Where do I begin..............Kale! Chard! Scarecrow! Lettuce! Coconut Fibers! Towers! Having heard about the Alegría Farm, I invited myself to visit last week. As an amateur gardener, flexitarian, and pretty good cook, this hydroponic farm piqued my interest. What a dream for me! I eat mostly veggies but will eat and enjoy whatever I am served. Rows and rows of gourmet lettuces, exotic herbs and colorful enticing vegetables create a mouth-watering experience. The Great Park in Irvine is home to Alegría combining hydroponic technology, a method of growing herbs and vegetables, in vertical towers. Instead of soil, coconut fibers are used. The end result produces vegetables using 90% less water, 50% less fertilizer, and 70% less land. In addition, Alegría's fruits and vegetables are pesticide free.
 |
| Erik Cutter |
I met with Erik Cutter, the founder of Alegría, for what turned out to be not only a feast for the eyes but a feast for the senses. As we walked along the towers, Erik gave me tastes of various lettuces, exotic herbs and vegetables - all so crispy and fresh. Erik is so passionate about his farm, he can't help but rub off on you. With a background in biochemistry and oncology, he understands the need for fresh and nutritious organic food. You can check out the "Farmacy" for the health benefits of all of the different kinds of produce by clicking here.
I left the farm inspired and excited to create my own recipes from the bounty of goods I took home. I have made gratins, pasta sauces, cheesy melted sandwiches and unique salads. But that will have to be another post. Chapter 2...........
 |
| A Veggie Bouquet |
Organic fresh fruit and vegetable boxes are available at Alegría and farm tours are available. It is worth a visit. Read more on Erik and Alegría Fresh Farm here.
One of my favorite vegetarian cookbooks is "Plenty" by Yotam Ottolenghi. Ottolenghi creates such beautiful dishes using the most exotic spices and grains like sumac and couscous. The book is organized into chapters by the type of vegetable. I love that. Last week I visited Alegria Fresh Farm (more on the farm in a future post) and brought home a load of tomatoes. After perusing the book, I recreated the Tomato Party.
There is a restaurant in St. Barths, on Flamands beach, that serves the best lobster on the island. The restaurant is called La Langouste at the Hotel Baie des Anges. They prepare a few different sauces for the lobster which are all delicious. This is my version of one of their sauces.
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- Juice of 4 lemons
- 1/2 a bunch of cilantro
- 1 jalapeño
- 4 green onions
- Salt to taste
And then there were none.
Back in June, I was in New York and visited Eataly. I wish we had one here in California. Beautiful store and restaurants. Just a few more shots...... Eataly, NYC!
