Article in today's fish wrap (a.k.a. Press Democrat) gave preferences for vegetables grown by local chefs (Sonoma County, region 9 - 10.) To see full article go to
Among preferred veggies are:
?Jimmy Nardello¹ Pepper: An Italian frying pepper, it was long out of vogue compared to other varieties. But Mall (chef) said this sweet pepper is ³amazing² when cooked slowly in extra virgin olive oil with sea salt and a touch of garlic. ³When we sell our stuff at the farmer¹s market, it¹s one that other chefs love to buy.² Mall likes to cook it for use as a condiment, pizza topping or on bruschetta.
?Moon Star¹ Watermelon: Many flavorful varieties can also be knock-outs. This one looks like the night sky. ³It has one big orange spot that is the moon and a lot of little ones that are stars,² says Mall. ³It¹s bizarre looking and has a lot of seeds, but people from the south have told me it¹s the best they¹ve had outside Georgia.²
?Fairy Tale¹ Eggplant: These small wonders come in neon shades of purple and are striking. they retain their color even when cooked. ?Paul Robeson¹ Tomato: Like other dark tomatoes, this one has a rich, sweet, concentrated taste. The Malls entered this one in a tomato tasting at the Windsor Farmer¹s Market last summer and all the growers declared it the best.
?Zephyr¹ Squash: Long, slender and shaped a bit like a bowling pin, it has a nice ³firm texture² and sweet taste. Mallgren prefers the texture to common zucchini. ³It has a nice bite and a nice crunch to it,² he says.
?Isar¹ Gold French Bean: Mallgren says this variety has a clean flavor and is tender. And while it resembles a green bean, this filet bean is really a yellow variety.
?Tavera¹ Green Bean: Mallgren is partial to these because of their flavor and texture. They¹re not too tough. And the best part is they¹re reliable. They come out of the garden consistently good.
?Bulls Blood¹ Beets: With deep, metallic purple leaves, this variety is heat resistant and you can eat the whole thing. Blacktail Mountain Watermelon: This heirloom variety is super sweet with a relatively thin pith. The flesh is deep red and the outside almost black.
Calabrese Pepper: Long, thin and deep red, this Italian chili pepper has a little heat and great flavor.
?Hillbilly¹ Tomato: This large slicing tomato is great for gazpacho. The result is so creamy it almost ³melts in the mouth² like mozzarella de bufalo, Gerbi says.
?Brandywine¹ Tomato: It may not be rare but it¹s a sure-fire winner, according to Gerbi, and comes in late in the season. It¹s easy to slice and has a nice balanced flavor for sweetness and acidity.
Tres Fin Marchiere Frissee Endive: A French endive, it is very thin, soft and cool. It grows well in Sonoma County all year because it¹s resistant to frost and insects.