When Whole Foods Market asked me if I wanted to participate in their Citrus Showdown, I enthusiastically said yes. I adore fruit in general and look forward to each new season not necessarily by the changes in weather but by what fruit is available. October & Pomegranates of course are my favorite. My second favorite is the citrus that appears in the produce section in December. I never had a lot of citrus as a child except for conventional oranges from time to time. It wasn't until I became a mother and switched to an organic diet that I really got to know the citrus family.
The Citrus Showdown happens to be between two of my favorites: Satsuma & Clementine.
Clementines:
- Seedless and easy-to-peel
- Simply sweet, less acidic finish
- Hails from California, Spain and Morocco
- Mild sweetness pairs well with simple flavors
- Use juice instead of water in baking
Satsumas:
- Seedless and easy-to-peel
- Bold taste
- Hails from California and Florida
- Peel is delicate but packed with flavor – feel it with a vegetable peeler and then finely chop and add to grain salads, vinaigrettes or desserts
I was able to choose from a fabulous list of recipes which actually led me to realize how fantastic the recipe selection is on the Whole Foods Website. This recipe for Crab Dip has actually become a staple in our home since we are in the swing of crab season in the Bay Area. I'll be honest with you and share that this crab dip recipe is the best I've ever tasted. I highly recommend it, especially if you love artichokes.
I decided my Citrus Showdown should be: Satsuma and Pomegranate Pavlovas Vs. Brie with Cardamom Scented Clementine Chutney.
Satsuma & Pomegranate Pavlovas
Rather than just make the recipes and offer to them to my family, I decided to take the completed recipes down to the Antique Society where I have a booth of Mid Century Modern Wares and offer the completed recipes to some of the Antique Dealers.
The overwhelming feedback was that it was hard to compare the two dishes because one was very sweet and the other was overall savory. I was ruthless though and persuaded each person to give me their favorite. I needed the details.
By far the Satsuma & Pomegranate Pavlovas were declared the winner. When people took that first bite and they were met with the crunchiness of the meringue, the sweetness of the cream and the juicy tartness of the Satsuma, most of them rolled their eyes in absolute pleasure. It was the combination of sensations and flavors that left them asking for a second one.
The Brie with Cardamom Scented Clementine Chutney was also popular because of the tantalizing blend of flavors but it was no match for the Pavlovas.
Image courtesy of Wholefoods Market
My personal favorite though was the Brie with Cardamom Scented Clementine Chutney. In fact I'll admit that when I went back out to my van I uh....probably ate at at least 15 crackers with the brie and chutney before driving home. I uh, even will go so far as to say that I finished it off which is why I was forced to stop at 15. It was so heavenly. I love food practically more than anything on the planet and with the right cocktail of flavors, I become lost in edible bliss.
Whole Foods kindly gave me compensation for purchasing the ingredients. The opinions and thoughts though are truly mine and as most of you know me, I'm honest about what I eat. I. Adore. Food.
Which recipe do you think would be your favorite of this Citrus Showdown?
This was a very timely entry. I am now boycotting Whole Foods based on recent comments made by the CEO, Mackey. He has alienated a lot of customers! I will miss their birthday cakes and breads, but not the prices. It's Trader Joes for this family now!
Posted by: Isabella | January 17, 2013 at 03:01 PM
Yes, the timing isnt brilliant. I still am a supporter of organic and natural food and try to make the best decisions for my family. We definitely have to pick our battles with companies and speak our voice when we feel the passion to do so. What I do love about my local store is not necessarily the upper management of the corporation but the people that work in the store, caring about our local community.
Posted by: Selena Cate | January 17, 2013 at 03:07 PM
Well, as I'm all for savory dishes I'd say Brie with Cardamom Scented Clementine Chutney.
Sure would love to try that!
:-)
Anto
Posted by: Antonella | January 28, 2013 at 06:18 AM
Satsumas are always my 'go to' out of the two. The water from the fruit works really well with caramelised sugar.
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