Produce Briefs...
Banana Flowers
Exotic banana flowers are the red-orange to deep purple, pointed, compact heads at the tip end of a forming bunch of bananas. Each bud has large outer petals that protect groups of small white flowers
Green Shishito Chile Peppers
Japanese peppers are mildly spicy and most often prepared cooked. Saute peppers in olive oil, over high heat, until they just begin to blister- serve hot, sprinkled with sea salt.
Seasons/Availability
Black Italian cabbage is available year round with winter crops offering the best quality.
Description/Taste
Palm tree-like fronds are a characteristic of the black Italian cabbage. Also called Tuscan kale, Toscano kale and Lecano kale, these curly-edged leaves grow out of a central stalk. When the central stalk of this Tuscan kale is harvested, mini-black cabbages are produced on the stalk. This variety offers its very own subtle green cabbage flavor that has a tangy bite with an almost sweet aftertaste.
Nutritional Value
Low in calories, cabbage offers vitamin C, folic acid, calcium, and potassium. It is said cabbage stimulates the immune system and prevents cancer. Cabbage juice is claimed to be helpful for arthritis, gastric ulcers, depression, and gout.
Applications
Young raw leaves are tasty in salads. Pairs with beans or pork. Cook until soft in olive oil with a generous amount of garlic for a palate-pleasing side dish. To use kale leaves as food wrappers, blanch leaves briefly in lightly salted water. Place cubes of favorite cheese in leaf; wrap and bake. Shrimp or prawn tails are excellent choices for wrapping in these spunky tasting leaves. Risotto is superb wrapped in kale leaves and gently braised.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
A mythical Italian Franciscan monk, Friar Foreteller in his almanac provided tips on home cures that utilize vegetables, herbs and fruit. The entire cabbage family is esteemed in his writings for its scar-healing, disinfectant, anti-rheumatic, decongestant and anti-diabetic powers. Blanched cabbage leaves can be applied topically to burns or irritated skin for relief.
Geography/History
Italian cabbage is an international hybrid and a prized Tuscan specialty referred to as "cavolo nero" or black cabbage in English. Abundantly available in Tuscany, black cabbage supplies are very limited in other parts of the world. Italian cuisine especially favors this cabbage in the cold-weather cooking season. A member of the Crucifer or mustard family, cabbage is a prehistoric Mediterranean wild plant. Classified by its many forms, cabbage is diversified into leaves (kale), heads (common or Savoy cabbage), gems (Brussels sprouts), hypertrophied flowers (broccoli and cauliflower), or into roots (turnips).
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Ebisu Sushi Bar | San Diego CA | 619-297-3119 |
| Nine - Ten | San Diego CA | 858-964-5400 |
| Golden Door | San Marcos CA | 760-761-4142 |
| Cielo Events | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 760-520-5755 |
| The Lion Share | San Diego CA | 619-564-6924 |
| Monello | San Diego CA | 619-501-0030 |
| Dolce Pane & Vino | Del Mar CA | 858-832-1518 |
| Cowboy Star | San Diego CA | 619-450-5880 |
| Avant | San Diego CA | 858-675-8505 |
| San Diego Humane Society | ||
| Roy's San Diego | San Diego CA | 619-239-7697 |
| Lauberge Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-259-1515 |
| Hotel Del Coronado Banquets | Coronado CA | 619-435-6611 |
| Bread & Cie Café | San Diego CA | 619-683-9322 |
| Bleu Boheme | San Diego CA | 619-255-4167 |
| Amber Walsh/Michael Hayes | San Diego CA | 408-596-1191 |
| Ritual Tavern | San Diego CA | 619-283-1618 |
| Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-756-1582 |
| Cucina Urbana | San Diego CA | 619-239-2222 |
| Bernardo Heights Country Club | San Diego CA | 858-487-4022 |
| Bacci | San Diego CA | 619-275-2094 |
| Hotel La Jolla & CUSP Dining & Drinks | La Jolla CA | 858-459-0261 |
| Davanti Enoteca | San Diego CA | 858-519-5060 |
| Piatti | San Diego CA | 858-454-1589 |
| Lux Catering | Encinitas CA | 760-710-7057 |
| Hotel Palomar-Salt Box | San Diego CA | 619-515-4062 |
| Blue Water Seafood Market and Grill | San Diego CA | 619-497-0914 |
| Sorority Cuisine - Achio | San Diego CA | 310-402-6195 |
| Table 926 | San Diego CA | 858-539-0926 |
| Prepkitchen Little Italy | San Diego CA | 619-247-0394 |
| Craft and Commerce (Sekscobra Inc.) | San Diego CA | 619-962-5935 |
| Vine Cottage | La Mesa CA | 619-465-0138 |
| 25 Forty Bistro & Bakehouse | San Diego CA | 619-294-2540 |
| Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-759-6063 |
| Heat Bar & Kitchen | San Diego CA | 619-546-4328 |
| Waters Catering | San Diego CA | 619-276-8803 ex 4 |
| Stingaree | San Diego CA | 619-544-0867 |
| Beaumont's | San Diego CA | 858-459-0474 |
| Cal A Vie | Vista CA | 760-945-2055 |
| La Valencia | San Diego CA | 858-551-3750 |
| Catamaran | San Diego CA | 858-488-1081 |
| Roppongi | San Diego CA | 858-551-5252 |
| Starlite | San Diego CA | 619-358-9766 |
| Wine Vault & Bistro | San Diego CA | 619-295-3939 |
| Ariccia Italian Market | La Jolla CA | 858-551-7675 |
| Lodge at Torrey Pines Grill | San Diego CA | 858-453-4420 |
| Roseville Cozinha | San Diego CA | 619-794-2192 |
| The Shores | La Jolla CA | 858-459-8271 |
| Great Maple | San Diego CA | 619-255-2282 |
| Inn at Rancho Santa Fe | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 800-843-4661 |
| Georges at the Cove | San Diego CA | 858-454-4244 |
| Jake's Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-755-2002 |
| Fish Public | San Diego CA | 619-281-4014 |
| Whisknladle | San Diego CA | 858-551-7575 |
| Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center | National City CA | 619-434-4281 |
| Crosby National Golf Club LLC | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-227-0172 |
| US Grant Hotel Main | San Diego CA | 619-232-3121 |
| Burlap | San Diego CA | 858 369 5700 |
| The Pearl Hotel | San Diego CA | 877-732-7573 |
| Urban Kitchen | San Diego CA | 619-239-2222 |
| Herringbone | La Jolla CA | 858-459-0221 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Black Italian Cabbage. One
is easiest, three is harder.| $tarrBuck |
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Susan’s Ribollita (Tuscan Stale Bread Soup with Black Kale) |
Recently Spotted
People have spotted Black Italian Cabbage using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.
Produce Spotting allows you to share your produce discoveries with your neighbors and the world! Is your market carrying green dragon apples? Is a chef doing things with shaved fennel that are out of this world? Pinpoint your location annonymously through the Specialty Produce App and let others know about unique flavors that are around them.
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Ocado Yorkshire Near Bradford, United Kingdom About 129 days ago, 2/10/13 Specialty Produce Near San Diego, California, United States About 165 days ago, 1/05/13 Spotter's comments : Really good quality black kale here at Specialty! This is great for everything including chips! |
