By Andrea Blum ( @myamericanpantry ), Montalvo Culinary Artist
Ten years ago, Eden Israel started growing salad greens for the culinary artist at the Lucas Artists Residency. The little leaves she grows thrive in the Santa Cruz mountains at her home garden, hugging the side of a steep mountain. It was former Lucas Artists Culinary Fellow and Chez Panisse alum Michele Fuerst who found Eden, and a lasting relationship between Montalvo, a farmer, and the land was born. “The idea at the time was to know your farmer,” Eden told us at the lunch table when she visited this week. “It’s important to know who grows your food.”
Knowing where your food comes from is a key aspect of the menus created here each day. Eden’s greens are a fixture at the LAP table and they are very special–Eden only grows them for us. This is not the run-of-the-mill salad mix that you might see at Whole Foods or even at the farmer’s market. They are an art to themselves, with layers of flavor that brighten with each bite. They are alive and full of energy and when you eat them you notice a special power with every forkful.
Knowing where your food comes from is a key aspect of the menus created here each day. Eden’s greens are a fixture at the LAP table and they are very special–Eden only grows them for us. This is not the run-of-the-mill salad mix that you might see at Whole Foods or even at the farmer’s market. They are an art to themselves, with layers of flavor that brighten with each bite. They are alive and full of energy and when you eat them you notice a special power with every forkful.
 |  |
That taste of place of the Santa Cruz Mountains is important to me as a chef. To be able to tie our meals to the land and a particular place tells a story, not only of the grower but also of the land. Storytelling is part of who I am as a writer and a cook, but I am not the only storyteller around the table here at the LAP. On the day Eden came to lunch, we had poet Major Jackson at the table as well as his wife and writer Didi Jacksoni , poet Monika Sok , poet and musician Julian Talamantez Brolaski , as well as composer Nina Young , performer Jennifer Johns , writer Sandhya Bordewekar Gajjar , and visual artist Mrugen Rathod . Though working in different media, they are all storytellers in their own right.
 |  |
So if you want to tell a story with salad greens, make sure to include New Zealand spinach, orach, sorrel, three kinds of arugula, fennel, mint (both spearmint and chocolate,) shingiku, chard, fava leaves, pea tips, kale, parsley, lemon balm, lemon verbena, marjoram, celery, mache, and chicory!
Eden has volunteered for years at Montalvo and has been part of its Service Group. She is also known as Grandma Honey. On this day she bought her ukulele to serenade the resident baby, Lulu, my own little sprout.
Thank you Eden!
Eden has volunteered for years at Montalvo and has been part of its Service Group. She is also known as Grandma Honey. On this day she bought her ukulele to serenade the resident baby, Lulu, my own little sprout.
Thank you Eden!
| | |