First trip in '08 to Gade Farm

Yesterday I was able to carve out some time to get to Gade Farm, one of my favorite local farm stands. Already they have many of their own lettuces: red, green, romaine. They also have rhubarb, kohlrabi, basil and asparagus, all Gade-grown. The kohlrabi was very nice and has a mild nutty flavor. It's kind of a cross between a cabbage and a root vegetable, but very mild and could have many creative uses as an ingredient. I julienned one and used it raw in salad, and julienned another and "wilted" it with some other wild greens with warmed garlic infused olive oil, lemon juice, sea salt and cracked pepper.

Gade was also stocking California long-neck garlic with robust purple cloves, very hard and fresh. Local strawberries were excellent and had that bright red, wild look as if they were picked off a montain-side. Haas avocados were twice as big as the pathetic looking avocados I have seen at the chain level, and they are $1.79 each.

First of the year "sheller" peas are in from New Jersey. I love fresh peas, however I was a little disappointed as many of the pods were very large, producing big, bland peas. I still have to buy them though, it's just one of those things. They are great raw as a snack, or plunked into a pasta dish.

Gade's own produce is pretty darn good, and if it's not their own, they do a pretty good job of weeding out the good from the bad. Most of their offerings look much better than the produce at the chains. More to follow on Gade Farm as the season progresses.