Really can’t imagine splashing out $75 per, for a tomato event, while having a pregnancy related aversion. Interesting! Carmel is lovely and all that, were you able to eat anything at all?
Right? So, we bought the tickets in advance. We knew they were limiting # of people so that it didn’t get overwhelming. THEN I got pregnant. I was in trimester 1 when it occurred. I actually did manage to eat almost everything, but mostly because at that point it was a splurge for us (hotel too) and I was more frugal than nauseous. I remember it was delicious and a good time. I also remember the loudest most rude belch coming out of me unexpectedly that made me want to drop into a hole in the ground and disappear. But pregnancy will do things to your body won’t it? It was actually a wonderful time all told. They did it on the grounds of a beautiful resort/hotel and the weather was splendid. Just all around class act. Here is a link. Apparently they retired the fest in 2008. Too bad.
And really $75 for effectively a 30 dish tasting, plus all the extras, is quite affordable. Think of a tasting menu at a restaurant. It just kept out most of the people that you’ll see at Taste of this or that summer carnivals that are only there to get wasted.
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I’ve been to a few good ones. There’s a pickle festival in my neighborhood where you can get your sodium allotment for the month in an hour or so. The Saugerties Garlic Festival is fun, as is the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Chili Pepper Festival. I don’t think they’re that good a place to make friends, though. But I’m not really a “strike up a conversation and exchange contact info” person.
Same here. I have a couple people in my extended family that will literally be exchanging birthdays and anniversary dates with people as they stand in a line. Not me.
Ok, that makes sense, and it’s good you have happy memories of it - such a beautiful part of the world too, with an excellent climate for produce.
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Yes… I seem to have the ability to strike up a conversation with anyone about anything.
In my experience (for the most part) people are friendly and want to talk. They enjoy sharing their experiences and opinions.
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There’s a big difference between idle chit chat with random people to pass the time and making plans to keep in touch. I do plenty of the former and zero of the latter. You do both, I take it.
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That’s why it’s an easier start for many to “meet” online at first. See who you vibe with. Meet up in person. See if the vibe continues. Meet up again. Wash, rinse, repeat.
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Agree 100%. You can get to know them over time, and also (I think) learn more about the true nature of someone when you’re both initially invisible and anonymous.
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You are correct.
Agree. Someone local tried to start up a dining together group here recently and as far as I can tell it was an abject failure. Because she wanted to meet up at a new restaurant weekly, but no one knew each other, even online, and no relationships at all had been established.
I met a few peeps IRL through CH, some of whom I still get together with occasionally when the timing’s right. Other members in my Fb WFD group are also CH transplants (some of whom are active on HO as well), and some very close friendships have started off in my group, which makes me all kinds of happy. I love connecting people & I’m pretty damn good at it 
While how folks present themselves online isn’t always entirely reliable (nor does the mere fact that a shared interest in food will grow into a real connection beyond that), I’ve only once met a person who was very different IRL than her online persona, and I did not like her much at all… but other than that one exception, I suppose I should consider myself lucky 
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C’mon, Let the Dogs out of the bag!! 
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Not sure how to elaborate on this. She seemed much funnier/had more levity online than IRL. Hard to put my finger on it. Sorry.
This wasn’t anyone from CH or HO, in any event.
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This makes sense. A lot of people write much better than thinking on their feet.
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She had a bit of a bitter/mean streak to her as well, which I found really off-putting.
Often masked by humor or wit.
Was that "Tomato fest "? Gary Ibsen’s?
It was. I have his book too, on tomatoes. I think that’s where I heard about the festival.
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I saw the link right after I posted. I got excited.
