Wordless Wednesday :: Deep Fried Asparagus

In this photo: Deep fried Asparagus from the Asparagus Festival in Stockton, CA.

Pear Fair | Courtland, CA

Of all the food festivals that we've had the pleasure of visiting, only one holds a sentimental place in my heart: Courtland's Pear Fair. Now, there's nothing particularly unique that sets the Pear Fair apart from any other food festival. Rather, it is the only one where my grandmother had been a participant, representing the best the Sacramento Delta has to offer in terms of hospitality, knowledge, and a passion for good food. Bringing her together with the Pear Fair was a match made in heaven, and as kids growing up in her shadow, we had front row seats. As I recall, she not only shared stories of what it was like to live in the Delta, but she was also not shy to talk about one of the region's leading crops. It seemed like there wasn't a thing she didn't know ... But I'm digressing.

So, what is the Courtland Pear Fair? For starters, it began in 1972 as a moderate celebration to welcome the Bartlett Pear harvest. Since then, it has become a long standing summer tradition reflecting both the character and lifestyle of rural life while offering a wonderful day of entrainment, festivities, food, and drink to over 8000 annual visitors. Admission is free, however, proceeds that are raised throughout the day via parking, food sales, and souvenirs go to support educational scholarships and programs as well as the Courtland Volunteer Fire Association. So, not only are you in for good time, but you're helping to sustain a community.

During our recent visit, we began the day by attending an all-you-can-eat breakfast, which featured dollar-sized pancakes and home-made pear sausage. We followed this with a walk through the arts-and-crafts pavilion, the history museum, and the cocktail garden where one can sample pear-tinis, pear mojitos, and a selection of pear ciders.

There's a little bit of everything for everyone, including food competitions (don't miss the pie eating contests), cooking demonstrations (learn how to make a pear cooler), and a parade (check out the newly crowned Pear Queen and her court of Junior Pears). And the food? With no shortage of vendors, you're certain to find something whether its pear ice cream, pear strudel, pear crisps, pear bread, and, of course, Courtland's famous pear pie. Nothing is held back here, folks, and it's not hard to see why this is one of the most anticipated events along the Delta.

So, now you know why my grandmother never hesitated to donate her time at the Courtland Pear Fair, and why going to the fair with my own family has special meaning. My memories of her will always be cherished.

Galt Strawberry Festival & Family Carnival | Galt, CA

Did you know that there is an average of 200 tiny seeds in every strawberry? Or what about the double-strawberry? Did you know that according to folk-lore, if you were to break a double-strawberry in half and share it with a member of the opposite sex, you will fall in love with that person?

True or not, we didn't know about these facts until we paid a recent visit to Galt's Strawberry Festival, an annual event that celebrates this popular fruit during every first weekend in May. Carnival rides, competitions, live music, and the Cruise 'N' Ride custom car and motorcycle showcase are all fan favorites. However, they all take a back seat to Strawberry Lane where local farmers show off the "fruits" of their labor and food vendors vie for your attention with such tantalizing treats as strawberry pizza, strawberry smoothies, and, of course, strawberry shortcake. There are also plenty of hand-crafted items to take home with you once the afternoon sunlight fades into night. And don't forget to pick up any one of a handful of homemade confections like strawberry whipped honey, strawberry pepper jelly, and strawberry hot sauce to line the shelves of your pantry.

Established in 1995, Galt's Strawberry Festival seeks to promote economic opportunity in the community as well as strengthen the city's business relationships and welfare. Proceeds from the festival also supports vital city programs, including education and emergency services. With over 20,000 yearly visitors, Galt's Strawberry Festival is surely to return for many years and generations to come.

Oakdale Chocolate Festival | Oakdale, CA

During the third week of May, the City of Oakdale comes alive with its annual Chocolate Festival celebration. Approximately 25,000 visitors descend upon this relatively sleepy town to partake in the many different ways to enjoy this sugary confection, including handmade fudge, chocolate-covered caramel apples, chocolate-dipped frozen fruits, and chocolate-candied sunflower seeds, almonds, peanuts, walnuts, and pecans.

And there's much to do around the festival grounds. For example, my son's favorite activity of the day was learning from a real prospector how to pan for gold, while my daughter especially enjoyed the thrills of the carnival rides and thumbing through the arts-and-crafts displays. Oh, and let's not forget about the live music and the classic car showcase.

The City of Oakdale was founded in 1871 when the Stockton & Visalia Railroad met the Copperopolis Railroad. Oakdale goes by the slogan "Cowboy Capital of the World." Its place in chocolate history began in 1965 when the city became the home to a satellite plant of Hershey Chocolate. Although the plant closed in January 2008, the festival remains an extremely popular event for tourists and the Oakdale population alike.