There’s a special party happening at the Palace Ballroom on June 20th. We realized that sitting around with a bunch of smart people drinking wine while talking about books and food isn’t quite everyone’s idea of a special party—there’s no dance floor, for one, and we doubt anyone will wake up the next morning with a terrible hangover. But it's our kind of party.

It’s called What We Talk About When We Talk About Food, and it was one of Kim Ricketts’ favorite events at her own company. There’s a panel of smartypants authors talking about their books, while we less lofty folks eat snacks, drink good wine and pester them with questions. It’s the first one of these to happen without Kim's physical presence, so we expect grief to rear its ugly head on occasion—but with Amy Pennington, Becky Selengut, Lisa Dupar, Anna Roth and Keren Brown as the featured authors, it’s sure to be ridiculous and profane and entertaining as hell, too. In other words, it’ll do Kim proud.

You can buy tickets online right up to the day of the event; they’re $25 each and include a glass of wine and appetizers. All four authors will have their books on hand for purchase and signing. We hope to see you there.

Copper River gets the lion's share of attention during the annual salmon run--and we'd be the last to criticize its luxurious richness. We even like to stretch a point, and write about Alaska fisheries like they're local, mostly because so many fishing vessels are based here, and because anything that affects our watershed will come to affect theirs in the future.

But right now, we have a different salmon run to celebrate--and it actually is local, not all that far off our coastline. Washington Chinooks are delectable, with plenty of fat (hey, it's salmon--it's good fat) and a delicate texture that makes you want to gobble up twice as much as you really need to be full. These Chinooks are troll-caught, with actual single hooks and lines, just like if you were to head out to the coast to catch one yourself. There are three variations you might see right now: red, white and marbled. Whatever the color of its flesh, it's a Chinook, and while I'm sure there are some experts who could identify each in a blind taste-test, I'm just not that talented. Having eaten both the red and the marbled, I thought maybe the marbled had a milder flavor...but with different chefs and totally different preparations, it seems pretty silly to make a definitive statement. I'll keep eating all shades for a few more years quite happily before getting around to declaring in favor of a specific variety.



Thanks to Slow Food Seattle, the Makah tribe and the WA Trollers Association, we've got a list here of places that will be serving Washington troll-caught Chinooks this weekend. Have you seen the weather report? If you're anything like us, you'll be outside every second, soaking up Vitamin D all day, and feeling far too lazy to cook. Try these words on for size: Reservations. Glass of rosé. Crispy skin salmon.

If you're the more ambitious type, you'll be able to find steaks and fillets of WA Chinooks at Wild Salmon Seafood, Seattle-area Whole Foods Markets, and Key City Fish in Port Townsend.

Seattle Area

• Art of the Table 
• Copperleaf Restaurant at Cedarbrook Lodge
• Corson Building [check out Bethany Jean Clement's strange and wonderful visit with chef/owner Matt Dillon.]
• Diane’s Market Kitchen 
• Emmer & Rye [Seth's recipe for salmon with salsa verde and early summer veg is a favorite.]
• Lecosho
• Luc 
• Matt’s in the Market [Our In the Kitchen story doesn't mention it, but they have great WA cider on tap!]
• Pink Door 
• Ray’s Boat House 
• Rover’s 
• Sitka & Spruce
• Spinasse
• Stumbling Goat 
• TASTE Restaurant [One of the most dedicated restaurants in town for local sourcing...and one of our editor's very favorite dessert chefs, too.]

 

Bainbridge Island / Olympic Peninsula

• Hitchcock, Bainbridge Island [The current issue's In the Kitchen focus...and it looks like perfect weather for a ferry ride!]
• Alderwood Bistro, Sequim 
• C’est Si Bon, Port Angeles
• Wildfire Grill, Port Angeles
• Woodman Lodge, Snoqualmie
• Four Swallows, Bainbridge Island

Metropolitan Market is celebrating 40 years as one of Seattle's favorite groceries, and they've invited the community to their month-long party. They have a whole slew of events, giveaways, tastings, signings, and barbeques planned throughout the month of June, and you can find the complete schedule at their website. Below is a list of the events we are most excited about!

Kirkland

June 18, 12pm–2pm  Becky Selengut Good Fish Book Signing 

June 24, 4pm–6pm  Amy Pennington Urban Pantry Book Signing

June 25, 12pm–2pm  Cupcake Royale Sprinkle Party for Kids  

 

Proctor

June 16, 4pm-6pm  Becky Selengut Good Fish Book Signing

June 25, 4pm-6pm  Amy Pennington Urban Pantry Book Signing

July 2, 12pm-2pm  Cupcake Royale Sprinkle Party for Kids

 

Sandpoint

June18, 12pm–2pm  Cupcake Royale Sprinkle Party for Kids

June18, 3pm-6pm  Becky Selengut Good Fish Book Signing

 

Admiral

June 11, 12pm-2pm  Cupcake Royale Sprinkle Party for Kids

June 17, 4pm-6pm  Becky Selengut Good Fish Book Signing

June 26, 4pm-6pm  Amy Pennington Urban Pantry Book Signing

 

Queen Anne

June 8, 4pm-6pm  Fran Bigelow of Fran's Chocolates Book Signing 

June 24, 4pm-6pm  Tender by Tamara Murphy Book Signing

June 26, 11pm-1pm  Ethan Stowell New Italian Kitchen Book Signing 

Want to read about why we think the folks above are the cat's pajamas? Since our May/June 2010 issue, Amy Pennington has been coaching us through preserving seasonal goodness in her column, "Modern Pantry." Check out Canning 101 on our website (excerpted from her book, Urban Pantry) and scroll to the bottom of our list of recipes for some of her delicious jams, marmalades, pickles, and chutneys. Sean Hughes wrote about the special confections of Fran's Chocolates in "The Salty-Sweet Smell of Success" in our May/June 2009 issue, and in March/April 2010 Cupcake Royale owner Jody Hall talked with Jill Lightner about her "Revolutionary Cupcakes." Bethany Jean Clement visited Chef Ethan Stowell and the contents of his refrigerator in the story "Goldfish and Gruner Veltliner," Summer 2008, and shared sparkling rosé and green chili pork (from one of Murphy's very own pigs) with Chef Tamara Murphy in March/April 2009. And, last but certainly not least, Jill Lightner shares how thrilled she is about Good Fish, the new book from Becky Selengut (who has been one of our contributors since almost the very beginning!) in the issue on newsstands now. (Just look for the stunning red onion on the cover.)

Happy Birthday, Met Market!

 

The great geoduck, an unmistakeable icon of the northwest coast, is finally getting a party of its own! Join the town of Allyn this Saturday, June 4, at their first annual Allyn Geoduck Festival to celebrate our native king clam.

Dig for a duck at low tide (you'll need a shellfish permit), with awards given for heaviest and longest shell, have your photo taken with geoducks, and, of course, sample their deliciousness with dishes from Xinh’s Clam & Oyster House, Steven’s Fine Dining, and Lenny K's Boat House. Taylor Shellfish will be there, sponsoring an oyster roast (YUM), oyster shuffleboard, and an amateur oyster-shucking contest. The day also includes a chainsaw carving contest, a natural history walk, and beach scavenger hunts.

See their website for more information, and for the schedule of events!

A little geoduck trivia:

• They are one of the longest-lived creatures on earth, with an expected lifespan of 146 years.
• They burrow about 3 feet into the sand—their name comes from a Nisqually word meaning “dig deep.”
• They are the largest burrowing clam in the world, averaging 1 to 3 pounds. 
• Puget Sound Shorelines reports that the largest documented geoduck from the sound weighed in at over 7 pounds! That's a lot of clam. 

It's that time of year again—Seattle International Film Festival is back! I spent some time combing through the SIFF schedule recently, looking for films our readers might be interested in. Here are the ones that stood out to me as being food and/or sustainability focused. Leave a comment to let us know about others you have your eye on! 

Sushi: The Global Catch This documentary from director Mark Hall explores the history, future, and ultimate cost of one of the world's most popular cuisines. Trailer and screening times: Sushi: The Global Catch

A Matter of Taste: Serving Up Paul Liebrandt Some say “nutcase,” but chef Paul Liebrandt says “artist.” When you see his plates, you may be inclined to agree. Director Sally Rowe spent several years filming to put together a profile of a somewhat controversial chef as well as a food industry responding to economic ups and downs. Trailer and screening times: A Matter of Taste: Serving Up Paul Liebrandt

Revenge of the Electric Car Following up his 2006 documentary Who Killed the Electric Car, director Chris Paine brings a fast-paced look at the resurrection of the green vehicle. Trailer and screening times: Revenge of the Electric Car 

Life in a Day Okay, this one isn't keeping with the food and sustainability theme, but it just seemed too charming not to mention. From Executive Producers Tony and Ridley Scott, this film is a collection of video clips submitted by more than 80,000 people in 192 countries, all of which were shot on July 24, 2010. People get married, herd goats, fight in wars, and dance with their neighbors as the sun rises and sets on a day on Earth. Trailer and screening times: Life in a Day 



 

 

It's not often that breathtaking photography and amazing seafood are brought together quite like this. On November 16 at the Burke Museum, Braided River, Blueacre Seafood, Steelhead Diner, and Jon Rowley are teaming up to present a seafood feast and celebrate the photo exhibit and book, Salmon in the Trees: Life in Alaska's Tongass Rain Forest. 

Salmon in the Trees is by nature photographer Amy Gulick and documents life cycles in one of North America's rarest wild places. The work explores the interconnection between the forest animals, the salmon, and the trees in Alaska's Alexander Archipelago. 

(Watch a two-minute preview of the book here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbveinprUDk)

Tickets are $75 and include the photo exhibit, a feast of Southeast Alaska seafood (oysters, wild salmon, Dungeness crab, spot prawns and more), and a signed copy of the book. Proceeds benefit Seattle nonprofit Braided River and their work preserving wild spaces in Western North America through images and storytelling.  

Meet the photographer, see the exhibit, and enjoy the feast on Tuesday, November 16, 6:30-8:30 at the Burke Museum on the UW campus. Tickets on sale through November 12, so hurry! Purchase from Brown Paper Tickets. The exhibit is on display through February 13, 2011. 

There are a couple of events coming up this weekend that I wanted to let folks know about. For those in the Ferndale area, head to Centennial Riverwalk Park on Saturday for the Ferndale Harvest Festival. Bring the kids for carving pumpkins, designing scarecrows, and other perfectly autumnal delights. Saturday, October 9, 9-4pm.   

Also on Saturday, Lynden is hosting their Pumpkin Festival. Show up with the heaviest monster pumpkin and take home hefty cash prizes! Pumpkin registration starts at 8:30am, weigh-in begins at 11. 

On Sunday, head to Greenbank Farm on Whidby Island for the Northwest Organic Pig Roast featuring a certified organic Hampshire pig prepared by Chef David Bay. The event is a benefit for the Greenbank Farm Training Center. Read more and buy tickets here! 

Port Angeles hosts the 9th Annual Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival on both Saturday and Sunday, October 9-10. The event seems absolutely packed with cool happenings, including cooking demos, a vollyball tournament, cultural history and current projects from the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, and the opportunity to catch your own crab. And, of course, there will be copious amounts of dungeness crab and seafood! (Yummmmm...) Read more about the festival at their website. 


                                                       photo courtesy of Crab Festival

Skagit Valley's Festival of Family Farms is completely fun and it's happening this weekend, October 2nd and 3rd, from 10am-4pm both days. There's great food, gorgeous farm tours (think river valleys surrounded by mountains, during bird migration season), piles of interesting information that relates to nutrition and the environment, and a whole bunch of adorable farm animals and tasty end-of-season fruits and vegetables.

The participating farms are kind of spread out, and you'd really have to reserve the entire weekend to visit all of them. (That link above will get you a complete map and set of addresses.) They're all worthwhile, depending on your interests and the age of folks you're bringing along (some are more kid-friendly than others), but here are a few of our recommendations:

Taylor Shellfish: You can stuff yourself on insanely fresh shellfish, check out the oyster shell sculptures, have your photo taken with a teenager wearing a geoduck costume, and cheer for your favorite crustacean in the crab races. On the less silly side, make sure to read through the information about Puget Sound's environmental issues. Fascinating and important.

Golden Glen Creamery: Possibly the prettiest dairy farm in the state--it graced our very first cover, in fact, and Doug and some of the girls are pictured here. The cheese seems to get better every year (or at least I find a new favorite flavor every year--did you know they make parmesan?), and the milk, cream and butter are some of the best dairy products I've ever tasted. You can meet the state's Dairy Ambassador, check out some cool antique tractors, and say hello to a few adorable calves. Doug and Brandy Jensen are two absolute role models for today's young farmers, and Vic and Judy (Doug's parents) have great stories about growing up, and raising kids, in the Skagit Valley.


Sakuma Brothers: Seriously kid-friendly, the activities here range from goofy (pumpkin bowling) to gastronomic paradise (tour tea fields and experience a tea tasting with seven different varieties). On Saturday, there's a chance to check out the business side of the farm--Sakuma is one of the largest strawberry growers in the state, and this is an opportunity to see how the processing side works for a big operation. Sakuma's welcoming their fourth generation of family into the business.

Hemlock Highlands: Highland cattle would win the award for "word's cutest cattle breed" if we ever create such an award. These fluffy teddy bear cows have to be seen to be believed. You can tour the farm on a hayride--through pastures and over to a nearby orchard and winery--pet a few calves and munch a delicous pasture-raised burger.

Cascadian Farms: Aside from grabbing a delicious ice cream which you may not need but you know you want, this stand is worth a stop for two reasons--one, there's a U-Pick pumpkin patch, and two, Cascadian Farms is a beautiful spot for lunch or a hot apple cider before heading back home. Their riverbanks are home to hundreds of bald eagles every winter--it's a bird nerd's paradise. Bring your binoculars and a serious zoom lens on your camera.

More fun stuff coming up!

September 21-- Join Jill Lightner and an all-star panel to talk with Rowan Jacobsen, James Beard award winning food writer and author of American Terroir: Savoring the Flavors of Our Woods, Waters, and Fields, about native foods. The $25 ticket price includes appetizers, Theo chocolates, and a guided tasting of ciders, apples, and oysters. Part of Kim Ricketts Book Events. 7-9 pm, Palace Ballroom. Buy tickets from Brown Paper Tickets here. 

September 23 and 29-- Cascade Harvest Coalition presents a Seed Saving for Gardeners and Farmers Workshop. The workshop on the 23rd will be offered in Port Townsend at The Quimper Grange and Midori Farm, and on the 29th at Whidbey Island's Greenbank Farm. Gardeners and farmers can learn to grow and save seeds, and create new varieties. Deadline to register is September 20, and space is limited! Find out more at Organic Seed Alliance's website. 

September 25-26-- The Market Foundation hosts the Pike Place Market Artisan Food Festival, a benefit for the services the Foundation provides for low-income people. Stroll through the outdoor pavillions to experience different food and beverage themes (chocolate, vegetables, beer and wine...), and check out chef demos, music, and activities for the youngsters. Looks like a great schedule!

September 28-- Another great Kim Ricketts event brings you a Cooks & Books jam demo with jam-master and author of The Blue Chair Jam Cookbook, Rachel Saunders. The $65 ticket price gets you appetizers and wine, the jam demonstration, a jar of jam to take home, and a signed copy of the book. 6:30pm at Dish It Up. Tickets available here. To learn more about Rachel Saunders, listen to her interview with Jane Black on Edible Radio!

Have an idea for a value-added product to sell at farmers markets? 21 Acres is hosting a class to help turn that idea into a viable business. Dale Nelson of Food Concepts, Inc. and Woodring Northwest will lead the Bring Your Food to Market Workshop on Saturday, September 11, at 21 Acres in Woodinville. Included will be information on health regulations, licensing, production, and more. As an added bonus, 21 Acres will be opening a commercial kitchen next spring that will be available to farmers and food purveyors-- way cool! Download the enrollment application here and read about their other upcoming classes. 

Also on Saturday, September 11, will be the 3rd Annual Whatcom County Farm Tour. Between the eleven farms participating, activities range from sampling handmade lotions, to making your own cider slushy, to riding in a horse-drawn wagon through apple orchards. You might even meet a bison! Farms are open from 10am to 6pm. Find the list of participating farms here, or look for it in the Bellingham Herald or Cascadia Weekly the week before the event. 

Finally, bring your picnic gear and a big appetite on Sunday, September 12, to Seattle Chefs Collaborative's 4th annual rooftop feast and fundraiser, Urban Picnic. An all-star list of chefs will be serving up the northwest's finest food in the Rainier Square Rooftop Courtyard to raise scholarship money to send a budding culinary star to the Quillisascut Farm School of the Domestic Arts. (If you aren't familiar with these guys, take a look at their website. They're pretty awesome, and have a book that is one of my all-time favorites.)

Urban Picnic participating chefs:

John Sundstrom of Lark
Jason Franey of Canlis
Maria Hines of Tilth
Seth Caswell of Emmer & Rye
Ethan Stowell of Anchovies & Olives
Rachel Yang of Joule
Dan Braun of Oliver's Twist
Karen Jurgensen of Quillisascut Farm
Riley Starks of Willows Inn
Autumn Martin of Hot Cakes
Tara Ayers of Ocho (one of the recipients of the 2010 Quillisascut scholarship)
 
Tickets for the event are $60 (kids under 10 get in free) and include beer, wine, and music. Purchase through Brown Paper Tickets here.

The  Cake vs. Pie Showdown at CakeSpy Gallery is coming up on Monday and the turnout has been astonishing. Not only are all the contest slots booked up, we have a waiting list for two dozen more hopefuls. I can't wait to judge! Don't forget to submit photos for our companion cake vs. pie photo contest! We still need more pie photos, or cakes are sure to win top honors.

Clearly, with this sort of sold-out popularity, we're not the only ones who think baking contests are fun. One of the proudest moments of my life dates back to the age of six, when I won a ribbon at the Goshen County Fair for my biscuits--and not in the junior class, either. If we'd stuck around 'til I was 10 or so, maybe I would've snagged that giant purple Best in Show ribbon from the elderly Mennonite lady who won every year.

The Puyallup Fair has a big selection of contests this year--the entire list is rather mind-boggling--and these days, you might win more than just a ribbon if you win. You can find the cooking ones buried in the "home arts" category, gardening falls more obviously under horticulture. Some have cash prizes of around $100, and some--like the Ghiradelli chocolate dessert contest--include prizes of generous amounts of product. (Note the $500 shopping spree at King Arthur, bakers!) There's even a cool one sponsored by Fleischmann's yeast that benefits the Susan G. Komen foundation: Fleischmann's is donating $10 per entry to the foundation for breast cancer research. You need to check deadlines and rules carefully; some of them (especially pickling) have a fair amount of fine print to read through.

I'm also intrigued by the home brewing and wine making contests. These are popular hobbies around here--you chemistry nerd brewer types need to get out of the garage and enter these contests. Let us know in the comments if you'll be entering, especially if you'll be highlighting local ingredients in your entry--we'll turn this into our own edible March Madness.

You need only catch a glimpse of the expanding farmers markets these days to know that the season of summer abundance is upon us. With all that beautiful, colorful, fresh-from-the-farm food spilling out of the market stands, there's only one thing left to do-- eat! The calendar is filling up with amazing feasts, and here are four for the month of August.

First up is the Sunset and Stars Winemaker's Dinner at Terra Blanca Winery in Red Mountain. Winemaker Keith Pilgrim will match wines from the Certified Salmon Safe vineyard with seven courses from Chef Latoskie of Graze Catering in Walla Walla. Saturday, August 7. Appetizers at 7:30, dinner at 8. $125 per person, or $112.50 for Club Onyx members. For reservations or more info, email them here. 

On Sunday, August 8, join columnist Amy Pennington at Volunteer Park Cafe for a meal showcasing some of the delicious goods from her cookbook, Urban Pantry. Chef/Owners Ericka Burke and Heather Earnhardt will be serving up this amazing menu with Snoqualmie organically produced wines:

• Urban Pantry Goodies & Local Cheeses
• Carrot Bisque 
• Herb Roasted Chicken Legs with Heirloom Tomato & White Bean Panzanella 
• Braised Pork Shoulder with Sweet Corn Succotash
• Peach Bread Pudding with Bourbon Caramel

Cost is $65 and includes the meal, wine, and a signed copy of Urban Pantry. Dinner starts at 6pm. Call 206.328.3155 to save yourself a spot.

The 15th annual fundraising event Sunset Supper at the Market will be held on Friday, August 13. From 7:30 to 11pm, Pike Place Market will become a private party venue where 1200 guests will sample food from 40 Seattle resturants (on compostable plates and cutlery!), along with spirits, wines, and brews. (Maybe by 8:30 you'll have had enough to drink that you're ready to get down to the tunes of funk band Soul'd Out!) 

Sunset Supper at the Market is raising money to support the work of four groups serving the low-income community, Market Medical Clinic, Market Senior Center, the Market Child Care & Preschool and the Downtown Food Bank. General admission is $95, or guarantee yourself seating for $40 more. Tickets available here from Brown Paper Tickets. 

Finally, it's time again for An Incredible Feast- Where the Farmers are Stars. Head to the U-District farmers market location on Sunday, August 22, and feast on more than 30 gourmet creations prepared with local farm ingredients, as well as local wine and beer. The event includes live music, games and prizes, and a dessert auction. Click here to see the stunning list of participating farms and chefs!

Proceeds from An Incredible Feast will benefit the Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance and the Good Farmer Fund. Tickets are $80 each, or save ten bucks if you buy in pairs. Purchase tickets here. 

I'm looking at two awesome events on the calendar that are coming up fast, so I'm gonna get right to it.

First, head out to Taylor Shellfish Farms in Bow this Saturday for the 8th Annual Samish Bay Bivalve Bash! The schedule of events includes a low-tide mud run for adults and kids (which sounds just filthy, exhausting, and wonderful), and the world's only oyster shell sculpture competition, offering some hefty cash prizes. Naturally, there will be great food and a beer garden. The event benefits community clean-water awareness programs. Find more info, and register for the run and sculpture contest, on the website. Saturday, July 24, 9am-5pm, 2182 Chuckanut Drive in Bow, Washington.


Mud run! (photo courtesy of Jon Rowley)




Oyster shell sculpture with the tide coming in. (photo courtesy of Jon Rowley)


The next day, Pike Place Market is having their 2nd annual Fruit Festival! The event is free and will feature lots of family-friendly activities, including music, cooking demos, and, of course, a speed pie eating contest (because no self-respecting fruit festival would be caught dead without one)! Also of note is the "Iron Chef" style competition between Chef Josh Green of the Virginia Inn and Chef Ron Anderson of Etta’s Seafood. At noon they will be given two secret ingredients and will have 20 minutes to shop in the market before cooking up their dishes. It is on! For more information, check out the Pike Place website. Sunday, July 25, 10am-4pm.

Summer has been taking its sweet time arriving this year, but these events are already making the season change feel more official!

We're encouraging bakers from both sides of the fence to show off your favorite cake or pie at the CakeSpy Shop on Monday, August 9. The contest is open to amateur and professional bakers alike!

CakeSpy, Edible Seattle and Jenise Silva present:  Cake vs Pie.

1. If you bake, bake your favorite cake or pie for a chance to win a pie or canning class.
2. If photography is your thing, snap photos for an opportunity to be published online at Edible Seattle.
3. If you have have stories to share about cake or pie, then consider this event your soapbox.

Prize sponsors include Art of the Pie, Cupcake Royale, Edible Seattle, Chef Shop, Glazer's Camera & more!

Join judges Brittany Lee Adams, Jill Lightner, Kate McDermott & Jessie Olsen for the showdown August 9, 7 pm at CakeSpy Shop 415 E. Pine Street, on Seattle's Capitol Hill. We'll award prizes based on overall appearance, taste and texture (crust or crumb).All pies & cakes must be made from scratch and pans/plates marked on the bottom with your name and contact information.

To enter the baking or photo contest or for more information, email Jenise Silva. 
And for the complete details on the photos contest, click here.

If you love our local fruit, you need to make a trip to Mount Vernon, where the Western Washington Fruit Research Foundation is located. Aside from the opportunity to eat some great cherries, you can learn all kinds of things about fruit trees and our climate: diseases and pests, best varietals, how to properly care for your trees, and what surprising fruits do well in our own backyards. (Think figs, persimmons and yuzu.)

Hope you check out the "Sample The Cherry Harvest" event on July 10th 2010. Registration begins at 10:40 AM. From 11:00 to 11:30 Hollis Spitler will talk about the Spotted Wing Fruit Fly that is invading our area (attacking cherries, blueberries, and raspberries) and will demonstrate how to make a homemade trap for them. Then, at 11:30 we sample this year's Cherry Harvest!

The event will be held at  WSU NWREC at 16650 State Route 536, Mt Vernon WA. Click here for more info, or call 360-820-8586.

And, once you've pigged out on fresh cherries, don't forget to try Lara Ferroni's delicious cherry-rosemary focaccia.

Wilcox Farms in Roy, Washington, is hosting their June Jubilee event this weekend, June 26 and 27, 10am-4pm. There will be tractor pulls, hay rides, farm tours, food vendors, and music, and this family event is free! Find details on their poster (pdf). 

Planning a Fourth of July picnic? Place an order and drop off a basket at Volunteer Park Cafe before Friday, July 1, and they will fill it for you. For $15 per person, you'll get a baguette sandwich (vegetarian or meat), two side salads, watermelon, dessert, and house-made lemonade. Pick up your basket on the morning of the 4th. 

For wine lovers, consider the Ohme Gardens Summer Wine Gala in the spectacular Wenatchee Valley. Hosted on the gorgeous grounds of Ohme Gardens, the evening will feature 10 area wineries, as well as food and cooking demos from 10 local chefs and caterers. Ticket price is $45 per person if purchased before July 4, and $55 for tickets purchased after. For more information and to buy tickets, head to wenatcheewines.com. 

There's no doubt that this is events-and-happenings season, and the calendar just keeps becoming more and more loaded. Luckily, it's loaded with really cool stuff. Here are just a few opportunities coming up in the next couple of weeks. 

First is the Tonnemaker Farm Tour on Sunday, June 27, in Royal City. Take a walking tour of the 400+ varieties of fruit and veggies, and enjoy a leisurely lunch from Chef Matt Dillon of The Corson Building. Drive yourself, or take advantage of the buses provided. Including travel time, this is an all day event! Get more information at the Tonnemaker booths at U-District and West Seattle farmers markets, or by emailing Kurt Tonnemaker. $130 for bus riders, $90 for those driving themselves. (Kids 12 and under $50 and $35.)

Next, a great reason to bike to dinner (as if having fabulous legs wasn't enough): on Tuesday, June 29, participating restaurants will donate a portion of the night's proceeds to Lettuce Link, a group helping lower-income families through gardening and fresh food access. The event is from Spoke & Food, and you can find a participating restaurant in your area here.

Looking to volunteer? Lettuce Link invites you to help harvest unused urban fruit this summer through their Community Fruit Tree Harvest initiative. Volunteers will scout trees, pick fruit, and deliver it to local food banks. Email Sadie or call 206.694.6751 for more information.

   

Join us at the Palace Ballroom on Tuesday, June 8th for the first Edible Conversation: a new author series on food, sustainability and community. Our editor Jill Lightner will interview Ben Hewitt about his life as a farmer, and the way a group of farmers and entrepreneurs banded together to create a comprehensive food system and revive the dying economy of Hardwick, Vermont. Joining Jill and Ben will be Eric Tanaka, executive chef at Tom Douglas Restaurants, Kia Kozun of Nash's Organic Produce, Chris Curtis, Director of the Neighborhood Farmer's Market Alliance, Mary Embleton of the Cascade Harvest Coalition and Zachary Lyons of Seattle Chefs Collaborative.

The $25 per/person price includes appetizers and Theo chocolate confections; a cash bar will be available as well. Copies of The Town That Food Saved will be available for purchase and signing at the event. Click here to purchase tickets.