Just about this time of year we make a trek to Brentwood to pick cherries. You don't really save money by picking them yourself. Add the cost of gas and time spent picking and you would be monetarily ahead buying at Whole Foods. I think fruit picked off the tree with your own hand not only insures the freshest product but also keeps you in touch with the source of your food.
Harvest Time in Brentwood has a website and brochures showing the growers' locations and seasonal availability of fruit and produce. We normally pick cherries around Memorial Day and go back later in the season for peaches and nectarines. Always check in advance before you travel so you won't be disappointed.
Our first stop is Dwelly Farms. They have an assortment of local produce and some U- pick berries. The French green beans we pay $4.99 a pound are $1.29 here. Fresh corn is 4 for a dollar. This early corn seems a little small and not quite as sweet as you find later in the season.
Our favorite for cherries is Pease Ranch. We picked both red Bing and white rainier varieties. It is a United Nations of languages and people picking fruit. Little kids run around and eat their fill of cherries. Adults chatter and laugh and fill large plastic buckets with red and yellow orbs. This year we paid $2.00 a pound.
Harvest Time in Brentwood has a website and brochures showing the growers' locations and seasonal availability of fruit and produce. We normally pick cherries around Memorial Day and go back later in the season for peaches and nectarines. Always check in advance before you travel so you won't be disappointed.
Our first stop is Dwelly Farms. They have an assortment of local produce and some U- pick berries. The French green beans we pay $4.99 a pound are $1.29 here. Fresh corn is 4 for a dollar. This early corn seems a little small and not quite as sweet as you find later in the season.
Our favorite for cherries is Pease Ranch. We picked both red Bing and white rainier varieties. It is a United Nations of languages and people picking fruit. Little kids run around and eat their fill of cherries. Adults chatter and laugh and fill large plastic buckets with red and yellow orbs. This year we paid $2.00 a pound.
Doing a little research before our trip paid off. Online we came across Brentwood Fine Meats, a small butcher shop located in a strip mall at the corner of Walnut and Oak. We stopped by and purchased a couple New York Strips, double cut pork chops, and a boat load of Netos Sausages. All the meats were far and away the best we had tasted in a long time.
A good portion of the products we purchased vanished with great gluttony by descending hordes before being photographed for this blog. However we managed to document double stuffed pork chops with ricotta cheese, spinach, pine nuts, parmesan, provolone and garlic.With side of green beans with vinaigarette and corn with garlic butter.
Cherry Sorbet for desert!!!
Life's a bowl of cherries
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