A party for pumpkins

Suzie's farm had a pumpkin picking last sunday. It was such a beautiful day, there were so many amazing pumpkins, i wanted to pick them all. I think they were talking to me whispering: hey pumpkin pie! pumpkin soup! pumpkin ice cream! pumpkin beer! pumpkin sausage! pumpkin! pumpkin! pick me! pick me!
You should really check out Suzie's farms blog which is really fun and informative about whats going on in the valley( by the way they wrote about the unprejudice palate)

check out the field of chard. If you build it, we will cream it!

back against the cutting board

We been really excited the past couple of weeks. Chef just put out the house smoked lomo (pictured above pork loin) which is simply amazing. It has a great fat content and is super silky. Yesterday i pulled the lonzino. (pictured second) hints of juniper berries, thyme, rosemary all rolled up in black pepper. Should go nice with our chimay white.

Wa Dining Okan

My favorite Japanese beer echigo koshihikari( a style of rice) lager simply amazing with it's cuisine.

Seared bonito, lemon, onion, ginger

Grilled prawns

I think (Miso with eggplant, brocolli with goma and bamboo shoots braised in katsubushi)

pork belly

marinated grilled shitake

Beef tongue

Duck, ramen and nori

milk pudding with black honey

My palate tends to go on flavor vacations for some time. Okan really brought back that mentality that we are not alone and there are so many possibilities in this world. This tiny restaurant that has no more than 30 seats is a located on the south side of convoy, right next door to Nijiya Market. They have daily tapas like specials in large bowls consisting of Japanese delicacy.
Check them out!

SUZIE'S FARMS

I grew up in the most Southwestern region in the United States. The sounds of Donkey, Roosters, Chickens, Peacocks, Horses and non-suburban common animals were a monotony in a common kind of suburbia. This area is know to us locals as Tocayo Ranch, which was once all farm land. Suzie's farm is located two minutes from the border of tocayo ave and the 5 south exit, perpendicular to the 905 freeway. Check out their website they have a cool blog going. I cant seem to stress how important it is to support your local farmers. Not by buying from produce companies but, by buying directly from the farms. Especially if they the are sowing organic sustainable agriculture. Chef just recentlly schooled me on this farm minutes from my house. We have just started recentlly using their arugula and micro greens. They also own Sun Grown Organics. I took some time to visit them. Maybe, it will be something common. Thank you Robin and Lucila!

Pictured below (Fennel, Swiss Chard, okra, beets, sage, beans, peppers, broccoli, green onions, spinach, beets, pumpkins, cabbage, a paddy pan squash the size of my hand! squah blossoms, thai and regular basil arugula.