Tag Archives: Teena’s Pride

Field Report: Top Hat Tomatoes Weather the Freeze

Tomatoes wear hats for the cold, too.

Forager Ali Lauria emailed me this photo after her regular pick-up from Teena’s Pride this past Tuesday.  Our farmers have become quite adept at weathering the sometimes freezing cold of a South Florida winter, but it’s not without a cost.

This new technique is one of several methods grower Michael Borek employs to keep his tomato plants alive and healthy when the temperature takes an extreme dip.  The tiny baby plants stay warm overnight, wrapped in tissue under plastic pots that act like miniature greenhouses trapping the heat inside.  I spoke with owner Teena Borek this morning about the process.

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Chief Justice of Pie: Blueberry Takes the Cake

@hedygoldsmith tweeted her preparations for the role of "Chief Justice of Pie" the night before. Yep, she now has her own gavel!

Slow Food Miami served up a slice of history Saturday afternoon.  Make that 22 times two slices — and that was just the judges’ table!

The occasion was “Pie on the Porch,” an event to celebrate the 100th birthday of the Coral Gables House, George Merrick’s former home.  Merrick (1886–1942) was the real estate developer who is credited as the planner and builder of the City of Coral Gables in the 1920s.

Festivities included Boy Scout Troop 7′s flag-raising ceremony and the planting of a “Heritage Garden” designed by Jackie and Carlos Touzet of Touzet Studio.  Booths from Whisk Gourmet and Teena’s Pride peppered the lawn.  Despite rain showers, the community turned out, sporting their patio best.

We were there for the sweet centerpiece, a local pie-baking contest presided over by another Gables resident — our very own Hedy Goldsmith, who traded “Executive Pastry Chef” for “Chief Justice of Pie” for the day.

22 pies, six sugar-shocked judges, a dozen San Pellegrinos and maybe twice that in #pieontheporch Tweets later, Summertime Blueberry Pie (Marlin Ebbert,) Monctezuma’s Delight (John Carr,) Lucila’s Fruit Bomba Creme Brûlée Pie (Lucila Jimenez,) Longan Walnut Bolaraisin Pie (Robert Barnum,)
Yam I Am – Hedy’s personal favorite (Carol Garvin,) and Passion Fruit Pie (Jana White) came out on top!  Here’s how it all went down.

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Matt’s Field Report: Picking Squash and Blossoms at Teena’s Pride with Chewy the Chihuahua, then Broccoli, Lettuces, and Pollinating Bees at Green Dean’s

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