I have decided that I'd like to start every Wednesday with a stroll around the Santa Monica Farmer's Market. This is an entirely better way to start the day than sitting hunched in front of my computer.
Furthermore, I would like to note that kumquats have now entirely supplanted honey dates as the foodstuff I would like to live for. I know some of you will be gobsmacked by the fact that I had never actually eaten a kumquat until today, but it is the truth. What a sad, sad life I have led. Thanks to the wonderfully generous Pete Schaner, I have fallen head over heels in love with kumquats. I cannot seem to stop eating them. They are addictive little citrus bombs and I adore them.
But lest you think I have become an entirely one-fruit girl, let me tell you that Ojai Pixie tangerines are giving kumquats a run for the money. Gaviota strawberries aren't far behind. Does it sound like I'm starting to talk in code? Come down to Santa Monica and see taste for yourself.
Who knows, while you're down here, you might hear Mark Peel discuss how he grills whole fish (on a bed of soaked thyme) or see Ron Rifkin buying flowers (purple anemones and a sheaf of lilies, if you're wondering). You'll see fresh chanterelles with stems as thick as saplings, bundles of wild fennel (which I'd never seen outside of Italy) and more types of avocados than you had ever dreamed possible. Local walnut farmers will be selling their own roasted walnut oil and you will marvel at the flavor. There will be spoon-ready Hachiya persimmons and perfectly aged goat cheeses and enough blood oranges to put Sicily out of business. Best of all, you'll see chefs and farmers interacting on a level I've never witnessed in New York.
For this New Yorker, it was an amazing morning. From the bottom of my heart, I have to thank Russ Parsons and Amy Scattergood who accompanied me and made the entire experience unforgettable. Especially Russ, who should win Farmer's Market Guide of the Year, though I suspect there's really no competition. So, can we do this again next Wednesday? And the one after that? And the one after that?
Ack. You're making me homesick and I haven't even moved yet. I guess I better add kumquats and wild fennel to the list of things I have to have my L.A. friends ship me when I move to NY... But, on a happier note...you got to go to the SMFM with Russ Parsons?? Now that's cool.
Posted by: Paige | March 22, 2007 at 02:39 AM
No fair, no fair. We are months away from being able to go to local farmers' markets here in New England. And even when we do, we don't have locally grown kumquats and blood oranges and avocado. Lucky you to be able to taste your first kumquat at such a lovely market!
Posted by: Lydia | March 22, 2007 at 06:05 AM
Wait, wait, WAIT! You went to the farmer's market with Russ Parsons and Amy Scattergood? Wow!
SMFM sounds like a paradise. The light in those picture, all that beautiful produce, and your description of the farmer's market make me want to immediately leave this east coast greyness and head directly to the SMFM.
Posted by: Julie | March 22, 2007 at 06:55 AM
WOW. What an amazing experience! How's the old Gray Lady going to top that? Brunch with Bruni? Fideos with FabFlo? Bibimbap with Bittman?? Someone at the Times needs to get on this asap, we're talking retention here people!
Posted by: ann | March 22, 2007 at 07:54 AM
Wow, looking at those pictures of the warm California sun shining down on beautiful fresh produce makes me feel so good inside.
As well as green with envy!
They have it good...lucky you to get a taste!
Posted by: Karen | March 22, 2007 at 10:05 AM
Mmm, blood oranges. *drool*
Posted by: Garrett | March 22, 2007 at 11:29 AM
It makes me happy just looking at these pictures: the sunshine, the green fronds, the knowledge that the ocean is nearby. Thank you, Luisa! On this grey day in NY, I needed this!
Posted by: Sarah | March 22, 2007 at 11:32 AM
You lucky dog, you! WHAT a Wednesday, girlfriend.
I can't wait to hear more... xo
Posted by: Molly | March 22, 2007 at 12:30 PM
Thank you for posting such enticing fruit-filled, sun-drenched pictures! What an amazing tour, and what incredible tour guides! And what an inspirational way to greet the start of Spring! I'm still months from any significant thawing of the tundra or the river, but you have definitely inspired me to start the Spring process of pulling out from their winter storage the mosquito nets for berry picking, the hoodies for salmon fishing and the seed catalog for gardening!
P.S. I'd love to hear about grilling fish on beds of soaked thyme. Last summer I discovered my love of tea-smoked salmon, and now - hope you don't mind me being presumptuous - will be sure to order thyme seeds in anticipation of this year's discovery!
Posted by: aileen | March 22, 2007 at 12:37 PM
wow you got a tour of the farmer's market from russ parsons?! that is so cool. sadly i haven't been to the wed one bc of work. :( i goto the saturday one which is a smaller version of the wed. you can still see chefs come down to the market on saturdays.
Posted by: susan | March 22, 2007 at 01:13 PM
Sounds like you are having SUCH a great time. Is this for work? If so, you are so like winning an award for taking the best advantage of what most consider drugery. (Perhaps this will inspire me for when I am forced into Nashville next month.)
Now that you've discovered kumquats, you can try one of these recipes for us! The salad with kumquats, dates and shaved parmesan has your name all over it.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/26/magazine/26food.html?ex=1298610000&en=61cdc337f420df81&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss
Posted by: deb | March 22, 2007 at 02:24 PM
Wow, that sounds fantastic. I'm so jealous!
You can come back and listen to KCRW's Good Food -- I download the podcast and listen to it on my walk to work. They do a farmers market report every week, so i was listening to them report on the first blueberries as i walked through the melting piles of snow...
Posted by: shana | March 22, 2007 at 03:19 PM
I am retiring the end of May and like your plan. Believe it or not, Houston's farmer's market is quite grand. What a great idea.
Posted by: jancd | March 22, 2007 at 06:47 PM
Those picture reminded me of Italy, and then I realized that they were from my Wednesday market. Oh lucky us, thank you for posting, I will make sure that I take some time on Wednesdays to enjoy what makes Santa Monica so great.
Posted by: skymomla | March 22, 2007 at 09:25 PM
I read through the whole post, thinking, "Hooray, she went to Santa Monica farmer's market!" I'm only able to go on Saturdays because of work, but still love it..
And ohmygoodness you went there with Russ Parsons as your guide! What an amazing treat! That must have made the outing so much more amazing. Wow.
Posted by: Andrea | March 22, 2007 at 10:04 PM
Wait, how exactly did you have the chance to go to the farmers' market with Russ Parsons? I mean, we all know you are magic, my dear, but this may be too much! Do tell.
Aren't kumquats the best? I have a whole story about why they are dear to my heart, which I will tell you some day. But for now, enjoy.
Posted by: shauna | March 22, 2007 at 10:14 PM
You're breaking my heart! Is there no chance of a quick stop in SF before you head home? We've got a farmers' market too, you know...:-)
Posted by: Tea | March 22, 2007 at 11:45 PM
I have other food blogs bookmarked, but it is to yours that I return regularly. Thank you, it is a pleasure.
I want to say regarding Mark Peel that your link is out of date; he and Nancy Silverton have been apart for years now. No big deal, just FYI.
Posted by: Paul | March 23, 2007 at 01:48 AM
You lucky duck. It looks like such a gorgeous, sundrenched day. A perfect antidote to East Coast gray.
If you keep having these experiences, I wonder if you'll ever come back!
Posted by: Anne | March 23, 2007 at 01:29 PM
Congratulations! You've finally made me think of one reason to move from the Midwest to California. I'm drooling all over my computer.
Posted by: Nancy | March 24, 2007 at 05:45 PM
Promise me you'll see Eat At Bill's!!
http://eggbeater.typepad.com/shuna/2007/03/eat_at_bills_a_.html
Film is made by the wife of Jim Churchill-- of those Ojai Pixies you're talking about!
Don't go back to NY! Come here and live with us!
Posted by: shuna fish lydon | March 24, 2007 at 06:04 PM
As a New Yorker suffering from farmer's market withdrawal, when I went on a recent trip to Florida I visited several markets there expecting to find what you found in California. Unfortunately I didn't. While I found a few diamonds in the rough, I was surprised to find many markets sold more prepared foods than raw ingredients and produce. I guess I should have gone to California to get my fix!
Posted by: NY Girl Eats World | March 25, 2007 at 04:45 PM
There are no American farmers markets to measure up to those Californian ones. I'm just lost in the vicarious visuals. And here I sit in Pittsburgh, watching snow melt, at least. We won't have anything local until june. sigh.
Glad you are seeing all this on our behalf.
Posted by: lindy | March 25, 2007 at 07:18 PM
Starting wednesday on the market sounds like a great plan to me. I love going to market on saturday but I have to admit that I often buy too much because it all looks so good and I forget that there is only so much veg that the Boyfriend and I can eat in a week...
Posted by: Honeybee | March 26, 2007 at 03:24 PM
I am so happy to read this... I too ate a kumquat during my recent California farmer's market trip. It feels sort of devilish to pop the skin and all in your mouth and eat it all up! Thanks for sharing all the beautiful photos.
Posted by: Caroline | March 26, 2007 at 08:12 PM