Persimmon and Kale Salad at Massilia
Taste a Variety of Persimmon Dishes at the 2019 Santa Monica Restaurant Week
Persimmons may be one of the hidden treasures found in SoCal farmers’ markets in the late fall and early winter. Rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and healthy phyto-nutrients, with tastes that combine well with a variety of other fresh produce, the persimmon is the star of the 2019 Santa Monica Restaurant Week.
According to persimmon farmer Laura Ramirez of JJ’s Lone Daughter Ranch, “There are two distinct varieties of persimmon found here. The fuyu variety is flat and sweet like an apple while the hachiya is cone-shaped and sweet like honey. It’s an old-fashioned fruit with a very unique flavor.”
If you’re looking for inspiration when it comes to how to incorporate the range of flavors found in a persimmon, dine out at one of Santa Monica’s participating restaurants. Try a range of dishes that include Crunchy Kale and Persimmon Salad at downtown destination Massilia (the expansive outdoor patio offers seating for parties large and small). Satisfy your cravings for something sweet with Persimmon Sorbetoo at Caffé Bella. Snack on seasonal flavors with the Roasted Acorn Squash and Pickled Persimmon Tacos at Azule Taqueria. Order the Roasted Persimmon Tartine at Upper West. Check out the full list of participating restaurants at santamonica.com/restaurantweek.
Ride the Shuttle for Downtown Tastings
In anticipation of Santa Monica Restaurant Week, members of our team rode for the first time on the Santa Monica Free Ride Shuttle and started with fresh tacos with persimmon salsa at El Cholo, arugula and persimmon salads at Esters Wine Shop & Bar, kale and persimmon salads at Massilia (accompanied by tasting items from the full menu), and desserts with a view at the rooftop Elephanté Beach House. If you haven’t yet been to any of these Santa Monica gems, I recommend them all. I had been particularly curious about Massilia, which has transformed a space on 4th Street where Border Grill had made its home. A particular treasure is Elephanté, whose streetside presence is an unassuming door next to Flower Child and the Laemmle Monica Film Center. Elephanté has created a gorgeous indoor/outdoor rooftop bar and restaurant with ocean views and a food and cocktail menu worthy of the view.
The list of restaurants participating in the persimmon festivities is extensive with a number of not-to-be-missed locations. Gather your friends and family and celebrate the fresh produce from the local farmers’ markets and the creativity of area chefs. Check out the full list at: santamonica.com/restaurantweek. Oh, and make sure to participate in this year’s Social Media Contest!
Felicia Tomasko has spent more of her life practicing Yoga and Ayurveda than not. She first became introduced to the teachings through the writings of the Transcendentalists, through meditation, and using asana to cross-train for her practice of cross-country running. Between beginning her commitment to Yoga and Ayurveda and today, she earned degrees in environmental biology and anthropology and nursing, and certifications in the practice and teaching of yoga, yoga therapy, and Ayurveda while working in fields including cognitive neuroscience and plant biochemistry. Her commitment to writing is at least as long as her commitment to yoga. Working on everything related to the written word from newspapers to magazines to websites to books, Felicia has been writing and editing professionally since college. In order to feel like a teenager again, Felicia has pulled out her running shoes for regular interval sessions throughout Southern California. Since the very first issue of LA YOGA, Felicia has been part of the team and the growth and development of the Bliss Network.