When people had more time they grew and prepared much of their own food.
We make time.
Do it yourself
We grow a fair percentage of the food we serve at Guerrera within meters of the kitchen. Given what is available locally ,it's a necessity. But we also do it out of respect for the types of cuisines we've chosen to make, which deserve better than packaged and processed ingredients. It’s not cheap, not glamorous, and it's extremely hard work but without a doubt--quite gratifying---when it succeeds.
Some items are seasonal, and others, like rice, are available year round. This cultivation program is one of the personal signatures at Guerrera and the do-it-yourself ethic carries through all the way to the plate.
The products we grow below create sauces, pastes, fillings, and scores of derivative products.
All Made by Hand.
Lemongrass:
yearlong, easy, good against insects tooUses:
Everything!Thai Basil
yearlong, easyUses:
stir-fries, curries, soups, , sauces, cocktailsPeppermint
yearlong, aggressive, watch out!Uses:
spring rolls, , wraps,salads, ice creamRau om
grows easily in rice paddy, unique citrus flavor with touch of cuminUses:
sour soups, saladsViet Mint
(rau ram)-peppery, spicy, easy -but hard to containUses:
salads, wraps, herb platesCilantro
Undisputed drama queen of the garden. Just too sensitive to keep steady supply.Uses:
Kaffir lime
(leaves) deep, concentrated citrus aromaUses:
Everything!Dill
in progress , looking goodUses:
fish, saladsSpring onions
plentiful locally but so easyUses:
Everything!Galangal
king of all rhizomesUses:
everythingGinger
plentiful locally; back up for galangalUses:
soups, marinadesTurmeric
backup for powder; versatileUses:
satay, fish, soup, curriesThai chili pepper varieties
plentiful locally ; grows easilyUses:
everything!New Mexican chili varieties
in progressUses:
nam priks, rellenos, saucesGhost/Scorpion peppers
hottest chilies on the planetUses:
cautiously in saucesPapaya
plentiful locallyUses:
salads,desserts. meat tenderizerCalamansi
plentiful locally; long term projectUses:
Everything!Fig
super long term projectUses:
Salads, dessertsKetnip/Shiso
( leaves) in progressUses:
Salads, wrapsRomaine lettuce
Seasonal, can't take the monsoonUses:
Salads, rice, wrapsLolla Rossa
in progressUses:
Salads, rice, wrapsRed rice
year round, but watch for the little birds.Uses:
everything!Sticky Rice
coming October 2015Uses:
to pair with any thai dish, dessertsCoconut
picked within meters or local marketsUses:
milk, cream,( no opening cans here!)