Fall - 2022

EXCEPTIONAL WINE AND FOOD AGAINST THE STUNNING SCENERY OF BIG SUR Elsa Rivera is local volunteer extraordi- naire, and The Big Sur Food and Wine Festival, held this November 3rd - 5th, is just one of the events she organizes to help the local commu- nity. Filled with once-in-a-lifetime events like the Magical Mystery Tour (you don’t get to know what’s happening until you arrive at a special destination, but expect amazing food and wine!), opening night at Alila Ventana Big Sur, featuring food, wine and champagne from multiple makers, and Hiking with Stemware, a stunning walk that takes you past chefs and winemakers at a private residence, the event is not to be missed. Rivera emphasizes that the all-volunteer-run event is meant to benefit the Big Sur community. “Even with the cancellation of the event in 2020, we were able to give the local community $45,000,” she shares. “In 2021, we topped our- selves and raised $150,000.” Another crucial aspect of the weekend is to tread lightly while immersed in the pristine and rare environment. “Our mission is to be stewards of the land,” she says. “Our guests are conscious and educat- ed and we walk gently on the venues that we are so generously allowed to enjoy.” For more information or to become a sponsor, visit www.bigsurfoodandwine.org . THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE SHOP OPENS IN SALINAS Owners Chris Swainson and Lesley Everett are the husband-and-wife team who brought a taste of England to Carmel through PG Pyes, which they sold out of Sweet Reba’s. Sausage rolls, ham and egg pies, chunky vegetable pies, steak and ale pies and Bakewell treats are some of the many popular “English bakes” the 158 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • F A L L 2 0 2 2 Dinner with Friends is one of the many stellar fundraisers for the Big Sur community that Elsa Rivera organizes annually. Last year’s event took place on Big Sur’s south coast and featured entertainment by gracefully agile aerial acrobats. Photo: DMT Imaging food for thought Breathtaking Big Sur Food and Wine Fest ; New Locat ion for Br i t i sh Baked Goods ; and Bount i ful Bi tes at Bear + Flag B Y B R E T T WI L BUR