The weather was lovely - a mild 67 degrees F as we left our home at 7:30am on Sunday... Our destination was Fairfield, CA & the event two-fold:
Fairfield Tomato Festival (for her) and the
West Coast BBQ Championships (for him).
My 10-year anniversary gift to my husband this spring was the Kansas City Barbeque Society Certification [KCBS].
Pretty cool, I know! He went off to judge day two of a variety of meats and I did some pre-shopping in the shops and booths that opened early. I found a few trinkets, but decided that staring at the vendors and willing them to hurry-up and set up was not going to work. I went in search of a non-chain breakfast and coffee. I should mention now that I am NOT a fan of chain restaurants. I try to seek out the places where the locals hang out or aks them where they take visitng guests! (This is a great tip -- when on vacation or moving to a new area!)
That being said, I found a gem in
Canepa Delicatesson at 721 Texas Street (near Jefferson).
After feasting my eyes on the charming interior and all the goods they had to offer, I decided on coffee (freshly made, robust, yet not a hint of bitterness) and an idividual Rustic Apple Tart.
Oh my goodness!! The tart's apples were perfectly cooked, the pastry portion was moist, and there was even a hint of a 'crisp topping' to compliment the harmonious flavors and textures! (I decided then and there that this would be a great 'pit stop,' as Canepa is the half-way point for our trips to the Bay Area!)
**I'm told the same couple (Gigi and Ray) own Vintage Caffe at Makas Corner in Suisun Valley (conviently on the way to Napa!).I asked the staff for lunch recommendations in the area -- in unision:
any of their deli sandwiches, of course! ;) After lingering to chat a bit longer, I ventured back out onto the street to check out more vendors & shops -- jewlery (fine, casual, and kitchy), handbags, air-brushed tattoos, toys, hair accessories, home decor, metal work, hydroponic supplies, Bloody Mary's
(ooh!), recipe booklets featuring Tomatoes, mini-Succulent Gardens (in an array of pots and containers), eyebrow threading, Indian fabrics & clothing, make-your-own (edible) candy sculpture, and so on...
A few hours later it is lunch time. Greg was still judging for few more hous and I was ready for something different. The food stands along W. Texas Street were touting everything from Tri-Tip Sandwiches to Fried Catfish (which nearly got my vote). But, I like to try new things, especially at fairs and festivals. At the recommendation of a booth operator, I bypassed the beautiful giant spears of tempura fried asparagus (world-reknown in the area thanks to the annual Asparagus Festival in Stockton) and ordered the lumpia.
What is
LUMPIA? After eating them, I would describe them as a hybrid eggroll/taquito. My order contained a flavorful mixture of ground pork, ginger, garlic and cabbage wrapped in a very thin, open-ended egg roll wrapper and deep fried. Served with a sweet chile sauce, these crunchy hot bundles were filling and satisfied my tastebuds!
Next stop:
Tomato Alley. For a mere $2 entry fee (that went to local charities) I received a paper bowl and a plastic fork. Inside the white, air-conditioned 'event tent' was a long rectangle of tables showcasing thousands of tomatoes -- easily 100 varieties. There were samples given at six stations around the tables. At each tasting station, you could taste pieces of various tomatoes. For $3.99/# you could hand-select any of the tomatoes and take them home with you. (The tomato I like the very best was the yellow
Lemon Boy and I happen to be growing it at home this summer. Bonus!)
Next I perused the BBQ Team tents and their set ups. Some tents were like Taj Mahals of Grilling & Smoking, while others looked like poor college students having a good time on basic grills! Most people were happy to just be competing. Others were convinced
they were going to win!! I loved the positive, competitve spirit!
I walked back to the judging area as Greg was emerging... by the time we left, it was 93 degrees F, our bellies were happy, and we were in need of a nap!!
We relocated to Sacramento over five years ago. We had never been to this area and didn't know a soul in town. Within a few weeks I knocked on a neighbor's door, gave her a set of our keys and asked her to check in on our house a few times in the coming month. (I found out later she thought I was "insane!")
(my plate: are you hungry?)
