Celebrating spring with Fava Mint Pesto and our new favorite market.

Our first newsletter. Here we go!

Barrett and André here, and welcome to our newsletter! We've been searching to find the right way to connect with our community (Instagram just isn't what it once was), and we're so excited to get started here, sharing our love of food, travel, parenthood, and adventure with you.

Food is integral to how our love story began 14 years ago and has always been a part of our love for each other and how we connect with and nourish our friends, family, and one another. Over the years, and especially since we had three boys, our passion for learning about food, seeking out the best ingredients, and developing our cooking skills has only increased. There is nothing we wouldn't do for a great meal, and that is no exaggeration; we once drove six hours out of our way in Italy with an 8-month-old because we just had to return to Antica Locanda di Sesto in Lucca, to eat there again. And it was worth every bite…the Pappa al Pomodoro and Bistecca Fiorentina is what dreams are made of!

We think about, talk about, and obsess over food daily. We may have just finished breakfast, but what should we have for dinner? Did you hear about the new oyster spot that just opened? When will the Sungold tomatoes arrive? It’s the way we relate to the world around us. We hope you, too, will cook our recipes, travel to our favorite restaurants, and fill your home with delicious food, laughter, music, and time spent with the ones you love.

Now, let’s celebrate spring!

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Fava Beans

When you see fava beans at the local farmers' market, you can tell springtime produce is in full swing. And while they may take a little elbow grease to prep, we promise it will all be worth it in the end.

Some of you may be wondering, what exactly are fava beans? These delicious legumes are similar to lentils and chickpeas, but with a slightly creamier texture and a nuttier flavor. Packed with protein, fiber, essential vitamins, and minerals, they are a great ingredient to incorporate into everyday spring dishes. The below recipe for Fava Mint Pesto is bright and rich in flavor without feeling heavy, and if you don't add the Ricotta Salata at the end, it’s entirely dairy free!

Fava Mint Pesto

Serves 4-6

• 2 lbs of Fava beans in their pods, yielding about 1 1/4 cups of fava beans (Ideally you will use fresh favas, but if unavailable or in the off season, you may find shelled favas frozen at the market)

• 3 tablespoons raw almonds, chopped

• 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

• 1 garlic clove, peeled and blanched in boiling water for 5 minutes

• 1/2 cup packed fresh mint + more for garnish

• 3 tsp Meyer lemon juice

• Sea salt

• Black pepper

• 1 lb dried spaghetti

• Ricotta Salata

• Optional: We also like to top the dish with finely chopped toasted almonds, which add really nice texture and a little crunch.

Fill a small/medium pot with water and bring it to a boil. The pot needs to be big enough to blanch your favas. While it's coming to a boil, shell your Fava beans and discard the pods. Once the water is boiling, pour in all your shelled favas and blanch for 1 minute. Remove the favas and place them directly into an ice bath. Once cool, drain and shell the beans again, removing the outer layer. Place all the shelled favas in a bowl and set aside.

Place the chopped raw almonds, 3/4 of your blanched, shelled fava beans (reserve the rest for finishing the dish), 3/4 cup olive oil, garlic, mint, and Meyer lemon juice into a blender or food processor—pulse at first, pushing down the ingredients until they start to purée. Then, blend until you reach a relatively smooth consistency—season with sea salt to taste. Pour the pesto into a large mixing bowl and add in the remaining whole favas. Stir to combine and set aside.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Once boiling, season with salt and cook the pasta until al dente. Once the pasta is ready, remove it from the water and place it directly into the mixing bowl with the pesto. Stir, adding pasta water as needed to create a creamy sauce coating on the spaghetti.

Divide the pasta into individual bowls, spoon any remaining sauce left in the bowl amongst the pasta. Then add a drizzle of olive oil, grated ricotta salata, some mint, black pepper, and, if you like, some finely chopped toasted almonds. Enjoy!

*This recipe also freezes well. The top of the pesto changes color slightly, getting darker like pesto often does but the flavor and texture are not negatively affected from freezing. Once you defrost and give it a stir, it looks bright and delicious once again!

What did you think?! Let us know how you liked the pesto!

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A market you wish was in your neighborhood opened in Eagle Rock

For all who are in LA and love local produce, beautiful home goods, vintage ceramics, and discovering delicious food products and pantry staples, check out the recently opened neighborhood market and farmstand in Eagle Rock, LA HOMEFARM. This airy and perfectly curated shop is the latest endeavor from Lauri of Edible Gardens LA and her husband, Dean, a journalist who has been writing about ecological issues and farming for decades. I could sit in the shop and talk to them for hours, as they’re the sweetest humans and so knowledgeable about all things food. And, it also doesn't hurt that they have an exquisite taste. Make this a stop the next time you’re in the neighborhood!

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This & That

• We love a cappuccino in the morning, followed by an espresso mid-morning (just trying to feel as Italian as possible over here!). Typically we get our coffee from our friend and former architect come LA coffee scene guru, Yeekai Lim, owner of Cognoscenti Coffee, but lately, it's been hard to get to his roastery in Downtown LA with our busy schedule. In the meantime, we've been grabbing bags of Sightglass Colombia single origin at the market, which has been hitting the spot! It's got just the right combo of sweetness and depth and maintains that smoothness Colombian coffees are known for. 

• Music is always playing somewhere in our house. A group called Bremer/McCoy provides the ethereal and tranquil energy often needed to balance the chaos of three young, energetic boys. Their last two records are the boys' go-to-sleep records almost every night. It dials them down to fall into dreamland. 

• The Reluctant Trading Experiment. Tellicherry Black whole peppercorns. WOW! We go through a lot of pepper. And often find the peppercorns we get are not so fresh and bright in flavor. After two separate friends more obsessed with all things food than we are (Akira Akuto and Rachael Sheridan) recommended checking these out, we ordered a large container. Along with their amazing pepper varieties, they also have various salts, spices, and gift items. You can also feel good supporting a small business!

• I don't know who needs to hear this, but if you’re in LA, Trader Joe's is currently stocking fresh, beautiful lilac flowers, and wow, are they affordable!