Ricciuti’s

On Sunday, July 6th, we held our first “Shopping with the Chef” to benefit the Olney Farmers Market. The participants met at the restaurant in the morning. Over coffee and homemade blueberry muffins, we talked about local food, farmers markets and farming in general. We then walked across the street to the market and bought a variety of vegetables and fruits from several of the vendors. At each stand, I explained what people should look for when shopping for fresh produce. We asked the farmers questions about freshness and growing methods. When we were done gathering our bounty we walked back to the restaurant and planned out a menu. While sampling a few wines and local cheeses, we executed the prep and the cooking. The menu included Roasted Cherries over Greens with Shaved Parmesan, Corn and Potato Soup, Roasted String Beans, Alaskan Salmon with Herb Butter, Basil Risotto, Zucchini ‘Fettucini’ and, lastly, Chilled Blueberry Soup with Lemon Creme Fraiche. A full belly and a good time was had by all!