Posts Tagged ‘Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market’
Friday, July 1st, 2016
No, no, no – not on financial investments – on dinner! ChezHelvetica’s search for “Little Gems with Nectarine Salad” landed smack in Britain with this recipe from Philadelphia.Co.U.K. Exiting from the prescribed ingredients, grilled wild-caught Copper River Salmon Fillet replaced Chicken and Thai Heritage Seafood Sauce supplanted traditional Chili Sauce. The addition of freshly chopped Italian Parsley and Lemon Juice to the Cream Cheese dressing deviated further from the stated union. 
Tory Farms Nectarines and beautiful Little Gems (a sweet cousin to Romaine Lettuce) from the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, spiced with aromatic Coriander, elevated the dish to a new plateau. Sukkis Naan, served warm in a new terra-cotta stone bread basket, accompanied the delicious sweet and savory salad. Ben & Jerry, also known for profound political statements, provided the happy ending to our meal with luscious Cherry Garcia FroYo. Therefore, Our Vote: Remain!
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Tags: Ben & Jerry's, Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market, Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Thai Heritage, Tory Farms
Posted in Blog Post | Comments Off on The Influence of Brexit
Wednesday, April 6th, 2016
Q. How to thank a dear friend for an exquisite painting? A. A work of art for a work of art – fare trade! While ChezHelvetica’s centerpiece Cobb Salad doesn’t match the effort taken to create the beautiful canvas, the overture was heartfelt. Robert Cobb’s classic Brown Derby recipe received a new coat of culinary paint with the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market‘s freshly-picked Romaine Hearts, Curly Endive, Rotisserie Chicken and award-winning Point Reyes Farmstead Blue Cheese. Safeway‘s Farmer John thick-sliced Bacon, Open Nature Cage-Free Eggs, Kalamata Olives, and Trader Joe’s Avocado and Pearl Tomatoes completed the platter – all dressed in Stonehouse Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar, Dijon Mustard and a touch of Organic Cane Sugar. (Sadly, I found the perfect Chives purchased to garnish the Salad untouched in the refrigerator the next day…) Wild Mountain Raw Honey showered Medina Farms Blackberries, Strawberries and Tory Farms Oranges, also sweetening Mighty Leaf Ginger Tea, as confidantes shared exciting secrets in the new chapters of their lives!
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Tags: Farmer John, Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market, Medina Farms, Mighty Leaf Tea, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese, Safeway, Storehouse, Tory Farms, Trader Joe's, Wild Mountain
Posted in Blog Post | Comments Off on Fare Trade
Tuesday, October 14th, 2014
From Christopher Columbus in 1492 to ChezHelvetica in the New World – The Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria were now replaced by the Dips, the Baguette and the Salmon Salad. Hummus and Egg Salad served with Celery Hearts and Organic Carrots kicked off the voyage, soon discovering the treasure of fresh Walnut Baguette. Little Gems and Italian Parsley harbored Wild Salmon (roasted with Truffle Oil, Honey, Meyer Lemon Juice and Wine), Whole Wheat Couscous, Cauliflower (spiced with Cumin Seed and Curry), savory Kalamata Olives and sweet Cherry Tomatoes. A global voyage of flavors indeed with ports at the Ferry Plaza, VA, and Clement Street Farmers Markets, greeted by the hardworking farmers from Latin America, Greece and California coast. In recognition of the guests who enjoyed this lunch, once students at OSU in Columbus, Ohio who journeyed to San Francisco, here’s to the Bucks and to the Giants, conquerors of the 21st century!
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Tags: Clement Street Farmers Market, Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market, VA Farmers Market
Posted in Blog Post | Comments Off on Columbus Day
Thursday, October 24th, 2013
With the usual Italian sex appeal, this name for Tuscan Kale enticed ChezHelvetica to finally succumb to temptation. This leafy cabbage doesn’t form heads, but rather resembles palm fronds with deep greenish black leaves that can be up to a yard long with pronounced ribs. Its surfaces have a distinctive bubbly appearance. Rich in vitamins and antioxidants, the earthy taste transforms when roasted or sautéed. The primo pasto paired roasted Kale, Garbanzo Beans, Spices (Coriander, just because) and Garlic in Extra Virgin Olive Oil with delicious Rana Mushroom Ravioli. The secondo featured Kale sautéed in Garlic Oil and Balsamic Vinegar with Vicolo’s legendary Cornmeal Crust Pepperoni Pizza – the perfect complement. Grazie mille to Trader Joe’s, Costco and Ferry Plaza Farmers Market for these adventures to Italia!
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Tags: Costco, Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market, Rana, Trader Joe's, Vicolo's
Posted in Blog Post | Comments Off on Cavolo Nero
Monday, July 22nd, 2013
But If You Try Sometime You Just Might Find You Get What You Need.” These Rolling Stones lyrics precisely capture the scene at ChezHelvetica. Early in the day, discoveries abounded with Butter Lettuce, Cherry Tomatoes, Green Beans, Yukon Gold Potatoes and Acme Bread from the Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market. Although seeking Tuna for a Tuna Nicoise Salad, beautiful Wild Salmon ended up being exactly what was needed. With Hard-Boiled Eggs, Capers, Red Onion, Olives and a Vinaigrette using my newly planted herbs: voila, the iconic summer salad appeared. Paired with a Coppola Chardonnay, this reception was indeed the hot ticket. The final embellishment, Michael Recchuiti‘s luscious Malted Chocolate Sauce over Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and Cannonball Cabernet Sauvignon.“In Her Glass Was A Bleeding Man.”
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Tags: Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market, Michael Recchuiti, Rolling Stones
Posted in Blog Post | Comments Off on “You Can’t Always Get What You Want …
Thursday, May 23rd, 2013
From the edible flowering plant family Amaranthaceae (first grown in 14th century Persia), behold Spinach! Catherine de’ Medici, Queen of France, so loved Spinach, she insisted it be served at every meal. The name “Florentine” evolved for dishes using this leafy green in reference to Florence, her place of birth. From Catherine’s table in 1533 to ChezHelvetica’s in 2013, we dined on Spinach Salad With Warm Bacon Dressing. Sweet Red Onion and White Mushrooms from the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market and Baby Spinach from Trader Joe’s received their savory crown of thick sliced Bacon, Balsamic Vinegar and Dijon Mustard dressing. Homemade Chicken Soup and Acme Bread’s wonderful Pan de Mie completed this course of the feast, paired with lush Geyser Peak Sonoma County Chardonnay. Tory Farm’s first of the season Peaches, sauteed in butter and served a la Mode with roasted Walnuts, royally concluded this Saturday soiree!
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Tags: Acme Bread, Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market, Food Network, Martha Stewart, Trader Joe's
Posted in Blog Post | Comments Off on Amaranthaceae – with Warm Bacon Dressing
Wednesday, March 6th, 2013
As Tony Mendez transformed U.S. diplomats into a Canadian film crew, ChezHelvetica elevated the ABCs to a new plateau with untried recipes for Acorn Squash, Asparagus, Beans and Cauliflower. Winter met spring as the cold weather outside saw the first of the season’s asparagus, and warmth replaced chill with soothing soup and the fragrance of coriander. For a dinner to be ready after “Argo“, Cauliflower Soup with Garbanzo Beans and Acorn Squash Rings with Asparagus filled our bill. The Farmers’ Markets at the VAMC and Ferry Plaza, along with Trader Joe’s, yielded the beautiful bounty for this dinner. A luscious walnut sauce dressed the squash and asparagus as Alma Chardonnay from Chile enlivened us. TJs Pecan Pie Ice Cream was the final credit of the evening. Applause!
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Tags: Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market, Trader Joe's, VAMC Farmers Market
Posted in Blog Post | Comments Off on The Magic of ABCs
Tuesday, November 27th, 2012
This magical weekend started at Fisherman’s Wharf with the much anticipated opening of crab season. The fishmonger cracked and cleaned our crab as the luscious fried shrimp on display also called out to our empty stomachs. With the addition of succulent barbecued short ribs, the Surf and Turf feast at ChezHelvetica began! Baked russet potatoes with horseradish and slow roasted green beans with scallions, garlic and herbs were the perfect sides along with whole wheat bread baked by our friend Mamie. Naked Wines Da Da Da chardonnay from Lodi provided the ha ha ha’s for the evening. Sweet red raspberries (just purchased at the Ferry Plaza Farmers market that morning), delicious apricot rugelach from the House of Bagels, crowned with vanilla Haagen Dazs a la mode, concluded this segment of our sojourn. In the morning over breakfast in the dining room, we watched the delightful dance of the ravens and hawk in the trees of East Fort Miley. A lunch of leftovers followed later in the day including mashed potatoes made from the aforementioned russet potatoes and earlier barbecued sweet potatoes. Surf and Turf, Savory and Sweet, Old and New, Yin and Yang – Thanks Giving.
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Tags: Epicurious, Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market, Haagen Dazs, Naked Wines
Posted in Blog Post | Comments Off on Syber Saturday & Sunday
Wednesday, August 29th, 2012
Creativity pulsated this evening with art spawned from the Mind Shaft Society in the form of a Bon Appetit apron transformed with paint splats, apples from the threshold of the Pataphysical Slot Machine (now materializing in the Rheingold Garden) and delicious recipes discovered by ChezHelvetica. Courtesy of Food Network chef Tyler Florence, Salad Nicoise with Seared Tuna took center stage. Like an exploration in Asia, treasure was found in the New May Wah Supermarket on Clement Street with vibrant red ahi tuna. Haricots vert and potatoes from the Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market cooked simultaneously with eggs, happily reducing both prep time and clean up. A piquant vinaigrette spiced with fresh tarragon and parsley doused the salad, while a Michael Pozzan Russian River Chardonnay quenched us. An irresistible Apple Crisp made from our friend’s Pippin apples with a topping of butter, brown sugar, and oatmeal (to which I added walnuts) was crowned by vanilla ice cream a la mode. The bright moon, waxing to blue, highlighted this special dinner.
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Tags: Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market, Food Network, Michael Pozzan Wines, New May Wah Supermarket, Tyler Florence
Posted in Blog Post | Comments Off on Mind Shaft Society Meets ChezHelvetica in the Pataphysical Garden
