Butternut Squash | Winter Squash at the Cafė

Butternut Squash at the Cafė

November 3, 2022

As the weather starts to cool and you begin to visualize your upcoming holiday plans with friends and family, you may switch up your meals to those involving comforting fruits and vegetables, like butternut squash. Even in California, where temperatures are reluctant to let go of the summer warmth and the trees don’t change to quite as many colors as other parts of the country, we know what the first bowl of rich butternut squash soup or satisfying the craving for our seasonal butternut squash gnocchi (pictured above) can do for the soul.

From Our Farm to Your Fork

Butternut squash in the field of the Cafe farm — Butternut Squash waiting to be harvested at our Café Farm after growing throughout the warm months.

At the Los Olivos Wine Merchant Cafė, we love incorporating butternut squash into our fall and winter recipes. It is such a comforting food with abundant versatility. You can find it throughout our menu, from pizzas to salads, and even a seasonal dessert!

We are big fans of butternut squash. In fact, our Cafė Farm grows around 4 tons every summer! If you didn’t already know, most of the Café’s produce is organically grown on our very own farm in Los Olivos, CA, just minutes from downtown.

The Sunny Side of Butternut Squash

Two bins filled to the rim with freshly harvested butternut squash from the Cafe Farm — The Café Farm produces nearly 4 tons of butternut squash every year that makes its way to on our menu nourishing our guests.

The idea of roasted butternut squash, or our very own butternut squash gnocchi, brings to mind cozy feelings reminiscent of the autumn and winter months. This wouldn’t be the case without the warm summer months to thank, however. Despite being classified as a winter squash, butternut squash plants are annuals that are grown on a vine in the spring and summer. This is because the plant requires between 75 and 100 days to grow and should be harvested before any frosts arrive. Because of this harvesting period, it is considered a winter squash.

Our farmers plant butternut squash in May and harvest in October; so the squash our guests enjoy eating in the winter months has been growing all summer long.

Summer Squash vs. Winter Squash

There are a few distinctions that set summer squash and winter squash apart. Winter squash tends to have a thicker skin than summer squash, which makes them last longer. Butternut squash, when stored properly, can last for several months! Summer squash are more tender (think zucchini or yellow squash) and don’t last as long.

Other types of squash of the winter variety include acorn squash, kabocha, Hubbard, and spaghetti squash, with butternut as a popular favorite.

How to Pick the Perfect Butternut Squash

When picking your own butternut squash, select one that is moderately heavy for its size and still has its stem intact. The outer skin should be relatively free of soft spots or deep cracks. It is also generally best to choose one with a solid beige color and a matte (not shiny) exterior.

What’s Not to Love About this Fruit?

Although butternut squash is commonly considered a vegetable, the fact that it has seeds classifies it as a fruit. Definitions aside, butternut squash is a filling, delicious, and versatile squash, and we are having a hard time finding a reason not to love it! Butternut Squash Creme Brûlée with Fall Pumpkin display

Our menu is rotated based on the seasonal produce we grow on our cafė farm, which is why we are excited to bring you these new dishes that are best enjoyed in view of our cozy fireplace. If you’d prefer to take your food home, we highly encourage a pair of warm fuzzy socks to accompany the meal.

Whether dining in or ordering to-go, next time you come by the cafė, be sure to check out our updated menu with our delicious and creative seasonal selections that Chef Brooke and the kitchen staff have crafted.