Pie Ranch

It wouldn’t be a complete Outstanding in the Field season without our annual last-dinner-of-the-year foraging feast at the iconic Pie Ranch in Pescadero. Stomping around the woods this time of year can uncover some truly incredible secrets of the forest. Our host forager and king of mushrooms Todd Spanier will lead us on a treasure hunt through the moss-covered redwoods, and give some valuable insider knowledge on the forests of Northern California. We’ll also hear from Pie Ranch host farmers Nancy Vail and Jered Lawson, who have been operating their 14-acre farm in the shape of a slice of pie since 2005. Guest chef Brad Briske is deeply dedicated to sourcing from small-scale Bay Area farms like Pie Ranch. He’s cooked a few events for us over the years and each of his menus is uniquely inspired by whatever’s freshest and best at the time. At his Soquel restaurant Home, he’s known for hyperlocal California cuisine featuring everything from house-cured wild game to handmade pastas to fresh-caught Monterey Bay fish. Expect a feast full of foraged mushrooms (this is the height of porcini season!) and fall vegetables paired with earthy autumn wines.