The Local Picnic Challenge

With the economy in the doldrums, many of us have increasingly bunkered down at home to cut down on costs.
But spring has sprung in many regions of the U.S. and it is time to take that party outside.

I was traveling in Northern California this past week and had a magical picnic at Hog Island Oyster Farm.
Hog Island has a well known restaurant at the Ferry Building in San Francisco. But they also have a picnic area close to their oyster farm in Tomales Bay, about an hour north of San Francisco.
Gorgeous view and only $10 per dozen for high quality, perfect oysters, which had only left their salty Tomales Bay home a few hours before.
Catch is that you have to open them yourself. This is difficult at first but provides ample opportunity to laugh at yourself and your loved ones.

This was a simple and inexpensive pleasure. I bought a baguette, a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, green olives and some local organic strawberries at BiRite market in the Mission area of SF.
BiRite has their own private label wine called 18th Street wines, all made from organic grapes.

All picnic items except the olives were grown and produced within 100 miles of our picnic.
This was no political exercise just a pursuit of pleasure.
What a feast for only:
$20 for two dozen oysters
$12.99 18th Street Sauvignon Blanc
$3 baguette
$3 olives
$4 strawberries

Wherever you live, grab a loved one and some locally produced organic drinks and treats and go bask in the early springtime sun.
We have become food obsessed nation, discover and support the innovators near you!

This is my challenge to you. Organize a picnic focused on locally produced and hopefully organic ingredients. In this time of cutbacks and implied scarcity, let's celebrate our bounty.

Brisket and beer in Texas, Bourbon and burgers in Kentucky, Pinot Noir and wild mushroom salad in Oregon, Long Island Riesling and local whiting fillets in New York....you get the idea.