THANK YOU! Big Sur Foragers Festival Raises $30,000 for Big Sur Health Center
🌿🍄 Big Sur Foragers Festival Raises $30,000 for Big Sur Health Center! 🎉
More than 200 guests gathered at Big Sur Lodge on January 25th for an unforgettable weekend celebrating foraged foods, fungi, and nature! This year’s Big Sur Foragers Festival —including the always-popular Fungus Face Off and SOLD-OUT Walk & Talks—raised $30,000 in support of the Big Sur Health Center.
Presented with the support of Edible Monterey Bay, the Fungus Face Off brought together top chefs from across the region, crafting inventive dishes that highlighted wild, foraged ingredients. Guests indulged in an array of mushroom-inspired creations while supporting vital healthcare services for the Big Sur community.
The festival also featured hikes led by Lisa and an incredible team of guides, who shared their expertise on foraging, indigenous plant knowledge, and the fascinating world of local mushrooms. These experiences added $10,000 to the fundraising total, making a tremendous impact!
🏆 And the winners are...
🥇 Best Use of Foraged Ingredients: Chefs Eddie Jimenez & Ben Spungin (Cella Restaurant) – Wild Fennel & Nasturtium Cavatelli with Chanterelle, Duck Leg & Snail Ragout, Black Truffle Vinaigrette
🌟 Most Creative: Chef David Pasculli (Sammich’d) – Passionfruit Tart with Candy Cap Mushroom/Brown Butter Crust & Bay Leaf/Candy Cap Meringue
🏆 Best Overall: Chef Salvador Merlin (Rio Grill) – Smoked Beef Tenderloin with Maitake & Chanterelle Mushrooms, Coffee/Achiote Rub
🗳️ People’s Choice: Chef Tim Wood (Woodie’s at the Airport & Del Mesa) – Chanterelles in Mushroom Sauce with Polenta
A special thank you to our judges from Edible Monterey Bay, including Mark C. Anderson, Analuisa Bejar, Laura Ness, and Deborah Luhrman, for lending their expertise to select this year’s winners.
✨ A HUGE Thank You to Our Partners! ✨
This festival would not be possible without the generosity and support of our incredible partners. Thank you to each of the chefs, restaurants, wineries, and vendors who made this event a success!
🍷 Restaurant & Winery Partners
- Bernardus Winery
- Big Sur Lodge
- Big Sur Vineyards
- Bitter Ginger
- Cafe Carmel
- Chalone
- Chesebro Winery
- Deetjens
- Esalen
- Fernwood
- Flywheel Wines
- Ibrand
- Joyce Wine Company
- LadySomm
- Martha's Hopyard
- Montrio
- Morgan Winery
- Post Ranch’s Sierra Mar
- Rio Grill
- Sammich’d
- Scheid Family Wines
- Ventana
- Woody's
- Wrath Wines
🌟 Special Thanks to our vendors and hike leaders for curating a truly immersive experience. Guests raved about the over-the-top food creations, the mushroom display at the Face Off, and the expert-led Walk & Talks, where Lisa and her team shared fascinating insights about foraging, native plants, and edible mushrooms.
🙏 THANK YOU for being part of this incredible festival and helping to support local healthcare in Big Sur!
