Category Archives: Local

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Suzie’s Farm Second Autumnal Equinox Dinner

Such a magical night was had at the second annual Suzie’s Farm Autumnal Equinox dinner. It was an evening filled with enchanting scenery, great company, and delightful food and wine pairings. The event started out on Suzie’s Farm with appetizers and refreshments in the middle of their towering Sunflower maze. As the sun began to set, and the temperatures began to drop, we found ourselves crunching over leaves and fallen sunflower stalks heading in the direction of other people’s chatter. The sounds of bees buzzing past your ears, and the foliage under your feet, transforms you into this tranquil state as you explore this living piece of art. There were different rooms to be found, other than the center hay filled meeting place. Of course with the temperatures still being in the eighties at 6pm, making it to the beverages and appetizers almost felt like a reward. We snacked on pickled vegetables, Chayote and eggplant crostinis, Lambcetta dipped in a charred vegetable “dirt”, and savory cannolis. We sipped a Cucumber Lemon Verbena water that was more than refreshing. The dinner portion of the night was held at their Sun Grown property.

Suzie's Farm Autumnal Equinox Dinner

Suzie's Farm Autumnal Equinox Dinner

Suzie's Farm Autumnal Equinox Dinner

Suzie's Farm Autumnal Equinox Dinner

Suzie's Farm Autumnal Equinox Dinner

Suzie's Farm Autumnal Equinox Dinner

Suzie's Farm Autumnal Equinox Dinner

We mingled during the cocktail hour taking in the intoxicating aromas floating around from the outdoor kitchen. Hello, Caja China so nice to see you again. We enjoyed a glass of Vesper Vineyards Carignan, as we waited for the dinner bell to be rung. The dining area with long tables covered in crisp white linens and twinkling lights above was just gorgeous. This was like a scene that came out of my imagination. Oh wait, not everyone day dreams about dinner parties in rustic settings and farms? Well, I do, and I could not wait to see how the night would unfold.

Suzie's Farm Autumnal Equinox Dinner

Four local Chefs came together to create a four course meal and pairings for all of the attendees. Now that I have described the scenery, let’s get into the indulgent part of the evening, the food.

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Festival de la Ensalada Caesar

Festival de la ensalada Caesar in Tijuana
Festival de la ensalada Caesar in Tijuana
Festival de la ensalada Caesar in Tijuana
Festival de la ensalada Caesar in Tijuana
Festival de la ensalada Caesar in Tijuana
Festival de la ensalada Caesar in Tijuana

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon spent celebrating Tijuana’s own Caesar salad. Avenida Revolución was beaming with the aromas of charcoal grills, and various food options. With music playing in the background, and the street flooded with people, walking around with a plate piled high of Paella and Caesar salad was the perfect way to spend the day. Of course you couldn’t resist washing it all down with an ice cold beer or glass of wine. These are the events that truly make you appreciate the city of Tijuana for its beauty, gastronomy, and people.
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Suzie’s Farm Strawberry Jam

Suzie's Farm Strawberry Jam
Ever since we first saw the Strawberry Jam event on the Suzie’s Farm calendar, we could not wait to be a part of it. We visited Suzie’s Farm last fall for the Pumpkin U-Pick, and loved everything about it. The weather has been so pleasant lately, why not head outside and enjoy the day. Giovanni is a bit older now, and loved helping us pick his own strawberries, and of course helped put them into the bucket. The aromas of strawberries filled the air, as everyone scoured the field, and collected their own bounty to bring home. It really is amazing how sweet these strawberries are. There is such an honest difference from the ones that you would normally buy at the market.
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Hillcrest Farmers Market

Hillcrest Farmers Market
Hillcrest Farmers Market
The Hillcrest Farmers Market was a wonderful way to spend a bright and sunny Sunday morning. There is such a nice variety of vendors, and a lot of options for when your stomach starts to growl.

Our first stop was for a Spinach, Pineapple and Lime agua fresca. I must learn how to re create this at home. It was so clean and refreshing. The vendor had a lot of different flavors to offer, most of them you wouldn’t see on a normal basis. My stomach was running on empty, and  I had spotted the Gyros on the way in. We made our rounds to check out all of the other options, but those Gyros were definitely stuck in my head.

Their thin pita bread was filled with a lemon beef and slathered with Tzatziki and Chile sauces. I loved that the bread was thin, and didn’t overpower the contents that were inside. You could very well try eating this without utensils, but they do give you a fork to handle the hearty serving of beef. This Gyro had some great flavors, and I would without a doubt eat this again on our next Farmers market run.

All of the colors and aromas of Farmers markets are really what makes for an unforgettable experience. Walking around to each vendor, gawking and tasting their offerings is so much fun. Recipes start running through my head, and I kind of go off into my own little world for a second. Farmers market are the perfect way to get outside and see what your city and local farmers have to offer.
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Top 5 Posts of 2011

Festival de las Brasas, la Cerveza y el Vino
The end of the year is nearly approaching, and what a year it has been. We started our blog half way through 2011, and I can’t believe how wonderful it has been discovering new places and cuisine. I want to thank all of my readers for following and supporting Life & Food. It is such an amazing feeling to know that my posts are actually being read. I can’t wait to see what 2012 brings, and the food adventures that it will take us on.

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Tijuana Tidbits

Tijuana Tidbits
Day trips to Tijuana are a convenient “getaway” for us. We get to enjoy a change of scenery, as well as enjoy delicious food. I can’t be the only one that has a list of everything they want to eat prepared, before even crossing the border. Okay, so maybe I don’t actually write anything down, but it’s all about the mental lists. Tijuana isn’t only about amazing tacos, but they are often the first stop we make, no matter what our plans for the day are.
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Mercado Hidalgo de Tijuana

Mercado Hidalgo de Tijuana
I can’t even tell you how long my husband has been telling me that we need to go to Mercado Hidalgo. He knows that I am all about markets, and the fresh produce and goods that come along with it. It’s a shame that we couldn’t cross all of the beautiful produce back home, but just the all around experience was wonderful that day. Every vendor has their own setup as well as products, and the smells are just intoxicating. You can purchase everything from produce to piñatas. Of course Giovanni was immediately drawn to the piñatas and candy, and had to point at it every time we came across a new vendor.

Merdcado Hidalgo is where the majority of Chefs and cooks in Tijuana go to supply their restaurant with the finest ingredients. You may have seen both Rick Bayless and Andrew Zimmern make their own trips the the mercado. It really is a unique and great experience. If you go hungry, there are little restaurants, as well as street carts to satisfy your hunger. We had stopped to get Carne Asada tacos before the mercado, so we just ended up grabbing some Gorditas de nata. They were absolutely delicious. They are creamy pillow like ‘cakes’, that are served to you right off of a heated griddle. You must grab a plastic bag of these on your visit, but believe me they won’t last long.
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