Hollywood to Madera – Changing Landscapes by Noelle

August 3, 2007

Descending into the Central Valley of California from Los Angeles our road trip crew was thrilled to finally be on the way. The adventure ahead unknown, we all staked our spots on the bus and settled in for the 4-hour ride to our dinner host in Madera. In my role as the organizer for the California leg of this tour, I’m frequently asked questions like: “Where are we going next?” and “What’s for dinner?” Fortunately, my choices so far have been well received! But really, what else would one expect from a road trip titled - The Eat Well Guided Tour of America - than a well-fed crew!!

We arrived effortlessly into Madera around 7:15PM and were greeted at The Vineyard Restaurant by a warm group of dinner invitees that included several activists, a farming family and a restaurateur. Within minutes of being seated, delicious local wines already on the table, we were served platters of sweet red tomatoes grown by the farmer sitting just to my right. An approachable character of small stature, Tom Willey proves to be an asset beyond simple explanation. We had the fortune to also share dinner with Tom’s son, Patrick, and his wife Denesse, whose story of the Calymirna fig was a hybrid history and biology lesson missing from our nation’s textbooks. Apparently, this delicious fig, well known throughout California and particularly the valley, requires a particular kind of wasp in order to transport the pollen it needs to reproduce. Where might a farmer find this wasp you wonder? Well, from the wild fig trees planted nearby. The wasp tries unsuccessfully to lay its eggs in one tree but in doing so transfers the pollen needed to produce the seasonally sought after Calymirna figs. Skipping ahead in our dinner... we were treated once again by Chris Mariscotti, owner of The Vineyard Restaurant, with a platter of the scrumptious figs arriving to cleanse our savory palates.

The Vineyard Restaurant itself is not something to miss if you’re ever passing through the Central Valley of California on HW 99. With a modest sign stating “The Vineyard” in fading purple letters rising out above the highway, the restaurant turns out to be the top restaurant in the valley. Chris, one of the leaders of Slow Food Madera, makes an effort to source and serve locally grown products on his menu including free-range chicken, seasonal vegetables and local wines. Much of his produce comes from fellow Slow Food leader, Tom Willey from T&D Willey Farms.

When dinner came to a delicious end, there was a flurry of contact information being exchanged as the crowd suddenly realized the value in staying connected. With organizers Daniela Simunovic from Center on Race Poverty and The Environment, and Catherine Garoupa with the Central Valley Air Quality Coalition, both working hard to improve the quality of life for valley residents, we leave with a sense of confidence that despite the breadth of unsustainable agricultural practices happening in the valley, there is a resistance that will bring about the needed change.

Want to read more about our events today?
The Road to Madera
Pie Ranch

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