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News Release
San Mateo County Convention & Visitors Bureau
January 22, 2007
Contact: Anne LeClair (650) 348-7600

San Mateo County Convention and Visitors Bureau and San Mateo County Farm Bureau Presented with an Award of Excellence

Earlier this month the American Farm Bureau recognized various county programs that demonstrated the essence of their County Activities of Excellence program. Among those awarded was San Mateo County with the “San Mateo County: As Fresh as it Gets” Program. The “As Fresh as it Gets” program was created in the partnership of the San Mateo County Convention & Visitors Bureau and San Mateo County Farm Bureau, with the cooperation of the San Mateo County Harbor District. The program aims to educate restaurant chefs, owners and area residents about the fresh local foods, floral products, and wine and beer that the county has to offer. The program also rewards and promotes restaurants that go out of their way to buy and serve fresh, locally grown and caught products. 

"The main benefit is proving a linkage between the hospitality industry and agriculture and allowing both to understand and learn about the nuances of what they do and how they do it," said Jack Olsen, executive administrator of the Farm Bureau. "And by creating a better interaction between the two we feel we can economically help both interests and their bottom line and provide a better value-added product in both industries."

This award follows behind the successful launch of the awards program, chef tours, and the inaugural edition of the  “San Mateo County: As Fresh as it Gets” cookbook. In the first year of the awards program thirty-two restaurants qualified for awards, including eight restaurants that were awarded at the platinum level.  On the chef tour that occurred last spring chefs were able to tour various fresh produce, dairy, and floral farms, and a visit with fisherman at Pillar Point Harbor. One of the chefs in attendance was Executive Chef Tim Hilt of 231 Ellsworth who immediately noted that it was great to find people that, “really had a passion about what they do, much like myself as a chef.”

The inaugural cookbook contains over 130 recipes that feature these locally grown, caught, and produce food items from the county. “We go out of our way to use fresh products that are grown and caught locally,” said Alessandro Cartumini, executive chef of Quattro Restaurant and Bar. “It’s important to support the local growers and suppliers, and the proof is in the better quality of the finished product.” Among the various restaurants that submitted recipes for the cookbook were Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Pasta Moon, Cetrella, Moss Beach Distillery, Vivace, Pasta Pomodoro, The Flea Street Café, and The Cool Café.  Additional recipes include suggested recipes fro local farmers and fishermen, such as Harley Farms, Daylight Farms, and the California Salmon Council. The cookbook even includes specialty recipes using Casa Sanchez Salsa; a San Mateo County made salsa featuring fresh products.

Through the “San Mateo County: As Fresh as it Gets” program visitors and locals alike are now discovering that San Mateo County is a world-class culinary tourism destination.

While San Mateo County has been recognized for the first year of the program the second year will                  . Preparations have already begun for the 2007 “As Fresh as it Gets” chef awards. Distribution of applications will begin at the end of the month with an award ceremony scheduled for the late spring.

The cookbooks are available for sale from the San Mateo County Convention and Visitors Bureau and also on the San Mateo County Farm Bureau website. For further information on the “As Fresh as it Gets” project, or for an award application, please contact the SMCCVB at (650) 348-7600 or info@smccvb.com.