Monday, April 30, 2012

The 1st Annual Artisan Food & Arts Festival inspired sustainability in Irvine, CA

On Saturday, April 28, 2012, people from all parts of Orange County gathered at the OC Great Park to experience the 1st Annual Artisan Food & Arts Festival. There were three different stages: chef demonstrations, artisan food demonstrations, and sustainability practice demonstrations. Did I mention the scrumptious aromas wafting through the air from food trucks and restaurant/caterers? Live music entertained the queues of hungry food truck enthusiasts. As the morning haze dissipated, the day warmed up nicely, sending some guests scurrying to find plots of shade and cool beverages.

The Hangar 244 Stage showcased the chef demonstrations from noon to 4pm: Salad Making with Chef Cathy Thomas (award-winning columnist from the Orange County Register), Charred Yellowtail with Chef Matt Perez (Executive Chef of Duke’s, Huntington Beach), Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls with Chef Haley Nguyen (Owner of Xahn Bistro), Plant-Based Sauces to Spice Up the Summer with Chef Jenny Ross (Owner of 118 Degree Restaurant), Refrigerator Pickling with Chef Linda Lewis Elbert (Co-Owner of The Basement Table). The hangar was set up theatre style so you could view each chef working from overhead mirror reflection to TV monitors. While the demonstrations were held inside, the lack of air circulation made it a bit uncomfortable. This did not deter many of the attendees since each session was a full house. It’s great to see that our Orange County community is eager to learn more about the culinary arts and increasing the use of local foods and produce. It’s all about lessening our carbon footprint, strengthening our local economy, and sustainable food choices.

To read more and see slideshow of photos, please visit: http://www.examiner.com/article/the-1st-annual-artisan-food-arts-festival-inspired-sustainability-irvine-c

Mahalo!

OC Food Diva

No comments:

Post a Comment