Eat Real! July 16 and 17 in Los Angeles!

In Los Angeles and looking for something fun and inexpensive to do this weekend?

Why not check out the Eat Real Festival in Culver City at the historic Helms Bakery? As they describe it it is "part state fair, part block party." And far from being just another "Taste of [fill in the name of whatever city you are in]" type event, this one focuses quite a bit on teaching food craft, beer making, and all sorts of other do-it-yourself type projects.

I hear that over 20 of LA's top food trucks are going to be there and that is reason enough for me to check it out as I am all over this culinary phenomenon as some of the best food around is found on these trucks.

And get this...the cost to attend is zippo. Nada. All the edibles are only $5 or less! Doesn't this sound like a good time and a great place to get inspiration for all sorts of new cooking projects? Cheese making, beer making, charcuterie and the like. You will probably find me at the Butchery Contest" to see "butchers dismantle a hindquarter in a fast paced frenzy." How could I resist?

My dear friend and former Fig Jammin' partner Caitie (who has her own blog at De Nada Limonada by the way) turned me onto to this good time when she decided to join up and help promote the event. Caitie makes some of the best jams I have ever tasted so once I found out she was disqualified from entering the contests I decided it was safe for me to play along. I submitted a new Fig Jam recipe into the "Sweet Spreads" contest: Honey Fig, Lemon and Thyme Confiture. Its a fig and lemon marmalade with just a hint of thyme infused into the mix.

Wish me luck!

Be sure to check out the website for additional information, demonstration schedules, contest information, driving directions and all that. Arrive hungry!