Calif. Tomato Festivals

[MsCowpea]

Planned a holiday around 2 tomato festivals--Kendall-Jackson near Napa and TomatoFest in Carmel. Had 7 days in between to see as many sites as we could fit in. Definately not a leisurely trip. You could spend the whole 7 days in most of these areas but we just wanted to see as much as possible.

Went to Napa Valley and Sonoma. Did a bit of driving along the northern coast. Drove all the way over to Lake Tahoe then back to SanFran. Did some touristy things in San Jose and then traveled around the agricultural regions around Salinas.
Drove down the coast highway to Hearst Castle in San Simeon and then back again to charming Carmel.

Last time we went to CA was about 15 years ago and I had forgotten how stunning the scenery was and how varied the geography.

Highlights: writer Jack London's defunct farm , now a state park near Glen Ellen (close to Napa). Innovator and way ahead of his time -ie farming techniques. Sadly died at 40.

Benziger Winery, certified Bio-dynamic which has even more stingent requirements than organic. Gorgeous winery.

Took a organic farm tour in Salinas (Bunny Farms) , visited Earthbound's small farm and stand in Carmel. We stopped at another roadside stand and I did a double-take--there was a box of momotaros for sale, one of my favorite tomatoes. Expensive but still thought this place is tomato heaven--every stand and grocery store had beautiful heirloom tomatoes.

Tahoe, Heast Castle, Carmel, coast--all so incredibly beautiful.

Both tomato events were great. Kendall-Jackson had lectures and a phenomenal vegetable garden to tour--really added alot. KJ had about 180 tomatoes and TF 350! Wonderful chef-created tomato dishes too numerous to count at both events. My husband doesn't eat raw tomatoes so he pigged out on the food while I plowed ahead through the tasting tomatoes. Walking to the car I said I never wanted to see another tomato the rest of my life but by next Sunday we were ready to dive in again. Both events benefit charities.

[Rena]

YOU are a lucky woman!! Fantastic When the kids get older I plan on doing stufff like that.

[dokutaaguriin]

3.99 a pound for momotaro...perhaps it is because of that extra 'e' :lol.
Great pictures.
Did any particular variety stand out for you?
Jeff

[MsCowpea]

Did any particular variety stand out for you?

I loved Matts Wild Cherry at Kendall but it was no good at Tomatofest. So go figure--you still have to grow varieties several times to figure it all out in your own garden.

Black from Tula was a standout at TF and someone on Gardenweb said the same thing.

I have grown Kellogg's Breakfast and it didn't do a thing for me but I really liked it at the Carmel event. This was true for Julia Child too. Also liked Santa Clara Canner and Mom 's Paste.

I didn't care for Dr. Carolyn in my garden but it was great at KJ along with Galina. Ditto Box Car Wille--they had an excellent one.

Worst were Tordino di Mandaria and Ethiopia Roi Humbort but who knows what they would be like on another day.

I got tired of tasting after the first 50 or so --after that you just kind of keep on tasting hoping that 1 or 2 might be something special.

YOU are a lucky woman!!

Don't I know it. Last's year trip was also built around tomatoes too (and visits to historical houses). Though we could have easily passed on the 'Mystery Victorian Mansion' in San Jose. Crazy house build by eccentric wealthy widow of Winchester rifle manufacturor. It was like a circus fun house--many weird little rooms. Interesting to see but not worth the $48 (for two) admission price.

Here is my long suffering husband so tolerant of tomato obssession enjoying the Calif. coast near Pebble Beach.

[carolyn137]

Worst were Tordino di Mandaria and Ethiopia Roi Humbort but who knows what they would be like on another day

*****

I can't say anything about the first one but I sure can about the second one.I can't understand why Ethiopian was given as part of the name and I've never seen that elsewhere. I take that back. For some unknown reason Marianne Jones ( mariseeds) is listing it with Ethiopian as part of the name. I had read once that is was rediscovered in Africa, but in the southern part of Africa where the English had a presence early on.

Roi Humbert/King Humbert, King Humberto/Rey Umberto refers to a former King of Italy.

it's a pre-1800 variety and the skins are very tough and taste that was neutral to negative and I see no reason to ever grow it again except as an historical curiousity as one of very few pre-1800 varieties known.

[madametomate]

We want to visit in 2008 some tomatoefestivals in the US.
Never been outside Europe. Please who can tell me where to go, which is the best one. Can we use public transport ? do we have to ask for a car by Avis?
I will take my time to read all your postings above. thanks
rita

[Adenn1]

Boy...that is some table full of nice tomatoes. Nice, very nice!

[caascher2]

Great pictures! That table of tomatoes looks a little like our Tomatopalooza in NC but on a much grander scale!
I grew Black from Tula this year and it was one of my favorites as well.
Carol

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by madametomate

We want to visit in 2008 some tomatoefestivals in the US.
Never been outside Europe. Please who can tell me where to go, which is the best one. Can we use public transport ? do we have to ask for a car by Avis?
I will take my time to read all your postings above. thanks
rita

Rita, there is no one best festival.

I suggest that you go to the main menu here and look at the regional tomato festivals that start with Tomatopalooza, which was the first one organized.

It seems to me you'd be better off going to one or two, maybe, on our East Coast or in the midwest rather than flying all the way to the West Coast and California.

And while Tomatofest is a large event, it's also very expensive for most folks in terms of tickets and local places to stay.

So look at the regional ones first. The locations for them are stated in the listings.

There are also some wonderful tastings in Europe and one in France has been talked about here and pictures shown.

[madametomate]

Thanks for replying. I was on the French one, togheter with angelo and with the Tomodori's. That is a marvelous festival. Everyone knows each other, we are all friends. If you look to the pictures of the festival I am the one with the funny cook heat with tomatoes printed on the fabric.
rita

[MsCowpea]

Madame,

There are wonderful tomato events all over the country.

But I think you have to base a trip on the area that you particularly want to see. Then find the tomato events, either free ones or charity events (more $) you want to attend and plan your trip around those dates.

Is there an area of the states that you would like to visit?
Just don't say Disney World in Florida as I don't know of any tomato tasting events in that particular area but others might. ((though the backstage of The Land exhibit at EPCOT with the gigantic tomato and cucumber plants is SPECTACULAR.))

If I were flying in from Europe for the first time I would probably stick to the east coast or the west coast. Either place would require a rental car.

Again, Is there an area of the U.S. that you have always wanted to visit?

San Fran, Napa, Calif coast, etc. was a spectacular trip , well worth considering--even without the tomato events. There are considerable differences in hotel accomodations available.

But New York is exciting and North Carolina is very pretty
so it just depends on what you are looking to do besides tasting tomatoes.

[feldon30]

Public transit outside of the Northeast U.S. cities is questionable, so rent a car (Avis, etc.).

[madametomate]

I am glad with your answers , so thanks.
We have all Winter period to prepare our travelling.
My husband will read all yoyur answers this evening.
grts
rita