The Sexy Chef Box: Courtney Trop's Moody Fall Farmers Market Box

Every so often, someone's taste is so specific that we want to see what they'd pull from the market if we handed them the list. This fall, that someone was Courtney Trop, the creator behind @alwaysjudging.

We sent her everything in season at the market, from black radishes and purple cauliflower to persimmons and dragon fruit, and asked her to build a box that felt completely hers. She went dark, moody and gorgeous. She named it The Sexy Chef Box, and it's now available for a limited time for delivery across Los Angeles.

Shop The Sexy Chef Box →

Why We Asked Courtney to Curate a Box

Market Mama has always been about more than delivering produce. It's about choosing what's at its best each week from the Southern California farmers and growers we trust, and making the farmers market feel like a ritual instead of a chore.

Courtney's eye is unmistakable, and fall at the market is full of color that matches it: inky purples, deep greens and produce that looks as good on the counter as it tastes on the plate. Handing her the list felt like the most natural first collaboration we could imagine.

What's Inside The Sexy Chef Box

Here's everything in Courtney's box:

• Purple potatoes: deep violet all the way through, and stunning roasted or smashed.
• Purple cauliflower: everything you love about cauliflower, in a much moodier color.
• Purple carrots: sweet, earthy and beautiful sliced on a sheet pan.
• Purple peppers: crisp and bright, with a color that turns any plate dramatic.
• Dino kale: also called lacinato or Tuscan kale, with dark, crinkled leaves that hold up to sautéing, braising and soups.
• Bok choy: tender, mild and made for a quick stir-fry.
• Green beans: an easy weeknight side, blistered or blanched.
• Shallots: the quiet flavor-builder behind almost every good dinner.
• Dragon fruit: a striking fruit for breakfast bowls or eating straight with a spoon.
• Blackberries: for yogurt, salads or snacking before they ever make it to a recipe.
• Garlic, ginger and local raw honey: the base for almost everything you'll cook this week.

Because we shop the market fresh each week, an item may occasionally be swapped for something just as seasonal if it isn't at its best.

How to Cook With The Sexy Chef Box

The box is built for real cooking, not just pretty photos. A few ideas to get you through the week:

A moody sheet pan dinner

Toss the purple potatoes, purple carrots and purple cauliflower with olive oil, salt and sliced shallots, then roast until the edges caramelize. Finish with a drizzle of the honey and a squeeze of lemon.

A ginger-garlic stir-fry

Bok choy, green beans and purple peppers cook in minutes in a hot pan with grated ginger and garlic. Serve it over rice or with a fried egg on top.

A brothy kale soup

Dino kale was made for soup. Simmer it with shallots, garlic and potatoes for something cozy on the first cold night of the season.

A dark berry breakfast

Cube the dragon fruit, add the blackberries and finish with honey over yogurt or overnight oats.

Complete the Box Like Courtney

Courtney rounded out her box with two of our favorite add-ons, and we highly recommend doing the same:

• Local Heirloom Eggs (6): unwashed, farm-fresh eggs with rich yolks, perfect on top of that stir-fry.
• Häsi Original Wild-Fermented Sourdough: for dragging through soup or toasting with honey.

Available for a Limited Time

The Sexy Chef Box is a limited-edition run, so it won't be around forever. We deliver throughout Los Angeles every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Order it once for a cozy week of cooking, or send one as a gift to the friend who always wears black.

Order The Sexy Chef Box →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Sexy Chef Box?

It's a limited-edition version of The Market Box, curated by Courtney Trop of @alwaysjudging, with seasonal produce in deep purples and dark greens plus garlic, ginger and local raw honey.

How much is The Sexy Chef Box?

It's $80, the same price as our classic Market Box.

Where does Market Mama deliver?

We deliver seasonal produce boxes throughout Los Angeles on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Can I add eggs or bread?

Yes. Heirloom eggs and Häsi sourdough can be added to any box at checkout, just like Courtney did.