My personal dinner cooked by Tyler Florence, and given to me!!!

I just got home for Day #1 at the Food & Wine Harvest Farm-To-Table Event, being held at the beautiful Quail Lodge Resort-- located in Carmel Valley, California-- my hometown for most of my life.

I'm still quivering from excitement, that I need to calm down and (literally) digest all the fantastic food I have sampled.

The first thing I want to say about Tyler Florence... he's definitely a hottie, but most importantly-- he is a genuinely friendly and approachable chef.  I have to thank my dear friend, Dorothy, who put me on the volunteer list as a "Chef Gopher".

My wrist band gave me early access to the grounds-- three hours before it was open to the public. Yes, that's Stefan Richter of Top Chef and LA Farm. He is also very gracious and very charismatic.

He is also very friendly... and most gracious about being photographed with me! Muwaaaaah!

That's my friend, "Dorothy" (far left), checking in the chefs. I was her assistant (deep chuckle...)

There he is!  Tyler Florence, in the flesh... signing Dot's program.  Tyler has beautiful blue eyes, by the way-- and I caught him putting on his chef's coat. Need some help with that, Tyler? I got front row seats, thanks to Dorothy.

Do you see the photograph of Tyler, with his arm around me, posing for a photo? No? Um, hello, Dorothy...
YOU DIDN'T PRESS THE BUTTON!!! Imagine my weeping, as I realize she didn't take the shot... however, I said to Tyler that I am a participant in the food blog  Tyler Florence Fridays, and he looked at me a smiled. Then he said "that's lots of fun, huh?"  Tyler Florence spoke to me!  My consolation prize, for missing out on a photo of me with Tyler (it really happened)  is yet to come...

So, I forgive Dot for not taking the shot... you see, once all the chefs were checked in, she grabbed me and said that our job was to ask each Chef's Station if they needed anything. I got a white wrist band, that gave me unlimited access to everything!

We inspected the wine glasses and surveyed the tents-- no crowds yet. It was still early...

This pork had been cooking since last night, with oak... pulled pork, my husband's favorite!

 We were offered a taste....

...and I was given a full bottle of cold Stella Artois beer, and was given the glass to keep!  But, back to Tyler's cooking demo...

There is so much more to tell you, but I'm going to tell you that my biggest highlight of all was watching Tyler Florence make a fabulous meal of fresh Alaskan salmon, seared and cooked to perfection. He also made a beautiful herb sauce, fresh baby heirloom tomatoes cooked almost a beautiful relish, a fresh corn succotash with bacon, onion and fresh veggies and perfect tempura style squash blossoms.  I will show you how he made it...

Dorothy's husband, Fatih (third from the left of Stephan Richter) took photos of Tyler Florence picking me-- and my new friend, Michelle, and giving us his plated meal to enjoy!  Yes! Me!!  He waited while I took a bite, standing right in front of me (my fork was trembling) while I took a taste.  I gave Fatih some of our meal, to bribe him into giving me photos of Tyler feeding me! Not only is Tyler Florence a hottie, genuinely nice-- but he can cook!  It was excellent!

Tomorrow is Day #2, and I have a pass for my husband to come with me. Craig knows how to take photos, so I'm determined to get another photo of me with Tyler Florence.

Having met Tyler Florence, and Stephan Richter, and eating Tyler's food...my life is complete... until tomorrow. Lots more photos to come!  (Though, I did meet Alton Brown and I enjoyed a meal by "Iron Chef", Nate Appleman, in May of this year. 

C'mon on a join us! There's still time to make it to beautiful Carmel Valley!  It's so worth the trip here.

Yours truly,
"The Chef Gopher",