David Karp found some very rare purple raspberries at Pudwill Farms. They are available now. Hard to grow, these deliver a sweet, grape-like flavor. Find them only at the Wednesday Santa Monica Farmers Market. You'll need to get their early to get your hands on some.
Hans Rockenwagner owns Rockenwagner Bakery on Arizona near 4th Street and 3 Square Bakery on Abbot Kinney Blvd in Venice. This time of year Hans loves to make a simple tomato salad of raw, sliced Japanese and heirloom tomatoes. Add some chopped shallots and sherry vinegar with some extra virgin olive oil to taste. Sprinkle on some salt and pepper. Hans recommends not using Balsamic vinegar since it's too sweet. A good acid balance will highlight the flavor of the tomatoes.
Hans also turns stale bread into bread crumbs. Just take your stale bread and grate it against a large-holed box grater. The crumbs will store in an airtight container for a long time.
For a simple dessert, get some fresh Blenheim apricots and some store-bought puff pastry. Roll out the puff pastry, add some bread crumbs then lay down the sliced and pitted apricots. Bake in a hot oven until the apricots are soft and the pastry browns. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and enjoy.
Flavor King pluots are in season. These have a purplish skin and yellow flesh. Their flavor is delicious and very sweet. They are a seasonal favorite of market manager Laura Avery. Watch the video.
Music Break: The Word by The Harvey Averne Dozen