By Emma Murphy, contributing writer

These seasonal foods will delight your palate and brighten your table

Thanks to globalization, it is now easier than ever to enjoy all types of fruits and vegetables year-round. Don’t get me wrong. I love that I can get my hands on asparagus in the dead of winter. But, I think we’re all unanimous in the belief that fruits and vegetables are best when they’re grown locally and genuinely of the season, not cultivated in greenhouses.

Dean & DeLuca SoHo produce

Tomorrow, Saturday March 20th is the first day spring. In the spirit of the seasons changing, I pulled together a list of spring foods. When it comes to preparing these fresh, vibrant fruits and vegetables, I recommend quick-cooking techniques, such as sautéing or blanching to preserve the foods’ nutrients. But… I want to hear from you and learn your methods for creating an eye-opening dish with first-of-the-season ingredients. Pick one of the fruits or vegetables listed below. Whip up a dish. Share your recipe and the story behind the dish in the comments section and send a photo to DD_Media(at)deandeluca(dot)com. We’ll repost the winning recipe and the chef will receive a $50 Dean & DeLuca gift card! Submissions are due by 5PM next Friday, March 26th. Scoring will be based on creativity, quality of story behind the dish, photography, and prominence of selected spring ingredient.

• Asparagus

• Artichokes

• Rhubarb

• Peas

• Spinach

• Morel mushrooms

• Fiddleheads

• Radishes

• Spring onions

• Spring garlic

• Enoki mushrooms
• Apricots
• Strawberries

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