2017 Big Sur Foragers Festival Dates Announced Festival Announces Partners & Details Tickets on Sale

Big Sur Health Center announced January 13 – 15, 2017, as the dates of its annual Big Sur Foragers Festival.

Big Sur, CA, September 18, 2016 - Big Sur Health Center announced January 13 – 15, 2017, as the dates of its annual Big Sur Foragers Festival. This year’s partners include Carmel Valley Ranch, the sister property of longtime host Ventana Big Sur. Due to renovations at Ventana Big Sur, the Fungus Face-Off and the Grand Chef dinner will take place at Carmel Valley Ranch this year.

The event has traditionally served as a fundraiser for the Big Sur Health Center. The community’s non-profit health center will receive the proceeds from the foraging events to help support the continued presence of local healthcare services in the Big Sur area.

New events for 2016 include:

· A new Friday night winemaker dinner series held at select restaurants throughout Monterey County. Some partners include La Balena, Alvardo Street Brewery and more! Details to come

· Post Ranch Inn will host a Friday night fundraiser for the second year! Details to come.

· Join us for a special evening in the legendary wine room at Hyatt Carmel Highlands. Chef Chad Minton and the culinary team will create a three course meal paired with wines from Bonny Doon Vineyard. The evening will begin with a reception of passed appetizers, wines from Bonny Doon and live music from Dino Vera from 6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. At 7:00 p.m. enjoy a three course dinner in the legendary wine room. Meet the culinary team and Bonny Doon Vineyard! There are only 24 seats available. Tickets are $175 per person

Back by Popular Demand:

· An exclusive Friday night dinner at Sierra Mar restaurant at Post Ranch Inn with a special menu and a unique opportunity to enjoy wines from their award-winning wine cellar. This event is limited to 14 people.

· This year’s partners include Carmel Valley Ranch, the summer-camp-inspired sister resort of longtime host Ventana Big Sur that sprawls across 500 acres in the nearby Carmel Valley. Due to renovations at Ventana Big Sur, this year’s Fungus Face-Off and the Grand Chef dinner will take place at this playful destination resort that celebrates a deep connection to the land with passionate culinary, wine and farming artisans, and guest learning experiences ranging from organic gardening and foraging to wine making and lavender and beekeeping workshops. The “Fungus Face-Off” will take place in a beautiful tented setting on the Pete Dye-designed golf course at Carmel Valley Ranch. This popular event sells out early. There are 250 tickets available. Tickets are $65 per person.

· Grand Chef Dinner at Carmel Valley Ranch — details to be announced soon.

· Foraging walk led by local experts at Ventana Big Sur. “Wild Mushroom Walks and Talk” at Pfeiffer State Park led by expert mushroom foragers. This year hikes will be held on Sunday. There are 30 spaces available per walk. Tickets are $60 per person.

For event details visit www.bigsurforagersfestival.org . Tickets can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/big-sur-foragers-festival-2017-tickets-26923723582.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.bigsurforagersfestival.org

2016 Big Sur Foragers Festival Announces Its Fungus Face-Off Partners

Tickets on Sale Now!

Big Sur, CA, November 25, 2015 - Big Sur Health Center, a non-profit organization offering local, quality healthcare to the Big Sur community, announced January 15-17, 2016 as the dates of its annual Big Sur Foragers Festival. Held in Big Sur along California’s central coast, the festival is a weekend-long celebration featuring an amazing array of wild foods, world-class wine and beer, expert-led foraging hikes and a friendly chef competition with celebrity judges. This year’s partners include Ventana Big Sur, longtime host of the Fungus Face-Off and the Grand Chef dinner, along with a new strategic partner, Post Ranch Inn, which will host several different events.

The event has traditionally served as a fundraiser for the Big Sur Health Center. The community's non-profit health center will receive the proceeds from the foraging events to continue to support the presence of local health care services in the Big Sur area.

The three day festival affords Big Sur area restaurants the opportunity to host the culinary expertise of notable chefs who will be preparing unique fare ranging from rustic to elegant, paired alongside the central coast region's amazing selection of wine and beer. Guest Chef Suzette Gresham, Acquerello’s co-owner and Executive Chef from San Francisco’s Acquerello, will join Ventana’s own Chef Paul Corsentino to offer a memorable Grand Chef Dinner.

Saturday January 16th events include:

· Saturday morning - This year there will be two "Wild Foraging Walk and Talk" - one at Pfeiffer State Park (level beginner) and one through the Big Sur Wilderness (level intermediate). Cost per hike $35.00. (Saturday, January 16th 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.)

· Saturday afternoon – The “Fungus Face-Off" on the deck at Ventana Big Sur from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Cost per person is $60. A friendly competition among some of the area's notable chefs featuring chanterelles and other fabulous fungi, along with a variety of wild foraged foods.. Attendees also have an opportunity to cast their vote for "People's Choice". (Saturday, January 16th 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.)

•  Winery and Brewery Partners Include:

* Morgan Winery

* Comanche Cellars

* Holman Ranch

* Bernardus Winery

* Mesa Del Sol

* Filipponi Ranch/Kelly McCleary/Peter Cron

* Ventana Vineyards

* Scheid Vineyards

* McIntyre Wines

* Chappellet

* Mad Otter Ales

•  Restaurant, Chef and Tasting Partners Include:

* Chef Paul Corsentino, Ventana Big Sur

* Chef Jon Cox, Post Ranch

* Chef Tim Wood, Carmel Valley Ranch

* Chef Steve Johnson, TusCA Ristorante

* Chef Brendan Esons , Big Sur Roadhouse

* Chef Matt Farmer, Coast Gallery

* Chef Phillip Burrus, Esalen Institute

* Chef Jacob Burell, Big Sur Bakery

* Miguel Vargas, Fernwood

* Adan Moeda Chavez, River Inn

* Carmel Valley’s Quail and Olive (taste organic olive oils and vinegars)

· A silent auction full of culinary delights, hotel stays, tickets to explore the area, art and so much more will take place during the food and wine sampling. There will be more than 60 items this year! Purchase raffle tickets for $5 per ticket of $25 for 6 tickets. Enter to win your choice of 7 culinary delights or hotel packages! Raffle package values begin at $200 to $700! Tickets available for purchase at the event.

· Saturday Evening: The Big Sur Foragers Festival announces its Grand Chef Dinner at the Restaurant at Ventana Big Sur. The multi-course dinner, destined to be a memorable feast paired with an incredible wine selection, costs $175.00 per person (as of December 1). Early bird tickets are on sale now through November 30th for $150.00. Guest Chef Suzette Gresham, Acquerello’s co-owner and Executive Chef, will join Ventana’s Chef Paul Corsentino to offer an unforgettable dining experience. (Saturday, January 16th, 2016 beginning at 6:00 pm).

Tickets on sale now http://bigsurforagersfestival2016.eventbrite.com

For event details and information on other Foragers Festival weekend activities, including venues at Post Ranch Inn, please visit our website: www.bigsurforagersfestival.org or follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/bigsurforagersfestival.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.bigsurforagersfestival.org