Kendall-Jackson 15th Annual Heirloom Tomato Festival ~ Dave Keating Photography

We were down in Santa Rosa this weekend with my ~~wife's brother~~ brother-in-law Jim and his wife Tina to attend the tomato festival at the Kendall-Jackson Winery. First off, it is a very well organized event with a huge variety of vendors. As you may expect, everything had a tomato theme, and everything was tasty. I really did not have one sample that I did not like. The vendors that attend this event are all top notch, and they really showed off their creativity with the dishes they put forward.

The weather was great, not too hot with a light breeze that kept us comfortable. If you have never been to the Kendall-Jackson property, it is a real treat. The well kept grounds are not only inviting, but very pleasant to spend a nice afternoon in. They grow their own vegetables and fruits in a very large garden area that you are free to roam through, and I highly recommend you take the time to do that if you are there at the right time of year.

I would also like to thank Bud and Linda for extending a warm welcome to us, and for extending us VIP privileges. They helped make a great day even better. Thanks!

Guy Fieri even showed up for a bit. It is interesting seeing him there, as we grew up in the same area, and I had a more than a few of his pretzels. I did feel bad for him though, he was not free to enjoy the day like we were, fans with pens would not let him be. That is the price though.....

So, final thoughts. I will be back next year, that is for sure. Just a great event, made even better by good company. Oh yea, the tomatoes, almost forgot. Spectacular. Heirloom tomatoes have a quality all their own. Simplicity in a sense, and complex in another. Subtle flavors, wonderful colors........And a full stomach.
Great wine, really what more could you ask for?

I should mention the berry smoothie. WOW! The berries of course are grown by Kendall-Jackson, these things were just bursting with flavor. Recipe is available online, I am going to leave that up to you, but I think it was at the Kendall-Jackson site. Worth the effort.