Buongiorno. Lo and behold: one grove of cherry trees waited to bloom until my return from Italy! I discovered them today on my run through Golden Gate Park, and decided that it's not too late for our Hanami picnic after all - San Francisco weather permitting.
While living in Japan I became really fond of Hanami, the spring custom of enjoying cherry blossoms over a picnic with family and friends. To celebrate Hanami San Francisco-style, I'll bake a batch of my matcha green tea muffins with chopped raw California almonds. All sweet and savory home-cooked food featuring seasonal and sustainable ingredients is welcome - and someone please bring some tea or coffee!
Where: Grove of blooming cherry trees where Stow Lake Drive meets JFK Drive, behind Stow Lake in San Francisco, Golden Gate park. Here's the exact GPS reading I took with my iPhone.
When: Saturday, May 8, from noon until 2pm.
What to bring: It's a seasonal picnic, Cook Here and Now style. Please bring something you made (not store-bought, please) to share and/or a beverage of your choice. Do bring a blanket to lay on the ground.
This is an informal event: there's no sign-up. Just come over, weather permitting. I'd appreciate it if you could post a comment here letting me know if you'll make it, so I'll have a way of contacting people in case of cancellation due to weather or any other update.
Grazie, see you
there!
Marco
Flavio
Hi Marco,
I will try to make it but have a standing commitment in the southbay from 11-12 on Saturdays. If I do come I'll bring a berry custard tart with berries from my freezer (homegrown, very organic). Very yummy.
Posted by: Sigrid Reinsch | May 04, 2010 at 09:32 AM
Sound good Sigrid! If you can, do drive over.
Ciao, MF
Posted by: Marco Flavio | May 04, 2010 at 09:48 AM
What a great idea! I haven't done a hanami since I moved back from Japan! And finally, it's an occasion where I don't have to have lightning-fast reflexes on the rsvp!
Of course, I will try to conjure up something Japanese...oh, the possibilities...!
Posted by: Brigitte | May 04, 2010 at 01:32 PM
I'll be there -- hmmn...what to bring...
V
Posted by: Valeska | May 04, 2010 at 08:33 PM
Will be there with beverage on...
Posted by: Alison Bing | May 05, 2010 at 11:11 AM
Sounds fun. I'll bring something baked and I can also bring a carafe of coffee. Are there cups left over from previous events?
From Marco Flavio:
Hey Brian, I'll bring some compostable cups. See you tomorrow.
MF
Posted by: brian | May 07, 2010 at 11:58 AM
Sounds great! I will be there. I'm thinking I'll make a grain salad. Do you have small plates and forks or shall I bring them?
From Marco Flavio:
I'll bring a few plates and forks. But do bring some more, if you have them.
See you mañana. MF
Posted by: Kathy | May 07, 2010 at 01:05 PM