In 45 years of living in the Brentwood I have never seen or heard of a tornado. Yesterday changed all of that……a friend of mine took the pictures you will see in the following link;
http://www.kron.com/Regions/EastBay/tabid/66/Default.aspx
Lesson to be learned, “don’t mess with mother nature”
Saturday May 10 was the opening of this years Farmer’s Market in Brentwood. The market runs until October 25, from 8-12 noon and is located on First Street, between Oak and Chestnut in historic downtown Brentwood. Cherries made their debut this past weekend along with local strawberries, vegetables and of course Brentwood Olive Oil. As the market continues we hope to have cooking demonstrations using local fruits and produce.
As a longtime resident of Brentwood I have always looked forward to havest season and as the owner of Brentwood Olive Oil the Farmer’s Market provides me with a venue to reach new customers. If you have any questions regarding the Farmer’s Market or Brentwood please contact me at; david@brentwoodoliveoil.com.
I leave you for now with this;
What do you get if you divide the circumference of a pumpkin by its diameter?
PUMPKIN PI
Warning: If you are not a carnivore or if you are a vegetarian DO NOT OPEN THE LINK!!
Just in time for your Super Bowl feast is this newest BBQ recipe called the “Bacon Explosion”. Simply it is four pounds of bacon and two pounds of sausage, woven and wrapped to make a “oink log”, BBQ and you have a bacon delight, With over 5,000 calories and 500 grams of fat this “take bacon add sausage” recipe is not for the faint of heart. Enjoy the game, enjoy the food and don’t forget to exercise before going to bed!!
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/01/28/dining/0128-BACON_index.html
On September 14 the Brentwood Agricultural Land Trust (see previous article) hosted their annual Fall Harvest Festival and Fundraiser. Featuring local produce, wine, olive oil and a barbequed pig, the pig was slow roasted in a La Caja China box by none other than myself. Paired with local wines and vegtables, and dishes provided by local chefs made the barbeque a success.
Under a beautiful moon at the Historic Taylor Ranch with a glass of wine and music by local musicians, the Six String Band, the mood was festive and romantic as well. A silent auction was going on throughout the night and a live auction completed the evening of fundraising. Funds raised from the event will help support BALT, which which works to support local agriculture and farming.
If you missed this event make sure to attend this years festival and if you would like to barbeque your own pig contact me as I am a distributor for LA CAJA CHINA. The purchase of a barbeque includes me assisting you in barbequing your first pig.
The word “resolution” is defined in the Webster’s New World Dictionary as; a thing determined upon; decision as to future action. Why not resolve this year, 2009, to becoming “greener” and more environmentally friendly?
The people of Scotland have done just that, “people across Scotland are getting ready to make the new year a greener one by resolving to do their bit to help the planet” see http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/12/29102148 for article.
Published online on December 31, 2008 the Brooklyn Eagle has suggested we make “resolutions for the environment”. It may sound like an idea that’s too big and impossible , but it doesn’t have to be big, see http://www.brooklyneagle.com/categories/category.php?category_id=27&id=25545 for complete story.
Announced as the “Green Car of the Year 2009″ was the Volkswagen Jetta, chosen at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show and some are saying that our “greener” environment will help our economy with a prediction that by 2038, 4 million new jobs can be created by investment in green activities and business.
Green, green is everywhere so why not resolve by making it “YOUR CHOICE” to becoming environmentally friendly, reducing your carbon foot print and caring for the Earth that was loaned to us. We can all begin by planting gerbera daisys as suggested in the Brooklyn Eagle.
Please view these sites for more information on how you can help the planet, help yourself and possibly even help the economy, www.ourworldyourchoice and www.neighborhoodblogparty.com.
Have you ever wanted to roast a whole pig but didn’t feel confident enough to do so? Don’t worry the mystery is gone and the work is done, simply use a LA CAJA CHINA. Using the Chinese method of cooking from the top down and relying on radiant heat you can sucessfully cook a whole pig, 70-80 lbs, in less than 4 hours.
While the coals are cooking the pig below you can even use the grill to barbeque from the top in the conventional method. Add a rotisserie and cook a chicken or two at the same time, all just by using the LA CAJA CHINA. Please visit www.lacajachina.com for more information and if you are interested in purchasing one send me a message as I distribute them.
One of the leaders in their industry, Zinio offers hundreds of magazines and educational textbooks digitally . In an effort to support sustainability Zinio, based in San Francisco, has partnered with over 850 consumer brands of magazines and books to bring you digital books and magazines.
Their unique reader allows for functions never before available. Cut and paste a paragraph or highlight and send an e-mail instantly. Please visit their website, www.zinio.com to view features and benefits of digital reading and at the same time help our ennviorment.
For a company overview please see http://www.zinio.com/about
Are you interested in the food you eat, where it came from, how to prepare it and our choices effect us? If so visit this site http://slowfoodnation.org/slow-food.
We are what we eat and locally we have no excuse to not be eating the freshest fruits and vegatables. Your support of the local farming community is appreciated and hope to see you at our Farmer’s Market, Saturdays 8-12.
Growing up in Brentwood the only local golf courses were located in Bethel Island and Antioch. Golf’s growing popularity, the community’s growth and in an attempt to make the area a destination and life style has increased the demand for additional golf courses.
Currently there are 8 local golf courses, Antioch, Brentwood, Bethel Island, Deer Ridge, Discovery Bay, Shadow Lakes and Roddy Ranch and Pittsburg. I do not golf but someday would like to try the game and relax (hah, hah).
Please check the following links on two local courses, any suggestions or comments are appreciated
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3lOy6CDpeI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvwSW_Tm-_0
Considered to be the creation point for the Miwok Indian tribe, Mount DIablo is sacred to all California Indian tribes. Of those tribes who viewed Mt. Diablo most made pilgrimage to the summit for ritual ceremonies.
In 1851 the mountaintop was selected as a starting point for public domain surveys. The Mount Diablo base and meridian lines derived through these surveys are referred to in legal descriptions of real estate throughout 2/3 of California and parts of Nevada and Oregon.
Toll roads to the mountain were opened in 1874 with two stages every day from Walnut Creek, Danville and Mountain House, a 16-room hotel about three miles from the summit. The hotel offered all of today’s conveniences and was well know for excellent food and servie. Visitors from all over Europe and America enjoyed the hotel, which also hosted many events and weddings. In those days you had not see the West unless you watched a sunset, sunrise or full moon from the mountain.
In 1891 the summit observation platform burned down and hotel business declined, shortly thereafter the hotel burned down as well. A parcel of land was designated a state park in 1921 and much of the rest was declared a game refuge.
Standard Oil placed a ten-million-candlepower navigation beacon on the summit in 1928. So powerful was the beacon that it could be seen by ships 100 miles at sea. More land was acquired by the state for the park and in 1931 Mt. Diablo State Park was formally dedicated and opened to the public.