Winter at the Hollywood Farmers' Market

Over a week ago, we were able to visit and do the table at the Hollywood Farmers' Market...I still can't believe it has been over 2 months since I have been able to sit at the table, time really is flying! It was wonderful to see all the familiar faces (although everyone has been working overtime with the whole BS situ with the Film School)-but it was a joy to be out in the market.
So yes I did happen to see James Van Der Beek, looking normal with the fam, but WAY MORE important was the baby goat from Soledad-10 days old...she was the star of the market the entire time-crowds non stop!

(yeah, she fell asleep in my arms!!)

This time we brought our neighbors Jack and August, they had a blast and even went to Amoeba and brought back this classic Lee Perry album...all I have to say is better not bring it to our house or you will never see it again!

I sat at the MFP table and hung out with Kevin, Master Gardener (dearly missed!!) for a few hours and tried to catch up on everything that has been happening for over 2 months...I can't believe it has been that long. Eventually we closed up and we were able to go shopping...

(root veggies galore)

McGrath Farms always has incredible produce (in the center ring of the market). They usually have a few items that you cannot find anywhere else. As we walked by, I noticed something EXTRA special: Ghost Peppers. If you are into heat, the ghost is known as the hottest pepper on the planet (think habanero x 10...I still can't imagine that). We had to pick up some for another canning creation.

(some lady got mad at me for taking so many!)

I am also big on the prepared food of the Hollywood FM-while I am usually a breakfast burrito gal, I have recently fallen in love with the Caribbean creations at Flava- I am down for beans, rice and plantains any day/all day, but she also as a mean chicken dish (from what I hear) that is not only cheap but way good!

(PS the hot sauce on the counter is hot but UBER good!)

(fixin's with hot sauce-I had 2 orders)

I am hoping to make a regular stop at the market this year every 1st Sunday of the month pending a class or lecture. Either way, you have to check out he Farmers Kitchen where Ernie has made a number of yummy preserves from the farmers who do this market. He is also heading the LA MFP program after 10 years (yours truly will be teaching the first class on food safety)- to apply for one of the 15 spots, click here- go Ernie!!!!

adventures with Evan Kleiman, Kazi and a citrus class!

The typical Friday is not really the end of the week but the prepping for what i like to call the "short week" (aka the weekend). I usually try to finish the weeks work and prep for classes and events that happen in the next 2 days with an evening cocktail at the computer to make me feel like i am having a night on the town!

(BEWARE: awesome Friday ahead...)

This past Friday was a little different though. I met Evan Kleiman (aka: mera-mera) at Union Station for a little trip to her dear friend Kazi's home in Altadena to check out her AMAZING urban farm and work on an upcoming class.

(starting the day)

We happened to arrive a little early so Gustavo and i decided to take a little trip to Olvera Street to grab a snack and check out some cute potential presents. I've heard that this landmark area might be demolished -WHAT A SHAME, can anyone tell me more about this???

(this place served the first taquito in LA-yummers!)

(bright guitars and a ceramic rooster that i want to buy for the front porch)

After a short walk through the gorgeous Union Station that seemed untouched by time (albeit without the constant cell phone usage all around), Evan pulled up to pick me up with her co-pilot Paco, sitting on her lap ready for an adventure. Paco is her 7yr-old little white fluff-ball of cuteness (i forgot the breed-a stray that is mixed with cuteness is all you need to know), that immediately came to my lap as we took off to Altadena.
Evan has told me about Kazi and her incredible home and as we pulled up to the door, i felt the excitement that reminded me of the times i walked up to the home of Beekeeper Kelly's home: i KNEW i was in a special place. Then off i went for a wonderful backyard tour....

(Evan checkin' out the dehydrator that killz it!)

Kazi's home is filled with more wonder that baffles the mind-not only is she a classical musician, but a chica of astounding knowledge and passion of food that is like opening an encyclopedia called, "everything i wanted to know about an creative urban farm but never had the balls to think about what i could do". i probably seemed like a ghost, because the entire time i was in total amazement and could hardly speak (except from the occasional "holy shazzbah" spinkled with, "what is this!" every 10 minutes).
Kazi took me on a tour of her MANY fruit trees (we are talking at LEAST 15 different citrus, not to mention the rest), 30+ birds (that Paco loved to chase), herbs and a dehydrator that would Shaq-style-smack-down whatever you might have at home-Kazi even roasts her own coffee-HELLO!

(finger lime: my new fave citrus-MUST HAVE)

(Paco workin' it with the birds-they didn't like him too much!)

(yeah, this is PART of the yard in winter...for realz!!)

Kazi also made us an incredible lunch (fresh eggs and bread-every thing from scratch yo) and topped it off with farm-fresh soda and preserves from her trip to Oregon-what a woman. While i was in the restroom i also spotted a signed autograph from Frank Sinatra as well as sheet music from past performances-again, what a woman!

(yummers x3: our lunch)

during all of this bliss we managed to hash out our upcoming class on citrus ON FEBRUARY 12TH 11-3:30 at her home.  totally worth the drive if you are in Southern CA. Kazi will be teaching marmalade, Evan will be making a yummy lunch and i will be teaching citrus spice/herb applications (and booze). if you are interested, here's the info:

Citrus Celebration and Class at Altadena Urban Farm
Join Evan Kleiman and her friends, urban farmer, Kazi Pitelka and master preserver Delilah Snell at Kazi’s urban farm in Altadena.  We’ll walk through the orchard and try 10+ varieties of in season fruit as Kazi shares her breadth of knowledge of Citrus.  Then we move to the kitchen to make learn a basic Marmalade Recipe, a Citrus Liquer and dry Spice Mixtures.  Includes lunch.
Saturday, February 12 from 11-3:30.
Location:  disclosed upon registration
Cost:  $130
To RSVP, please contact Delilah Snell
delilahsnell@yahoo.com
714.836.8727

what a great friday.....

(had margs @ gabbis in Orange after in the Jam Van, then back to work!)

an interesting Hollywood Farmers' market

NOTE: this was a post from a few weeks ago, but i could not find my camera plug and pix are a must for this one...thank you Chris (jedi master!)

i have been subbing for fellow Master Food Preserver Ernest for the past month and i have made a number of friends. the market is also a shopping destination of several celebrity sightings, which are always fun like: Booger (from Revenge of the Nerds), Gwen Stefani, and Top Chef Season 2 winner Ilan Hall just to name a few. this past weekend was certainly no exception!
as soon as we got there i saw a "just out of bed" in yellow sweatpants Alicia Silverstone who easily blended in with fellow shoppers and bought flowers from the Master Gardener next to me.

(in the yellow pants, making a bouquet)
then, out of the blue, came a personal hero and leading crusader of Slow Food, ALICE WATERS!! she was also at the flower booth, buying a ton of flowers for an upcoming event. what a treat! now Ernest and i met and spoke to her a few months back at a lecture and even gave her jam, i carry her incredible books at the store, this was a big deal to me. i took a photo of her shopping and hoped that we could get a photo later- which i did on her way back (PS she remembered the loquat jam we gave her!)-awesome lady!
next up is a little bit more difficult unless you like HBO shows. this took a little bit to figure out and then i realized that this actor was what i like to call, "one of the hotties from Deadwood" actor Titus Welliver and his family...love Deadwood (and now on LOST-yeah what's up with his character??).

(remember him...Deadwood rocks!)

while at the Farmers' Kitchen, we also saw Brad from The Rachel Zoe Project on Bravo..not too big for me-but he had on some patent leather Converse Hightops that where cute....doesn't seem like a big local foodie guy though.
had a great afternoon talking to people and meeting growers whom i have building relationships with exchanging my preserved goods for incredibly priced produce to can later-trade is going a long way and it is awesome to see it in full swing!
on our way home we visited our friend Felix, who is just moving into his new loft in downtown LA and where i will have a location for preservation classes for those who cannot make the OC trek. let me just say that i am THOROUGHLY JEALOUS of Felix's new base of operations for IV Group- his business that has come up with some amazing brunches in Santa Ana. here are some photos for you to be jealous of too.

(the inside of Felix's loft-awesome huh?)

(soon to be garden)

classes will begin every 1st sunday of the month starting soon-can't wait! more to come...

farm & canning event: nov 1st

Morning Song Farm, our CSA farm and i have teamed up to do a series of seasonal events dedicated to farming, food and food preservation. Preserving the Season: Autumn, is our first event scheduled for November 1st from 11-4.
what is this event you ask??
spending the afternoon at Morning Song, a CCOF certified farm, participants will spend the day doing the following:

• a tour of an organic farm, its growing practices and daily life
• harvesting food from the farm
• a canning course from the food harvested (by yours truly!) in the farm house
• a 3-course local meal made from items on the farm and local goods from the Temecula area.

this is a unique event, unheard of in the region. if you are looking for a special day out or are an advocate of all things local, this event is geared to you!
email me or contact Morning Song Farm if you are interested/have questions.

Hollywood Farmers Market, Booger and brunch with Felix

on Sunday, i had my first full day at the Master Food Preserver table at the Hollywood Farmers' Market. even though i am not used to waking up that early anymore (i am more of a late night computer/book person these days), going out to Hollywood (especially with ZERO traffic!) was a real treat that i am going to look forward to once a month.
at the market, i shared a table with LA Master Gardener Kevin, who was handing out free seeds and giving advice on what to grow this time of year. Kevin also gave the the ins & outs of everything about the market: local crazies, regular customers, celebrity shoppers and favorite vendors.

speaking of celebrity..right in the middle of our conversation i noticed a familiar face. through the crowds, i kept staring, trying to figure out how i knew this person, and then it hit me:
Booger (played brilliantly by Curtis Armstrong) from Revenge of the Nerds!!

(remember this scene!)i wasn't able to grab my camera in time, and unfortunately the next time he walked by, i was busy answering a question :(

this time i also didn't have the time to score the deal of the century, i had to rush back to finally attend my friend Felix's brunch-where i met one of my favorite people, Chef Mark Cleveland from the beloved Avanti Cafe. i was so excited, Mark and i have never had the chance to hang out in a non-work context-PARTY!

(pasta with baby lentils, lima beans and other goodness)

(beets with micro greens, and a quail egg-YUM)

(Mark taking pictures of his meal)

(Chef Felix relaxing after a terrific meal)

but probably the best thing of the day (besides the various goodies that Mark brought me and that i will be talking about later this week), was this one guest's awesome poncho that was a five-in-one accessory. she was more than proud to show of her goods.

(poncho then...)

(side deal...)

(chunky necklace...)

(shoulder shrug...)

(pulled up with a bunch in front)

i think i need one of these.

score of the century- heirloom tomato overload

Sunday turned out to be a pretty busy day as well.
The morning started with a drive to the Hollywood Farmers' Market off of Ivar. If you haven't been to this market-GO. it is every sunday from 8am-1 and it is definitely worth a visit...top 5 in Southern California.
My friend and fellow Master Food Preserver, Ernest Miller has been working the MFP booth for the past couple months answering questions with LA Master Gardeners. I finally was able to go up to the market and say hello, meet the crew and see what i needed to do, b/c i am taking over for Ernest next Sunday (only one Sunday a month)...more on that experience next week!
While at the market, i was able to meet my friends Ayshea and Robin who were going to be canning with me later that day. We took a quick tour of the market and located a booth filled with heirloom tomatoes. Remember what i said a few days ago about how to get a deal at farmers' markets???
With about 10 minutes left until closing, we went up to the side of the booth where we saw a box of softened tomatoes...these were the ones being sorted by the farmers that were not going to last the day. The conversation went like this:
Ayesha: how much for these?
Farmer: ummm, how about $1 a pound (good price)
(30 seconds later), Farmer: how about the whole box for $5?
A: sold!
if anyone knows ANYTHING about heirlooms, the first thing you know is that they are not cheap-they cost anywhere from $3-6/lb. when we finally weighed the box, it ended being almost 40 lbs...which is around $150 in tomatoes!

Obviously, with that much at that price, you have to do something.

But first we took a visit to the markets latest endeavor, The Farmer's Kitchen. This "extension" of the market sells produce, meals and in the future-education (I know Ernest has already been working with them...maybe i can help!). At the Kitchen, we had fresh teas and lemonade and some tasty egg dishes...a majority of it from the market.
(super good)


back to the canning:
(ayeshea and robin made jalepenos and guava chutney all on their own!)


on the list of things to make: basil jelly, ketchup, marinara sauce and whole canned tomatoes.
first up was the jelly, which was relatively fast and a great thing to show Robin and Ayesha of jellied infusions of which they can make a number of things.
(steeping the basil)

(this what we were working with)

next, the ketchup and marinara. these took up the bulk of our time as the ketchup needs to cook for at least an hour to reduce...along with the marinara, we had all 4 burners going for hours while we watched a few episodes of Project Runway.
(sriracha and lemon grass ketchup....GOOD but HOT)

(ayesha blending the tomatoes so we can strain them for ketchup)

(robin & ayeshea stirring pots of marinara)

(i didn't know about a "jar wrench"...did you??)


after 8 hours of canning, we came out with about 3 cases of product...i was so tired by the end, i had to skip on the pressure canning lesson-i think Robin was a little disappointed (sorry!)
PS i also can't find the rest of the photos from the event, my camera didnt transfer all of the images.

Backyard Beekeepers-in OC weekly!

the awesome ladies that are the Backyard Beekeepers got the cover of the OC Weekly this week-congrats ladies!!!
the BB ladies are a group of local women who rescue bees and transplant them into local backyard gardens. we actually sell their yummy honey and honey products in the store...they're super-popular.

(i love this pix of the body bar)(this is a fence hive, looks cool!)

afternoon at Donna's garden

ever since we started doing the CSA program here at the store i have been wanting to go to Morning Song Farm to visit Donna and see where all of this food comes from. well this pat Sunday, Donna had a "farm work" day and i decided to go out there and sweat it for a bit.
Morning Song Farm is near Temecula in Rainbow County-i had never heard of it until i met Donna.
i was pretty surprised that Morning Song was a little hilly. Donna's house sits on the tops of a hill and it is there that her 4 llamas look out to the orchard and gardens. it's a pretty good workout to walk to the garden and back up to the house.

(the llamas were adorable!)

i honestly thought that we were going to be the only people there-hey Rainbow if far and people are busy. but my faith in the Island (LOST reference) was restored when i saw a good 10 people pulling weeds in one of the smaller gardens. we got to work, pulling weeds and them putting hay between the rows to help with the weeds-Morning song is CCOF organic-no pesticides.

(work-work, heave-ho!)

i have to say, this was such a great workout, and we got a lot done in the few hours that we were there. the best part was that i ate these amazing oranges on our way back to the car! we are hoping that Donna will make this into a monthly thing, if so i will report, i had a blast.

kelly's backyard-i want!

Kelly is a regular customer of the store, she used to sell at the local farmers' market when it was still going (unfortunately it closed a year ago). she recently came in telling about her new hobby that she was super into: beekeeping.
now i love honey, so was totally into this. she invited me over to her house to check out their operation.
i love kelly's house.
hidden in the middle of Floral park neighborhood is an agricultural oasis. Kelly has 4 chickens, trees a pretty sweet veggie garden (she even had artichokes!) and 3 hives. when i came to say hello, there were 3 women in beekeepers outfits, changing the hives. they call themselves the Backyard Beekeepers!

(i love this picture)(fresh eggs-she gave me some!)(the ladies working the hives)