Road Trippin’ to Big Sur for INDYpendence Day
Story and Photos by Camilla M. Mann
This month – on
Independence Day – the ‘First Thursday’ INDY event hit the road and set-up in
Big Sur. Initially, in 2012, the INDY was a mélange of farmers peddling their
produce, artisans showcasing their foods and creations, and vintners pouring
their libations in a dynamic, spirited marketplace. Having built a loyal
following, the INDY was re-imagined earlier this year as a pop-up dinner hosted
on the first Thursday of each month. There is still a mini-marketplace of local
foodsmiths, but the central focus is a feast, served family-style, with live entertainment
and a whole lot of community-building. People pass plates, swap stories, and
revel in the festive atmosphere. And like the INDY marketplace before it, a
portion of the ticket proceeds from the INDY pop-ups benefit a local
non-profit. This month’s recipient was the very spot in which we were dining:
the Henry Miller Library.
If you’re never been to
the Henry Miller Library in Big Sur, it’s a non-profit bookstore and arts
center championing the late Big Sur resident, writer, and artist Henry Miller.
Founded in the early 1980s, the bookstore is nestled beneath towering redwoods
in the former home of one of Henry Miller’s friends.
In his 1939 novel Tropic of Capricorn, Miller wrote: “The aim of life is to live, and to live
means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware.” His namesake
library is a stunning venue with a relaxed vibe. It’s perfect for an INDY
par-tay – a place to live, be aware, be joyous, be serene, and be drunk…as long
as you’re not the designated driver for this lil’ road trip.
Thirteen months of
working in and learning to cook in Rome, rendered me something of a pizza snob.
I’m particular about the crust and even pickier about the toppings. Toppings
need to be fresh, with flavors that just pop in your mouth. Danica Alvarado,
the force behind Tricycle Pizza, absolutely nailed it. Tricycle Pizza is less
than a year old, but Alvarado has her family working alongside and took her
mobile wood-fire pizza and catering business full-time in November. While I
chatted with her, her mom was tossing dough, her sister topped them, and her
dad was slicing the pies as they came out of the oven.
They served three different
kinds of pizza – goat cheese and arugula, pepperoni and parsley, and pesto with
chicken. After experimenting with different kinds of wood, Alvarado settled on
apple wood which imparts a subtle flavor to her pizza and burns consistently for
the duration of cooking. She explained that she brings the oven up to 1000
degrees, lets it cool to around 800, and the pies cook in a little under three
minutes. The crust was perfectly crisp with a slight char on the rim. And the
toppings were deliciously paired for a flawless presentation.
Another newcomer to the
Monterey County food scene is Pop Culture Beverage owned by Drew and Elske
Daigle. How new? you ask. Brand new. “We just moved here on Sunday,” gushed Elske.
Formerly based in Santa Barbara, Pop Culture's Premium Artisan Beverages begin
simply as fresh pressed fruit. They don’t add any color, flavor or artificial
sweetener. Talking to them was like talking to a vintner who carefully selects
the fruit before production begins. The Daigles aim to celebrate and retain the
fruit's true flavor profile, using the juice from perfectly ripe fruit before
gently carbonating and bottling their creations. They were pouring their
Obamagranate, made with pomegranates from Madera, in the Central Valley. It was
the perfect antidote the hot, summer sun.
Other vendors were set up
throughout the garden. The PigWizard – John Roberts – was slinging bacon, sausages, and jars of his
Hog Scald Barbeque Sauce; The Drink Mixtress – Vanessa Share – was pouring
grilled peach margaritas with fresh sage, citrus, and organic tequila plus an
equally innovative lemon-cucumber mojitos made with yerba buena and organic
rum; the ladies from Planet Love Funk set up a table with everything from
chocolate confections to jarred spices for making chai; and there was a wide
selection of veggies from Esalen’s Harvest Garden and beers from Post No Bills
available for purchase.
Along with the pizza,
Local Catch of Monterey Bay steamed clams and mussels in Tricycle Pizza’s oven.
Todd Champagne, the Independent Marketplace co-founder and owner of Happy Girl
Kitchen, presented piles of his Sour Garlic Pickles that had been sitting in
brine for ten days. Chef Matt Millea, formerly of Sierra Mar Restaurant at Big
Sur’s Post Ranch Inn, manned the grill, serving poblano peppers sprinkled with
Big Sur sea salt, fresh ears of corn still in their husks, and chunks of sea
bass on a bed of tomatoes topped with fresh hollyhock petals and a drizzle of
herb aioli. “Yesterday, these were two thirty-five pound sea bass in our bay.
Today, they’re this,” quipped Champagne from the stage, gesturing at the
platters circulating the garden.
Entertaining the sold-out
crowd was Songs Hotbox Harry Taught Us, a seven-member band based in Big Sur. In
fact, Magnus Toren, who strummed his guitar, sang, and drank beer
simultaneously, acts as the Henry Miller Library’s Executive Director. Songs
Hotbox Harry Taught Us performed some original songs and some classics, some old
school rock’n’roll and some rockabilly, a fusion genre that infuses the rock of
the 1950s with some blues and country. While all their tunes were enjoyable,
Tracy Chesebrough’s rendition of the 1966 Byrds’ “Mr. Spaceman” was delightful.
Woke up this morning with light in my eyes
And then realized it was still dark outside
It was a light coming down from the sky
I don't know who or why
Must be those strangers that come every night
Those saucer shaped lights put people uptight
Leave blue green footprints that glow in the dark
I hope they get home all right
Hey, Mr. Spaceman
Won't you please take me along
I won't do anything wrong
Hey, Mr. Spaceman
Won't you please take me along for a ride
July’s INDY was a wild
success, bringing mom-and-pop artisans to a crowd who rejoices in the local,
the handcrafted, and the creative. Some were perennial favorites and some were
new to the Monterey Bay foodscape. Either way, I now have some new favorites and
will seek out their goodies wherever I can. Thanks to the organizers of the
INDY First Thursday events for taking us along for a great ride. I’ve already
penciled in the date for next month’s party: August 1st.
