Produce recently spotted at The Market
Produce Briefs...
Red Chinese Mulberries
The Red Chinese mulberry tree is a broad, spreading bush or small tree dotted with small thorns. Like its mulberry relatives, the fruits are technically not a berries but rather aggregates of tiny fleshy drupes clustered around a single stem
Monterrey Pears
Monterrey pears are a large variety from northern Mexico, botanically a cultivar of Pyrus pyrifolia. The Asian pear hybrid was selected from the tree of a popular southern Texas variety. Monterrey pears are a cross of European pear and a Japanese pear.
Description/Taste
Pansy flowers offer velvety-textured slightly sweet flavor similar to wintergreen. The Pansy flower blooms in a wide array of vibrant colors. Having a broad color spectrum for an annual, flowers can be yellow, white, red, orange, purple, pink, lavender, mahogany, blue, apricot or bronze. The flowers may be just a single color or can have two or three colors.
Seasons/Availability
Pansie's are available year-round, with a peak season in the spring.
Current Facts
Along with violets, pansies are a member of the genus Viola and part of the Violaceae family. There are over 400 species in the genus Viola, most of which have asymmetrical flowers.
Applications
Pansies make an attractive addition to fruit, green and grain salads. They can be floated atop cold soups, added to salsa and chutney or minced and incorporated into butter or cream cheeses to make an attractive spread. Pansies can be used to add color and a subtle mint flavor to cocktails and teas. Most commonly they are used for ornamental purposed and can be used both candied and fresh atop ice cream, crème brule, tarts, cakes and other delicate pastries.
Geography/History
Members of the Viola genus including pansies are especially favored and cultivated in Europe. "Pansy" is derived from the French word "pensee" meaning thought or remembrance. The pansy plant we are familiar with today is said to have had its beginning in Iver, Buckinghamshire, England. Making their way to North America in the late 1800s, pansies quickly gained popularity.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Vista Valley | Vista CA | 760-758-2800 |
| Union Kitchen & Tap Bar (Encinitas) | Encinitas CA | 760-230-2337 |
| Hilton San Diego Gaslamp | San Diego CA | 619-231-4040 |
| Shelter / Saloon | Encinitas CA | 858-382-4047 |
| El Dorado Lounge | San Diego CA | 858-531-5062 |
| Extraordinary Desserts Union St. | San Diego CA | 619-294-7001 |
| Indulge Contemporary Catering | San Diego CA | 858-270-5700 |
| JSIX American restaurant & Bar | San Diego CA | 619-531-8744 |
| Inn at Rancho Santa Fe | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-381-8289 |
| Casa de las Campanas Sur | San Diego CA | 858 376 1522 |
| Farmers Bottega | San Diego CA | 619-458-9929 |
| Extraordinary Desserts | San Diego CA | 619-294-2132 |
| Georges at the Cove Bar | San Diego CA | 858-454-5702 |
| Sugar and Scribe | La Jolla CA | 858-274-1733 |
| Marriott Coronado | Coronado CA | 619-435-3000 x6335 |
| Florent | San Diego CA | 619-308-6500 |
| LPM Master Tenant, LLC- Crafted&Scooped | San Diego CA | 619-522-6890 |
| Ballast Point Brewing - Temecula | Temecula CA | 619-295-3173 |
| The Corner Drafthouse | San Diego CA | 619-255-2631 |
| Fish Pit | San Diego CA | 619-546-9369 |
| Kindred Bar | San Diego CA | 858-342-3609 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Pansy Flowers. One
is easiest, three is harder.| Grits and Chopsticks |
|
Beef Stew with Edible Flowers |
| The View from Great Island |
|
Nordic Open Faced Smoked Salmon Sandwiches |
