October 5, 2009 - Santa Monica Farmers' Market Report – Josie Restaurant 
by Nancy Cipes
 
In honor of dineLA week (Oct, 4-9 & Oct. 11-16) I spoke with Josie Le Balch of Josie Restaurant on Pico Blvd. in Santa Monica, to see what she’s buying at the market this week.
“We buy so much from the Santa Monica Farmers' Market,” says Josie, “it would be easier to tell you what we don’t buy!”  Almost all the farmers Josie frequents grow year round, and offer a different array of produce depending on the season.   “October is a totally schizophrenic month, ” she says. “Tenerelli still has late season peaches, Gloria’s corn and tomatoes are peaking, but at the same time the winter squash is in, and apples and pomegranates!”  Josie’s menu is a combination of traditional French and Mediterranean influence, but at the same time it’s contemporary and very local.  “Right now, we’re serving a salad of peaches with a drizzle of port wine reduction, a few leaves of wild arugula, some shaved parmesan and pickled onions.”