We all enjoy the freshest catch and produce, and the Loews Coronado Bay
Resort shares our opinion. Once again they will present their " Farmers,
Foragers and Fishermen," a seasonal dinner series that allows guests to dine
with the folks who produce, harvest and catch the ingredients they enjoy on
a regular basis. "We believe today's dining experience extends far beyond
chefs and wineries," said Ellen Burke Van Slyke, Loews Hotels' corporate
creative director of food and beverage. "It starts with the source the
farmer and these dinners are designed to showcase them and their similar
passion for sustainable practices."
Similar to a winemaker's dinner, Farmers, Foragers and Fishermen pairs
Mistral's Chef Martin T. Batis with one local purveyor for an informative
four-course dining experience. The first sold-out event took place in March with
Brandt Beef . The next dinner takes place in June with David Sasuga, founder of
Fresh Origins , a small family-owned farm renowned for pioneering small
seedlings now known as micro-greens.
Working in conjunction with Chef Batis, David Sasuga will delve into the
history of his family's operation, daily harvesting practices and importance of
sustainable agriculture. As each course is presented, Chef Batis will offer
insight on seasoning methods and protein selections that best enhance the
tremendous flavor that exists in Fresh Origins' 200 varieties of greens. Fresh
Origins is a small family farm that cares about the produce it grows. The farm
was founded by David Sasuga after he grew flowering plants for 20 years. David
always wanted to grow fresh produce and the opportunity came unexpectedly. Back
in 1996, a local chef came to their greenhouse and got excited when he saw some
basil seedlings growing there.
Situated on a private 15-acre peninsula surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and
Coronado Bay, Loews Coronado Bay Resort is just minutes from downtown Coronado,
a charming resort village, and a short drive to San Diego's world-famous
attractions. Resort amenities include direct access to the Silver Strand State
Beach, three tennis courts, a private 80-slip marina, three acclaimed
restaurants, 440 sea-inspired guest rooms and suites, and panoramic views of the
San Diego-Coronado Bay.
A while ago my friend dragged me into a boutique in an airport while waiting
for a connecting flight in New York and introduced me to L'Occitane En Provence.
Fresh Origins is a small family farm that cares about the produce it grows.
The farm was founded by David Sasuga after he grew flowering plants for 20
years. David always wanted to grow fresh produce and the opportunity came
unexpectedly. Back in 1996, a local chef came to their greenhouse and got
excited when he saw some basil seedlings growing there. He explained that he
could use them as a garnish and although it did not make a lot of sense at the
time, it was then that David began producing these and other varieties destined
for restaurants.
Loews Coronado Bay Resort's Farmers, Foragers and Fishermen dinners are just
one part of Loews Hotels' new Adopt-A-Farmer program, an initiative that
supports independent purveyors located in the surrounding areas of each of its
hotels. With the launch, Loews Hotels became one of the first hospitality
industry companies to issue a brand-wide mandate to support and enhance local
farming communities. The locally grown ingredients can be found at all Loews
Hotels' dining venues, from casual all-day settings to fine dining restaurants.
Since Mistral opened in October 2007, it has set the standard for responsible
food and beverage policies. Chef Batis' Northern Italian and Southern French
cuisine embraces organic fruits and vegetables from nearby farming communities,
locally-caught seafood from the Baja coastal waters and a variety of herbs from
the resort's own organic herb garden. Loews Coronado Bay Resort was recognized
as one of the 10 great places to kick back while giving back by USA Today ,
largely because of Mistral's organic efforts.