West Hollywood Launch Event a Success! by Diane

August 2, 2007

We did it – we’ve officially launched the Eat Well Guided Tour of America! As I write this, we’re on the bus and are just starting to head out of Los Angeles on our way to tonight’s dinner in Madera, California. Today’s extremely successful event was held in King’s Road Park in West Hollywood.

Guests included Amelia Saltsman, author of The Santa Monica Farmer's Market Cookbook and her son, Adam. The book, besides just being a cookbook, celebrates the farmers that have stands at the farmers market so goes beyond just recipes to the people who grow the food that are the ingredients.

Food was provided by caterer Evan Kleiman and consisted of ensalata forte, zucchini frittata (which, I must admit, I just had another helping of it here on the bus….), beet and fennel salad, and heirloom tomato and mozzarella salad. Mmm, Mmm – this is going to be one tasty tour! To end the meal, we had a choice of cherry, apple or nectarine pie.

Added to that was food from Dorit Dyke, a raw vegan chef in Los Angeles. Dorit brought a raw apple pie and other tasty treats that I’m sure even non-vegans would enjoy, and very generously loaded us up on the bus with pate and juices, as well as flax crackers, vegan spreads, and even lovely sandals to relax in!

The stars of our event were the sustainable farmers who joined us. Jim Churchill and Lisa Brenneis, farmers from Ojai, CA, brought down their world famous and highly sought after tangerines – Pixie tangerines. (We have a box of them on the bus and are already munching into them…) We also showed their movie, Eat at Bill's, silently during the get together. Our other farmer was Alex Weiser from Lucerne Valley in Kern County, CA. He specializes in root crops, especially pee wee potatoes, which he’s known for.

About 30 people joined us for the launch gathering – the perfect number for mingling and getting to know everyone. And King’s Road Park, where we held the lunch, was the perfect place – both indoors and outdoors, well shaded and beautifully landscaped.

So event no. 1 is a big success! And we’re now out of Los Angeles and are passing through Grapevine, CA, on Interstate 5 going through dry, desert-like mountains. We really did it – we’re really on the road!

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