Food Forward CAFE
Fresh For Fall T
HOURS Mon-Friday 7am-4pm Sat. & Sun. 8am-4pm Coming soon... new extended dinner hours.
Wed. Thurs. Fri. til 9pm Beer and wine
2125 Delaware Ave. far westside Santa Cruz 12 l food & wine
he coastal region of Santa Cruz may grow healthy greens year-round, but eating other local veggies means shifting with the seasons, according to Nesh Dhillon. And he should know—he has been the director of Santa Cruz Community Farmers’ Markets since 2003. When it comes to what to grow in your own garden, Dhillon recommends giving Padròn peppers a try. Native to Padròn, Spain, “it’s actually a crop that was first propagated here in Santa Cruz,” says Dhillon, who explains that a good friend of his started the trend of growing them here about eight years ago. The small green peppers are generally sweet and mild—but garden fresh means you’ll occasionally find a spicy one, so he suggests bracing yourself and having fun with them. To further incorporate local foods into your diet this season, try exploring the dozen or so heirloom varieties of shelling beans and hard squashes by including them in soups, stews and casseroles—they offer protein and their taste enhances as flavors combine after cooking. In your search for homegrown produce this fall, Dhillon says to seek out tomatoes, melons, apples, peppers, persimmons and shelling beans. And as winter rears its head, don’t miss the hard squashes that will come with it. Find these local fall and winter gems at any of the five area farmers’ markets. To learn more, or to find your local farmers’ market, visit santacruzfarmersmarket.org. Also take note of the farmers’ market taking place at the Capitola Mall through Nov. 15; learn more at shopcapitolamall.com/Events/FarmersMarket. | KELLYANN KELSO