The Peasant and the Pear hosted its annual “Customer Appreciation Party” on November 16, to thank loyal patrons and to help feed the hungry. Admission to the party? Customers were asked to bring some canned goods or other nonperishables to help stock the Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano Counties.

Joan Tomasini, a coordinator from the Food Bank said, “Our local food bank feeds 76,000 people in Contra Costa County and 32,000 people in Solano Country per month.” Last year’s event raised over $1,800 in cash and lots of food. She was hoping that this evening would be as successful.

Boy Scout Troop #803 was also there for the annual “Scouting for Food” program. “Scouting for Food” aims to collect and donate over 1 million pounds of food in the Bay Area this year. Boy Scouts Carl Bergsten and Ben Wischhover, both 15, are freshmen at Monte Vista High School. They were impressed with the generosity of the donors. Less than two hours into the event, they had filled the food bank van.

Bergsten said, “We didn’t anticipate collecting nearly this much, this fast. This is one of the best drives we’ve ever had.” Wischhover agreed, “We feel really lucky to collect this amount, given the uncertain economy.” When I asked the boys why they thought people were so eager to donate, they said in unison, “Rodney Worth.”

Rodney Worth, chef and owner of The Peasant and the Pear, was named “Best Chef of the East Bay” last year. Rodney is no stranger to accolades, he also garnered the “Best New Restaurant” honor in 2006, his first year in Danville. Local food lovers have adopted Rodney and his wife Natalie, like new family members. Tami Bean from SevenNightsLive.com said, “Rodney’s warm personality and fantastic hospitality make this kind of night happen.” Rodney loves his guests—he frequently popped out of the kitchen to greet them while he created the party’s tasty treats.

Menu morsels included; gourmet cheese platters, chicken and steak skewers, mini beef wellingtons, meatballs in sun-dried tomato cream sauce, smoked chicken salad, shrimp salad sandwiches and more, all complimented by free-flowing wine! A delicious array of desserts was also served.

Jerry Carbone, whose wife Joanna won the evening’s raffled bottle of Cristal, called Rodney, “The best! He has promoted so much good for the area. He is also a big supporter of our local schools. Tonight is as much a tribute to him, as it is a fundraiser.”

I surveyed the packed house. I felt like I was attending a rock star’s concert as I tried to glide through the crowd looking for the “food god” himself. From across the room, I could see Rodney’s beaming smile and hear his earnest and down-to-earth chuckle as he chatted with his customers.

Worth was thankful for all the support and felt that it was his duty to give back to a community that has encouraged him. “As a chef,” he says, “it’s natural for me to want to feed people. Food is essential for life and I’m glad I can feed loyal customers and those in need, too.”

The Peasant and the Pear broke last year’s record, with $2,250 raised, in addition to 1,090 pounds of food!
You can still help. Simply go to: www.FoodBankCCS.org. For more information about The Peasant and the Pear, visit: www.ThePeasantandthePear.com.

Boy scouts of Troop 803 pictured above in photo at left are Josh Gorski (top), Michael Nash (kneeling), Carl Bergsten and Tyler Brecke. In photo at right are Ben Wishhover, Josh Gorski, Carl Bergten, Michael Nash, Tyler Breke and Chef Rodney Worth.

White House Dinner

The White House came to Danville Monday night, September 21, 2009. In fact, a lot from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue showed up at 267 Hartz Avenue.

“The Peasant and the Pear” restaurant owner and Executive Chef Rodney Worth and political analyst, Mark Curtis, hosted a “White House Dinner.” It was a salute to presidential food and history!

Throughout American history, Inaugural dinners have celebrated a new president. Each tenant of the oval office has chosen a menu that reflects a theme that is to be symbolic of his term in the White House. President Obama’s inaugural theme, “A New Birth of Freedom,” was borrowed from President Lincoln’s Gettysburg address. The dessert served at Obama’s Inauguration was also borrowed from Lincoln’s Inaugural – Huckleberry-Blackberry Cobbler.

This party was about food and quirky fun! I was greeted by a faux Monica Lewinski, who showed me to the champagne and hors d’oeuvres. Marilyn Monroe softly belted out, These Boots are Made for Walking, while Jackie Kennedy showed me to my table. It was decorated with a clear glass jar full of Jelly Bellies-a nice homage to Ronald Reagan’s favorite snack.

Rodney, in his warm, jovial manner, welcomed us all to his White House Dinner and introduced each dish. Mark Curtis, a news correspondent who now has his own news, public relations,
and political analysis agency, and who has dined at the White House three times, kept us in stitches with amusing historical anecdotes. For example, Andrew Jackson wanted to invite well-wishers into the lobby of the White House and have cheese waiting for them. He had a 1400-pound wheel of cheese brought in. The White House smelled horrible and draperies
and rugs had to be cleaned to get rid of the stench.

There was the time when Boris Yeltsin didn’t care so much for the dinner served by President Clinton’s chef (either that or Vodka just sped up his metabolism). Yeltsin was found at 2:30
a.m., drunk, and hailing a cab-and, oh and the best part-in his underwear on Pennsylvania Avenue. He told the Secret Service that he was craving a pizza.

The first course of the divine meal was a rich, creamy, flavorful potato-leek soup that was out of this world. If I hadn’t been expected to behave so properly, I might have licked the
bowl clean—that’s how good it was. We learned that this was George Bush’s favorite soup and the one he served at his Inauguration. The second course was a frisee salad with Granny Smith apples and brie that was inspired by John F. Kennedy. Kennedy and his wife were lovers of French food and culture and employed a French chef to prepare that cuisine very often.

We had a choice for the main course: California sea bass with saffron risotto and fennel salad, which had been served at one of Ronald Reagan’s Inaugural dinners, or Arkansas chicken
with garlic mashed potatoes and creamed spinach, served by Bill Clinton. Both were heavenly.

During dessert we learned that some prominent local politicians were dining with us. Mayor Newell Arnerich, of Danville called this night “a delightful evening; the perfect way to digest politics is with great food.” Mayor Abram Wilson, of San Ramon, urged anyone “who has a love of great food and a love of great conversation to absolutely attend this wonderful event.” There was talk about repeating this in January.

The evening ended with a book signing by Mark Curtis. His Age of Obama: A Reporter’s Journey with Clinton, McCain, and Obama in the Making of the President 2008 is brilliant. His insights reflect a profound understanding of American politics and the way it is shaped by the residents of “Main Street, U.S.A.” The book reads like a fascinating road trip. His style is reminiscent of Studs Terkel. This is a must read. For more information, visit www.MarkCurtisMedia.com.

White House Dinner