If organic foods are not your thing (yet) let me tell you a little about the food I prepared for the two events I had in San Fransisco last weekend.

Friday night I made grilled organic and grass-fed filets with balsamic macerated dried plums and grilled spicy shiitake mushrooms; locally caught halibut with organic mint and lemon gremolata, and for dessert, a peach and black berry crisp with toasted coconut and pecans.

This first night in the city really celebrated the amazing local and organic ingredients. It is hard to go wrong on a meal when you have a place like the San Francisco farmers' market available to you. Saturday mornings at the Ferry Building in San Francisco has to be one of my favorite places on earth. I come alive at just about any farmers market, but the ones in northern California are like being a kid in a candy store for me. (I'll take just-picked sun gold tomatoes over skittles any day). You experience aisle after aisle of phenomenal fruits and vegetables and artisan cheese makers, locally raised meats, outrageously chocolaty hot chocolate topped with just whipped organic cream. I am in food heaven when I'm there.

If you were at the event on Saturday benefiting the Organic Center you could sample wild mushroom and thyme crostini, Indian spiced yogurt chicken with coconut, mint and jalapeno chutney, summer vegetable "hash"(sweet corn, basil, zucchini, baby tomatoes) served on crispy tofu. This evening was a tribute to what amazing food (organic as well) can be made from your local/regional grocery store. I cooked with mainly O organics products--one of my favorites since it is affordable and so accessible.While the inspiration is endless for me at an abundant farmers market, the grocery store is close to my heart.

I know if you live in a city where you don't get the same access to the food that our country's agricultural Meccas provide then at least you don't have to feel discouraged in the eating-deliciously category (is that even a word? i think you get my point though). I am so excited to see the expansion of food choices at grocers throughout the country. We have to go to the store, we have to stock our fridge and pantry for our families and ourselves--isn't it great that it can be affordable, delicious and attainable?