Knott’s Boysenberry Festival April 1st-23rd!

Knott’s Boysenberry Festival

By Erin

It’s almost Boysenberry time! This unique berry is a cross between a loganberry, a red raspberry and a blackberry. Did you know Knott’s Berry Farm was at one time a berry farm established by Walter Knott and his family? Knott was the first to commercially cultivate the boysenberry in Southern California after transplanting the berry’s vines from the former Boysenberry farm. Mrs. Knott began making preserves, which made Knott’s Berry Farm famous. The popular purple little boysenberry put Knott’s Berry Farm on the road to being America’s first theme park. As the birthplace of the delectable boysenberry, Knott’s Berry Farm once again showcases the little berry that started it all with a spectacular 23-day food and beverage celebration. 

This year, the festival is over three weeks (April 1–April 23) featuring over 70 boysenberry inspired dishes, drinks and more. During these 23 days everyone can indulge in succulent eats and enjoy live entertainment, new shows, pie eating contests, meet the Easter Beagle and PEANUTS gang, make new friends at the new Old MacDonald petting zoo, mingle with the Ghost Town townsfolk, line dance, and join the nighttime dance party. Of course there is all the usual fun too because entrance to the Boysenberry festival is included with park admission. (Additional cost for tastings of food and drink).

There are so many boysenberry inspired food and drinks to choose from throughout Ghost Town that are both sweet and savory. Items include ribs, meatballs, chicken wings, BBQ dishes flavored with Knott’s very own Boysenberry BBQ Sauce, boysenberry cream soda, chocolate covered Boysenberry cheesecake, Boysenberry ICEE Floats, Boysenberry Latte, and the now super famous Fun Bun! The Fun Bun is a crowd favorite with its warm, sweet, gooey deliciousness. If you have not heard of the Fun Bun yet; it is a cinnamon roll, boysenberry and funnel cake rolled into one delicious bun of fun. New this year is the boysenberry pizza, boysenberry ravioli, and boysenberry fry bread! There is so much to enjoy, you will have to come back more than once to enjoy it all! 😉

Now, ready to get a sneak peek of all the Boysenberry goodness of some of my favorite picks? Here you go!

  • Fun Bun – Fried Cinnamon Roll with Boysenberry Cream Cheese Topping (also shown is the Fun Stick)

  • Fun Stick

  • Chocolate Covered Boysenberry Cheesecake on a stick

  • Boysenberry Nutella Crepes

  • Deep Fried Alligator & Fries with Boysenberry Aioli

  • Boysenberry Fry Bread

  • Boysenberry Pizza

  • Marinated Boysenberry Meatball on a Stick with Boysenberry BBQ Sauce

  • Boysenberry & Apricot Pulled Pork  Sandwich in a Boysenberry Bun Combo

  • Boysenberry BBQ Wings

  • Boysenberry Corn Dog

Boysenberry Festival Tasting Card*

One of the best ways to experience the Boysenberry Festival is with a Boysenberry Festival Tasting Card. For only $25, the tasting card includes generous portions of six delectable treats:

  1. Boysenberry Pizza at Wagon Wheel Pizza
  2. Boysenberry Ravioli at Spurs Chophouse
  3. Boysenberry Buffalo Wings at the Gold Trails Hotel
  4. Boysenberry BBQ Meatballs at the Bank of Calico
  5. Boysenberry Fry Bread at the Gourmet Churro Factory
  6. Boysenberry Pana Cotta at the Ghost Town Bakery

The Boysenberry Festival Tasting Card can be purchased online or at the following locations at the park: The California Store, Little Spurs, General Store, Ghost Town Candy, Gold Trails Hotel, Spurs Chophouse, Pemmican Pickle, Calico Saloon, Ghost Town Bakery, Sutter’s Grill, and Ghost Town Mix-it-up.

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Indulge LA: Chocolate & Pastry Show!|@IndulgeLA #IndulgeLA

Indulge LA: Chocolate & Pastry Show!

By Erin

*I will be attending this event as media. All thoughts and opinions remain my own*

pastry LA

I love chocolate. And wine. Which is why I am so excited to be covering The Indulge LA Chocolate & Pastry Show, coming to Los Angeles on December 27th. If you haven’t already indulged in enough Christmas treats by then, you’ll have one more chance here before the new year rings in, when we’ll all be trying to stick to those new years resolutions to go back to eating healthier and all that. You have to treat yourself every once and awhile to something special like this though right? AND it’s for such a GREAT cause as this event also benefits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Another reason why I am so very excited for the Chocolate Festival and Pastry Show to hit Los Angeles is because Celebrity food critique Sophie Gayowill be here hosting the event. I recently had the chance to meet her and sit next to her at a very special media dinner at the Bel Air Bar and Grill (post to come soon about this magical experience. I say magical as it has ties to Disney) and she is a very amazing woman. I was honored to be in her presence, and to hear her words of wisdom, her fiery spirit, and words of inspiration, especially in light of the events that had just so recently happened in Paris. When I read that she was going to be here, it just made me that more excited to go.

Celebrity Dating Expert Brooke Lewis will also be in attendance to host the 7th Annual Indulge Los Angeles at the Olympic Collection.

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*Sophie Gayot*

The event will feature celebrity & top chocolatiers, pastry chefs and confectioners from across Southern California, New York, Washington DC, and Las Vegas. They will come together to put on a visual heaven in Los Angeles filled with sweet delights paired with the world’s top champagnes, wines, and spirits.

Among the celebrity chefs this year are MOF World Pastry Champion Stephane Treand, and World Champion Chocolatier Jean Marie Auboine.

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In years past, Indulge Los Angeles has attracted thousands of chocolate and dessert lovers from across the country, and this year is expected to have another great turn-out for this holiday season.

Indulge Los Angeles 2015 also benefits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Where: Olympic Collection 11301 Olympic Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90064

When: December 27, 2015 1pm – 4pm   

Tickets:  $45-$95 Available at www.indulgela.net

Indulge LA on Social:

Indulge LA Website 

Indulge LA Facebook 

Indulge LA Twitter

Instagram

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What are some of your favorite chocolate treats to Indulge in? Hope to see you there!!! 🙂 

Wordless Wednesday: Cambria’s Scarecrow Festival!

Wordless Wednesday: Cambria’s Scarecrow Festival!

By: Erin

I recently went on a trip to Cambria (another post to follow on the amazing Blue Dolphin Inn and The Wine Wrangler) and we were greeted by many friendly folks along the side of the road upon our arrival. We soon realized that these friendly creations were scarecrows and that the scarecrow festival was going on right now in Cambria until October 31st!

The first Cambria Scarecrow Festival  was back in 2009, starting out with only 30 scarecrows. Now in 2013, over 400 scarecrows line Cambria’s business district. Cambria is a perfect year-round escape, with October being one of the best times of all to visit.  The warm October sun brightens the quaint seaside village. Hundreds of unique  scarecrows are displayed throughout Cambria’s East and West Villages and along Moonstone Beach Drive.

Here from October 1-31, the Cambria Scarecrow Festival will wow and amaze you while on your next visit. While here, also be sure to check out the cute boutiques, tasty restaurants, and don’t forget about the wine and beer tasting too. 😉 Take a stroll on the magical beaches or hike the many trails that wind their way from the beaches into the pines. You will soon see why I love the Central Coast so much with a visit here!

Enjoy!

 Cambria!

1 Cambria Ocean

1 Cambria Scarecrows

 

1 Cambria Scarecrow

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