Eye Level Pasadena » Farmers’ markets & locally grown food

Duck eggs from DerVaes Gardens

Jill — Fri, 23 May 2008 16:30:54 +0000

Duck eggs from DerVaes Gardens here in Pasadena

These duck eggs are delicious and worth every penny.

I called DerVaes Gardens hoping to try their chicken eggs, but they were sold out when I called. The weather was overcast, and the chickens don’t lay as much in overcast weather, but the ducks don’t seem to mind it. (They don’t force their hens or ducks to lay.) I was hesitant about the idea of duck eggs. I was afraid that they’d be gamey or off-tasting, but I decided to give them a try. Actually, I waited for Gavin to try them first. He had fried a couple for us, and he took the first bite. He said they tasted like chicken eggs. I took a bite. They were… good. I ate some more. They were great, even. I think the word “Wow!” was uttered several times that morning. They tasted like chicken eggs… only better.

The yolks are bright, dark orange, and the shells are strong and thick. We’ve been eating them fried (basted, actually) and in omelettes. We’re on our second dozen of them now.

Cross-posted at Pasadena Housewife.

Olive harvest at Caltech

Jill — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 19:36:14 +0000

Last week Caltech harvested its campus olives and sent them off to be pressed into olive oil.

Olive harvesting

Trees in the lineup

Backyard fig

Jill — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 20:42:03 +0000

Backyard fig

Our neighbor has a fig tree, and a few branches hang over our fence. Today some friends came over to pick figs from our side of the fence, and it was discovered that figs dried on the tree (like this one) taste like Fig Newtons.

Tableau Vivante is thinking about organizing a local farmers’ market tour

Jill — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 00:21:50 +0000

Tableau Vivante is thinking about organizing a local farmers’ market tour. Head on over to her site and let her know if you are interested!

Homemade preserves

Jill — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 02:28:54 +0000

Erin and Superspark came over on Saturday to make preserves. Superspark brought plums from her apartment complex and Costco, and we went over to the Pasadena farmers’ market for strawberries and apricots.

Sugar

Stirring

Sealing

Picture taking

Post production photo shoot

Preserves

Community Supported Agriculture in Pasadena

Jill — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 14:42:30 +0000

Tierra Miguel is a Community Supported Agriculture foundation — a CSA — that grows certified organic produce locally and delivers to Pasadena and other places in Southern California. Members pay a monthly fee and receive a box of the CSA’s produce every week or every other week.

A friend invited me to come with her to pick up her box of produce:

Tierra Miguel boxes

Looking inside

News from the farm

Food

Food, 2

Small town!

Jill — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 18:32:48 +0000

I met Tableau Vivante this weekend at the farmers’ market. We were the same booth, she had a camera around her neck and was talking about photography with the vendor. ‘Could this be the mysterious Tableau Vivante?!?‘ I wondered. It was! I got to meet the woman responsible for introducing me to apriums. She covers the Pasadena Saturday farmers’ market with photos, descriptions, and recipe ideas at http://tableauvivante.livejournal.com/.

Seascape strawberries from the Pasadena farmers’ market

Jill — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 16:41:49 +0000

Seascape strawberries

We get out of bed early on Saturdays just for these. They’re usually sold out by mid-morning.

Pasadena Victory Park Certified Farmers’ Market
Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
North Sierra Madre Blvd & Paloma Street

Apriums from the Pasadena farmers’ market

Jill — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 05:32:58 +0000

Apriums

Jill — Sun, 13 May 2007 06:37:24 +0000

Tableau Vivante has some great pictures posted from this morning’s Farmers’ Market. One of the farms is selling apriums, and the way she describes them is making me salivate.