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Clementines for the Holidays

December 10th, 2009 · 3 Comments

It’s no secret that citrus is one of the reasons I could never live on a 100% local diet — at least not without moving back to California first. As soon as the weather dips near freezing, I start stocking up on grapefruit, oranges, Meyer lemons or, my favorite, clementines. As much as possible I buy organic citrus from Florida, but for clementines it’s the real thing, all the way from Spain. (I actually spotted those newfangled California “Cuties” at Whole Foods the other day, but stuck with the Old World variety.) When I was a kid, we always got a clementine in our stocking, and devoured it while waiting for Christmas breakfast to be ready. I’ve planned to do the same for the boy, but considering how many clementines we eat in the weeks leading up to Christmas, I’m not sure it’s quite as special a treat.

Today I had a meeting near one of my favorite restaurants in the city, Jaleo, so I stopped in for lunch. Imagine my delight to see the “Clementina Festival!” sign in the window. I couldn’t resist and enjoyed a three-course clementine lunch. First up, seared clementines with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and microgreens. Simple yet bursting with flavor. For the main course, seared squid with artichokes and clementines, the citrus contrasting perfectly with the silky squid. And then dessert. Clementine ice cream atop clementine curd, with some almond/graham cracker crumbs and fresh clementine slices — drizzled with olive oil. Perfection. It was like being transported to sunny Spain for an hour, and left me inspired to do more than just eat our way through the box of clementines straight up. The clementine curd in particular has me pondering a clementine tart … stay tuned.

Do you cook with clementines? What’s your favorite way to use them?

Clementina-web-banner

If you’re in DC, the Clementina Festival continues at Jaleo through December 20.

Tags: fruit · ingredients · restaurants

3 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Tiffany // Dec 11, 2009 at 9:28 am

    Wow, I would love to hear about it if you try a clementine tart. Last year, we tried making a blood orange tart at work; I think it was a Molly Wizenberg (Orangette) recipe. But, in truth, it really was just okay. Perhaps clementines would work better since they are sweeter. Good luck!
    .-= Tiffany´s last blog post ..Meet Molly and her Menu =-.

  • 2 michelle // Dec 11, 2009 at 11:16 am

    I cook with them lots, I get locally grown, placer county satsumas mostly…..literally within 50 miles of me…..they even have a clementine festival…much like the gilroy garlic festival, just smaller but they have a cooking stage and juried recipe contests! http://mandarinfestival.com/

    I love to make mandarin marmalade and then use it in other dishes…..like local lahontan cuttthroat trout glazed with mandarin marmalade and almonds (it helps counter the gamey fishyness!) and I love clementines in rice pilaf, ambrosia salad, clementines sauteed with swiss chard and garlic, and satsuma viniagrette!

    I honestly think I eat my weight in mandarin oranges between thanksgiving and valentine’s day!
    .-= michelle´s last blog post ..my angel in the snow =-.

  • 3 Cristobal // Mar 3, 2010 at 12:28 pm

    Between the 26th of February and the 13th of March, the XIV Jerez Flamenco Festival, will be held in this Andalusian city bringing some of the world’s greatest flamenco artists on several day shows, workshops, exhibitions, and other activities . For informations http://www.spain.info