any sour cherries yet?

[Chuckles the Clone]

They seem to be starting to appear on menus. And crixa's amazing sour cherry pie has reappeared. But I haven't seen any for sale yet. Any sightings?

[Robert Lauriston]

Back at Berkeley Bowl today.

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Berkeley Bowl
2020 Oregon St, Berkeley, CA 94703

[Joel]

Two-pound box for $3.59 at the Bowl today (Thursday).

[dordogne]

I've seen them at Berkeley Bowl West and the produce store at Rockridge Market Hall within the last week. As soon as I log off, I'm calling Crixa.

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Berkeley Bowl West
920 Heinz Ave, Berkeley, CA

Rockridge Market Hall
5655 College Avenue, Oakland, CA 94618

[Robert Lauriston]

Crixa's Web site says they have sour cherry pie today.

[dordogne]

Thank you for the head's up, Robert. Crixa had sold out of the pies and slices by the time I called, but it's good to know that they update the website daily (slices available by 11am each day and they take phone orders for full pies, $25 for a 9 inch).

[SteveG]

Afghan Market out in Tracy had a 2 lb box of them, which I bought, last Sunday. I know Tracy is a bit out of bounds, but it isn't far for many of the eastern east bay hounds, and the Afghan food they serve in the back is destination worthy.

Speaking of Afghan Markets, Chowhound tried to place link to one in Concord. Has anybody checked there? Sour cherries are commonly used in Persian and Afghani food.

Here's my write up on the California board:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/799648

[Robert Lauriston]

I got some sour cherries at International Foods (Persian) a couple of years ago.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/638911

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International Foods
1108 Meadow Ln, Concord, CA

[StellaBFF]

Berkeley Bowl on Heinz (parking is much easier) has beautiful packs of sour cherries - $7.50 for a 2 lb tray.

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Berkeley Bowl
2020 Oregon St, Berkeley, CA 94703

[Robert Lauriston]

Other Bowl too. Dorsing Farms, Washington, "Royal Dark Tart."

[mrs bacon]

Thanks for the heads up. Grabbed a couple packs of these. Now the pitting begins!

[Robert Lauriston]

They taste better if cooked with the pits.

[SteveG]

Or use the trick from an old Chez Panisse pastry chef, and smash a half dozen pits in a towel and include the "nut meat" with the pitted cherries. It's true that they contain cyanide, but cyanide is in lots of seeds and our bodies process small amounts of it with no side effects.

[Robert Lauriston]

Berkeley Bowl had California sour cherries a few minutes ago, $1.59 / lb.

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Berkeley Bowl
2020 Oregon St, Berkeley, CA 94703

[Joel]

Bowl's sour cherries are $7.59 per pound, today. Clean your spectacles, Robert.

Yes, I too survived a Sunday at the (old) Bowl; it's become so popular that no one goes there anymore (wish that were true). Parking was hard but they had all the check stands open.

[Robert Lauriston]

I thought that was weirdly cheap. I took the "7" for a French-style "1."

I never park in the lot when the place is busy.

[Fig Newton]

I'm wondering where to get them this year, too. In years past, Lagier has been the stand at the FPFM stand where we buy them, but they've made a change in their farm this year (stopped growing/selling almonds) and haven't been seen at the market for many months. It's not clear whether they'll be returning for fruit sales. Any other local farmers who grow and sell them?

[TopoTail]

Berkeley Bowl always seems to have them for a few weeks in the summer, but I think it's still pretty early to be looking for them.

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Berkeley Bowl
2020 Oregon St, Berkeley, CA 94703

[Fig Newton]

Update on this: Lagier will be at the FPFM market on approximately June 11 with sour cherries (and Brooks, Bings, Ranier). Short run, and the sours go early in the morning, fyi.

[wally]

Thank you for this.