!

Thanks again for thinking of me :)