Produce Briefs...
Italian Black Summer Truffles
Black summer truffles are more subtle than the winter variety. Shave truffle over cooked potatoes, toss with herbs and a shallot vinaigrette. Thinly shave truffle over scrambled eggs.
Spring Onions
Spring onions are most often utilized raw. The whole onion can be flash blanched and grilled, which brings out more the robust and sweet elements of the onions, and makes them a bolder pair for fish and meats
Grower
Rancho Grande garlic are available at some farmers markets in summer.
Rancho Grande garlic is an Italian red garlic variety and a softneck type of garlic. Softneck types of garlic are classified as Artichoke varieties. Artichoke varieties are the varieties of garlic that get blanketed under the common name garlic. They are known as the supermarket varieties of garlic as they are prolific in production, have longer than average shelf lives and can be shipped readily with ease. Garlic is never just garlic though, each individual garlic possessing unique growing and flavor qualities which are equally dependent upon where they grow and the soil they grow in.
Rancho Grande garlic produces large bulbs which carry an average of ten cloves that grow in a circular order around the garlic's central scape. The bulbs and individual cloves are wrapped in thin papery layers that protect the garlic from the elements through maturity. The cloves are a warm translucent white in color. The garlic's aroma is an attractive, savory and mellow essence of allium, while the flavor has depth, being robust, peppery and yet sweet.
Rancho Grande garlic is a garlic which received its name due to its specific growing region versus the actual cultivar. Its specific points of origin are unknown, though all garlic cultivars are considered to be derived from ten specific varieties of garlic that evolved in the Caucasus Mountains between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. Garlic has been altered over time by natural and intentional selection, ever changing growing conditions, such as soil fertility, rainfall, temperature, altitude, length and severity of winter and as trade routes were evolved and extended garlic would become naturalized in often unnatural climates. Ranch Grande garlic thrives in a variety of climates, even tolerating cold winters which contributes to its adaptibility and longevity as a cultivar.
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Seasons/Availability
Rancho Grande garlic are available at some farmers markets in summer.
Current Facts
Rancho Grande garlic is an Italian red garlic variety and a softneck type of garlic. Softneck types of garlic are classified as Artichoke varieties. Artichoke varieties are the varieties of garlic that get blanketed under the common name garlic. They are known as the supermarket varieties of garlic as they are prolific in production, have longer than average shelf lives and can be shipped readily with ease. Garlic is never just garlic though, each individual garlic possessing unique growing and flavor qualities which are equally dependent upon where they grow and the soil they grow in.
Description/Taste
Rancho Grande garlic produces large bulbs which carry an average of ten cloves that grow in a circular order around the garlic's central scape. The bulbs and individual cloves are wrapped in thin papery layers that protect the garlic from the elements through maturity. The cloves are a warm translucent white in color. The garlic's aroma is an attractive, savory and mellow essence of allium, while the flavor has depth, being robust, peppery and yet sweet.
Geography/History
Rancho Grande garlic is a garlic which received its name due to its specific growing region versus the actual cultivar. Its specific points of origin are unknown, though all garlic cultivars are considered to be derived from ten specific varieties of garlic that evolved in the Caucasus Mountains between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. Garlic has been altered over time by natural and intentional selection, ever changing growing conditions, such as soil fertility, rainfall, temperature, altitude, length and severity of winter and as trade routes were evolved and extended garlic would become naturalized in often unnatural climates. Ranch Grande garlic thrives in a variety of climates, even tolerating cold winters which contributes to its adaptibility and longevity as a cultivar.
