36 replies to this topic

[Pontormo]

This weekend, at least two stalls still had peaches.

Tomatoes everywhere they tend to be. Elie's claims they will be selling them another four weeks !

The large standards are of mixed quality. Some good, others not ripe through and through. Best for cooking.

Cherry tomatoes at New Morning still delicious. Celery root's back for Week II.

When you reach a certain age, you think you'd remember certain tidbits like the end of tomato season. I don't recall local tomatoes being sold through the end of Ramadan, certainly.

Heinz still had his kiwi fruit. Tuscan kale and winter squash abound. Peppers like bunny rabbits. Like fruit flies.

Edited by Pontormo, 25 September 2006 - 09:17 PM.

[Tela T]

Kinda sorta on the same topic - but do any of you get deliveries from CSAs in the area - just moved to Alexandria and wondering what the scoop is - from folks in the know - ??

[Pontormo]

I believe Next Step Produce does CSAs. The web site is currently under reconstruction. The farmer's name is Heinz Thomet:

Next Step Produce
10615 Benton Road • Newberg, MD 20664
phone/fax: (301) 259-2096 • nextstepproduce@hotmail.com

You'll find more information about this and other potential sources here:FRESHfarm Markets. If you call the main office of this farmer's market, someone might have good suggestions.

[Pontormo]

Fabio Trabocchi of Maestro will be at Dupont Circle this Sunday.

The award-winning chef will be cooking at 11 am, feeding you some time before 11:30 and eagerly willing to sign your copy his new cookbook, La Cucina of Le Marche some time before noon.

The latter part of the title refers to the place of his birth, under-represented on the bowing shelves of English-language books on Italian regional cooking. Urbino's perhaps the most famous town in Le Marche and olive all'Ascolana--deep-fried stuffed olives--possibly the most familiar of its culinary specialties here in the US.

The Post recently published a story related to the new publication.

Edited by Pontormo, 03 November 2006 - 03:07 PM.

[Busboy]

Fabio Trabocchi of Maestro will be at Dupont Circle this Sunday. 

The Post recently published a story related to the new publication.

An here it is.

I don't usually go to the demonstrations, but I might stop by for Fabio. As long as he doesn't do that stupid lobster raviolit again...I've seen that twice on TV.

[Pontormo]

Well, he didn't and so the Busboy cameth.

Since the chef and two of his staff had the routine for a book-tour demo down pat, they arrived early, equiped with their own burners, copper pots, bottle of cognac and my favorite: a large heavy-duty metal funnel with dispenser capabilities so soup could flow quickly and cleanly into awaiting lines of little cups for samples.

The cookbook sold out. It looks great and with Peter Kaminsky (my second favorite writer on pigs after EB White) as co-author...

The chef was charming as was the sous-chef (?), Stefano from Cuomo, who eagerly pulled out his knife when I brought over a little box from Toiga filled with chestnuts.

Toiga was the only farm selling fresh chestnuts today; the two other farms who sometimes bring them were out. I meant to return them after the demo, but Stefano seemed so eager and nostalgic about the ones he gathered back home that I handed them over in thanks.

I'm paraphrasing the recipe for the chestnut soup over in the Italian forum in a thread devoted to soup. It's one of the best I've ever had anywhere in my life and I am passionate about good soup. He also made the same risotto that the Post mentioned with an accompanying recipe.

Edited by Pontormo, 05 November 2006 - 03:14 PM.

[arbuclo]

Kinda sorta on the same topic - but do any of you get deliveries from CSAs in the area - just moved to Alexandria and wondering what the scoop is - from folks in the know - ??

I'm in Alexandria and I am CSA with this farm: http://www.olinfoxfarms.com/