Meyer lemons are back in New Rochelle

[Pat Hammond]

Last year they were 6/$1 at both Viva Ranch and Viva Grande. This morning I dropped in at Viva Grande (which has a new name, but it'll always be Viva Grande to me) and sure enough there they were. Now they're 8/$3.99, but the lemons are easily twice the size of last year's, more like the size of a juice orange, without a blemish anywhere. They're from California and nicely packaged, instead of loose. I talked to the manager and he said they'd reduced the price from 4.99. Get them while you can.

Here's the thread from last year. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/6862...

[wincountrygirl]

Just got them at Costco!

[rafi]

They have them at Costco in New Rochelle right now too. I bought a box last night. I have no idea yet what I'm going to do with them.

[Pat Hammond]

May I ask what the Costco price is? The juice freezes nicely and the zest is lovely. If nothing else, you can zest and juice them.

[rafi]

It's a 4 lb box and I think it was $5 or $6. Sorry I don't remember for sure but I'll double check next time I'm there.

[rafi]

Actually, pricier than I thought - $6.99 for the 4 pound box.

[JMF]

Pat- I know of one of those Viva places, off of Main ST. Where is the other one?

[Pat Hammond]

Sorry for the late reply! Viva Ranch is at 477 Main St. That's the smaller shop. The big one used to be called Viva Grande and it's at Huguenot and Centre St. It has an outside market too, where items are even more reasonable. The lemons were at "Viva Grande", inside. They also had the sweet limes that you're fond of.

[JMF]

Great, thanks Pat. I've only been to the big one. I have to run over there and get some of each.The sweet limes juice isn't so great. But the zest makes the most wonderfully fragrant syrup and tinctures to use in cocktails. I used it in a series of cocktail seminars I did last year at the International Food & Restaurant Show and folks went wild over them.
See link, in the fourth pic down you can see the lime syrup in the back on the right side.
http://insidefandb.com/2010/03/why-th...

[Pat Hammond]

You're right about the sweet lemon/lime juice; it's truly insipid. I'm going to Viva Grande tomorrow and see if they still have the Meyers and will pick up some of the others for simple syrup.

[Reposado]

Thanks Pat. Have to get over there!

[ospreycove]

The Meyer Lemon harvest is in full swing in Florida, some are as big as grapefruits and plentiful. Our tree had an above average number of them.

[Pat Hammond]

They didn't have them at Viva Ranch, on Main St., yesterday, but I don't know if that's a bad sign or not. It's possible that Viva Ranch isn't under the new management. I have to say, these Meyers are wonderful!