I worked over Labor Day Weekend, but when work requires that one eat and drink and be merry, the line gets blurry.


Cooking demos outside the Ferry Building Marketplace

This weekend was the Gastronomy by the Bay event—the first international culinary event that brings together chefs and press from North America and Europe. I attended two of the three roundtables—one on sustainability, organic farming and the food chain and the other on gastronomic guides and the Internet.


Roland Mesnier, former White House pastry chef

Throughout this three-day event, they also held several cooking demonstrations, food tours, hosted lunches and even a Gala dinner benefiting Meals on Wheels. Roland Mesnier, former White House pastry chef for 26 years and author of All the President’s Pastries was the keynote speaker. I couldn’t make the dinner, but I did catch part of his cooking demo, and if his speech was anything like his demo, I’m sure it was a deliciously entertaining night.

Next year’s event is in Paris, followed by Beijing in 2009. Stay tuned for more….