Turnips
By Melissa Petitto   |   February 11, 2025

The Garden Of is one of my favorite vendors at the farmers market and right now they have some lovely turnips. The turnip is a root vegetable in the cruciferous family, just like broccoli, kale, and Brussels sprouts. They come in different colors such as purple, red, and green. The bulb as well as the […]

Bar Lou Brings French-Mediterranean Fare to CVR
By Tiana Molony   |   December 24, 2024

Restaurateur Warner Ebbink and Chef Brandon Boudet didn’t plan on opening another restaurant. As it happened, the pair was focused on a hotel project in Ojai when the opportunity presented itself. But when the coveted building on the corner of Coast Village and Middle Road became available, they knew they had to have it. Even […]

 

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More from Montecito

Marley Confections
By Tiana Molony   |   December 10, 2024

Growing up in a household where sweets were off-limits, Margaret (Marley) Van Sicklen, owner of Marley Confections in Montecito, developed somewhat of a sweet tooth. “All my allowance went to candy,” she recalled. Chocolate was her favorite. One bite of Swiss chocolate was all it took for 10-year-old Van Sicklen to fall in love with […]

Bosc Pear
By Melissa Petitto   |   December 3, 2024

Have you tried the fruit from Penryn Orchards Specialties? Wow! The Bosc pears they have in right now are absolutely delicious! There are so many varietals of pears ranging from Bartlett to Comice to Concorde to Durondeau to Anjou – and these come in reds, greens, and browns. A pear contains folate, Vitamin A, and […]

White Sapote
By Melissa Petitto   |   November 26, 2024

Another new one for me this week, the white sapote – or custard apple – just came into the market, and Rancho Santa Cecilia has some gorgeous ones. This fruit originally from central Mexico is a distant relative of citrus. The smooth textured pulp tastes like a mix between a banana and a peach, mixed […]

Join In a Thanksgiving Soul Food Dinner
By Montecito Journal   |   November 26, 2024

Momma’s Soul Food Fusion – home of Chef Guidance Moon and her 15-year old sous-chef and son, Elishah Barthelemy – is inviting you to a Community Thanksgiving Dinner on November 27, 2024, from 5 pm to 10 pm at the Isla Vista Community Center, 970 Embarcadero del Mar in Isla Vista.  The theme is “Thankful […]

Napa Cabbage
By Melissa Petitto   |   November 19, 2024

Napa cabbage is in season and – as cabbage goes – is one of the most flavorful, nutrient-dense varieties out there. Something Good Organics has the first available, and I grabbed some for myself and my clients. This cabbage, also called Chinese cabbage, is traditionally used in kimchi, but is also an incredible vehicle for […]

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  • Guatemalan Blue Squash
    By Melissa Petitto   |   November 12, 2024

    I love discovering new finds at the farmers market and the Guatemalan blue squash is a new varietal for me. Roots Organic Farm has some of the first seasonal squashes and I am so excited to take this one back to the kitchen and create a recipe for you. This rare heirloom variety of winter […]

    Executive Chef Ramon Velazquez Opens Alma Fonda Fina Restaurant in Montecito
    By Joanne A Calitri   |   September 10, 2024

    Executive Chef and a 2024 California Michelin Bib Gourmand winner, Ramon Velazquez has opened his restaurant Alma Fonda Fina in the Montecito Country Mart. To celebrate, Velázquez held a Labor Day weekend soft opening from Saturday, August 31 through Monday, September 2. Taking Tuesday and Wednesday off, Alma is officially open on Thursday, September 5. […]

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    Blackberries
    By Melissa Petitto   |   September 10, 2024

    Chuy Berry Farms has some delectable blackberries right now, and the superfood is loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants. We talk a lot about Vitamin C, so you know the importance of it in our diets, and blackberries are exceptionally high in it. Just 1 cup of raw blackberries has half the recommended daily […]

    Jalapeños
    By Melissa Petitto   |   August 20, 2024

    I have been on a spicy kick lately and when I saw these vibrant jalapeños at Tutti Frutti Farms, I knew I had to have them. The jalapeño and all of its varietals have been adding flavor and heat to cuisine for some 6,000 years. There is a compound in jalapeños called capsaicin. This compound […]

    Heirloom Tomato
    By Melissa Petitto   |   July 30, 2024

    I feel like I say this about a lot of fruits and vegetables, but I seriously wait all year for that perfect summer tomato! Growing up in Alabama with an incredible farm in my backyard, tended by my dad, the summer tomato holds great nostalgia for me. Walking into my backyard, salt shaker in hand, […]

    Avocados
    By Melissa Petitto   |   July 23, 2024

    What is more quintessential than the California avocado? Creamy, decadent, savory, sweet – the avocado is so versatile and nutritious! My favorite avocado farmer is Vista Del Mundo and wow does he have an incredible harvest right now. There is some confusion as to whether the avocado is a fruit or a vegetable, but it’s […]

    Kirby Cucumbers
    By Melissa Petitto   |   July 9, 2024

    The sun has been playing hide and seek with us lately. Even with the little we have had, however, the Farmers’ Market shows all the signs of Summer! Moua Family Farm has one of my daughters and my favorite snacks, the Kirby cucumber. This little crunchy fruit, yep not a vegetable, is full of beneficial […]

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