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Desert Island Sampler - Rancho Gordo

Desert Island Sampler

$ 38.95
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Free shipping on orders $50+

Six essential heirlooms that founder Steve Sando can't live without

Please don't ask me to tell you the name of my favorite bean. It changes daily! I love all the heirlooms we grow for different reasons. But if I were to be sent to a desert island, these are the six varieties I couldn't do without, even though I'd probably have a different list tomorrow. —Steve

ALUBIA BLANCA: Classic Alubia beans are one of our more requested items. You can use these small white European-style beans in all kinds of cooking, from Yankee baked beans to soups to Italian "beans on toast." They have a thin skin but still manage to hold their shape, making them ideal for salads.

BUCKEYE: A small, dense yet velvety bean that holds its shape and provides a rich bean broth. Easily one of the staff's favorite beans.

CLASSIC CRANBERRY: Cranberry beans only look like cranberries. And even then, I don't quite see it. Originally from South America, these beans have been bred around the world and have become Madeira, Borlotti, Tounges of Fire, Wren's Egg and many more. This is the classic from Colombia and are perfect for any recipe calling for a "cranberry" bean.

DOMINGO ROJO: A classic red bean, essential to dishes like New Orleans Red Beans & Rice, and equally important to many Caribbean cuisines. Domingo Rojo holds its shape when cooked, and the thick bean broth coats every rice grain or noodle with a luxurious sauce.

GARBANZO: A slightly nutty-flavored classic bean, essential for Middle Eastern, Mexican, and European cooking. New-crop harvest ensures quicker cooking and fresher flavor.

MIDNIGHT BLACK: Midnight is a true black turtle bean with a rich, traditional black bean flavor and texture. Use in any recipe calling for black or turtle beans or just enjoy on their own. These are incredibly fresh so little, if any, soaking is required.

Each gift box includes a cooking flyer with tips and delicious recipes from the Rancho Gordo kitchen.

Think outside the (gift) box and give beans. Everyone (including O, the Oprah Magazine) has been raving about Rancho Gordo beans, so this is a great gift option for cooks in the know. Included are six bags of the company's all-time favorite beans, including cooking instructions and tips.  - C-NET Best Gift Baskets of 2024

 

"Without Sando's vision, many delicious bean varieties would have remained unknown and possibly become extinct."

Financial Times (FT Weekend)

Desert Island Sampler

$ 38.95
Shipping Details

Free Shipping on each order $50 and over

FedEx Ground shipments, and one shipping location per order.

For orders less than $50: 
Our flat-fee shipping charges via FedEx Ground is $11 (regardless of weight)
One pound or One Thousand pounds, it's the same price. 

Our flat-fee shipping charge via US Postal Service is as follows:
$11 each 15 pounds
All shipments to Hawaii, Alaska, P.O. boxes, and APO/FPO/DPO addresses must go via USPS.

I just placed my order. When will I get my shipment?

It normally takes us 1 to 3 business days to process orders. If we are experiencing further shipping delays, we will add a note to the checkout page with further information.

We process and ship orders from Northern California Monday through Friday, via FedEx or US Postal Service. A shipment can take from 2 to 5 working days to be delivered after it leaves our warehouse, depending on where you live and what shipping service you selected. Please call us (707/259-1935) to arrange for faster shipping if you need your order to arrive sooner. 

Express Shipping?

Please call us (707/259-1935) to arrange for faster shipping if you need your order to arrive sooner. 

The Rancho Gordo Story

You Can Blame it All on the Dutch

I was shopping one August for tomatoes and, despite Napa being one of the world's most magnificent agricultural regions, all the tomatoes were from a hothouse in Holland! Worse, they were hard and pale pink instead of the ripe tomatoes I was craving. I started to grow my own tomatoes and this eventually led to beans.

My first harvested heirloom bean was Rio Zape. They were pretty and easy to grow but I had no idea what to expect when I cooked them. They were similar to the pintos I liked but there was so much more going on. Hints of chocolate and coffee mixed with an earthy texture made my head spin. I was blown away by Rio Zape and the other heirloom beans I was growing, but also really confused why they were such a big secret. I took the beans to the farmers market, organizing things on my kitchen table. Soon there was a warehouse, followed by more markets and mail order. It seems we had struck a nerve. People agreed that heirloom beans were worth saving, growing and cooking. Currently our warehouse, a retail shop, and offices are in Napa, California, and a stop here is part of many tours of the wine country. 

All of my agricultural pursuits have been based on being someone who likes to cook but gets frustrated by the lack of ingredients, especially those that are native to the Americas. One of the things that originally drew me to beans was the fact that they are indigenous to the Americas. It seems to me these indigenous ingredients should be familiar, if not common. American cuisine is re-inventing itself and I'd love to include ingredients, traditions and recipes from north and south of the border as part of the equation. I love the concept of The Americas. I feel as if it's just as important as the European heritage many of us share.

You can read more about the Rancho Gordo story here.

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