As many people hopefully know, Cortona Cafe has recently added black-eyed pea hummus to the menu which appears to be a hit with the majority of the regular customers. The alluring dish is made by culinary artist Kristi Brown-Wokoma and has quickly become one of the more popular items on the menu. It's a shift from the more traditional hummus made of chickpeas and more healthy (CK). Given the lack of healthy food options in the neighborhood, we're glad to have a protein rich new option for customers.

It's important to note that Kristi Brown-Wokoma is a long time Central District resident which falls in line with Cortona's mission to buy and sell products that come from the neighborhood. If you haven't tried our black-eyed pea hummus yet, check out a quick Q&A with Kristi as she talks about why she created the dish and hopefully it will encourage you to come on in and try it.

When did you first start thinking of making black-eyed pea hummus? What led you to want to tinker with that recipe?

Several years ago when I worked the lunch line at Kingfish Cafe, I was trying to impress my chef, Tracey McRae, and I thought that the black eye peas would be a perfect mix between traditional soul food cooking and the fresh Northwest cuisine.

Are there any advantages of using black-eyed peas over garbanzo beans?

Black eyed peas have a richness which isn't present in the garbanzo beans. Both are extremely rich in protein, but the black eyes peas seems to have a more complicated flavor that holds up perfectly to the other ingredients.

What type of reactions have you gotten from people who have tried it? Even people who might be skeptical at first?

I have hummus stalkers, people call me from all over the country, hitting me up on my social networks and seeking me out at events just to get me to make them hummus! I have gotten very familiar with the ways of my skeptics, they scrounge their nose up, say how much they hate black eye peas, but I am committed to making people believers! So I can get a little persuasive to get them to at least try it.

How long have you been working professionally as a culinary artist?

I have worked in the culinary industry for 20 years, mostly in catering, but have had a very varied experiences within this industry and wouldn't trade it for the world.

As a resident of the C.D. is it nice knowing that a local cafe is supporting one of your creations?

Oh my goodness yes! It has been a pleasure to work alongside Jason and Foxy to make my dream of retailing hummus a reality. I appreciate their hard work, and look forward to seeking out more ways to be a part of the community!

S.T.A.R.T.S. Youth hitting the streets with fresh produce every Wednesday from 12pm to 3pm this summer.

The S.T.A.R.T.S. Project is a 10 week program sponsored by the Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative and led by Central District non-profits and organizations.

As teenagers across the city search for working opportunities during the summer slow down, nine lucky youth from Seattle are experiencing the "green jobs" opportunity of their lifetime.

Over the spring, Cortona Cafe owner Jason Davison had a vision for a youth employment program based in the Central District that would allow for young people that are disenfranchised to learn about gardening, healthy foods, and how they can become a part of the green movement. The summer program Jason had in mind is called S.T.A.R.T.S. (Students Taking Agriculture 'Round The Streets) and as of two weeks ago, it officially came into fruition.

Along with a variety of key neighborhood youth workers, there are currently nine students that are a part of the program and they're doing everything from composting and working on farms to discovering healthy food options in the neighborhood and working on a potential dish to be displayed at Cortona Cafe. There are guests chefs involved, lot's of opportunities for learning, and best of all, the youth get paid to complete the program. S.T.A.R.T.S. has managed to partner with organizations like Ground Up Yesler, Community Kitchens NW, Rotary Boys and Girls Club, Metropolitan Sickle Cell Task Force, Green Plate Special, Alley Cat Acres plus the Clean Greens and Red Barn farms to keep the teenagers' fingers in the soil and they're making nutritious meals each week out of the kitchen at Immaculate Conception. There will be more updates coming on the program as the summer continues.

Would you like to taste chocolate from around the world? Do you like watching culinary demonstrations? Want to meet some chocolate makers? Or explore pairings with chocolate? Do you want to go to a party this Saturday night?

If you answered yes to one or more of the above, you should check out The Northwest Chocolate Festival this weekend at the Northwest Rooms at Seattle Center!

"We bring a playful spirit, great chocolate, and vibrant people together for a weekend of sharing, educating, tasting, and celebrating the flavors of chocolate grown from around the world. Our goal is to offer focused and unique opportunities to learn about the subtle flavors of great chocolate with the knowledge and guidance of experts in the field."

At the Chocolate Festival, you will find an amazing array of different chocolates and chocolate makers, including fair trade and bean-to-bar makers! In addition to chocolate, if you're 21+ you can taste beer, wine, and chocolate martinis! And you can learn all about the great wide world of chocolate!

You can buy tickets in advance for a $12.50 day-pass, or at the door for $15. Kids are only $5! Check it out and bring your appetite for chocolate!

Along with our other pastry options, we are now offering cookies from WOW Baking Company, all of which are deliciously wheat and gluten-free! These are available every day and we have several delicious flavors!

• Ginger molasses
• Oregon Oatmeal
• Peanut Butter
• Snickerdoodle
• Chocolate chip

Come in and try one with your coffee today! WOW is committed to providing the best wheat and gluten-free baked goods found anywhere!

For all our gluten-sensitive friends in the community, we wanted to let you know that in addition to the delicious raspberry almond scones, chocolate peanut butter bars, and oatmeal peanut butter chocolate chip cookies that we carry Friday thru Sunday, we now have gluten-free cookies throughout the week!

So if you have a sweet tooth and a gluten allergy, you can still enjoy a yummy iced sugar cookie, oatmeal raisin cookie, or a chocolate-dipped peanut butter cookie from Sunny Valley Wheat Free Bakery! Come in and try one today!