Best Fruit Now

Fruit Buying Guide – September 2010

September’s Fruit Buying Guide offers many helpful tips on selecting the Best Fruit at the market NOW! Do you know what “Natural” Thompsons are? Well you will want to look out for those babies. Black Mission Figs, buy ‘em leaky, yes oozing honey and a recipe for baking them Wrapped in Proscuitto and Stuffed with Goat Cheese – Easy and Delicious from Chef Melissa. Soon to be finished Mixed Melons. Do not miss out and learn how to find the best melons, favorites now are Sharlyn, Canari, Cranshaw, and Orange Flesh Honeydews- it’s now or never with these guys!

Fruit Buying Guide – June 2010

Check out the Fruit Buying Guide for June and celebrate the arrival of fresh locally grown berries and melons, Flavorosa pluots and the long awaited New Crop of grapes! Read on to learn how to navigate the many produce departments armed with landmines of antique and immature fruits. Finally explore the arrival of Golden Kiwi and the only healthy DONUT, the Donut PEACH!

Fruit Buying Guide – April 2010

April’s Fruit Buying Guide offers some excellent insight into what fruits are Best NOW and which fruits to AVOID! Strawberries are running great and are reasonable NOW making them the first selection. Learn how Sustainability is nothing new for California berry growers. Next you will be tuned into another great deal, Chilean grapes. Support Chile by buying grapes NOW! Next, learn who put the navel in the navel! Recipes included in this month’s guide; Macerated Strawberries with Balsamic, Balsamic Pork with Grapes, Bartlett pears with Prosciutto and blue cheese.

Fruit Buying Guide – February 2010

The release of the March Fruit Buying Guide will be delayed for a few days as we need to sort through some serious weather situations, cold in Florida, rain in Mexico and California and of course the Earthquake in Chile – please be patient as we collect the best information. THANKS!

February’s Fruit Buying Guide reveals some little known secrets of the fruit trade. Discover the best mango available Now and learn what to look for to ensure success! Learn how to navigate the retail market’s large orange displays. You don’t want to load up on a seemingly great deal; only to find you have bought oranges that have been damaged by the Florida freeze! You will also get an education on why Chile grows such excellent grapes. Then you will learn about a fruit that is surely the MOST under appreciated fruit of ALL, and it is great NOW!

Balsamic Pork with Grapes

Source: Based on recipe Slow-Braised Pork with Black Grapes and Balsamic in Bon Appétit, October 2005. Modified by Chef Melissa, A la Maison Personal Chef Service.

1 3-4 pound boneless pork shoulder (picnic shoulder), trimmed, cut into 3 equal pieces
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
8 large shallots, halved, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices (about 3 [...]

Fruit Buying Guide – February 2009

February’s Fruit Buying Guide highlights some fantastic fruits. First we discuss the flavorful Florida Honey Tangerine and the unbelievably juicy Honeybell tangelo! Don’t miss the recipe for a Honey Tangerine Martini. From there, Tommy K gives tips on selecting Chilean grapes and also offers up a bloody good pick. Spanish Clementines are toast but it is time to make a toast to the California AFOUR mandarin, AKA the Delite. For something different, there is a suggestion to dapple in Dapple Dandys and sweeten your day with Lemon Plums.