Save the date and start fermenting! On Sunday, August 2, 2015 the Beverly Hills Farmers’ Market celebrates its 21st anniversary with the Beverly Hills PickleFest contest and celebration which will be sponsored by legendary Beverly Hills deli Nate‘n Al.
“Home preserving and fermented foods are both extremely trendy right now,” says Beverly Hills Farmers’ Market Manager Greta Dunlap. “But they’re not just popular. They’re sensible, healthy, economical and fun. We want to bring that to the community.”
Admission to the festivities is free and the centerpiece of the event is a curated pickle contest with two categories: Best Dill Pickle in Beverly Hills and “I Can Pickle That!” In the latter category entrants can bring any pickled fruit or vegetable. All pickled produce submitted must have been grown in California.
“Pickling is not just for cucumbers and dilly beans,” says Joseph Shuldiner, head of the Institute for Domestic Technology, which partners with the Beverly Hills Farmers’ Market to offer food crafting workshops at historic Greystone mansion. “Imagine ice cream topped with a pickled loquat compote. There’s really no limit.”
Nate ‘n Al will award $200, $100 and $50 gift cards to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners. A panel of distinguished and food-celebrity judges including an expert member of the Nate‘n Al Deli staff, will select the winners based on a list of criteria. A complete list of rules and applications to enter your pickled produce are available at www.beverlyhills.org/Pickle. For more information please call 310.285.6830.
Nate ‘n Al’s centerpiece booth will provide children’s activities including Pickle Making and Pickle Toss. Of course, all the regular farmers and prepared foods vendors will be in their usual spots at the Market. Mark your calendars and pucker up to come get a piece of the action between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on August 2. The Beverly Hills Farmers’ Market is located along the 9300 block of Civic Center Drive between Third & Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. Free two-hour parking is available in the Civic Center parking garage or free parking until 2 p.m. in the nearby Third Street garage.
