pears

It still feels like summer, but fall crops like Asian pears are appearing at the Pacific Beach Tuesday Farmers’ Market Courtesy of Lone Oak Ranch and Gilbert Quintos Farm.

Asian pears comprise several pear species noted for large, round fruit shaped more like an apple than the more familiar Bartlett pear. The flesh is especially crisp, refreshing and very juicy, while the aroma is distinctly sweet and floral. We like to slice them into a salad with Suzie’s Farm’s arugula, Gilbert Quintos macadamia nuts and Stagionato Misto cheese from Nicolau Goat Farm; don’t forget olive oil and balsamic from The California Olive or Bistro Blends! We pear you to find tastier salad!

Need dessert? Pears can be used in cobblers and crisps, but we love this vanilla roasted pear recipe! Simply delicious! 

It's a tough call deciding which part of the thanksgiving meal is the best- but shopping at the Little Italy Mercato might turn you into a full fall dessert worshipper. Why make traditional desserts when you can peruse all the offerings at the market and create your own dish full of splendor, spice, and everything nice?

Persimmon Cookies: Plain and simple and easy to bake. Use fresh persimmons from Terra Bella Ranch and bake with spices like ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon. Or you can buy a bag of cookie or sweet bread mix from Sustainable Pantry and just add the wet ingredients at home for a simple, satisfying dessert. 

Ginger roasted Pears: There are amazingly sweet and juicy Asian pears at the market from Lone Oak Ranch that are begging to be smothered in a sweet ginger syrup using fresh ginger from Vang Farms and roasted until they're tender and warm. Serve hot out of the oven with a cup of spicy chai tea from Cafe Virtuoso.