It is Labor Day weekend and we were are at the Somerset Ridge Winery for a lunch overlooking their lake on Sunday. Afterwards we went back to Casa Somerset Vineyard and our friends start coming over. We talked about small growers and local producers. This was a Slowfood weekend.

Wow, I thought summer was over, but not if you visit the Wrischnik's, their yard is what Slowfood is all about! We had dinner with our friends Steve and Brenda who have an amazing garden. If everyone in America gardened like this we would be the healthiest nation on Earth. Carlo Petrini, when he started Slowfood, had a vision of people gardening like this.

Can you believe a bay leaf tree in Kansas?? Steve and Brenda have so many herbs in their yard you could not use them all. They have been supplying us with produce all summer. They gave us the golden eggplant, and they have beautiful heirloom tomatoes. Their garden is still like a jungle of fresh produce, they garden with so much love.

Our dinner was great, we ate with with their daughter Regan, her friend James, and Steve and Brenda. Brenda served pickled green beans which were the best ever, but when things are so fresh they have to be good!!

It has been a wonderful weekend with wonderful friends.

I am telling you the Slowfood Movement is in Somerset Kansas and Miami County.

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The Louisburg Cidermill Festival starts September 19th. What a wonderful family outing, just 20 minutes out of Kansas CIty.

Mike and Christine

Ferry Market

I have wanted to go to the Ferry Market for such a long time. It is often mentioned on the Travel Channel and on Food TV. The Slowfood USA Convention is there in September this year. We left the Fisherman's Wharf heading there. It was such a sight to see.

The peaches were the "in" thing there. Delicious and at the height of their season. We tried the Peach Bruschetta and Peaches roasted with Pancetta.

We shared on the pier both of the delightful treats. It was so great sitting in the sun and people watching. All of the birds flying overhead. The breeze in your face, a beautiful day.

After we walked outside the Market, we spotted an outdoor cafe. We sat and had a glass of wine, and some dessert. It was 08/08/08, and we watched a couple be married right there in front of us! The entire wedding party arrived in limos.

This was a great day in San Francisco. It was Christine's dream to take me there! If you want more information about the Market, go to www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com

We left the "beautiful city by the bay", and were on our way to Sacramento.

Mike