| San Mateo County: As Fresh as it Gets |
| Written by Eric Brown | |||
| Saturday, 21 June 2008 01:24 | |||
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May 03, 2007 Now that the word is out, “foodies” and gourmets of all kinds are heading to San Mateo County, San Francisco’s closest neighbor that offers two sides of a gorgeous peninsula – the Coastside and the Bayside. Already known for its convenience (SFO, the city of San Francisco’s airport, is there), its scenic beauty and beaches, the area is now touting its own contributions to California’s cuisine. San Mateo County’s bounty includes the fresh produce grown in the southernmost part of the county, the fish, crab and prawns caught off the Pacific side, and the locally produced wine and microbrews.
A new “San Mateo County: As Fresh as it Gets” awards program recognizes local restaurants, hotels and caterers that make an effort to buy and serve produce from local San Mateo County growers, seafood caught off San Mateo County’s coastline, and beer and wine made in the county. The San Mateo County Convention & Visitors Bureau (SMCCVB) and San Mateo County Farm Bureau created the ongoing award program in cooperation with the San Mateo County Harbor District. Chefs have been taken right onto the farms and docks to learn first-hand how to find the freshest products and how to serve them so that they are at their peak. Culinary teams have been trained to give diners little known facts, such as how a Dungeness crab develops and becomes so sweet. Arrangements have even been made for groups to hear presentations by farmers, fishermen and/or winery owners as they enjoy a particular meal. Visitors and residents will also be informed of not only the venues that are participating in the program (a plaque in the establishment and a window sticker), but also which local products are used in the menu (special labels). Additional information will include the health-conscious aspect of certain dishes (heart stickers), how to take some of San Mateo County’s freshest products home (a guide of growers/fishermen who will ship their goods to visitors’ homes) and how to enjoy local wine and food pairing events and celebrations of special foods (San Mateo County: As Fresh as it Gets Calendar of Events). The program has been well received within both the local restaurant and agricultural communities and continues to grow, with increasing numbers of restaurants now serving products picked or caught the same day. Editor’s note: Readers planning a visit to San Mateo County will want to check out the Resource Directory of Taste California Travel. Links to the websites of hundreds of Lodging and Dining options will be found there, as well as links to area wineries. For more background information, www.visitsanmateocounty.com is another good resource. |
