It’s Valentine’s Day, a day that is certainly connected with love…but also, with food. Donald Russo, produce expert and senior category manager at Baldor Specialty Foods shares his insights about what might be found on dinner plates this evening.
Red (and pink) items like these edible roses are popular on Valentine's Day plates.
One thing is certain--produce items that are pink or red are often used on this day. “Berries, radicchios, red gem lettuces, edible flowers and more, all command space on the plate this week,” says Russo. “Along with that, we see great uplifts in artichokes, asparagus, mushrooms, beans, citrus and tomatoes.”
He notes that beautiful chicories ranging from pale pink and yellow to deep red that pop in presentation are popular choices. “They really are beautiful and bring an elevated experience to many applications. Some of these are castelfranco, rosa di gorizia, Tardivo and rosa del veneto,” says Russo.
Signs of spring
Also proving popular are items that are the first early arrivals indicative of spring--think Morel and chantarelle mushrooms, wild nettles, wild spring onions, rhubarb and English peas really begin and start to shape menus for the coming spring.
Left: Jimmy Nardello peppers; right: radicchio
This year though, there are two standout items for Valentine’s Day, starting with Jimmy Nardello peppers. “These are typically only available during the summer and they are now available during the winter from Florida. We have been thrilled to offer this great eating pepper to our customers outside of their traditional growing period,” says Russo.
The other is pink pineapples. “Production on pink pineapples has ramped up over the years from their initial entrance into the marketplace,” says Russo. “Better availability has increased the demand significantly.”
For more information:
Amanda Barry
Baldor Specialty Foods
amanda@maracaibomedia.com
https://www.baldorfood.com