Counting the days until markets in the #SouthOfFrance are bursting again with fresh #zucchiniflowers.

What is your favourite spring vegetable?

Chef Bill went Duck a la Orange 🍊- #zucchiniflowers style! Stuffed with: Italian sheep 🐑 ricotta,🍊rind & juice, #Cointreau orange liqueur; French smoked duck 🦆breast; sautéed in butter 🧈& Cointreau; Sommelier Bill paired w Quails Gate 2020 Stewart Family Reserve Chardonnay - delicious match!

Italian recipe of the day: Fried zucchini flowers

cookingwithflowers.blogspot.com/2014/05/frie...

#zucchiniflowers #plantbased #recipes #italianrecipes #edibleflowers #flowers #recipesonbluesky #simplelife #countrylife #lifestyle #vegetarian

Chef Bill went big & bold with #stuffedzucchiniflowers - polenta; stracciatella de burrata & foie gras parfait; sautéed; drizzled w smoked honey; 🍯& cherry tomatoes 🍅 olive🫒bread! 😋Sommelier Bill paired w Fairview Okanagan Chardonnay 2021 - lovely! Chef Shirley Ross was impressed! #zucchiniflowers

Mad Chef Bill made deconstructed Turducken with #zucchiniflowers !🤪Flattened #zucchiniflower, then duck🦆prosciutto; smoked chicken🐓slice: cornbread muffin🌽pieces soaked in Macaloneys whiskey🥃; smoked turkey🦃slice; more zucchini flower & grated Bruno Alpina Parmigiano Reggiano! 😋1/2

I do miss the zucchini flowers in Italy. they make Ontario’s look sad and tasteless. #zucchiniflowers #zucchini #Italy

Chef Bill was up against the clock with this week’s #zucchiniflowers - and had Vietnamese leftovers - so - summer rolls! Grilled, marinated & minced pork 🥓; vermicelli rice🍚noodles🍜; lettuce🥬from our garden; lime🍋‍🟩; stuffed; lightly fried & covered in peanut sauce! Delicious!😋

Chef Shirley went to the sea for stuffed #zucchiniflowers: Argentinian wild shrimp 🍤, marinated in reposado #eljimador tequila🍸, lime 🍋‍🟩juice, garlic 🧄scapes and cilantro🌿! Topped w Devon cream & Mexican salsa - very tasty! Sommelier Bill paired with Liquidity Chardonnay 2020 - great match! 😋

Chef Bill cooked up stuffed #zucchiniflowers bar snacks: ribeye steak🥩 seasoned with smoked Maldon sea 🌊salt & white pepper; King James Stilton blue cheese; hazelnuts🌰; butter 🧈 sautéed shiitake mushrooms 🍄‍🟫w basil🌿& lemon🍋zest! Sommelier Bill paired w Finca Martelo Rioja Reserva 2015🇪🇸: superb!😋

Chef Bill👨🏼‍🍳went pizzeria for #zucchiniflowers - a deconstructed ham & pineapple Hawaiian pizza! 🍕 Zucchini flowers stuffed with #flordecaña rum-soaked sourdough bread🥖; rum-soaked pineapple🍍; Irish ham; mozzarella cheese🧀; pizza sauce & fresh basil🌿& Carpineto CS wine! 🍷 #zucchiniower

Sommelier Bill paired the #zucchiniflowers with 2022 McIntyre Astra Chardonnay from Lakeside Cellars at the Naramata Bench - beautiful wine!

Chef Shirley Ross went big with #zucchiniflowers from Forstbauer Farm - stuffed w Isle of Kintyre Gin & Tonic cheddar cheese - from Bentons Cheese, Marcona almonds, fresh basil 🌿 served on fresh pea🫛 purée w Empress 1908 purple gin, mint & sour cream! Deliciousness!!#zucchiniflower

Zucchini flowers a la Espana! 🇪🇸Chef Bill stuffed this week’s #zucchiniflowers with Mediterranean orzo salad - w feta cheese, tomatoes 🍅, olives 🫒 & 🪴herbs. Fried in Spanish olive oil, topped w melted rosemary crusted Manchego cheese, and served on sliced Jamon Iberico, w marcona almonds. Delish!

Chef Shirley Ross
prepared the season’s first #zucchiniflowers stuffed with Chevroux goat 🐐 cheese & cremini mushrooms 🍄‍🟫; sautéed in #Averno Amaro Siciliano, garlic🧄 & butter 🧈, oregano 🌿 & thyme from our garden 🪴. Served on focaccia w aribiata sauce & fresh chives! Delicious!😋 #zucchiniflower

This brought joy to my heart ❤️ at the Kitsilano Farmers Market on Sunday - the first crop of #zucchiniflowers 😋from our friends at @forstbauerfarm !! That means #zucchiniflower season is on - let the stuffing begin! Chef 👩‍🍳 @shirleyross5648 is first up - stand by for results here soon!

Not sure how I've gotten to this age without knowing these are the female #ZucchiniFlowers. What looks like a little zucchini behind the flower is the #ovary. Male flowers don't have this, just a thin stem behind the flower & there for pollination. Thanks to the man in the markets for educating me.

Freshly picked zucchini flowers straight from the field 🌻 Ready to be stuffed, fried, or added to a delicious summer dish! 🌱✨

#FarmToTable #ZucchiniFlowers #FreshHarvest #CookingWithNature #SummerVibes #massimousaiphotos