The Ingredient: Strawberries

SUMMER SENSATION

Tis the season for strawberries BY CAROLE DIXON

Any top chef—from Wolfgang Puck to Ina Garten—will concur that Harry’s Berries is the best of the best when it comes to the summer’s eagerly awaited strawberry.

Based in Oxnard, the company was founded in the 1960s and is famous for organic berries with an unrivaled sweetness. Smith Brothers restaurants in Pasadena swears by these strawberries’ sweeter and juicier taste and incredible aroma compared to other strawberries.

“We only harvest our berries at their peak ripeness and our growing location is the ideal combination of weather and soil composition combined with our organic growing practices,” says Kris Gean, Harry’s Berries’ operations manager.

Some of the world’s best fruit comes from this area in Ventura Country, and it looks like its annual Strawberry Festival will nally return in May 2023 after a few missed seasons due to the pandemic.

As for local farmers markets, you can nd Harry’s Berries at the Victory Park location of the Pasadena Certified Farmers’ Market from April through October. SWEETS: At the new asterid by Ray Garcia at Walt Disney Concert Hall, the chef uses Harry’s Berries strawberries along with hibiscus angel food cake and vanilla cream for his shortcake dessert that is already a menu favorite. “Simply put, Harry’s Berries are the best,” says Garcia. “They have the perfect balance of sweetness with just a touch of acidity on the nish. These attributes provide a versatility that make the berry the star of our shortcake dish. We use them fresh, in a coulis, as well as in ice cream form.”

Also in DTLA, hemp-friendly Gusto Green recently added a semifreddo to the menu, also

made with Harry’s Berries strawberries, whipped coconut, pistachio, and pistachio oil. Nearby, at Hotel asterid’s Figueroa’s latest dining venue, Sparshortcake row, you can try panna cotta with coconut, balsamic Harry’s Berries strawberries, and lavender biscotti. SALADS: Pickling green strawberries for salads is also a thing. At KA’TEEN in Hollywood, chef Wes Avila uses pickled strawberries for his tuna aguachile as they add a sweet and tart note—slivers of fresh tuna rest on a bed of vivid green, citrusy marinade with seasonal produce. “The strawberries are not from a particular brand,” says Avila. “We use green, unripe strawberries and pickle them in a house pickling solution. They are pickled for at least 24 hours before use and live in the pickling solution thereafter.” TOP STRAWBERRY DESSERTS IN PASADENA In the South Bay, staple Italian eatery Love & Salt has a popular beets and burrata Pie ’N Burger salad with marinated beets, pickled green Classic strawberry pie is strawberries, pistachio, and garden owmade with fresh fruit when ers that screams summer. in season. Arroyo Chop House Seasonal strawberry COCKTAILS: kodō has taken over the old Firehouse hotel building in the Arts Disshortcake is made with a trict with an izakaya-robata concept that golden scone biscuit warmed and filled with strawberry compote made with Harry’s includes a rare Awayuki strawberry-infused gin from Japan that is used in a cocktail Berries, topped with house- with lime soda and topped with diced bermade whipped cream. ries, called the “Bara- Bara Strawberry.” Next door, Yangban Society features Fair Oaks Pharmacy This 1915 landmark serves the California Strawberry Collins, a new creamy strawberry milk canned cocktail (perfect for a picnic) with shakes at the retro soda a custom label from local Korean American fountain counter. artist Cha Yuree. Little Flower For a splurge, Providence in Hollywood The strawberry rhubarb offers a $100 margarita made with Casa mu n is made with sour Dragones Joven, Grand Marnier Cuvée du cream batter, fruit compote with a crisp topping; also try Centenaire, poured over a hand-cut, gemthe strawberry almond tart. shaped ice sphere and nished with Harry’s Berries strawberries.