Chicories Rock!
I like shopping for produce. As I walk into a produce department, I am always ready to be wowed, amazed, and delighted by the colors, textures, smells, and deals of the day or week. It's really like an adventure for me. Wow, what a great price! What a fabulous display…I’ve never heard of that apple before! And, of course, I always hope there is a produce person who is open and willing to engage with this produce adventurer on his weekly scavenger hunt.
Last week's delight came from a demo happening at the store of a client of mine in Auburn, CA. Right as I walked in, there were different heads of chicories laid across the counter with samples of each one: organic escarole, radicchio, frisée, and curly as well as Belgian endive. They also sampled an escarole, fennel and orange salad, similar to this one I found on Melissa's website. What a combo of flavors! What a nice way to awaken my produce-buying senses before I ventured into the department.
Next, I tried a leaf of Belgian endive with goat cheese and a slice of mango. Wow! Now that really works! Bitter, creamy, and delightfully sweet. Finally, there was sautéed frisée with anchovies, buttery breadcrumbs and tahini. I thought: “This just keeps getting better!”
By the time I left the demo counter, I headed straight for the chicory display. The demo had gotten my culinary juices flowing, and I was finding it hard to choose what to bring home to make this week.
Since I was traveling, I decided on the organic Belgian endive with goat cheese and a slice of Ataulfo mango. Truth be told, while I bought many yummy organic fruits and vegetables to bring home the next day - the mango, goat cheese and endive ended up being dinner that evening on the patio at the hotel.
Another fun part of this impromptu dinner was the interest I drew from the servers and the tables around me. Of course, I shared, and I loved hearing, “That’s delicious. I would have never tried that. Where did you buy these ingredients?”
Look at the magic that can happen from a simple demo and an invitation to try something new. I think I’ll stop on my way home to pick up some ingredients to try out that escarole salad. As I was leaving the store, I thought to myself: Chicories rock!
Driving home, for some reason my mind wandered to an old nursery rhyme, and my adaptation seemed to fit the moment perfectly:
Chicories, chicories rock
These greens are not to be knocked
Give ‘em a try
Then you’ll know why
Chicories, chicories rock
Chicories, chicories rock
Though bitter, they're vitamin-chocked
With nutty, creamy or sweet
They become quite the treat
Chicories, chicories rock!
The chicories I mentioned are just a few of the varieties you will find when you look for them at your local market. Happy hunting, and be prepared to draw a crowd when you try one of these recipes!
