AFFORDABLE WINE REPORT AND NATIONAL CALIFORNIA STRAWBERRY DAY

LARRY LIPSON - THE AFFORDABLE WINE REPORT

 For fifty years Larry Lipson was the food critic for the Los Angeles Daily News and now reports from Florida weekly with his thoughts and favorite picks for Food & Wine.  His lovely Wife Lillian is also on hand at the Lipson Institute for advanced wine studies.








MIKE THOMPSON - CALIFORNIA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

The 35th Annual CALIFORNIA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL is May 19 & 20, 2018 at Strawberry Meadows of College Park in Oxnard. Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. both days. The two-day festival attracts almost 60,000 visitors of every age who can sample all things strawberry, enjoy live concerts, browse the arts & crafts showcase, visit Strawberryland (with kids rides and activities) and participate in contests and cooking demonstrations. What's more, since its inception, the festival has contributed over $4.65 million to more than 30 charitable organizations and funded scholarships to children of migrant farm workers.

2018 CALIFORNIA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL SEEKS SUBMISSION FOR BERRY BLAST OFF RECIPE CONTEST
The 35th Annual California Strawberry Festival is seeking those with a love of strawberries and an artistic culinary flair to enter its "Berry Blast Off Recipe Contest."

Submissions must be original, non-baked, sweet or savory-tasting strawberry dishes. Entries can include sauces, desserts entrées, dips, drinks, jams, spreads--any food or drink creation that includes strawberries (of course), fresh ingredients and shows creativity.

The deadline to submit a recipe is April 6. Those who have already won the contest two or more times are not eligible to enter. Send recipes with name/address/phone/email/contact info, recipe ingredients and step-by-step preparation:

• Email: csf@castrawberryfestival.org (submit in both memo and attachment form)
• Fax: 805-385-4729
• Mail: California Strawberry Festival, Attn: Berry Blast Off, 1661 Pacific Avenue #15, Oxnard, CA 93033
• Online Form: www.CAStrawberryFestival.org, click on "Events & Attractions" and then "Contests."

Five semi-finalists will be selected from the submitted entries. On May 1 at 11:00 a.m., they will have one hour to prepare and present their strawberry dish before judges at the professional kitchen at the Courtyard by Marriott Oxnard. Two finalists will then be asked to create their entries during a timed challenge on Saturday, May 19 at the California Strawberry Festival where the winner will be selected.

The grand prize winner receives four passes to the festival's VIP pavilion, one VIP parking pass, a 4-day, 3-night getaway vacation at a Welk Resort property (airfare not included) and a Cutco studio knife set valued at close to $500. The runner-up receives a one night stay at the Courtyard by Marriott Oxnard, a $100 gift certificate to Tierra Sur at Herzog Wine Cellars, four passes to the festival's VIP pavilion and one VIP festival parking pass.