Farm To Table Lunch | Outtakes

Here are some outtakes from a future farm to table project.  All secret right now.

Earth Day at Alegría Farm

The other day was Earth Day and a day to spend at Alegría Farm.  I first posted on the farm last summer and it is more beautiful than ever.  Spring has burst into full color at the farm.  Edible flowers, beautiful greens and rare herbs are just a few of the culinary delights you can enjoy.  Located at the Great Park in Irvine, California, Alegría Farm features innovative earth-kind solutions to urban agriculture. You can read more about the farm here or here.

Alegria Farms
Orange County Great Park
Irvine, CA

And this is what came out of the kitchen.........

 

These are just a few of the lovelies I brought home from Alegría Fresh Farm a couple of weeks back.  I was inspired to create some new recipes using their veggies.  Here are just a few of them................

Photo before the cheese was added and prior to baking.

A Day at Alegría Farm

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.

Tomato Party

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.

The Bounty from the Santa Monica Farmers Market