News & Events

2014 Big Sur Foragers Festival Dates Announced

A Culinary Exploration into the World of Wild Foods

A celebration of the amazing array of wild foods will be the centerpiece for a weekend of gourmet food, world-class wine and beer, entertainment, expert-led foraging hikes and a friendly chef competition with celebrity judges.

Save the dates of January 17th through 19th, 2014. Big Sur area restaurants will host the culinary expertise of notable chefs preparing unique fare from rustic to elegant, paired with the region's amazing selection of wines and beers.

The event also serves as a fundraiser for the Big Sur Health Center. The community's non-profit health center will receive 100% of the proceeds from the foraging events to support the continued presence of local health care services.

Event schedule to include:

• "Foragers Barbeque and Beer Tasting"
• "Wild Mushroom Walk and Talk" at Pfeiffer State Park and at Ventana Inn & Spa, both led by expert foragers.
• "Fungus Face-Off" on the deck at Ventana Inn & Spa
• Grand Celebrity Chef Dinner at Ventana Inn & Spa
• Sunday Brunch

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2013 Big Sur Foragers Festival Recap

2013 "Fungus Face-Off "at Big Sur Foragers Festival Dished Up Mushroom Magic: Chef Tim Wood of Carmel Valley Ranch wins "People's Choice" Award, Local Chefs & Vintners Team Up to Benefit Big Sur Health Center

On Saturday afternoon of the Big Sur Foragers Festival 2013, The "Fungus Face-Off" brought together local chefs and wineries for a friendly competition at beautiful Ventana Inn, the host of the event.

With the brilliant Pacific ocean as a backdrop, and Santa Cruz musician, Asher Stern, adding to the celebratory atmosphere, guests savored mushroom-based creations along with a fine selection of local wines, before casting their ballots for their favorites.

Celebrity judges Jim Dodge, Michael Bauer and Wendy Brodie were tasked with presenting awards in the following categories:

MOST INVENTIVE USE - Mark Marron & Sherry Gladstone of Big Sur Affair Catering,: Chanterelle infused vodka martini, paired with Monterey Bay Dungeness crab cake with chanterelle poblano sauté, wild mushroom saffron risotto with pecorino cheese.

MOST UNUSUAL/UNIQUE CREATIVE DISH - Carl Shadwell, Ripplewood: Pate choux puff with chanterelle, Meyer lemon, lavender and honey ice cream

BEST FEATURE DISH (PEOPLES AWARD) & BEST DISH USING WINE - Tim Wood, Carmel Valley Ranch: Matsutake braised beef ragout, roasted garlic, Mazuna, Carmel Valley Ranch salt, shaved black truffles on crostini

BEST TABLE DISPLAY - Enrique Esparza & Steve Mayer, Big Sur Taphouse: French dip with chanterelle au jus with black sage and specialty salts of black sage, Meyer lemon, chanterelle and oyster mushrooms

MOST ARTISTIC PRESENTATION – Tim Tavadara of Nepenthe - and Douglas Bush from The Cultured Abalone Farm,: Abalone porcini Fritter with pickleweed and red dulse (seaweed)

MOST EASILY ADAPTED TO HOME COOKING - Scott McMullen, Fernwood:
Mushroom, banana squash and goat cheese bread pudding with pistachio pesto

MOST NUTRITIOUS/HEALTHY - Matt Farmer, Coast Gallery,:
Chanterelle and roasted garlic bisque (made using no cream: thickened with rice)

BEST VEGETARIAN DISH - Philip Wojtowicz, Big Sur Bakery: Gougere filled with chanterelle mousse

According to Sharen Carey, Executive Director for the Big Sur Health Center, the event 's beneficiary, "Every Chef in the Fungus Face-Off came out a winner, and deservedly so! The decadent experience received very high marks from all attendees, and the Foragers dinner, which capped off the day, was superb. We received nothing but great comments on the wonderful dishes prepared by Ventana Chef Truman Jones and San Francisco Americano Restaurant Chef Kory Stewart."

Magnus Toren and Mike Scutari, of the Henry Miller Library, opened the evening with guitar/piano duets, adding a delightful and festive tone to the 5-course dinner, which was accompanied by wines from Cambiata, Chesebro and Tondre Grapefields.

Carey also noted that a young couple from San Diego eloped and got married on the Ventana property the same day. "They chose to spend their wedding dinner with us. They were very sweet and appreciated being publicly acknowledged at the dinner."

Carey additionally expressed her thanks to David Krause, who led the popular Mushroom Walk Saturday morning, and to the three restaurants that held their own mushroom-themed dinners on Friday evening as part of the Foragers Festival. "I also want to acknowledge the chefs and staff at Big Sur Lodge, Big Sur Bakery, and Sierra Mar Restaurant at Post Ranch Inn, for their participation in the weekend's activities and for contributing so much to this important fundraiser."

She also expressed thanks to all participating chefs and wineries in the Fungus Face-Off, as well as to all those vendors and benefactors who donated items to the Silent Auction. "A very special thanks to our Platinum Sponsors, Ventana Inn and their staff, who hosted Saturday's activities, and to A To Z Rentals who provided the wonderful party tents," said Carey.

Wine pairings for the Fungus Face-Off were graciously provided by: Baker and Brain, Calcareous, Comanche Cellars, Chapellet, Chesebro Wines, Mesa del Sol, McIntyre Vineyards, Morgan Winery, Pessagno Wines, Silvestri and Scheid.

Finally, Carey offered accolades to the Event Committee and volunteers who helped make the festival such a success.

Stay tuned for an announcement of the date for next year's Foragers Festival. Please visit our website at bigsurforagersfestival.org.

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¡Salud! The Big Sur Health Center Newsletter

The bi-lingual Health Center newsletter, ¡Salud!, comes out twice yearly and brings the public up to date with new offerings at the Center and tips for continuing good health.  Pictures and color bring the information to life.  To read past issues of ¡Salud! (all issues are PDFs and require Adobe Acrobat to view), please click on the newsletter name and download a pdf copy: 

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