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Chefs Bite Back Local cuisinartists come out swinging against genetically engineered foods By Christina Waters ACTIVIST CHEFS Diane Rose of Mio Vicino and David Kinch of Sent Sovi join Millennium chef Eric Tucker at a no-holds-barred discussion on Monday, June 5, at 6:30pm on the impact of genetically engineered foods on the sustainable agriculture movement. The talk will take place on board the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise, docked at Pier 27 on San Francisco's Embarcadero. It's free to the public, and all you need do is RSVP by calling Greenpeace at 415.512.9023 or emailing [email protected]. This is your chance to consider the insider food industry take on the red-hot issue of genetically modified foods, as well as learn more from two of the South Bay's hottest chefs as they sound off on an issue close to their hearts. Speaking of Rose--easily the hardest-working woman in the local food biz--she's also hard at work putting the finishing details on the upcoming Strawberry Festival, held Saturday, June 10, and Sunday, June 11, at West Valley College in Saratoga. Would you believe this is the 40th year of this annual event to benefit EMQ Children and Family Services? Chef Rose has been heavily involved in helping to narrow the field down to five finalists for the prize-winning strawberry recipe next weekend. To whet your appetite, here are the finalist dishes: lemon mascarpone brulée pizza with strawberries, strawberry and mascarpone bread pudding, sabayon strawberry cake, strawberry margaritas, and something really inventive called sweet ricotta cream tacos with strawberry salsa. Come by and sample the winning recipes, plus almost everything you can think of involving everybody's favorite berry. For more details, contact Carla Zaccheo at Eastfield Ming Quong: 408.437.8328. Moveable Fest Don't fail to plan your trek all over the Santa Cruz Mountains, where for the next two weeks the moveable feast that is the annual Vintners' Festival will be happening. This coming weekend, June 3 and 4, wineries on the eastern side of the mountains are open 11am-5pm for touring and tasting. Next weekend, June 10 and 11, the festival will be hosted at wineries on the Santa Cruz side of the hill, 11am-5pm. The 13th installment of this festival is an opportunity to sample from 35 wineries at 27 locations. Dozens of our top wineries, many too small to open except by appointment, will be showing their stuff, and this is a fabulous, self-guided chance to meet winemakers, enjoy alfresco food, music and tasting, and learn more about the specialties of our unique Santa Cruz Mountains appellation. Your $20 donation gains you a commemorative festival wine glass and detailed map that serves as your ticket to special events on any and all of the festival dates. You may order tickets in advance or pay at the first location you visit. The best way to find out the details of wineries, locations and hours is to log onto www.SCMWA.com, or call the SC Mountains Winergrowers Association at 831.479.WINE. Your driving/tasting tour can take you through historic California vineyards, like those at the picturesque Picchetti Ranch, venerable Savannah-Chanel and stately Byington Winery. The next weekend you can reacquaint yourself with the towering redwood groves surrounding McHenry Vineyards in Bonny Doon, contemplate the blue Monterey Bay from the hilltop Devlin gardens and sample a slew of new releases at Bargetto. By the time you're through, you will have learned a lot more about local wines and will know our world-famous countryside like the back of your you-know-what. Every year you think about visiting wineries during the Vintners' Festival. This is the year to actually do it. Last-minute reminder: If you want to treat Dad to Father's Day Champagne Brunch at Villa Montalvo in Saratoga, you better run to the phone now and call 408.961.5823 for reservations ($42 all-inclusive). Think of it as one the most delicious ways to honor thy father. Email me! Readers, restaurateurs, chefs: Please send any news items, tips, menu changes, openings, special events and juicy gossip to [email protected]. [ San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]