Thursday, August 14, 2008

Heirloom Tomato Bloody Mary

photographs by Rachel Valley/www.RachelValley.com


Sacramento's L Wine Lounge and Urban Kitchen has the Locavore Lifestyle built in! Along with sustainable ingredients in their brunch and dinner menu, all lovingly prepared by Chef Ame Harrington, they also have the most creative (and award winning) bar manager Chris Tucker, who infuses the same Locavore ideals into his libations. His most recent creation being the Green Heirloom Bloody Mary. Spicy, savory, and shocking green, this tomato twist makes the Bloody Mary exciting again!

Chris says, "Growing up in the Sacramento Valley and being spoiled by the region’s incredible seasonal produce, creating an Heirloom Bloody Mary for the restaurant just makes perfect sense. The first test batch came from my backyard. I grow my own tomatoes, peppers, tomatillos, squash, beans and assorted herbs. One taste and I knew that we had the canned stuff beat!"



Here is the cocktail recipe straight from the bartender himself!

Heirloom Tomato Bloody Mary
Yields 5 quarts

10 lbs heirloom tomatoes (green zebra, evergreen, green grape, etc. for a green libation!)
1 bunch of parsley (blanched)
1 cup fresh lime juice
3 cloves of garlic
1 habanero pepper
1 tablespoon sea salt + more to taste
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon celery seed

In a large pot, cook tomatoes on low heat until softened. Blend tomatoes, lime juice, garlic and seasonings in blender on high or puree. Once liquefied, add parsley and habanero while the blender is on at a high setting. Filter mixture through a medium mesh chinois and chill overnight. Ready to serve the next day over ice, on its own or with vodka.

Vodka: 360 Eco Friendly or Square One Organic
Rim: Fleur de Sel and ancho chile powder
Garnish: Heirloom grape or cherry tomatoes and micro celery if available

Enjoy!

Friday, July 25, 2008

How about a trip to your local nursery or farm this weekend?





Take a short trip to your local farm or nursery this weekend! In addition to supporting your local growers you will also be doing something unique and close to home, which is a lot easier on gas! Plus you can enjoy the "fruits of your adventure" when you bring home your bounty! A lot of community growers open their acres during nice weather to the masses to enjoy in their growing splendor. Pick your own flowers or fruit, meet your neighbors and let the family run around in the sun! With an added bonus for parents, since the experience can contribute to a young person's sense of community and gives them insight as to where their food comes from. One of my favorite spots here in the Northern California area is High Hand Nursery. In the heart of downtown Loomis lies a garden inspired by the simple beauty of quiet trees and unusual plants. At High Hand Nursery, artistry and nature meet. You'll embark on a sensory-filled journey as you discover their lush and peaceful retreat. They even have a strawberry patch for you to meander through, and the berries are free for the picking!

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Local Black Eyed Susans!


Photo by Rachel Valley


Beautiful summer flowers!

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Placer County Rainier Cherries




Photo by Rachel Valley

Roadside Rainiers are so sweet but the season is far too short.
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Tuesday, June 3, 2008

WELCOME!



Photo by Rachel Valley
Greetings!

This is my first post to Locavore Lifestyle!

I started the blog because I totally dig the whole experience of meeting my neighbors and local farmers & artisans. And what better place to learn about the food you eat than straight from the farmer themselves? I even get fabulous preparation tips, that is if the vendors aren't too busy selling their wares. I enjoy being in this environment with my family as we pick out the fruits and vegetables we want to eat, in an open laid back environment allowing us to see and taste where we come from, and also to support the community we live in. I hope to share the sights and stories from my perspective as photographer living and eating in the Sacramento Valley, and beyond!!

Check out your local U.S. farmers markets here!

More to come...


Rachel




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