Former Punk Rock Drummer Fronts Laura Ann's Jams

If you’ve ever been at the Hollywood market around closing time, chances are you’ve seen a woman dressed in rock-chic attire with curly red and blonde hair negotiating a price for a case of fresh fruit, or sampling citrus, stone fruits and apples.

The market was such an inspiration to the former punk rock drummer that she started her own business.

“All jam starts with delicious fruit and the farmers market is where I find the best,” said Laura Ann Masura, the owner of Laura Ann’s Jams, an organic artisan business she founded in Echo Park.

Masura started the business two years ago after being encouraged by her friends, whom she always showered with gifts of homemade jams. This new jam session is also helping her to recover from a serious motorcycle accident.

“After my accident, I just found the entire jam making process to be very Zen, healing and rewarding,”  Masura said.

Masura started to sell her homemade preserves to local restaurants and bakeries and immediately customers responded to the small-batch production of organic, artisan preserves.

She’s also known for the unique pairings of herbs, spirits and fruit such as strawberry and lavender, bourbon and blood orange marmalade and Asian pear butter that’s made with honey, champagne, star anise, cinnamon and vanilla bean.

Laura Ann’s Jams may be found at local eateries including Madame Matisse, Auntie Em’s Kitchen, Stories Bookstore and Cafe, and Square One in Los Angeles.

“One of the key factors for me is the respect I have for the farmer,” Masura said. “They also have a story and I try to get their journey also into the jar.”

There is a large variety of produce to try at the Hollywood Farmers Market that’s grown by a diverse crop of farmers.

At Ace Ranch, there are several varieties of lemons that have a different flavor and texture such as Meyer and ‘Sweet Persian.’ Arnett Farms and Ha’s Apple Farm grows more than 200 varities of stone fruits, citrus and apples. At Mud Creek Ranch, the Smith family has a beautiful selection of unheard-of varieties such as Moro blood oranges, Pixie and Po-Kan tangerines. This week they  had a new citrus called lemonquats. They’re similar to kumquats where you eat the skin and the pulp. Naturally, a new lemonquats marmalade is in the works at Laura Ann’s Jams.

“Things change when you boil down a mixture for a couple of hours that uses the skin, the rind and the pith,” Masura explained. “The herbs, the bourbon or the wine takes it to another level because you’re getting a wonderful smoky flavor from the wooden cask or barrel.”

The biggest challenge for Masura is to create a consistent tasting product because she doesn’t use any artificial ingredients or chemical stabilizers.

“Each batch is different because the same fruit from the same tree may vary each week because of the elements,” Masura said.

Each bottle of jam is labeled with a batch number and the quantity of jars produced in that batch. It’s as if each jar is a signed piece of limited edition fine art. In a way, it is. Laura Ann's Jams are available online at www.lauraannsjams.com and at Auntie Em's Kitchen in Eagle Rock, Delilah Bakery in Echo Park and Square One Dining in Los Angeles.

Please feel free to share stories and recipes of the items you also find interesting at the market. If you see me strolling about, please say hello.

See you next week at the market!

The Hollywood Farmers Market is located at the intersection of Ivar and Selma avenues, between Sunset and Hollywood boulevards. Rain or shine, it is open every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.  The market is a certified open-air street market with approximately 100 farmers, 30 local artisans and 40 baked-goods and prepared-food vendors who sell their products every Sunday. It is a direct-to-consumer marketplace with all produce and products from California vendors and growers.

Parking: Cinerama Dome: $2 for first two hours with validation available at the information booth at Ivar and DeLongpre avenues. Metered Parking: Check parking enforcement signs. Some meters free until 11 a.m. on Sundays.

Dog Sitting: Only tagged assistance dogs are allowed at the market, but this shouldn’t stop others from walking their dogs to the public event. There’s a dog sitting service provided at the corner of Ivar and Vine streets. Your prized pooch will get to socialize with other dogs while you do your shopping at the market. They charge a small fee of $5 per 20 minutes.