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Dan's May
Best of Season
Fruits
Apples
Fresh crop apples—Chile and New Zealand
Apricots and Apriums
ApricotsCalifornia
ApriumsCalifornia
Cantaloupe
Cantaloupe
Cherries
CherriesCalifornia
Grapefruit
GrapefruitCalifornia and Arizona
Lemons
Meyer lemons
Rhubarb
Fresh field rhubarb
Watermelon
Watermelon
Vegetables
Artichokes—Castroville
Asparagus
Asparagus
Avocados
Avocados—California
Broccoli Rabe
Broccoli Rabe—Rapini
Corn
Fresh corn on the cob
Fava Beans
Fava beans
Fiddleheads
Fiddleheads
Greens
Chard, green
Chard, rainbow
Chard, red
Dandelion greens
Pea greens
Onions
Sweet red onions
Peas
English peas
Radishes
French breakfast radishes
Spring Garlic and Onions
Spring garlic
Spring onions
Squash
Squash blossoms 35 ct.
Summer squash (several varieties)
Tomatoes
Heirloom tomatoes—California desert
Watercress
Living watercress
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Produce Expert
Dan Avakian
Getting Fresh with
Dan "The Produce Man"
Celebrate Spring
Fresh Strawberries
Artichokes
Fresh Favas
Strawberries
How to Select Strawberries
Pick berries that are deep red and fairly firm, with a smooth sheen. Stay away from "bleeding" baskets or dull and shriveled berries with darkened or loosened caps. This is a sign of age, which means both flavor and nutrients are fading. At home, keep strawberries refrigerated until you are ready to use them, but keep in mind that the plastic bag from the store will cause the berries to break down. A better bet is to place them in a paper bag or airtight plastic container with a paper towel in it to absorb moisture. Do not wash strawberries until just before you use them.
Fresh Strawberries
It has been said throughout the centuries that if one breaks a double strawberry in half and shares it with a member of the opposite sex, the two will fall in love. This could very well be true! I When I was a teen working at the produce market on Oak and Central, I had my eye on a tall blue-eyed girl with a smile that made me melt. One day as I was leaving work I saw her roller skating down the street. I instantly grabbed a basket of strawberries, jumped into my beat-up 1962 Pontiac Catalina and drove down Central Avenue. I pulled over to the curb in the middle of the block ahead of her, jumped out of my car with the basket of strawberries and sat on the hood. When she skated closer she recognized me. I held out the basket of strawberries and said, "want some?” I dated her for almost a year.
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Artichokes
How to Select Artichokes
When selecting an artichoke, look for large, firm globes. Pick it up by the stem because the tops of the leaves have small thorns that can really get under your skin.
Feel the artichoke from the same stem end. Give it a firm but gentle squeeze. If it squeaks with the squeeze and is firm and bulbous, it is a fresh hearty “choke”. If it feels flabby and gives easily, forget it, it’s dried out!
Artichokes
Everything You Need
to Know
Driving down Highway 1 along the coast of California rewards us with some of the most breathtaking creations of Mother Nature—especially if you’re traveling through Monterey County in the spring, when the artichoke fields are in full production. Left to flower, this tough thistle is quite attractive. If it weren’t for our habit of collecting, cooking and eating the buds, several lovely purple flowers would grace each plant in the field.
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Fava Beans
Fresh Fava Beans were made popular by Hannibal Lecter in the movie The Silence of the Lambs, when he stated that he preferred them with a human liver and a glass of Chianti. But under normal circumstances, these tasty legumes are not at all gruesome. In fact, they’re a welcome sign of spring.
Because they have to be shelled before eating, some chefs dismiss favas as too labor intensive. But once the beans are shelled, the tasty creativity begins; from braises to stews to sauces to sautés—even raw in salads—favas are a versatile and delicious seasonal delicacy.
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| Dan helps Barbara Adams select the best artichokes for recipes that she's developing for Beyond Wonderful. |
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Fresh Strawberry Pie
This simple pie depends almost entirely on berries for its flavor, so the fruit should be peak-season perfect. When made with fresh strawberries straight from the farmer’s market, it’s a show-stopper.
Recipe
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Strawberry Shortcake
You might make strawberry shortcake out of sponge cake, pound cake, angel food—pretty much anything. But for me, nothing compares to a huge, fluffy buttermilk biscuit piled high with cream and juicy berries. What better way to celebrate peak-season fruit!
Recipe
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Fried Artichokes with Homemade Ranch Dipping Sauce
Only the tender hearts and edible stems of the artichoke are suitable for frying, so you’ll end up with quite a batch of leftover petals when you make this recipe. I like to pass these extras around for casual nibbling after the fried treats disappear.
Recipe
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