February 12, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Annual Chile Roast Returns: Virginia Avenue Park Farmers Market’s Spices up September

By Sam Skopp

 

Each September, Virginia Avenue Park Farmers Market hosts a chile roast where delicious chiles are roasted on-site every Saturday. Kicking off Sept. 2, the event saw chiles sold in one pound bags of anaheim, poblano, jalapeno and yellow wax peppers.

Farmers Market Supervisor Laura Avery explained that the tradition was inspired by hatch chile roasting season, during which trucks of Hatch chiles are brought from the Hatch region of New Mexico to stores and sold a la carte or cooked into quesadillas.

“These are California chiles,” Avery said, explaining that all of the chiles sold at the farmers market are California varietals, grown locally at Tutti Fruitti Farms. “It’s the Hatch chile roast concept.”

For its first weekend, the staff at the farmers market roasted 180 pounds of chiles, and will likely roast even more in the coming weeks to meet increased demand. Roasting starts at 9 a.m. and lasts for about two hour.

New to this year’s chile roast is the addition of a quesadilla stand headed by Upper West executive chef Nick Shipp.

“Upper West is a restaurant that we work with here at the park,” said Avery. “They’re a Pico restaurant, so we’re working within the Pico business district.”

Shipp is from Texas, and serves each quesadilla with a side of his unique salsa recipe.

“Nick has been executive chef at Upper West for seven and a half years, and is a big friend of the market and friend of the city,” Avery said.

Both the chile stand and the chile quesadillas were popular with market shoppers on its first Saturday this year, with a constant stream of customers, many of whom were not previously familiar with the chile roast. Just halfway through the duration of the market, jalapenos were being sold in half-pound bags to keep up with high demand.

The roaster, after two hours of chile roasting
Photos: Sam Skopp
Farmers market staff helps two interested customers.

For more information on the Virginia Avenue Park Farmers Market, visit smgov.net/portals/farmersmarket.

<>Related Posts

(Video) The Willows Students Bring a 50-Foot Dragon to Life Through Art and Teamwork

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

Kristy Acero, The Willows DK-4th Grade Art teacher, led her students in a large-scale, collaborative project, with each grade creating...

Man Sues Famous Marina del Rey Bar for Alleged Assault

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

The plaintiff is seeking compensatory and punitive damages By Zach Armstrong A patron has sued Brennan’s Pub in Marina del...

Phase 2 Debris Removal Underway in Palisades, Officials Tout Historic Recovery Speed

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

Residents Urged to Submit ROE Forms as Crews Accelerate Debris Removal Efforts Crews have begun Phase 2 of debris removal...

Powerful Storm to Bring Heavy Rains, Possible Debris Flow to Los Angeles

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

Officials Warn of Risks, Urge Residents to Prepare for Severe Weather A Pacific storm system is expected to bring widespread...

One of Palisades’ First Black Homeowners Seeks Support After Fire Destroys Home

February 11, 2025

February 11, 2025

Now displaced, she faces uncertainty in finding stable housing Nearly $42,000 has been raised for Louvenia Jenkins, a 97-year-old woman...

Preferential Parking Enforcement to Resume in Santa Monica

February 11, 2025

February 11, 2025

Residents in need of permits can apply in person at the Parking Operations Office The city of Santa Monica will...

 (Video) Beaten Dead Body Found on Santa Monica Shore

February 11, 2025

February 11, 2025

The Victim Was Pronounced Dead at the Scene The Victim Was Pronounced Dead at the Scene. pic.twitter.com/88huU3goOO — Santa Monica...

Worker Relief Fund Launched for Those Impacted by Palisades Fire

February 11, 2025

February 11, 2025

In addition to direct relief, the county is seeking donations for the fund Los Angeles County has launched the LA...

How Much Have Palisades Property Values Slipped After the Fire?

February 11, 2025

February 11, 2025

Property prices drop as sellers and buyers remain at odds in post-fire market Property values in Pacific Palisades have taken...

Retailers Impose Egg Purchase Restrictions as Supply Chain Disruptions Cause Concern

February 10, 2025

February 10, 2025

Egg Limits Are Back – What’s Causing the Shortage? Retailers across the United States, including Costco and Trader Joe’s, have...

Community Protest and Petition Against Controversial EPA Plan For Hazardous Waste Site

February 10, 2025

February 10, 2025

CD 11 City Councilmember Park to Hold Community Town Hall on Will Rogers Site Protesters marched against the Environmental Protection...

New Bill Targets Crime in Disaster Zones – Here’s What You Need to Know

February 10, 2025

February 10, 2025

Lawmakers Push for Tougher Penalties To Protect Vulnerable Communities California lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at cracking down...

Mysterious Death Near Santa Monica Shoreline, Police Investigating

February 10, 2025

February 10, 2025

SMPD Seeks Information About Victim With Facial Trauma  The Santa Monica Police Department is investigating the death of a woman...

Burned Palisades Lot Sells for Nearly $1M: REPORT

February 10, 2025

February 10, 2025

Aerial images show the property was among several homes in the neighborhood destroyed by the fire A vacant lot in...

Palisades Symphony to Host Benefit Concert to Support Displaced Musicians

February 10, 2025

February 10, 2025

Several members of the Palisades Symphony lost their homes in the fires, making this concert a deeply personal effort The...