Southern Summer Gold & Ruby: A Deep Dive into Our Favorite Seasonal Produce

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We understand that when the sun finally decides to stay a while in the Pacific Northwest, your mind immediately goes to backyard gatherings and fresh, vibrant meals. We feel that same excitement! There is something truly magical about the transition from spring greens to the heavy, sun-drenched bounty of mid-summer.

At Anita & Joe’s, we love to celebrate the season by bringing a little piece of the Deep South to your table. We’re happy to guide you through some of our favorite "Gold and Ruby" treasures of the summer garden. These aren't just ingredients to us; they are the heart of our southern catering philosophy and the stars of our personal chef service meal plans.

The Crown Jewels: Red and Green Okra

If there is one vegetable that defines Southern summer, it’s okra. We know that some folks can be a little hesitant about okra, but we promise there is so much more to this pod than you might think!

We love to work with two main varieties: the traditional Green okra and the stunning Ruby (or Burgundy) Red okra.

• Green Okra: This is our "Gumbo King." We find that green okra has a classic, slightly grassy flavor that holds up beautifully to high heat. Whether we’re frying it up in a light cornmeal crust or slow-simmering it in our Chicken and Sausage Gumbo, it provides that essential body and soul.

• Ruby Red Okra: These pods are absolutely gorgeous in the garden with their deep magenta skins. We love to use red okra for raw preparations! It stays a beautiful red color when sliced thin into summer salads or served on a crudité platter.

• A Fun Secret: We want to let you in on a little kitchen magic, red okra actually turns green when you cook it! Because of this, we prefer to keep it raw or very lightly sautéed to preserve that "ruby" sparkle for your guests.

Ears of Gold and Ruby: The Tale of Two Corns

Corn is a summer staple no matter where you live, but in the South, we treat it with a special kind of reverence. We’re happy to share the differences between the sweet corn you know and the heirloom varieties we adore.

Classic Yellow Sweet Corn

We all know and love that juicy, milky pop of yellow sweet corn. It’s the ultimate side dish for any pacific northwest catering event. We love to grill it right in the husk to lock in all that natural sugar. It’s perfect for those casual family reunions where you just want to get your hands a little messy!

Heirloom "Bloody Butcher" Red Corn

Now, this is where things get interesting. Bloody Butcher is an heirloom variety that dates back nearly 200 years. Unlike sweet corn, this deep red corn is starchy and robust.

We don't usually eat this one straight off the cob. Instead, we love to see it dried and ground into cornmeal or grits. It has a nutty, almost wine-like flavor that is far more complex than standard corn. When we provide our personal chef services, we often use these stone-ground red grits to create a base for shrimp and grits that will truly blow your guests away!

A Rainbow of Peppers and Sun-Kissed Tomatoes

No Southern summer plate is complete without the bright "pop" of peppers and the juicy weight of a vine-ripened tomato. We understand that planning a menu can be stressful, so we like to keep it simple and let the produce shine.

The Pepper Spectrum

We love to use a variety of peppers to add both color and depth to our dishes.

• Green Peppers: These offer a more vegetal, slightly bitter crunch that we love in our "holy trinity" (onion, celery, and bell pepper) for stews.

• Red and Yellow Peppers: As peppers ripen, they get sweeter! We love to roast these until they are charred and smoky, then toss them into a summer succotash or use them as a vibrant garnish for our comfort food catering platters.

The Iconic Tomato

We believe a tomato should taste like sunshine. Whether it’s a heavy beefsteak slicer for a classic tomato sandwich or a handful of sweet cherry tomatoes for a quick sauté, we always source the best local fruit. We've even shared our love for local markets before, like in our post about why the Tacoma Proctor Market is a chef's dream.

We Meet You Where You Are

We understand that you’re busy and that organizing a summer event can feel like a lot of guesswork. Whether you are looking for a summer menu sneak peek to get inspired or you need us to handle every detail of a large celebration, we’re here to help.

We love to collaborate with our clients to ensure every meal feels personal and special. We don't believe in hidden charges or rigid menus; we believe in a partnership that results in the culinary experience of your dreams. From elevated comfort catering to a fun and interactive gumbo station, we want to bring the joy of the Southern harvest to your home.

We are so excited to see what this summer brings! If you're ready to start planning your next intimate dinner or big event, please reach out. We are happy to talk through your ideas and help you create something truly delicious!

Let's make this summer unforgettable!