{"title":"Soup of the Day","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"alubia-blanca-de-san-jose-iturbide","title":"Alubia Blanca Bean","description":"\u003ch5\u003eA small, versatile white bean. It has a creamy texture and holds its shape even with long, slow cooking.\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClassic white Navy beans are one of our commonly requested items. Our Alubia Blancas are similar in appearance, but far superior (we think) in flavor and texture. You can use them in all kinds of cooking, from Mexican to Tuscan to even classic Yankee baked beans.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Spain, dried beans are popularly known as \u003cem\u003ealubias\u003c\/em\u003e and many traditional dishes call for \u003cem\u003ealubias blancas\u003c\/em\u003e, a common name for white beans.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rancho Gordo","offers":[{"title":"1 Lb Bag","offer_id":2570823491,"sku":"ALUB-1","price":6.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0685\/2511\/files\/alubia-blanca-bean-765634.jpg?v=1730239317"},{"product_id":"ayocote-blanco","title":"Ayocote Blanco Bean","description":"\u003ch5\u003eAyocote Blanco Beans are a versatile mid-sized white bean originating from Mexico that offers a creamy texture while maintaining its shape during extended cooking.\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAyocote Blanco is a dense, flavorful bean with a thick skin. When fully cooked, its creamy, starchy texture develops a delicate potato-like flavor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOriginally from Oaxaca, Mexico, the Ayocote family was one of the first cultivated crops of the Americas. They are grown all over central and northern Mexico, but are more prevalent in indigenous communities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePlease note: This year's crop is significantly smaller than previous years' harvests.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rancho Gordo","offers":[{"title":"1 Lb Bag","offer_id":2570823171,"sku":"AYOB-1","price":7.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0685\/2511\/files\/ayocote-blanco-bean-771928.jpg?v=1730239373"},{"product_id":"cassoulet-tarbais-bean-2","title":"Cassoulet (Tarbais) Bean","description":"\u003ch5\u003eWest Coast–grown from classic French Tarbais seed stock. The most famous bean for a traditional cassoulet but versatile enough to become an everyday favorite. \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIs it marketing or is it history? Some would argue that a cassoulet isn't a cassoulet without Tarbais beans. Rather than suffer French prices, which can run up to $30 a pound when out of season, we took seed from France and produced this bean with our distinct terroir here on the West Coast. Out of respect for the French farmers and terroir, we're calling the bean Cassoulet bean.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rancho Gordo","offers":[{"title":"1 Lb Bag","offer_id":2570822595,"sku":"CASS-1","price":7.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0685\/2511\/files\/cassoulet-tarbais-bean-907119.jpg?v=1723504797"},{"product_id":"christmas-lima-beans","title":"Christmas Lima Bean","description":"\u003ch5\u003eAn unusual variation of the classic Lima. It offers a rich, full-bodied flavor, with a velvety chestnut texture. A true revelation for those who think they don't like Limas. \u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\"I hate lima beans!\" is the reaction we get from most people when we show them the otherwise-appealing Christmas Lima beans. Customers are often surprised to hear that this is a staff favorite!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChristmas Limas are an intriguing variation on the traditional Lima, \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003ethought to have originated in Peru (hence the name Lima). \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThey have a distinct chestnut texture and (according to some) flavor, but it's so subtle that's up for debate. In Italy, you'll find them as \u003cem\u003eFagioli del Papa\u003c\/em\u003e or Pope's Beans. Also known stateside as Chestnut Lima and sometimes Calico Beans. Whatever you call them, they've done a great deal to help fix the bad reputation of traditional Lima beans.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIf you grew up thinking you hated Limas, you owe it to yourself to give this one a try.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rancho Gordo","offers":[{"title":"1 Lb Bag","offer_id":2570822403,"sku":"CLIM-1","price":7.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0685\/2511\/files\/christmas-lima-bean-378044.jpg?v=1745604294"},{"product_id":"cranberry-bean","title":"Cranberry Bean","description":"\u003ch5\u003eVersatile and velvety, this thin-skinned Borlotti bean produces a rich, indulgent bean broth, making it perfect for classic Italian dishes as well as simple pot beans.\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCranberry beans are soft and dense with a soft, rich texture. The thin skins help produce a rich bean broth, making it the natural friend of pasta e fagioli (pasta fazool), as the liquid coats each noodle with its luxurious sauce.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThought to be originally from Colombia, this bean has been bred around the world to become Madeira, Borlotti, Tongues of Fire, Wren’s Egg, and more. In Mexico, you'll find these as Cacahuate (peanut) beans. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rancho Gordo","offers":[{"title":"1 Lb Bag","offer_id":2570822275,"sku":"CRAN-1","price":6.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0685\/2511\/files\/cranberry-bean-518599.jpg?v=1723504799"},{"product_id":"lila-beans-1","title":"Lila Bean","description":"\u003ch5\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA mild bean with a velvety texture, also known in Mexico as \"Frijol Apetito.\" \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYou'd be surprised at how many variations there are on pretty, purple beans! We weren't so excited about Lila until we cooked and ate them. They were fantastic. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSomewhat in the Flor de Mayo family of flavor, they were juicy and velvety and everything you might want in a bean. \u003cspan\u003eThe beans are from the south side of the Popocatépetl Volcano (which is active, by the way) through Huajuapan, mostly in a dry, arid semi-desert terrain at a high altitude.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe have a suspicion that Lila beans, like Flor de Mayo, won't age well. You'll want to cook them within six to eight months of receiving them. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rancho Gordo","offers":[{"title":"1 Lb Bag","offer_id":2570820995,"sku":"LILA-1","price":7.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0685\/2511\/files\/lila-bean-772508.jpg?v=1730244253"},{"product_id":"mayocoba-bean","title":"Mayocoba Bean","description":"\u003ch5\u003eCreamy and versatile, Mayocoba has a pale yellow hue and super soft texture.\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA classic, thin-skinned but meaty bean that will take on all the flavors you can throw at it but still hold its shape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is some debate over the origins of Mayocoba, and whether it's native to Mexico or Peru. Either way, it's now quite at home in our California beanfields. It is also known as Canario or Peruano bean and is a common ingredient in Mexican soups and side dishes.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rancho Gordo","offers":[{"title":"1 Lb Bag","offer_id":2570820931,"sku":"MAYO-1","price":6.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0685\/2511\/files\/mayocoba-bean-443105.jpg?v=1730244405"},{"product_id":"midnight-black-bean","title":"Midnight Black Bean","description":"\u003ch5\u003eA classic, versatile, essential black turtle bean. It holds its shape through lots of cooking yet retains its famous creamy interior.\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMidnight is a true black Turtle bean with a rich, traditional black bean flavor and texture. Midnight beans have a light, thin skin that allows its flavors to mix with your aromatics and create a delicious bean broth.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese are incredibly fresh so little, if any, soaking is required. You can retain the black color better by not soaking. If you must soak, try using the soaking water while cooking.  \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rancho Gordo","offers":[{"title":"1 Lb Bag","offer_id":2570820611,"sku":"MNIG-1","price":6.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0685\/2511\/files\/midnight-black-bean-255307.jpg?v=1723504809"},{"product_id":"rio-zape-bean","title":"Rio Zape Bean","description":"\u003ch5\u003eThe classic heirloom bean that inspired the birth of Rancho Gordo. Suggestions of chocolate and coffee make this pinto-family rarity one of our favorite and most requested beans.\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the bean that started the whole thing! Steve was eating a bowl of simply cooked Rio Zapes and they blew his mind. He remembers: \"The flavor was reminiscent of Pintos but there was so much more going on. I could detect traces of coffee and chocolate and the velvety texture was like nothing else. I was sold on heirloom varieties after just one bite.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1935, Rio Zape beans (also known as Hopi String beans), were found in the Ancestral Pueblo cliff dwellings of the Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico. Then, in the 1960s, archaeologists found them in the excavation of a sealed tomb in Rio Zape, Durango, Mexico. It's believed that the beans were sealed in the tomb around 600 AD. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eA beautiful bean with a mysterious history!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rancho Gordo","offers":[{"title":"1 Lb Bag","offer_id":2570819587,"sku":"RIOZ-1","price":7.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0685\/2511\/files\/rio-zape-bean-356991.jpg?v=1723504890"},{"product_id":"royal-corona-bean","title":"Royal Corona Bean","description":"\u003ch5\u003eEnormous, thick-skinned runner beans with a surprisingly creamy interior. One of our all-time best sellers, it's a versatile giant that works in all kinds of cuisines. A true pantry staple. \u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eA hand-harvested crop straight from Europe into your pantry. Giant, fat, white runner beans that are creamier and more luxurious than Greek and Spanish gigandes and a little denser than traditional Italian coronas. Royal Corona beans can replace any white bean, but be prepared to be astounded by how big they are when cooked. Fully cooked, they can be a little starchy but you can also keep cooking until they reach the creamy point.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis is our first venture outside of the Americas (although this bean's origins are clearly in Mexico) and we are happy to offer you this giant legume, created in Mesoamerica, bred in Italy, and grown in Poland. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMartha Rose Shulman praised them in the New York Times: \"\u003cem\u003eRoyal Coronas are large white European runner beans that are similar to Greek gigandes but bigger, richer and sturdier. They are about twice the size of a lima bean and, unlike many other large white beans, the skin doesn’t slip off when you soak them.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rancho Gordo","offers":[{"title":"1 Lb Bag","offer_id":2570818755,"sku":"ROYC-1","price":7.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0685\/2511\/files\/royal-corona-bean-678872.jpg?v=1730244886"},{"product_id":"scarlet-runner-bean","title":"Scarlet Runner Bean","description":"\u003ch5\u003eBig, beefy runner bean with gorgeous markings. A constant chef's favorite. \u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe beans are firm and stay whole, but you can keep cooking them and they'll go from starchy to creamy. Despite their thick skin, they exude a beautiful bean broth that needs little help to be enjoyed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eScarlet Runners are one of the oldest cultivated foods of the Americas. If you grow them, you'll fall in love with their cheap, 1950s lipstick-colored flowers, which are edible. The hummingbirds love them and they're so pretty, some people grow Scarlet Runners for just their flowers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rancho Gordo","offers":[{"title":"1 Lb Bag","offer_id":2570818435,"sku":"SCAR-1","price":7.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0685\/2511\/files\/scarlet-runner-bean-211352.jpg?v=1723504893"},{"product_id":"pinto","title":"Pinto Bean","description":"\u003ch5\u003eThe classic bean. Soft, creamy, and versatile, our Pintos cook quickly and create converts to new crop, heirloom beans.\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe poor pinto doesn't get the respect it deserves. With all of its glamorous cousins hanging around, it's hard to grab a little of the spotlight, until someone wisely cooks them up. If you've been served supermarket pintos all your life, you are in for a pleasant surprise. Pintos can be great! Especially when they're as fresh as ours.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePinto translates to \"painted,\" referring to the look of the bean. There are some variations in color, from the classic tan to yellow and even red. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rancho Gordo","offers":[{"title":"1 Lb Bag","offer_id":2570817923,"sku":"PINT-1","price":6.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0685\/2511\/files\/pinto-bean-364002.jpg?v=1723504890"},{"product_id":"wild-rice","title":"California Cultivated Wild Rice","description":"\u003ch5\u003eFreshly harvested and California-grown with a rich, nutty flavor.\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eWild rice is not a true \"rice\" but an aquatic seed. True wild rice is hand-threshed and most famously produced in Minnesota and Canada. This cultivated \"wild\" rice is produced by a family farm in Northern California. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNative to the Americas, wild rice has too long been stuck on the holiday table or teamed with salmon and little else. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDon't let odd marketing fool you; wild rice makes a great everyday meal. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt has a chewy texture and distinct nutty flavor. It goes with beans or sauteed vegetables and while it may take awhile to cook (about an hour), it's easy and the results are delicious.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rancho Gordo","offers":[{"title":"1 Lb Bag","offer_id":2570816707,"sku":"RICE-1","price":9.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0685\/2511\/files\/california-cultivated-wild-rice-104146.jpg?v=1723504794"},{"product_id":"oregano-indio","title":"Oregano Indio","description":"\u003ch5\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVersatile, hand-harvested indigenous herb with earthy flavor, direct from the Huasteca.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf you've traveled to Mexico and enjoyed the food, it's likely you came home and tried to replicate some of the dishes. We can do a pretty fair job with the ingredients we have on hand in the U.S. but there's often a certain something that's different and I've come to believe it's the different oreganos of Mexico. Each one seems a little different but they all seem a little earthier than their European namesakes. Our new oregano is Oregano Indio, (\u003cem\u003ePoliomintha longiflora A. Gray\u003c\/em\u003e), sometimes known as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eOreja de Raton\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, or Mouse's Ear. It's less citrusy than the standard Mexican oregano and there's an indescribable earthiness that makes it infectious. I just can't stop using it on almost everything.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis oregano is grown for us by the Oregano Caxtle Cooperative in Tlahuitelpa. You can add it to all sorts of salsas and \u003cem\u003eguisados\u003c\/em\u003e but lately I love mixing it with some garlic and olive oil and rubbing it over a pork tenderloin before roasting it. The flavor of the oregano is strong but not overpowering and permeates the whole loin. I've also used it with oil and pear vinegar for a great salad dressing.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2013, we took the crew from \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/theperennialplate\"\u003eThe Perennial Plate\u003c\/a\u003e down to meet the growers and they came up with this \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/realfoodmedia.org\/real-food-media-project-announces-winners-of-first-ever-food-and-farming-film-competition\/\"\u003eaward-winning\u003c\/a\u003e video (probably not the best for vegetarians.) It's hard not to be touched by these wonderful people. The fact that their oregano is so delicious is a great bonus. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/84590795?portrait=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" webkitallowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/84590795\"\u003eHomeward\u003c\/a\u003e from \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/theperennialplate\"\u003eThe Perennial Plate\u003c\/a\u003e on \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\"\u003eVimeo\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rancho Gordo","offers":[{"title":"0.4-Ounce Jar","offer_id":2570816131,"sku":"IORE-1","price":4.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0685\/2511\/files\/oregano-indio-970992.jpg?v=1723504890"},{"product_id":"large-white-lima-beans","title":"Large White Lima","description":"\u003ch5\u003eLarge, new-crop, fast cooking Lima beans with classic Lima bean taste and melt-in-your-mouth texture. \u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eLima beans have a creamy texture and savory flavor and they taste more like fresh vegetables than other beans. Good, new crop Limas (like ours!) are worthy of your attention, especially if you grew up eating those nasty frozen beans, under pressure from your dear old mom. Chances are she overcooked them.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe origin of Lima beans is thought to be Peru (hence the name Lima). White lima beans are popular in the Southern U.S., where the smaller varieties are known as \"butter beans.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rancho Gordo","offers":[{"title":"1 Lb Bag","offer_id":2570815235,"sku":"LIML-1","price":6.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0685\/2511\/files\/large-white-lima-bean-960994.jpg?v=1730244122"},{"product_id":"black-eyed-pea","title":"Super Lucky 2026 Black Eyed Pea","description":"\u003ch5\u003eFor the best luck, Southerners know that Black Eyed Peas on New Year's Day mean good luck in the coming year. Easy to make and easy to enjoy. \u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you are a traditionalist and insist on a ham hock or a modern hipster cooking with just some aromatics and sea salt, eating Black Eyed Peas on the first day of the year is one of the best gifts of the South. And frankly, this country can use a little luck this year!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA type of cowpea, Black Eyed Peas are believed to be native to Africa. They became an important food source in the American South sometime during the 17th or 18th centuries and at some point, they became a traditional good luck meal on New Year's Day.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rancho Gordo","offers":[{"title":"1 Lb Bag","offer_id":10269856387,"sku":"BEYE-1","price":6.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0685\/2511\/files\/super-lucky-2024-black-eyed-pea-120120.jpg?v=1723504895"},{"product_id":"marcella","title":"Marcella Bean","description":"\u003ch5\u003eFrom heirloom Italian seed, this thin-skinned cannellini is named after Italian cooking hero, Marcella Hazan, who encouraged our growing it. A delicate tribute to a mighty force of nature. \u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMarcella beans are grown in California from Italian \u003cem\u003eSorana\u003c\/em\u003e seedstock. \u003cem\u003eSorana\u003c\/em\u003e is a cannellini bean with incredibly thin skin and when cooked properly, an indulgent creamy texture. You can use them in your kitchen as you would any small white, European-style bean, but with an ingredient like this, simple is often better.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Back Story from Steve: \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eOne day I was checking through our mail orders and I stopped in my tracks. There was an order from someone named Marcella Hazan in Florida. She ordered beans and even my first book, \u003c\/em\u003eHeirloom Beans\u003cem\u003e. It couldn’t be! My mind raced back to the early 1980s in San Francisco in what was possibly the smallest apartment on Nob Hill. I was young, broke and so happy to be living in the city. Every opportunity, I’d push up my Murphy bed into the wall and have dinner parties. My bibles were Diana Kennedy’s \u003c\/em\u003eThe Cuisines of Mexico\u003cem\u003e, Paula Wolfert’s \u003c\/em\u003eCouscous and Other Good Food from Morocco\u003cem\u003e and perhaps the book with the most kitchen splatters was \u003c\/em\u003eEssentials of Classic Italian Cooking\u003cem\u003e by Marcella Hazan. I really think these women taught me to cook more than anyone else.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eAfter the order was sent, Marcella and I became online buddies. In addition to food, I also love music and I’m a huge fan of Italian pop music from the 1960s. Marcella indulged me and I think even got a kick out of my obsessions.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eAt one point I asked her what beans she missed the most from Italy. I assumed she’d say Lamon, the famous cranberry bean from Veneto, or Zolfino, the delicate, almost gelatinous orbs that come from Tuscany, but she wrote back immediately that she missed Sorana, a cannellini bean I’d never heard of. On a whim, I had the staff go hunting for the seed and through some sleuthing and luck, we found it. I kept Marcella abreast of the growing and she was encouraging. She was really starting to have health issues around this time. I couldn’t wait to send her samples.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eSadly, she died right as we were harvesting them. I was heartbroken and the world lost one of its brightest and most intense lights. How great is it to have affected so many people with your work? I can’t imagine. I was pretty upset about this.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eI contacted her husband Victor and told him about the bean and asked what he thought about our marketing it as Marcella, in tribute to her. I knew she was sensitive about lending her name and held my breath. Victor wrote back, “Marcella would get a kick out of your naming the bean after her.” He was encouraging about the project and you can bet the first bag out of the field went straight to him.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eSo we now are happy to present the Marcella bean. I hope you love it as much as we do.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rancho Gordo","offers":[{"title":"1 Lb Bag","offer_id":13607171096672,"sku":"MARC-1","price":7.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0685\/2511\/files\/marcella-bean-878677.jpg?v=1730244322"},{"product_id":"garbanzo-beans-chickpea","title":"Garbanzo Bean (Chickpea)","description":"\u003ch5\u003eA slightly nutty-flavored classic bean, essential for Middle Eastern, Mexican, and European cooking. \u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you are used to canned Garbanzo beans, our Garbanzos will be a revelation. Firm yet creamy, with an addictive flavor and texture. New-crop harvest ensures quicker cooking and fresher flavor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnlike most of our other beans, Garbanzos aren't indigenous to the Americas, but we love them so much and the imported crops tend to be so old and dusty that we make this one of our California crops.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rancho Gordo","offers":[{"title":"1 Lb Bag","offer_id":13613878280288,"sku":"GARB-1","price":6.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0685\/2511\/files\/garbanzo-bean-chickpea-671948.jpg?v=1723504803"},{"product_id":"ayocote-morado","title":"Ayocote Morado Bean","description":"\u003ch5\u003eThis thick-skinned runner bean is pretty and very large. It's starchy but goes from dense to creamy with continued cooking.\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe staff here often refers to Ayocote Morado as a \"gateway bean.\" Once you start, you get hooked. Its big, beefy texture is a good fit for those trying to cut out meat and eat a more plant-based diet, or for vegetarians looking for a hearty meal. Ayocote Morados provide a deep, bouillon-flavored bean broth, making them ideal for soups.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOriginally from Oaxaca, Mexico, the Ayocote family was one of the first cultivated crops of the Americas. They are grown all over central and northern Mexico. If you plant them, you can enjoy the flowers, eat the pods as a broad bean, or shell them fresh for shelling beans.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rancho Gordo","offers":[{"title":"1 Lb Bag","offer_id":18256055795808,"sku":"AYOM-1","price":7.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0685\/2511\/files\/ayocote-morado-bean-258773.jpg?v=1723504793"},{"product_id":"buckeye-bean","title":"Buckeye Bean","description":"\u003ch5\u003eA small, dense yet velvety bean that holds its shape and provides a rich bean broth. Easily one of the staff's favorite beans.\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat a great bean this is! It's quick growing and unique tasting. It goes by a few different names, including Yellow Indian Woman (which is what we used to call it).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBuckeye is incredibly creamy, almost more like a classic black turtle bean than anything else. It's dense without being intense, if that makes sense.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBuckeye beans can be traced to Montana. Because of the short Montana growing season, these beans have been bred to grow fast and plentiful. You can almost watch the vines grow while standing in the bean fields on a summer day. Well, maybe not quite, but they are prolific!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rancho Gordo","offers":[{"title":"1 Lb Bag","offer_id":32751391932512,"sku":"BUCK-1","price":6.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0685\/2511\/files\/buckeye-bean-995004.jpg?v=1723504798"},{"product_id":"chiapas-black-bean","title":"Chiapas Black Bean (Frijol Negro de Vara)","description":"\u003ch5\u003eRare black beans from the Mexican state of Chiapas. Rich and dense without being stodgy, with a unique bean broth.\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHow is it possible to think we need to add another black bean? Well, taste is a huge motivator around here. Our partners at Xoxoc in Mexico sent us some bags of beans they sourced in Chiapas from local farmers. We were first blown away by their appearance: beautiful and shiny, looking almost like glazed pottery. We cooked them and were immediately smitten.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe have a limited amount and if you like black or dark beans, we highly recommend trying them.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rancho Gordo","offers":[{"title":"1 Lb Bag","offer_id":39312634740832,"sku":"CHIA-1","price":7.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0685\/2511\/files\/chiapas-black-bean-frijol-negro-de-vara-150665.jpg?v=1723504798"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.ranchogordo.pro\/collections\/soup-of-the-day.oembed","provider":"Rancho Gordo","version":"1.0","type":"link"}