Celebrate the Craft

Mark your calendars--on Sunday, October 9, The Lodge at Torrey Pines will host their 3rd Annual Celebrate the Craft festival.

I attended the event last year and had a great time tasting my way around.  The event showcases some of the best farms, chefs and wineries in San Diego.  Most of the participants are local--Aniata Cheese Co., Bread & Cie, Chuao Chocolatier, Crows Pass Farm, La Milpa Organica, Stone Brewing Co.--but there are some, like Fairview Gardens and Niman Ranch, from a little further north.

Lunch ("Picnic on the Arroyo Terrace") takes place from 11:30-3:30 behind the hotel on what is normally the croquet field.  It's hardly a picnic, more like an upscale farmer's market with white tablecloth seating.

I found the setting (the croquet lawn with the golf course in the background) a bit incongruous with the idea of sustainable agriculture.  But otherwise it's a food lover's dream.  Over a dozen chefs from the best restaurants in San Diego participate, including Trey Foshee from George's at the Cove, Amiko Gubbins of Parallel 33, Jeff Jackson from The Lodge at Torrey Pines, Carl Shroeder from Arterra, and Michael Stebner and Allyson Colwell from Region. 

The food stations are arranged in the center and along the perimeter of the lawn.  As you walk around from table to table, you pick up small plates of food and sample tastes of wine.

It's a great opportunity to talk to our local farmers and chefs. Some, like Barry from La Milpa (below left), I already knew from my visits to the Farmer's Market in Hillcrest.  He has the best salad greens in town and he greets me every week with a smile.  Others, like Crows Pass (right), I only knew from a name on a restaurant menu and was glad for the opportunity to meet face to face and tell them how much I enjoy what they do.

            

So I really encourage everyone to come and show your support for our local food community.  I know it's expensive.  But the point of this event is not to see how much food you can pile on your plate or how much wine you can quaff in the shortest amount of time.  (If that's what you want you'll get more bang for your buck at a Sunday brunch buffet or happy hour somewhere else.)   This is your chance to meet a chef, find out what a citron is, taste the difference between a pale ale and a porter, and thank a farmer for working those 16-hour days so that you can enjoy pesticide-free salad. 

The Lodge has promised to donate 25% of the $60 ticket price to Slow Food.

P.S. If you come, bring both a hat and a sweater.  Last year the weather was gorgeous---clear, hot and sunny.  But on days when the coastal clouds are hanging around it can get chilly. 

Comments

[Beth - The Zen Foodist]

Wow - I had no idea about this event. I'm so glad you told us about it! I will see if I can make it. I am also considering joining the Slow Food organization because they seem to have really interesting events.

Congratulations on the new blog and welcome to the food blogging community! Your site looks fabulous!

[Angie]

Thanks, Beth. I really enjoy reading your blog, too, and I am glad to be part of the community. It's encouraging that there is finally enough interest in food here in San Diego to support us (and our restaurant habits).

[Tana]

Whoa. I just found your blog (from linking to mine). This is right up my alley, but I don't live there! Waaaaah.

I did visit the Hillcrest Farmers Market when I was there, though. I met Barry Logan, and I long to visit that area again.

$60 is NOT expensive for that event. I'm joining Slow Food this week, with my next big payday. When you join, you can attend any Slow Food event, worldwide.

Thanks for the heads up: I forwarded it to my friend, Monique Feil, who's a photographer down in San Diego. Whee!

[Angie]

Tana:

Welcome! I love your Small Farms blog and would like to give the same recognition to farmers down here. La Milpa is first on my list of farms to visit and photograph.

I'm actually headed up (and beyond) your way this weekend for the Hoes Down Festival at Full Belly Farms. I'll be posting a full report next week!