Arbiters of Taste: 'Edibles' Judges for Harvest Festival Announced

From a Piedmont Harvest Festival press release:

Fifteen avid “foodies” passionate about food and fresh, local ingredients have been selected as judges for this year’s “Edibles” Contest at the 15th Annual Piedmont Harvest Festival, scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013 at Piedmont Community Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Festival Committee received wonderful submissions from prospective judges, who were required to describe why they wanted to be a judge. Here are excerpts from a few of the entries. A list of the 2013 judges follows.

“I have tasted coffee with Alfred Peet and food with great chefs, and I have a restaurant, Rudy’s Can’t Fail Café (Oakland).”

“I’m a young professional chef and I have a good palate for tasting foods of all kinds.” 

“We'd love to be around others who enjoy cooking in town and share our passion." 

“I’m crazy about jams and chutneys…”

“I love to cook… and grew up in the Napa Valley surrounded by good food made with fresh and local ingredients when everything was organic. "

“ I love making homemade pickles….and every summer I work planting and picking crops at a small, organic farm in the Midwest.”

2013 Edibles Judges (in alphabetical order)

· Margaret Fujioka

· Geoff Grote

· Erich Horn

· Garrett Keating

· Matt Kellogg

· Nick Levinson

· Bob McBain

· Steve Mills

· Sara Pearson

· Lisa Rossi

· Paula Silver

· Mira Tellegen

· Jean Wieler

· Jeff Wieler

· Caroline Wong

As always Village Market will sponsor its popular, low priced produce stand, and provide the meats and produce served at the event. 

Favorite attractions this year will include the Jazz Festival, Scarecrow Auction, Fix-It Clinic and The Green Team’s “Pollinator Pathways” exhibit. Two other new exhibits will include a booth from the Asian Foundation on bone marrow donations, and a Bike Corral for those who wish to ride bikes to the event and park them safely for free.

For more information, please visit www.piedmontharvestfestival.org.