San Benito Olive Festival 2014

I was drinking coffee after my #winePW twitter chat yesterday when I received an email from Sarah at Edible Monterey Bay, asking if I could go to the San Benito Olive Festival. In two hours.

Not for a story, but for a little research. Okay. Jake and R were busy with Halloween costume prep, so I texted Ulla and she and her girls agreed to join me and D. Sweet!

It was a lovely day out beyond Tres Pinos. The sun was shining, but a nice breeze kept it from feeling like an oven. We tastes olives stuffed with everything from bleu cheese to garlic.

We sipped olive oils.

We tried different vinegars.

We listened to honest buskers - "so I can afford a high maintenance girlfriend" declared his sign.

We listened to a presentation by Marich Confectionary...

then tried some of their sweets.

We watched what D called "the comedy chefs," the cooking team of Chef Sam Bozzo and Chef Gene Sakahara. They both ran the Garlic Festival at one point or another and they penned the cooking Any Bozzo Can Cook .

Towards the end of the afternoon, Ulla and I flashed our VIP wristbands, went into the VIP tent, and tasted some local wines.

It was a fantastically relaxed afternoon with some good friends and lots of olive love! So glad I had the chance to go.

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