Local season produce
March 6

I'm enjoying using local seasonal produce (what a concept!) and re-creating dishes with what's around. Did our first rotisserie chicken today (love that machine!) and paired it with a warm salad of frisee, shiitakes, butter-braised URUI – a gorgeous, endive like plant, actually in the onion family – with which I fell in love at first sight, delicious house-smoked bacon, blanched and sautéed fresh bamboo shoots, tarragon, chervil and a warm poached egg. Thinking of trying an alternative to USC's Black Bean Soup. Have not yet found an equivalent to our black beans, and so I consider trying my hand at Red Bean Soup, with Adzuki beans, which I love. Finding graham crackers may be a challenge, though the calamari (and all of the fish I've seen so far) are exquisite. Teaching our Mashed Potatoes and Garlic Chips recipes – sure do miss the Idahoes!