Farmers' Market Report: Spring in Silver Lake Los Angeles

Farmers' Market Report: Spring in Silver Lake
Los Angeles

Though the skies have been rather cloudy in LA these past couple of days, the scene at the Silver Lake farmers' market was bright and lively. There's still quite a bit of citrus, but between the crates of grapefruits and tangerines, other shapes and colors have emerged: slender green spears of asparagus, bunches upon bunches of yellow-flowered Chinese broccoli, and delicate pea tendrils...

These late winter/early spring vegetables have infused us with new culinary enthusiasm. We're looking forward to dishes like asparagus tarts, artichokes with lemon, and gently sautéed leafy greens. Nothing too complicated, just fresh, green flavors.

• For more information on the Silver Lake farmers' market and other Los Angeles area markets, visit Farmernet.com

(Images: Emily Ho)

Comments (7)

I always thought that once broccoli flowered, it was just too bitter to consume? Can anyone out there educate me?

posted by anntlope on March 23rd 2009 at 12:32pm
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Maybe it depends on the region, i.e. how cold it is? The flowering broccoli we get in Los Angeles' Farmers Markets isn't bitter.

posted by JudiAU on March 23rd 2009 at 12:47pm
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I wish the Asparagus was that cheap in Puerto Rico. I would eat it everyday.

posted by staria on March 23rd 2009 at 12:59pm
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This is Chinese broccoli, or kai lan. The flowers are edible and the flavor can range from slightly bitter to sweet. I'll be posting a recipe on Friday!

posted by Emily Ho on March 23rd 2009 at 1:25pm
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i missed the hollywood market on sunday. going to highland park's today!

posted by chusmabilly on March 24th 2009 at 12:15pm
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The Atwater Village farmer's market is really good too!! You can visit the South Central Farmer's Cooperative booth for more info about their CSA. I got a GIANT box of seasonal veggies for $15 bucks!

posted by michhorejs on March 25th 2009 at 1:45am
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Hi, these are yo choy rather than Chinese broccoli or Kai lan (Chinese broccoli in Cantonese). Yo choy is part of the Brassicaceae family. Yo choy is very tender and tasty. It doesn't grow bitter even when it is flowered.

While the Europeans cultivate sugar beets on fallow land, in some Asian region, people cultivate yo choy on fallow land. Please follow the link to see a filed of yo choy blossom, http://images.google.com.hk/images?hl=zh-TW&q=%E6%B2%B9%E8%8F%9C%E8%8A%B1%E7%94%B0&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

posted by summer.breeze on March 28th 2009 at 1:11am
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