By now you probably recognize the name of Stacey’s “BFcheF” and Whole Foods Store chef Michael Kiss. Chef Mike recently moved from the Clarendon/Arlington Whole Foods to the new flagship store in Rockville. As busy as his schedule is, the chef still finds time to tend to his home garden – and what a garden it is! Read on:
1. Tell us about what food you’re growing this season – what does the current bounty look like? And what’s your favorite fruit/veggie/herb?
This year I am growing TOMATOES!!!! Limbaugh Potato Top, Glamour, Cherokee Purple, Del Rey wild tomatoes, red beefsteak, baby lettuces (which did smashing this year with 5 separate harvests), broccoli (but it probably won’t head), and all of my herbs [and other items]: plantation mint, peppermint, sage, garlic chives, onion chives, Greek oregano, spicy oregano, pronated rosemary, English thyme, French thyme, Provence lavender, bay tree, hops (magnum and nugget varietals), and quinoa. My favorites are my tomatoes this year. They are huge and amazing.
2. Where and when did you learn to garden? Which do you enjoy more – spending time in the garden or enjoying the fruits (and veggies) of your labor?
My family has always had huge gardens, my grandparents had a beautiful 1-acre garden that they canned and lived on nearly all year long. My mom loved to grow beans and tomatoes, but she also gave me my love of growing 1 new vegetable every year you have never tried to grow before. I remember the year we discovered kohlrabi; sitting on the porch with a knife and a saltshaker and eating raw glorious live food. I don’t hate gardening, but I am a lazy weeder. I am more of a cook-the-food than fool-with-the-food [person].
3. Which food plants didn’t turn out so well this year? Will you try again next summer?
My broccoli got big but didn’t make any crowns, I won’t try it again, but I am thinking I want to grow chilies next year and maybe zucchini.
4. Looking ahead to fall – do you plan to get autumn or winter crops going?
I will plant plenty of baby lettuce, dill, cilantro.
5. What did you make with the food from your garden?
Tomato pie!
As the tomato season wanes, here’s your last chance to make Chef Michael Kiss’ Tomato Pie at home! It’s simple and sounds so delicious!
SHARE YOUR GARDEN WITH EVERY FOOD FITS READERS! Send us an email at everyfoodfits [at] gmail [dot] com and we’ll send a few questions to get your garden its “15 minutes of fame!”