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Come visit Mendocino for the 2nd Annual Purple Urchin Festival– the first of its kind anywhere in the Country – yes the entire Country! It’s three days of festivities and activities including good eats, great places to stay, discoveries and hands-on experiences!
And it’s all happening June 16th – 18th, with this most delectable delicacy!
Uni is the Japanese name for the edible part of sea urchins, and in the hands of fabulous chefs, uni becomes an exquisite bite to eat! Executive Chef Marc Dym is preparing a five-course purple urchin tasting menu at the Little River Inn (Little River), while chefs at Elk Cove Inn (Elk), Izakaya Gama (Point Arena) Vue Kitchen (Gualala), Wickson Restaurant (Philo), KW Saltwater Cafe, Noyo Harbor Inn and Inn at Newport Ranch (Fort Bragg) will all have uni-focused menus.
Discover and learn more about purple urchins through instructional demos and hands-on experiences with community organizations like MendoParks offering up a demonstration on how to open and clean uni, and an educational chat at Van Damme State Beach. The Noyo Center for Marine Science offers an in-depth look at urchins along the California Coast, plus other activities related to urchins and their impact on our kelp forests.
Stay a night or stay for the entire weekend of the Purple Urchin Festival as several coastal inns offer specials. Check out these fabulous properties: Noyo Harbor Inn, Inn at Newport Ranch, Inn at Schoolhouse Creek, Little River Inn, MacCallum House and Elk Cove Inn.
KW Saltwater Café encourages you to try their Uni Baked Oysters baked with uni butter, topped with pickled shitake (on regular menu).
542 N. Main St, Fort Bragg, CA 95437
(707) 900-1667
www.kw-saltwater-grill.squarespace.com/reservations
Noyo Harbor Inn is offering a signature cocktail and a stay special during the second annual Urchin Festival. The signature cocktail is ‘Smoke on the Water”, a Basil Hayden Subtle Smoke Old Fashioned infused with Nori with a Nori wrap garnish served in the Harborview Bistro and Bar
The lodging special is “The Urchin Extension” – buy two nights at full price over the weekend and stay the third night free. Book direct.
500 Casa Del Noyo, Fort Bragg, CA 95437
(707) 961-8000
www.noyoharborinn.com
Noyo Center for Marine Science will be offering special programs at each location.
-Discovery Center Science Museum: Purple Urchin and Kelp Forest Ecosystems: Live demonstrations of urchin biology, and discussions about urchin resiliency, and impacts to bull kelp, abalone, and sunflower sea stars. Saturday, June 17th, 11AM-3PM
-Slack Tide Café: Culinary kelp forest delights. Purple urchin (hopefully) and/or seaweed salad tastings. Saturday June 17th, 2:30PM-4PM
-Crow’s Nest Interpretive Center: Urchin feeding demonstrations with our intertidal aquarium. Saturday June 17th 12-2PM.
www.noyocenter.org
Inn at Newport Ranch is offering an exclusive lodging and dining package.
Focused on providing destination-worthy dining made from fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, Chef Patrick Meany will prepare ranch turnips served three ways- grilled, fermented and raw, served with urchin, cured egg yolk and redwood sorrel.
Book direct to receive a 10% discount on accommodations for all Uni Fest attendees who dine at the inn. Not to be combined with other offers.
1502 N Hwy 1, Fort Bragg, CA 95437
(707) 962-4818
www.theinnatnewportranch.com
Little River Inn, MacCallum House and The Inn at Schoolhouse Creek are three coastal inns offering an Urchin Festival lodging and experience special.
TIDEPOOLING PACKAGE AT LITTLE RIVER INN, MACCALLUM HOUSE, AND SCHOOLHOUSE CREEK
Friday, June 16, 6 PM: Campfire at Van Damme State Beach
Enjoy special treats with Kevin Smith PhD, learn a little about the importance of kelp, and prep for your adventure on Saturday morning.
Saturday, June 17: Morning low tide at Van Damme State Beach
Follow Kevin Smith PhD, onto the rocks and into the shallows searching for urchin, turban snails and other tide pool treats. Keep your catch or learn how to prepare it at the evening meal.
Saturday, June 17, 1 PM: Urchin talk and demo at Van Damme State Beach
Learn what’s happening under the waves, how the purple urchin came to dominate the ocean floor, and how to open these spiny creatures. Get front row seats and first dibs on cracking open urchin. Purple Urchin Interpretive Talk presented by Esme Plascencia, a Park Interpretive Specialist at Van Damme State Park; science speak and demo presented by Tristin McHugh of the Nature Conservancy.
Saturday, June 17, 6 PM: Cooking demo and dinner at Little River Inn
You never know what professional diver Greg Fonts will bring up from the ocean depths. Learn how to prepare his catch along with all the goodies you collect that morning. Nibble on the fruits of your labor while sipping sake with Kerry Tamura of World Sake.
Sit down with your new urchin hunter friends to a 5-course, uni-centric meal prepared by Executive Chef Marc Dym and Sushi Chef Frank Takao. Each dish is artfully paired with sake chosen by Kerry Tamura.
Package includes 2 nights lodging and 2 breakfasts – $2,500 for two people – Only 7 packages available in total.
URCHIN DIVING PACKAGE AT LITTLE RIVER INN, MACCALLUM HOUSE, AND SCHOOLHOUSE CREEK
Friday, June 16, 6 PM: Campfire at Van Damme State Beach
Enjoy special treats with Kevin Smith, learn a little about the importance of kelp, and prep for your adventure on Saturday morning.
Saturday, June 17: Morning at Van Damme State Beach (time assigned after booking)
Greg Fonts, professional free dive competitor and owner of the Freedive Shop, will introduce you to the underwater wonders of the Mendocino Coast. You will collect your limit of urchin (and maybe some other surprises) in the protected waters of Van Damme Cove. All equipment provided.
Saturday, June 17, 1 PM: Urchin talk and demo at Van Damme State Beach
Learn what’s happening under the waves, how the purple urchin came to dominate the ocean floor, and how to open these spiny creatures. Get front row seats and first dibs on cracking open urchin. Purple Urchin Interpretive Talk presented by Esme Plascencia, a Park Interpretive Specialist at Van Damme State Park; science speak and demo presented by Tristin McHugh of the Nature Conservancy.
Saturday, June 17, 6 PM: Cooking demo and dinner at Little River Inn
You never know what professional diver Greg Fonts will bring up from the ocean depths. Learn how to prepare his catch along with all the goodies you collect that morning. Nibble on the fruits of your labor while sipping sake with Kerry Tamura of World Sake.
Sit down with your new urchin hunter friends to a 5-course, uni-centric meal prepared by Executive Chef Marc Dym and Sushi Chef Frank Takao. Each dish is artfully paired with sake chosen by Kerry Tamura.
Package includes 2 nights lodging and 2 breakfasts – $3,200 for two people – Only 2 packages available in total.
Elk Cove Inn and SIBO Restaurant
The exceptional hospitality, views and fine cuisine combine to create a unique opportunity to enjoy one of Mendocino Coast’s best kept secrets. Chef Passalacqua will delight your senses with his uni centric dinner menu.
-Package includes: 2-nights for 2 guests in a Garden room or Ocean View Cottage
-Champagne Breakfast served in room
-Lunch Saturday
-Social Hour Canapes and Cocktails both days
-Dinner with wine pairing for 2 both nights
-Presentation and sea foraging
$1800.00 for 2 guests
6300 Hwy 1, Elk, CA 95432
(707) 877-3321
www.elkcoveinn.com
Izakaya Gama will be offering a tasting menu on Sunday, June 18th with a focus on urchin and sustainable local seafood. An outstanding selection of Sake will be paired with the menu.
150 Main St, Point Arena, CA 95468
(707) 485-9232
www.izakaya-gama.com
The Hotel Breakers and the VUE Kitchen
Dramatic and ever changing ocean views provide a breathtaking backdrop for your stay. During the Urchin Festival enjoy dinner at the Vue Kitchen and experience a special menu offering of “Uni three ways”.
The Uni tasting menu is offered as a special during the week of the Festival and is available to the public.
39300 S. Hwy 1, Gualala, CA 95445
www.thehotelbreakers.com
Chef Jason Azevedo specializes in Iberian peninsula dishes with a focus on locally sourced ingredients and Mediterranean techniques. During the Urchin Festival he will offer a special Uni centric dinner menu in the restaurant’s wood fired oven.
9000 Hwy 128, Philo, CA 95466
(707) 895-2955
www.wicksonrestaurant.com
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