Food Traveler Magazine Winter 2016 | Page 74

Coastal Cuisine Ventura , California What do kale, peppers, tomatoes, avocados, celery, and strawberries have in common? You can find them all within 20 miles of downtown Ventura! Farmers in this beautiful beach town are spoiled by California’s rich soil, and in turn spoil chefs with the freshest ingredients creating enviable opportunities for farm-to-fork eats. Watch a Pacific sunset on the pier while munching on guacamole made with locally grown avocados and limes. Enjoy local squid at the marina as fishing boats come in and out of the harbor. Taste local wines at nearby wine bars with a view of historic San Buenaventura Mission and then stroll Main Street for unique shops and eats. In Ventura, 60 miles north of Los Angeles, farmers have built a farm-to-fork movement from the root up. Farmers’ markets and farmer-to-chef deliveries are a frequent sight around town as food trucks, caterers, and restaurants strive to redefine the farm-to-fork movement 72 FoodTraveler l Winter 2016