My Perfect Fall Bucket List
Search “fall bucket list” or “fall activity list” and you’ll see the same thing every. single. time. Through the eyes of a chef, my fall bucket list looks a little bit different. I want to make the juiciest apple pie, bake the most perfect batch of muffins, find some delicious edible mushrooms (with the help of some friends), and so much more. It’s no surprise that my bucket list is all about food, friends, and making connections. Even so, if I can cross everything off by the start of winter, I’ll say I had a pretty great season.
Visit the DeVoto Farm stand at the farmer’s market, say hi to Louie, and buy ALL the apples. This year, I’m looking for sweet-tart pink pearls, juicy honeycrisp, and the ever perfect pink ladies. We’re having salads with apples and blue cheese, apple crisps, and apple crumb cake all. fall. long.
Make pumpkin syrup for lattes with real pumpkin puree, brown sugar (maybe even piloncillo?), and freshly ground pumpkin spice blend. Because every pumpkin spice latte should have real pumpkin!
Get a meal at Burdell and warm up with some of the best local, seasonal soul food in the Bay. I can’t wait to see what’s next for our friend’s incredible restaurant, recently named Food & Wine’s Restaurant of the Year! Go Geoff!
Go foraging for mushrooms with Eleana and Kevin, my friends behind Shared Cultures, a small-batch miso company based in the Bayview. These mushroom-hunting experts are as fun as fun can be. I always learn something new when I hike with them. This fall, I want to find chanterelles, candy caps, and black trumpets.
Make vinegar with end of summer plums. I’ve honestly never made vinegar from fruit before and I’m excited to get a small batch going. Then, I can enjoy summer all year round! Wish me luck!
Spend a day in the East Bay. My cousin Ariela recently moved to the Bay Area and I’m so excited to show her around the East Bay. I recently met the delightful chef behind Town Fare at the Oakland Museum, so I think that’s where we’ll start. Then, we’ll head to Market Hall Foods to show off the best market around. Hopefully some of my chef friends will be around to say hi too! It’s always a treat to meet up with my East Bay friends.
Make mom’s famous Halloween cookies. My mom has been making frosted sugar cookies for Halloween for years. She makes bats, Frankensteins, ghosts, and pumpkins, using a simple icing and other fun additions like chocolate chips for eyes. Since I won’t get to enjoy hers this year, I’ll just have to make my own!
Make savory pumpkin strudel. Something about paper thin pastry, fresh herbs, walnuts, and roasted pumpkin just seems right. This sounds like the perfect weekend project.