It seems like somebody always is DISCOVERING CHINO FARM. Enjoy!
(Tom Chino with Trey Foshee at the Nojo)
The Vegetable Shop at The Chino Family Farm Featuring: Multiple varieties of most produce: Tomatoes, squash, squash blossoms, beans, shell beans, dried beans, melons, cucumbers, sprouts, greens and lettuces, celery root, carrots, turnips, parsnips, salsafy, radishes, brussels sprouts, okra, onions, Jerusalem artichokes, peppers, herbs, strawberries, strawberry figs, Concord grapes.
Location: 6123 Calzada del Bosque, Rancho Santa Fe (off Via de la Valle, S6)
Open year round:
Fall/Winter: Tuesday-Saturday 10-4; Sunday 10-1
Spring/Summer: Tuesday-Saturday 10-5; Sunday 10-1
Closed Mondays.
Recorded farmstand information: (858) 756-3184
(For more from Laura Magnarelli follow the non-bouncing link...)
If you've ever ordered a dish with produce off of an upscale menu that touts fresh locally grown products chances are good that some of it came from Chino Farm. Most San Diegans have no idea that some of the best, and understandably expensive, produce comes from our own backyard. I have seen their name pop up in menu descriptions often enough to feel like I already know the farm. So recently when I heard that they had a farm stand open to the public, I knew I had to visit them.
It's great to go to a restaurant and eat delicious local, well cared produce, but when the general public has access to the same product gourmet can really come into the home. Just up the road on the edge of Del Mar and Rancho Santa Fe, the Chino farm sits on some pretty pricey real estate. That aside, it's a great way to introduce the kids to a functioning farm and increase their interaction with their food. As soon as we pulled in my son spotted the building off to the left and began demanding to “go into the farm house”.
Since we were in the area already I used yesterday as a good excuse to stop by Chino Farm for the first time. It was afternoon, so I had missed some of the variety of the lettuces. Go early if you are hunting down just picked, less common varieties. Since lettuce is growing right now, it's the perfect time for any kind you could want. I selected two kinds of arugula and a green heirloom tomato for a fresh tossed salad with blue cheese and olive oil for dinner. There were temptations all along the farm stand display. Another red striped heirloom tomato called out to me as well as red and orange bell pepper, green onions, and baskets of figs. Everything looks so well groomed, even the potatoes were clean.
The wonderful thing about getting produce at a farm stand is that you know it was in the ground yesterday. And, the people taking your money are the ones who put the love into growing it. Hey that's reason enough to pay the price difference. It's an easy way to make gourmet without spending a lot of time sprucing it up ingredients or dropping even larger amounts of money in fine dining. I grilled the potatoes and purple carrots on a stone plate with nothing more than olive oil, salt, and pepper. The flavor of the vegetables gives them the ability to stand alone. Plus, interestingly colored veggies are exciting and fun for the kids.
