A Journal of Urban Living

In yet another example of our cutting-edge sensibilities, we attended the LA Urban Rangers‘ excellent tour of Malibu’s public beaches on the very same day that the LA Times profiled the Rangers. Thanks, local paper, for saving me the effort of explaining the concept.

Besides the lovely scenery and temperate morning, the highlight of the tour was watching the legendary Huell Howser at work:

He was definitely a hands-on TV producer, steering and positioning his interview subjects. I guess that shouldn’t surprise me – he’s old school! He even made us gather ’round and wave at the camera. I sorta wonder what the tour was like without his direction and presence.

The Rangers were way fun and the tour was super-educational. A couple of execs from the state Coastal Conservancy were also there, so we peppered them with questions about the property owners’ legal maneuverings, which they answered diplomatically.

Here’s another shot of Peter, the group and Huell looking on:

They were perfect this year. Plump and sweet and tart.

I was expecting to get scratched and overheated like last year, when we struggled to fill three boxes because the canes were so picked over by birds and people. But once again the cool June favors the garden and the bushes were full of with fruit.

Underwood Family Farms charges $5 admission. Berries were $3/lb. We picked just under 10 lbs. Figure a pint of berries costs $3-4 at the farmers market or in a grocery store — we got a good deal.

Still, I hate paying someone else for the privilege of picking. But raspberries don’t do well in the wild here and we missed blackberry (evil invasive staining weed) season.

Here’s what 10 lbs. of raspberries and 3 lbs. of strawberries looks like.

Tomato tasting at Loteria Grill

Today we went to a tomato tasting at Loteria Grill in Hollywood.It was hosted by Tomatomania! who sold us all those interesting seedlings last March, a food blog I’ve never heard of called SippitySup and Loteria. Admission was one homegrown, correctly identified tomato — which for us means FREE! because we are swimming in tomatoes.

We decided to pick the tomatoes just a couple hours before, but the plants have slowed down a bit. There was only one ripe Black from Tula. I forgot to pick the adorable little Red Currants who live in a container out back unfortunately. That’s ok tho, b/c I got to show them off at a party a couple weeks back — I brought a small salad bowl full, and people ate them like candy.

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Here’s what happened to those tomatoes:

Others became confit, caprese salad, sorbet and tomato water soup a la Keller.

Figures that we leave town for 10 days, just as the first tomato is beginning to blush. Not that I’m complaining about a vacation!

Well, now we’re back and there are more tomatoes than I know what to do with.

basket of goodness

In the hat, Ramapo. In the basket, start at the Gypsy pepper and go clockwise: Ramapo, Black from Tula, Costoluto Genevese, Jaune Flame. Also Swiss chard (Neon variety) and radishes.

ripe

You can’t tell, but the plants are so heavy with fruit and branches that they’re toppling over their sturdy cages. That’s the Jaune Flame on the left with the orange orbs of goodness. The best producer is definitely the Ramapo. The prettiest are the wrinkly Black from Tulas that go from burgundy at the bottom to dark greet at the neck.

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