#local chills

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Shop Seasonal: Month of May

April was a busy month! I'm excited to get back into routine, which includes my Sunday farmers market trips.  And the month of May could not be more enticing...there are tons of new fruit and veggie crops that will brighten market aisles, as well as my dinner plates.  

Here's this months list of what's in season!

Apricots (1st month!)

Artichokes

Arugula

Asparagus

Avocados

Basil (1st month!)

Beets

Blackberries (1st month!)

Blueberries (1st month!)

Bok Choy

Broccoli

Cabbage

Carrots

Cauliflower

Celery

Chard

Cherries (1st month of only 2 months!)

Collards

Garlic

Kale

Lemons

Mushrooms

Nectarines (1st month!)

Onions

Oranges

Peaches (1st month!)

Peas

Potatoes

Radishes

Raspberries (1st month!)

Spinach

Strawberries

Summer squash (1st month)

Amazing list! Enjoy filling your fridge this month!!!!

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Mixing rain and sun during SF's magic hour  =   An ethereal glow, and yeah, some killer rainbows.  Local Chills, from my neighborhood and my roof.

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Did I go overboard at the farmers market today??

Nah.

And had this incredible farmers market salad for lunch to prove it.

Ingredients (all organic):

Local arugula and mixed greens

Sunflower sprouts

Chopped radishes

Baby cucumbers

Red onion

Dino Kale

Broccolini

Chopped cilantro

Apple cider vinegar / extra virgin olive oil / salt / pepper / garlic

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Local Spot: Evolution Fresh.

Opened just this past month, please welcome Evolution to the Fillmore neighborhood.  A juice, smoothie and food bar, this spot could easily become an immediate staple in my weekly routine.

          Owned by none other than...wait for it...STARBUCKS (yes, you heard me), this brand has been housed with their cold drinks as a healthy green juice option.  Now, they have opened four doors in the US (3 in Washington, one right here in SF) and are cashing in on the organic, gluten free and juice trend.

          Want a peak at the menu?

Cold Pressed Juices: using organic apple, greens, blueberries, beets, ginger, mint, and beyond.

Hot Scrambles: featuring free-range eggs, quinoa, black beans, feta....etc.

Non-fat greek yogurt, steel cut oatmeal, granola.

Signature Bowls: Choose from lentils, wild rice, kale or quinoa, kale, and butternut squash.  OR build your own bowl, selecting from various gluten free grains, greens, and mix-in's ranging from grape tomatoes, fresh herbs, grilled zucchini, mixed seeds and more.  Add a protein and choose a sauce.  Sounds right up my alley.

Salads: long list of fresh vegetables and proteins

All menu items are totally reasonably priced.  The only thing they fall short on is offering all ingredients as organic.  Regardless, I am so excited to see how this place does, as it really supports the emerging trend of true whole food eating while showing people how delicious it really can be. LOCAL CHILLS!

On Fillmore and Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA.

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Incredible display tonight San Francisco!!  A FULL double rainbow extending across tonights entire skyline.  A reminder of how much I love this city and how grateful I am for my health, happiness and continued hope.  I attempted to capture every bit of it...it was giant!!!!

LOCAL CHILLS.

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Out To Dinner.

Cooking at home gives you the satisfaction of knowing all ingredients of your meal, as well as where all of the food was grown/how it was raised, etc.  Unfortunately, I'm a big foodie and eating out is one of my favorite things to do.  SO...it's quite luckily that I live in a city full of incredible restaurants who pride themselves on supporting healthy, clean produce and sustainable food and farming systems.  If I know a restaurant holds this of great importance, I can feel confident that the ingredients on my plate are free of added hormones, pesticides, chemicals or processed ingredients....and can scarf down without a care in the world.

Here is an extensive list of just some of the restaurants who support local, organically grown produce and offer humanely raised meats/freshest fish.  Basically, this is your SF city bible to eating out.

A16 - Marina

Alembic - Haight/Ashbury

Americano - Embarcadero

Baker and Banker - Lower Pac Heights

Bar Jules - Hayes Valley

Bar Tartine - Mission

Beretta - Mission

Blue Plate - Bernal Heights

Cafe Gratitude - Mission

Coco 500- SOMA

Cha Cha Cha - Haight/Ashbury and Mission

Contigo - Noe Valley

Green's Restaurant - Marina/Fort Mason

Market Bar - Ferry Building

Maverick - Mission

Mission Beach Cafe - Mission

Mixt Greens - Financial District

Nopa- Western Addition/NOPA

Olea - Nob Hill

Perbacco - Financial District

Quince - Financial District

Range - Mission

Roam - Cow Hollow/Marina

Rose's Cafe - Cow Hollow/Marina

Rue Saint Jacques - Nob Hill

Serpentine - Potrero Hill

Slanted Door - Ferry Building

Slow Club - Mission

SPQR - Pacific Heights

Spruce - Laurel Heights

Tataki - Lower Pac Heights

Terzo - Cow Hollow/Marina

The Plant Cafe - Marina

Universal Cafe - Mission

Yield Wine Bar - Dogpatch

Zuni Cafe - Civic Center

As a last note....if you're at a restaurant where you are unsure of the quality of produce/meats, never feel awkward asking where the food came from.  "Is your produce grown locally or organically?"  "How was this beef raised?"  TOTALLY ACCEPTABLE.

(Restaurant list based on article in "Buy Fresh Buy Local: The Eater's Guide to Local Food". Bay Area, 4th Edition)

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And yet another beautiful SF morning drive to work. Local Chills.