CJ Jacobsen, former Top Chef contestant, is the new chef at The Yard located at 119 Broadway, Santa Monica. His gastropub is serving a roasted asparagus dish that's easy to make at home. Roast asparagus in a 400 degree oven until easily pierced with a fork. Top with smoked almonds, a good olive oil and Zamorano cheese, a hard sheep's milk cheese that comes from the Kingdom of Leon, Spain. He also smokes almonds with persimmon wood that he gets from Penryn Orchards.
Honey Crisp farms is run by Art Lange who, for decades, has brought the highest quality and most experimental fruits to the market. This week he has five different varieties of pluots - a plum/apricot mix. He's also bringing in delicious white Concord grapes. This seeded variety tastes very similar to its red cousin. It's in season for just one more week. You can find Honey Crisp at the Beverly Hills farmers market on Sunday and the Santa Monica market on Wednesday.