Edible Paradise :: Seasonal Cooking

Edible Paradise celebrates the year-round abundance of the highest quality, freshest food grown on the Central Coast by our family farmers at the Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Markets. If you enjoy preparing and eating locally grown food, this blog is for you!

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Plan a beautiful spring brunch with ease. From make-ahead casseroles and baked goods to fresh fruit and festive drinks, this guide helps you host a relaxed and memorable Easter or weekend gathering.
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Eggs Benedict is the ultimate brunch indulgence—golden toasted English muffins topped with Canadian bacon, perfectly poached eggs, and a rich, velvety hollandaise sauce. This elegant dish has endless variations: swap the bacon for ham, smoked salmon, or a delicate crab cake; add fresh tomato slices or a layer of sautéed spinach for color and flavor....
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What to do with all that sourdough discard? While many bakers are already finding creative ways to cook with it — pancakes, crackers, muffins — there’s another surprising use for your bubbly byproduct: fertilizing your garden.
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St. Patrick’s Day is the perfect time to gather around the table and celebrate the comforting flavors of Irish cooking. From soda bread to barmbrack and a hearty pot of corned beef, these traditional dishes have become beloved staples of the holiday — simple, satisfying foods meant to be shared. At the center of many...
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At the Borba Family Farms booth at the Aptos and Monterey Farmers Markets, broccolini often disappears quickly. Long, graceful stems topped with delicate florets spill across the table — vibrant green and impossibly fresh. It looks familiar, but it’s something entirely its own. First things first: broccolini is not baby broccoli. Broccolini is actually a...
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There is something deeply satisfying about pulling a beet from the earth. Still dusted with soil, greens waving like banners, they feel ancient and grounding — a vegetable that connects us directly to the soil beneath our feet. At the farmers markets in April, beets arrive in jewel tones: ruby red, sunset gold, candy-striped pink....
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Market Highlights

Cookbook Exchange

Edible Paradise :: MBCFM Instagram Feed

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STARTS TOMORROW!  We’re delighted to introduce the new Edible Paradise booth — a welcoming gathering place at the market dedicated to seasonal cooking, culinary inspiration, and connecting more deeply with the food grown by our local farmers.

Beginning April 4 and continuing the first Saturday of each month, visitors are invited to stop by to discover what’s in season, learn where to find featured ingredients throughout the market, and pick up recipe cards highlighting the month’s Market Highlights.

Hosted by Chef Andrew Cohen, Chef in Residence for the Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Markets, and Annaliese Keller, pastry chef, writer, and editor of Edible Paradise, the booth brings the farmers market companion website to life through conversation, demonstrations, and shared culinary curiosity.

What to expect:

🍆  Seasonal recipe cards featuring market produce and products

 🥦 Guidance on what’s in season and where to find it at the market

🥕  Mini culinary demos and practical kitchen tips

🧑🏼‍🍳 Ask-a-chef conversations about preparing unfamiliar fruits and vegetables

 🥑  Ideas for better-than-store-bought condiments, dressings, and everyday cooking basics

🌶️ Newsletter sign-ups and Edible Paradise updates

🥬A friendly place to stop, learn, and say hello

Come by and say hi! 💚

#edibleparadise #farmersmarketfinds #aptosfarmersmarket

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Planning your summer garden? Stop by Cavanaugh Color Nursery to pick up potted plants ready to go—they offer a beautiful assortment of colorful flowering plants that will instantly brighten your deck, patio, or backyard. Whether you’re refreshing containers or starting something new, it’s an easy way to bring vibrant summer color home. 

The Monterey Farmers Market at the Del Monte Shopping Center is open until noon. Lots of free parking and easy access! 

#cavanaughcolornursery #gardening #delmonteshoppingcenter #montereyfarmersmarket

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Just in time for Easter brunch this weekend, Borba Family Farms has juicy, sweet blackberries available today at the Monterey Farmers Market! Plump, sun-ripened, and bursting with flavor, they’re perfect for tarts, salads, or simply enjoying by the handful. Berry season is coming in fast—and we can’t wait!

The farmers market is open until noon today. 

#borbafamilyfarms #berryseason #easterbrunch #farmersmarketfinds

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Who can resist these freshly baked chocolate croissants at Sweet Elena’s Bakery booth? Buttery, flaky layers wrapped around rich, melty chocolate—simply re-warm slightly in the oven to enjoy later! 

#sweetelenasbakeryandcafe #delmonteshoppingcenter #montereyfarmersmarket #farmersmarket

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Set your brunch table with a beautiful Easter bouquet from Pacific Rare Plant Nursery at the Monterey Farmers Market. Fresh, seasonal blooms bring a touch of spring to your gathering—simple, vibrant, and straight from local growers. 

The farmers market is open until noon—hope to see you soon!

#delmonteshoppingcenter @pacific_rare_plant #pacificrareplantnursery #montereyfarmersmarket #flowers

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✨A special guest has joined the celebration today! ✨

Big thanks to Whole Foods Market for being part of our farmers market and supporting the Kids Eat Right event.

It takes a community to nurture healthy kids—and we’re so glad you’re part of ours 💚

#wholefoodsmarket #montagehealth #kidseatright #delmonteshoppingcenter #healthy

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Don’t miss these beautiful English peas today at Borba Family Farms!

A true spring favorite—tender, sweet, and so vibrant. Yes, shelling peas takes a little time… but it’s part of the ritual, a quiet moment in the kitchen that makes the reward even better.

Because nothing compares to a warm bowl of freshly shelled peas, simply tossed with butter and a pinch of salt—pure spring on a plate.

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Clara’s Eggs 🥚

Some of the most beautiful eggs at the market—naturally pastel-hued and perfect for your spring table (no dye required!). Think soft blues, warm creams, and gentle blush tones… nature really knows what she’s doing.

And beyond their beauty? These are true farm-fresh eggs, with those rich, deep orange-golden yolks that make everything you bake just a little more special.

And don’t miss their duck eggs—larger, richer, and a favorite among bakers for their incredible texture and flavor.

A little everyday magic… straight from the farm! 

#claraseggsfarm #montereyfarmersmarkets #delmonteshoppingcenter

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Guess who’s back… Blue Heron Farms 💚

And shhh… here’s a little market secret… those gorgeous French radishes are here this week—crisp, peppery, and almost too pretty to eat (almost).

And have you seen that pile of carrots?! 🤯 Sweet, vibrant, and bursting with flavor—this is peak market magic.

Looking for inspiration? Head over to Edible Paradise (link in bio 👆), type in carrots, and ✨voilà✨—you’ll find a whole collection of fresh, seasonal recipes to bring your market haul to life.

Spring is showing off… come taste it for yourself 🥕🌿

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