Chocolate

PHOTO AND STYLING BY ELIZABETH BIRNBAUM

Monterey Bay confectioners are ready for the holidays with an array of chocolate treats, tempting us to indulge locally. On the table, top-to-bottom: truffles from the restaurant Chocolate (Santa Cruz); peppermint chocolate square and six bonbons from Heritage Chocolates (Corralitos); sipping chocolate from Mutari (Santa Cruz); chocolate covered marshmallows from Alta Bakery (Monterey). On the top half of the tray, caramels and creams from Lula’s Chocolates (Monterey) and, on the bottom half, an assortment of colorfully decorated chocolates from Ashby Confections (Scotts Valley).

LOCAL FOODS IN SEASON:
DECEMBER, JANUARY AND FEBRUARY

FRUITS

Apples • Asian Pears • Avocados • Grapefruits • Grapes • Guavas • Kiwis • Kumquats • Lemons • Limes • Mandarins • Oranges • Parsnips • Pears • Persimmons • Pomegranates* • Pomelos

VEGETABLES

Artichokes* • Arugula • Asparagus** • Beets • Bok Choy • Broccoli • Broccoli Raab • Brussels Sprouts • Burdock • Cabbage • Cardoons • Carrots • Cauliflower • Celeriac • Celery • Chard • Chicory • Collards • Cress • Dandelion • Endive • Fava Greens • Fennel • Garlic • Horseradish • Kale • Kohlrabi • Leeks • Mushrooms • Mustard Greens • Nettles • Onions • Orach • Parsnips • Potatoes • Radishes • Rutabagas • Salsify* • Shallots • Spinach • Sprouts • Winter Squash • Sunchokes • Sweet Potatoes • Turnips

SEAFOOD

Abalone • Anchovies • Cabezon • Dungeness Crab • Rock Crab • Starry Flounder • Pacific Grenadier • Herring • Lingcod • Rock Cod, aka Rockfish Sablefish, aka Black Cod • Pacific Sanddabs • Dover Sole • Petrale Sole • Rex Sole • Spot Prawn

*December only ** February only

All fish listed are rated “Best Choice” or “Good Alternative” by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program.