Upcoming Events

Recent Events

Calendar

Regional Groups

Calendar Archive

About SIGS

 

 


 

 
“The SFPFS Really Knows How to Throw a Party”

BBQ a Summertime Delight at Sunnyvale Heritage Museum
Article and photos by Rodger Helwig


Enjoying the BBQ Buffet.


The title line from longtime member Peggy Fallon captures the essence of what the SFPFS is all about. A hardworking committee and volunteers all pitching in to produce a memorable BBQ for all to enjoy.


Long-time friends John Linderman, Susan Hughes & Peggy Fallon

Accolades keep pouring in: “The venue was absolutely beautiful.” “The buffet was perfect.” “A beautiful setting, with ideal weather.” “What a grand time members had.” “A stunning BBQ!” “One of the best ever!”


Umbrellas shade BBQ diners.

As a first-time member of the BBQ committee (finally, after 18 years), joining two terrific co-chairs, Deborah Olson and Fred Martin, it was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had as a member.

Our goal all along was to provide a good time, with great food and drink, for our wonderful members and guests. The positive feedback we got was very special and much appreciated.


Jane St. Claire and her stalwart friend, Julie Simpson

But we couldn’t have done it without the help of so many dedicated people. Jane St. Claire and her group from Savor California deserve special kudos. Thirty-five artisan purveyors from Savor contributed so much of their time and talents, providing terrific products for the tastings, BBQ and dessert buffets.


Savor California offer up their wares at The Taste of California.

Also, a special thanks to all the Board members, SFPFS members and guests, who worked at the event. An additional thank you to Sandra Murray, for her colorful program design; Jennifer Martin, Joyce Jue, Peggy Fallon, Lili Rollins and Victoria Green for rolling up their sleeves in the kitchen and putting the buffet together, to Helga Hodge for the buffet design, and Megan Siegel and Guy Maas for taking charge of the grill station. And, of course, our wonderful administrator/songstress Maurine, who keeps everything rolling along, whether she's organizing or singing.


Strawberry tarts, one of many treats on the Dessert Buffet.

Who will forget the fun cherry pit spitting contest, emceed masterfully by Justin Lahner of C.J. Olson Cherries. Or the classic rockin’ sounds of the “Blue Riders,” that got many up on the dance floor.

On behalf of all of those who contributed so much, thanks for making this one of the best SFPFS BBQ’s I’ve ever attended — or been fortunate to be a part of.

Read member Cathy Schreiber's blog on the BBQ


This cherry pit spitter showed great form.
 


Deb Olson, The Cherry Lady, at Cherry Pit spitting contest
 


BBQ co-chairs Fred Martin & Deb Olson celebrating at the end of a great event.


Kelly & Bill Burgoyne


Dancin' to the sounds of The Blue Riders.


Groovin': The Blue Riders played oldies but goodies.


Jessica Sartain, with a bottle of Sartain's Menu The Sauce


Brian and Nancy Stein, serving potato chips coated with Susie Q's Santa Maria Seasoning


Sheri Tate with Dad Marc Tate serving Silver Moon liquor-infused sorbets


Karyn Wagner, Rodger Helwig & Deborah Olson


Garrick Gondo


Roger Kelly & Victoria Green


Debi Nguyen, grilling up lamb kabobs with Deb Deb's Rub Rub.


Guillermo and Junny Gonzalez of Sonoma Artisan Foie Gras, with Junny's Terrine de Foie Gras


 

 
List of Recent Events


August 2010
Blue Cheese Tasting

August 2010
Wine Blending Seminar

August 2010
Kendall Farms Crème Fraîche

July 2010
Hodo Soy Beanery Tour

June 2010
Japanese Knives

May 2010
Semifreddi Tour

May 2010
Japanese Ingredients

May 2010
Spanish White Wine SIG

May 2010
East Bay Networking

May 2010
Vanilla Master Class

March 2010
Butter Tasting

March 2010
Washington Red Wines

February 2010
Visit to Nettie's Crabshack

February 2010
A visit to FullBloom Baking Co.

January 2010
Annual General Meeting

December 2009
Wine Sig: Rosé sparkling wines

November 2009
Cooking Teacher SIG: Gifts from the Kitchen

November 2009
Tea Pairing with Numi Tea

November 2009
STP: Spice at Campton Place

October 2009
Canned Tomato Tasting

October 2009
Traveling Table Visits Brown Sugar

September 2009
Visit to AG Ferrari

September 2009
Cooking Teachers SIG report

September 2009
Lark Creek Steak hosts Australian Traveling Table

September 2009
Recession-Buster Wine Sig

August 2009
Over $6000 raised at BBQ

August 2009
2009 BBQ a big success

July 2009
Cooking Teacher SIG: Korean cooking

July 2009
Traveling Table: Estate

July 2009
Sustainable Meat and Seafood

June 2009

C.J. Olson Cherry Farm Tour


June 2009

Ice Cream Tasting

May 2009

Wine SIG Tastes Gewürztraminer


May 2009
Master Class in Chocolate

April 2009
Protecting Intellectual Property

March 2009
East Bay Networking Event

March 2009
Cheddar Tasting


February 2009
Rhone whites delight


February 2009
M.F.K Fisher


January 2009
2009 AGM and NMR


January 2009
SFPFS Cooking Teacher SIG Meeting


January 2009
Traveling Table to Chez Papa


December 2008
Burgundy Wine SIG


September 2008
Cooking Teacher SIG

September 2008
Minutes from September board meeting (Word doc)


September 2008
Peanut Butter Tasting

September 2008
SF Networking event at Local Kitchen


September 2008
Stirring the Pot: Celebrity Chefs


September 2008
Traveling Table at Mantra


September 2008
30th Anniversary of SFPFS


August 2008
Board Meeting Minutes (Word Doc)


August 2008
Coffee Cupping


July 2008
Cooking Teacher SIG


June 2008
Honey Tasting SIG


June 2008
Food Writing Book Club SIG


June 2008
Digs Bistro

June 2008
Sauvignon Blanc Showdown

May 2008
A Visit to Careme 350


May 2008
Cooking Teachers SIG


May 2008
San Mateo Members Meet


May 2008
South Bay Members Connect

April 2008
Wine SIG takes a Beaujolais Cruise


April 2008
Demystifying the Food/Wine Dilemma


March 2008
Pasta tasting

March 2008
Cooking Teachers' SIG


March 2008
Traveling Table to Ubuntu

March 2008
Gelato Making

February 2008
Best of Show Cabernet Sauvignons

January 2008
AGM 2008

January 2008
Cooking SIG at Ramekins


January 2008
Stirring the Pot: Future of Chinese Cuisine


December 2007
Marmalade tasting


November 2007
Wine SIG samples sparklers

November 2007
United States of Arugula review


November 2007
Decoding Molecular Gastronomy


October 2007
Career Change Roundtable

October 2007
B Star Bar

September 2007
Barbary BBQ on Maiden Lane


September 2007
Vanilla Tasting


August 2007
Wine SIG tastes Rieslings

June 2007
Wine SIG Rosé Tasting

June 2007
Wines from Livermore

June 2007
Tasting Sig Explores Fetas

June 2007
Dinner at B Restaurant


May 2007
An Evening with Jaques Pepin

April 2007
Knockout Santa Cruz Wines

March 2007
Feasting at Chef Chus


February 2007
Annual General Meeting

February 2007
Lessons from a Master Taster: Darrell Corti


February 2007
East Bay Urban Wine Tour

January 2007
Traveling Table: Radio Africa and Kitchen


December 2006
Holiday Cookie Exchange


November 2006
Southern Foodways Alliance

October 2006
Stirring the Pot with Chuck Williams


October 2006
Wine Sig Looks for Varietal Character


August 2006
SFPFS Barbeque on the USS Hornet


August 2006
Stirring the Pot: Building your Culinary Pedigree

June 2006
Antony Bourdain at the Commonwealth Club


May 2006
Expo West 2006

May 2006
Table Travelers visit Old Mandarin


January 2006
The Annual General Meeting

January 2006
Impressions of Fancy Food, the 31st annual trade show

September 19, 2005
Stirring the Pot: The History, Dynamics, and Ethics of Luxury Dining

June 22, 2005
Stirring the Pot with Nell Newman, Els Cooperrider and Guinness McFadden

May 25, 2005
Brentwood Agricultural Land Trust Fundraising Dinner

May 18. 2005
Philippe Stark and Michel Rolland at the SF W Hotel

April 28, 2005
Roundtable: The Food and Culture of Burma

February 15, 2005
Stirring the Pot with Harold McGee

October 22, 2004
Food Fight! A Lively Discussion of Today's Most Challenging Food Choices

July 12, 2004
Blenheim Apricot Food Tour

May 17, 2004
Stirring the Pot: A Conversation with Hubert Keller, Michael Mina and Bradley Ogden

March 15, 2004
Stirring the Pot: A Conversation with Gerald Asher 

February 10, 2004
SFPFS Traveling Table goes to New Delhi Restaurant

January 26, 2004
AGM / NMR Review

November 10, 2003
Reel Food - Castro Theatre

September 25, 2003
Food Tour - Heritage Fruit Orchard at Filoli Gardens

September 17, 2003
Rick Knoll on Organic Farming

June 16, 2003
A Conversation with Thomas Keller: The Soul of Haute Cuisine in America

May 19, 2003
The SFPFS Traveling Table - Roxanne's in Larkspur

April 28, 2003
Stirring the Pot: A Conversation with Marian Burros and Marion Cunningham

March, 2003
Stirring the Pot: A Conversation with Marion Nestle

 

         
Home  |  About SFPFS  |   Become a Member  |  Calendar/Events  |  Resources/Links  |  Member Services  |  Newsletter  |  Food in Perspective  |  Contact Us