Capsicum pubescens is the only domesticated species of peppers with no wild form. The center of origin for this species was Bolivia, and it was probably domesticated about 6,000 B.C., making it one of the oldest domesticated plants in the Americas. The common name for this species in South America is rocoto or locoto. In…
If you like the idea of a vegetable that is soft but crunchy, with the flavor of green pepper, string beans, and asparagus (all touched with a sorely citric edge) and the slipperiness of okra, NOPALES (a.k.a. cactus leaves, cactus pads) are for you. Steam nopales quickly over boiling water for a few minutes (do…
The Poblano or Chile Poblano, as it is known in Mexico, originated near the city of Pueblo, southeast of Mexico City’ hence its name Poblano or pepper from Pueblo. It is one of the most popular cultivars in that country. The fruit is undulating an more or less triangular in shape. The flesh is moderately…
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Native to tropical Africa, the tamarind tree (Tamarindus indica) is prized for its pods, which grow in clusters and contain very small beans, surrounded by a sweet-sour pulp, which forms the basis of sweet drinks and food. The pulp can also be turned into a syrup, with the addition of sugar, and then diluted to…
The area from southern Texas to Guatemala is home both to the wild forms of the Tomatillo and the present-day cultivated forms. These tomato-like relatives of the Cape gooseberry are thin-skinned and encased in a papery husk. When ripe, the 8 may vary in color from green to yellow, or purple. The flesh is pale…
This apple from the Pacific Northwest is the result of a cross between a Gold Delicious and a Cox Orange Pippin. The Pinata Apple won “ Apple of the Year 2004” honors in Europe. Its flavor is very sweet and it has a soft texture. Wonderful for cooking or eating out of hand! Available through…
These sweet and juicy prizes are highly guarded by bramble bushes with needle-sharp prickers. The Blackberries have been captured especially for your creations and will arrive, fresh, plump and richly dark. These purplish-black bumpies are the largest of the wild berries and will only improve with cooking. Heating Blackberries will intensify their color and soften…
This beautiful pack of Mixed Berries contains three pints each of four different truly ripe specialty Berries. Right now the pack contains Golden Raspberries, Tulameen Raspberries (15% sugar with floral notes), Triple Crown Blackberries (16% sugar…amazingly sweet Blackberries!) and Blueberries (17% sugar with surprising depth of flavor). Once you taste these Berries you will understand…
Worth their weight in gold (pun intended), these specialty raspberries are a sweet treat at any time of year. With color that varies from light blond to a deep golden yellow, their rich and creamy flavor contains hints of the common red raspberry, banana and apricot. Gold raspberries can be a unique addition to your…
(Please note! Wild Strawberries do not travel well! Chefs outside Southern California should plan on using them as an ingredient only. They will NOT arrive in garnish condition!) Wild Strawberries are beloved for their fragrance and flavor. Fruit expert David Karp explained Wild Strawberries in a New York Times article (April 15, 2005): ” A…
The Bing Cherry is a sweet Cherry, in fact one of the most common variety of sweet Cherry in the United States. These Cherries are large and plump with dark skin. They travel well because of their firm texture and strong skin. They are very sweet with good acid, these Cherries Brix 32.4!
The Rainier, a combination of the Bing and Van cherry varieties, is light cream to golden colored with a pink to red blush. The most precious of cherry varieties, its flesh is sweet and delicate with a colorless juice. Like most fresh fruit, Ranier Cherries can be bagged and frozen for several months. Pit and…
Our grower harvests ripe Satsuma Mandarins, peels them and slices them into 1/4- to 1/2-inch wheels. Then he dries them, and voila! The result is a high sugar, high acid, crispy, crunchy dried fruit that is the single most addictive fruit product we’ve found. Dry Satsuma Mandarins are like citrus popcorn…and once you start eating…
Rambutans are related to lychees and are sometimes known as " hairy lychees" . Originally from Malaysia but now grown in tropical Central America and Southeast Asia, they are larger than lychees (about 2 inches in diameter) and look quite different, but have a similar texture. The taste is similar too, but slightly sharper. To…
Rhubarb is an herbaceous perennial with long, fleshy stems supporting large, toxic leaves. Although usually considered a vegetable, in 1947 a New York court decided that since it is used as fruit, it should be counted as a fruit for tax purposes. The Blue Chair Jam Cookbook recommends we cut Rhubarb into 3- to 4-inch…
Also known as Tree Tomato and Arbol de Tomate, the Tamarillo is a subtropical fruit generally believed to be native to the Andes of Peru and probably also Chile, Ecuador and Bolivia. It is cultivated and naturalized in Argentina, Brazil, Columbia and Venezuela, and is widely grown in New Zealand as a commercial crop. Each…
Long favored in Rome and Umbria, Agretti is a mild Italian green. A couple of our local growers have planted seeds imported from Italy, and the resulting harvest is showing up on menus all over Los Angeles. Sauteed Skate Wing with Fingerling Potatoes, Manilla Clams and Agretti. Seared Spot Prawns with Agretti, Ginger and Lobster…
The flavorful bite of arugula is becoming very familar to white tablecloth diners. Arugula (also known as rocket, roquette, and rucola) has broken through the level of accent green into being the feature item in salads. ARUGULA FLOWERS have the same wonderfully expressive flavor packed into their juicy stems and lovely white flowers. ARUGULA FLOWERS…
Grown on a small, family farm in Ventura County, California, Baby Arrowhead Spinach is our favorite Spinach for salads. Why? It’ s all about the flavor. Baby Arrowhead Spinach flavor starts out typically green and spinachy but its finish is quite rich with distinct notes of toasted nut. The lovely, unusual shape of the leaves…