Newsletter: In the Kitchen: Italian olive oil is back
Drizzling extra virgin olive oil on a crusty country loaf of bread rubbed with fresh garlic to make a Bruschetta.
Fellow cooks,
You can rest easy -- Italian olive oil is back. Food columnist Russ Parsons traveled to Italy for three weeks recently and is happy to report that after one of the worst harvests on record last year, Italian olives have rebounded.
And while the weather might have those of us in Southern California thinking fall might never appear, at least the produce in the market got the seasonal message. Asian pears and pumpkins (and other winter squash) are hitting the markets, and we have recipe ideas for each. And because it's never too soon to start planning for holiday entertaining, check out the beautiful recipe for salmon tartare from Catch & Release -- it would make a pretty great appetizer for any gathering.
Italian olive oil bounces back after one of the worst years in history
You can stop hoarding Italian olive oil; the Italian olive oil industry is back. After one of the worst harvests on record last year -- owing to a trifecta of bad weather at the worst possible times, an infestation of olive fruit fly and a disease some called “olive Ebola” -- the industry has bounced back this year. Russ Parsons reports.
Asian pears are in season; where to find them, plus 7 recipes
Now is prime time to score some Asian pears at the market. According to Russ Parsons, "some late-season favorites include: Shinseiki, which has a very crisp texture and a flavor like honey, walnuts and flowers; 20th Century, another crisp pear that tastes like a sparkling combination of apples and citrus; Kosui, which has a vanilla undertone; and Chojuro, a buttery Japanese pear with a caramel sweetness." He shares tips for buying, as well as several great recipes.
Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times
Forget the pumpkin latte; 9 great recipes for pumpkin that taste like pumpkin
With all the pumpkin and other great winter squash showing up at the market now, it's time to make the most of the season with some recipe ideas. We've come up with nine great recipes for pumpkin that go beyond traditional pie. Enjoy it in soups, as pancakes or French toast for breakfast, as ice cream for dessert, and even in salads. For recipes that call for pumpkin puree, feel free to substitute canned pumpkin if you'd like -- it's a great substitute if you don't have time to make the puree yourself.
Chef Jason Neroni makes salmon tartare pop with pickled mustard seeds
Food editor Amy Scattergood loved Jason Neroni's salmon tartare at Catch & Release, so she asked for the recipe. "His salmon tartare has been a signature dish for about a decade, a synthesis of raw fish, pine nuts and pickled mustard seeds, sometimes given an emulsification with a quail egg — kind of like a quick marine carbonara."
Get everything you need for Oktoberfest at the Alpine Village Market
Looking for a good German market? Alpine Village Market in Torrance specializes in German and other European foods and ingredients. There's a butcher shop with more than 100 kinds of house-made sausages and cured meats, a European bakery and an impressive selection of European beers, wines and liquors. When you're done shopping, head next door to the Alpine Market Cafe for lunch. The market is part of the larger Alpine Village complex that was first established in Torrance in 1968 as a destination for German and European shopping, dining and entertainment. The Village also bills itself as the "home of the biggest Oktoberfest celebration in Southern California for more than 40 years."
Jonathan Gold's 101
The 101 is coming! The Los Angeles Times will publish Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants, the authoritative annual guide to local dining, on Nov. 4. The print edition will be delivered to The Times’ Saturday subscribers on Nov. 7. And in honor of this year’s best, Mr. Gold will host a 101 launch party at Union Station that evening. For more information go to latimes.com/getgold. Official hashtag #JGOLD101
Check out the thousands of recipes on our Recipe Database.
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