Market Report

Chef Christophe Bernard, Academic Chair of the International Culinary School at the Art Institute of California, Los Angeles.  His students will be making a California-style ratatouille at the Santa Monica Festival.  Ratatouille, a French country-style dish, includes a variety of vegetables including zucchini, onions, carrots, eggplant, tomatoes, red and green bell pepper.  Dice the vegetables into a 3/4 inch pieces.  Christophe likes to saute each vegetable individually before combining in a large mixing bowl.  The vegetables are cooked according to taste. Some people like them crisp, some like them stewed.  The tomatoes are added last and act as a kind of sauce. 

The Santa Monica Festival is this Saturday, May 9 at Clover Park in Santa Monica. 

Cherries have arrived at many area farmers markets.  Steve Erickson grows Tulare, Brooks and Rainier cherries in Fresno, CA.  The Brooks variety is crunchy.  The Tulare cherries are softer and dark red.  The cherry season lasts about five weeks.  Steve doesn't grown Bing cherries, which need a cooler growing climate.  Bing cherries at L.A. area markets usually come down from Stockton, CA.

Laura Avery writes a weekly post on the Good Food Blog.  Read about what's fresh and see pictures from the Farmer's Market.

Music Break: The Crossing Guard's Coffey Break by The Kabalas