I Heart Farms

Eat Local Challenge: A Progress Report

These beauties are the Violetta artichokes found at the Route One Farms stand at the Saturday morning farmers market in Aptos.

After my great birthday dinner on a farm, I longed to lie about and pretend it happened in the month of May, so I could boast about all the local ingredients on my blog. But that would be pathetic and cheesy.

Alas, the week since has been challenging in small ways. Cinqo de Mayo, for example, was a complete bust, because we were invited out for Mexican food with my ex (who is a Mexican). But at least we ate organically, at least somewhat: Tortilla Flats in my village of Soquel uses organic ingredients when possible.

Tuesday I happened to be downtown, and thought, "I'll finally get around to trying Cafe La Vie." I'd met the owner, the beautiful Yeyen, at Collette Cassidy's birthday party back in September. She wants to buy some farm photographs, so you think I would have hustled my butt down there sooner, but no. Cafe La Vie is making quite a buzz, serving up raw and organic food that has hardcore omnivores and vegetarians alike saying, "Man, that was good!"

Guillermo's Progress; Something Green

Last Friday night, we went over to take dinner to Guillermo Payet, who had been released from the hospital a few days before. (If you haven't read about it, Guillermo was badly injured in a hit-and-run, suffering skull injuries and more earlier in April. You can read about that here.) In addition to his mother, Teresa, who'd traveled up from Peru, and his sister, Mariana, Guillermo's friend, Doug, was visiting. I'd made two pork tenderloins with the Lime Mojo and Latin spice rub, and cooked my last pound of Rancho Gordo cannellini beans. Knowing I would have an army of free hands, I brought over quite a lot of fava beans to be shelled and blanched. A last minute traipse through Epicurious for fava recipes turned up one that had some promise: Fava Bean, Asparagus, and Arugula with Shaved Pecorino.