|
Growing and enjoying a diverse
kitchen garden today is a real life way of hyperlinking to almost all
the world’s cultures. As we Americans broaden our food horizons, the
seeds we grow in our gardens represent a truly multicultural diversity
of food preferences. Being in the seed business, especially in the
electronic information age, has enabled me to find wonderful varieties
from both hemispheres to share with fellow gardeners and rich and
productive relationships with seed producers, both large and small,
all over the globe.
 Green
beans are part of everyday menus for many ethnic groups, but different
cultures have developed different pod styles. From France come
delicate slender filet beans, also known as haricots verts. Our
Renee’s Garden variety “Rolande” has the long, round, pencil-thin pods
typical of filets. In France they are usually harvested very young,
under 1/4 inch in diameter. Briefly cooked in boiling water until just
tender-crisp, then refreshed in ice water, these pods are a taste
sensation quickly sautéed in a bit of sweet butter with fresh chopped
herbs. In Spain, flat broad pods with a rich meaty flavor are
preferred. Our variety “Musica” was bred for Spanish fresh markets and
is typical of this type, with a crunchy texture and substantial, full
beany flavor. These beans are featured in one regional version of
paella, the delicious Spanish stew flavored with rare saffron threads.
Best of all, “Musica” is also early to bear and amazingly productive.
Basil
is a Mediterranean herb grown widely throughout that region of Europe.
You can choose our Greek style “Windowbox Basil” or imported “Italian
Pesto Basil” or French “Salad Leaf Basil” – each has a different leaf
shape and slightly different flavor characteristics. It’s really fun
growing several kinds and comparing their taste and aroma. Cook up
authentic Italian or Greek dishes knowing you are using the same
ingredients that are found in the recipe’s home country. |
Renee's
Garden
Seeds shopping list:
Basil, Windowbox
Basil, Italian Pesto
Beans, Rolande
Beans, Spanish Musica
Chamomile, Bodegold
Eggplant, Asian Trio
Peppers, Habanero,
Tomato, Carmello
Tomato, Italian Pompeii
and many more
To purchase these and other Renee's Garden Seeds, click here
Try
these great recipes from
Renee's cookbooks:
Green Bean Pate
Tomato Stir Fry
Pickled Basil Beans
|
|
New World vegetables
such as tomatoes have been adopted by many different cultures. Most
Americans know the sausage-shaped sauce tomatoes from Italy. Our
Italian “Pompeii” is perfect to slice onto homemade pizza or cook
into a thick robust sauce. For round tomatoes, consider “Carmello”
from France, where deep crimson tomatoes with a high sugar to acid
ratio like “Carmello” translate into melt-in-your-mouth,
incomparable fresh eating flavor straight from the vine.
 Some herbs have been
given more attention in specific cultures. For example, we import
our variety of chamomile “Bodegold” from Germany because in that
country, the benefits of chamomile tea are taken very seriously and
it is regularly enjoyed as a soothing calming and refreshing drink.
German breeders have worked hard to develop the “Bodegold” selection
which has a uniform habit and wonderful abundance of the sweet
little daisylike flowers. Simply air dried, the blossoms make an
intensely fragrant tea whose aromatic apple/pineapple flavor
delights all the senses. Make this favorite drink over into an
American-style treat by sweetening it with honey and serving it iced
with a slice of lemon and a sprig of fresh mint on hot sultry summer
afternoons. As you can see from
these examples, growing your own vegetables and herbs is a truly
international activity that links you to fellow gardeners and cooks
both historically and geographically. Every season the seeds you
plant come from both near and far to share their rich and welcoming
traditions in your own backyard. To me, these connections are among
the most exciting and rewarding parts of gardening each summer
season.
 Click here to return to Renee's Garden home page
|
