Attention Foodservice Professionals! The Seasonal Chef is here to help with your advanced menu planning needs. Each quarter he will offer the “Pick of the Market” items that will be available in good to high volume for the following quarter. These items will represent some of the best produce of the season. These are the items that menus should be based on! Pick a month:
January
Cara Cara Oranges
Pack: 20 lb. carton
A variety of the Navel orange, Cara Cara oranges have a pinkish orange flesh with cranberry and cherry undertones. They are similar to blood oranges in appearance, but much less tart. Use in any recipe that calls for oranges for a sweet and colorful outcome.
Grape Tomatoes
Pack: 12/1 pints
Highest sugar option for this time of year. More firm than cherry tomatoes with a more delicate appearance. Slice in half, season and slow roast to deepen flavors for use in sauces and compotes.
Green Skin Avocado
Pack: 12 ct. carton
Also known as the Alligator pear. This avocado has less fat than Hass variety. Ripe when it yield to slight pressure and the skin will not turn black. Try grilled or fried with cornmeal. Perfect for salads, salsas and even soup.
Navel Oranges
Pack: 56, 72, 88, and 113 ct. cartons
Navel oranges have superior eating quality and are lower in acid than most other oranges. They are easy to peel and generally seedless. Navels are great in salads and salsas.
Parsnips
Pack: 25 lb. Bag
By now, parsnips should be super sweet from a few good months of cold weather. They are great thinly shaved and frizzled in oil until crisp for a crunchy salad or hot entree garnish. Makes silky smooth soups or wonderful puree for under small game or fish. Also, turnips are excellent glazed like carrots.
Porcini Mushrooms
Pack: 3 lb. carton
The king of all mushrooms, Porcinis have a very earthy flavor with a hearty texture that chefs love. They are great simply sauted with butter and garlic. Porcini mushrooms add incredible flavor to any sauce and are equally tasty raw, sliced and dressed with lemon & olive oil.
Pummelos
Pack: 18 ct. carton
Pummelos are the largest of all citrus. They can grow bigger than bowling balls. Despite their size, the fruit inside is much smaller, but extremely flavorful. You will find tropical flavors with hints of jasmine and lime. They are widely used in Asian cuisine where the segments are typically "shredded" and sprinkled on salads.
Red Grapefruit
Pack: 27 & 40 ct. carton
Red grapefruits are super sweet and visually striking on any plate. Try red grapefruit broiled with sugar. They are excellent in salads and great prepared "A la Sauce Maltaise" for over lobster. Half of a grapefruit has only 52 calories.
Variety Radishes: Black, Easter Egg, Beauty Heart
Pack: 24 bunches
Make your salads come alive with names like Easter Egg, Beauty Heart, French Breakfast, etc. Radishes are excellent cooked. Try sauted with lemon and olive oil. Peel Black radishes and add to your roasted vegetable medleys.
Variety Turnips; Scarlet, Amber, White, Purple Top
Pack: 24 bunches
"Pick a color, any color!" Scarlet, White, Amber, Purple top turnips are great roasted with honey or in au gratins. The greens are fabulous too, especially when braised.
