5 hours ago, fishwizzard said:

Where are you from?  My West Virginian grandmother made fried apples for breakfast all the time but whenever I tell people in MD about they look at me like I’m some sort of lunatic.  

 

There’s a fancy-pants farmers market to my wife likes to go to and there’s an orchard in there that has the most absurd varity of apples I’ve ever seen, some of them look like a lumpy green potatoes covered in warts and I swear they’re about 1.50 to 2 bucks each.  She sold us a huge bag of assorted apples and the pies my wife made out of them were the best I have had my entire life.  Sweet and tart at the same time, some of the apples stayed solid and crisp and some cooked down into a syrup.  I guess I’m an apple-hipster now but there’s no way I’m going back to Granny Smiths. 

 

The same orchard also makes hard cider and it’s also pretty incredible, it’s made in the sour style and every sip alternates between incredible apple flavor and astringent vinegar, but in the best way possible.  

Where in Maryland? Every year my wife and I hit Baughers in Westminster. Another vote for Honey Crisp and Fuji?

I bought some honey crisp apples today. Haven't tried them yet as I was finishing up my golden. I'm all over them tomorrow!

You "honey crisp" guys are 100% right, those things are excellent! Crisp, tart, juicy and full of flavor. I'm in your debt.