Berries

Chef Michael Weller ... Farmer's Market

Saturday, the farmer's market at the Ferry Building was unusually crowded. There were so many people shopping for food that those who came to take the ferries were pushed off to the side. Chef Weller ( California Culinary Academe ) did a demonstration with a sales pitch for fresh berries. (not a particularly tough sale)

Pavlova
• You can take the linked recipe, and instead of making one large Pavlova, make several small ones, about the size of an English Muffin. You can use a pastry bag (spiral from center) or free-form it. In either case, leave a depression in the middle for the sweets. Your looking for crisp and chewy, so don't bake the poor things to death.

Gastrique
• 1 c raspberries, herb of choice, 1 c sugar, 1 c red wine vinegar, 1 c raspberry vinegar, 1 c chicken stock ( if you use veggie stock, you might have to thicken at the end with cornstarch) Follow the outline on the link. (fresh berries instead of dried fruit, stock replaces water) Strain it through a very fine chinoise. Serve sparingly with fish or game.