2014 Foodie Moments Around Monterey Bay

I ran into this guy at the Monterey Peninsula  College Farmers Market on Friday Am last Spring (2014) and he had this Porcini from Pebble Beach which looks great but I am told could be filled with  worms???  Last year we had a fair mushroom season on the Monterey Peninsula but 2015 will be epic I'm told and so far I've seen some awesome mushrooms both on my hiking trails in Pebble and PG and in Big Sur Forests.  My word of caution, please do not eat mushrooms you pick unless you have someone 100% verify that they are edible.  

Forge in the Forest small bites at the Carmel By the Glass event in September.   This annual event benefits the Carmel Mission and is sponsored by local wineries and restaurants who host strolling guests at downtown Devendorf Park.  Just a note for the history books;  Jack Galante's (of Galante Wines) grandfather was the Devendorf of Carmel that this park is named in his honor.  He and his partner formed the Carmel Development Company to sell seaside lots to the professors and academics from Stanford University and SF socialites.  Seems like that he was somewhat successful as Carmel can boast both thinkers, drinkers and social types alike.  

The master chef of La Balena in Carmel showed off his rustic bruschetta on wooden planks to the crowd's pleasure at Carmel by the Glass.

I picked 70 pounds of Serendipity Tomatoes out on Carmel Valley Road in August 2014 and made fresh bruschetta and, tomato sauce for the winter months ahead.  We  had fresh tomatoe mozzarella basil salads every week for the whole month of August into September this year due to our seasonally warm summer with endless days of 80 and 90 degree temperatures.  Not a normal summer along the California Coast of Monterey but we'll take it.

The last sit down dinner at the Independent Marketplace hosted by Happy Girl Kitchens, Fresh Catch and Serendipity Farms providing their amazing tomatoes.

Heart shaped beets and hummus appetizers were provided by Rancho Cielo youth kitchen staff who served and were greatly appreciated with praise and applause at the end of this communal meal of supporters for the Independent Marketplace.

La Balena's bruschettas on plank at the Carmel By the Glass.  

Photographer Patrice Ward appreciates a good meatball when he smells it at Carmel by the Glass.