ENCINITAS — A Lima Bean Battle is not your usual foodie attraction, but it will be, if you know your North County history and love to spend an afternoon trying out new culinary treats.The San Dieguito Heritage Museum will be holding its fifth annual Lima Bean Cook-off and Battle of the Beans from noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 28 at 450 Quail Gardens Drive Admission is free for a full afternoon of family fun. The bean recipe tastings will be available from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. With the mouthwatering locavore theme of “From Farm to Table,” tasting tickets will be sold for $5 for three samples or $15 for a taste of every recipe.
At the turn of the century and before, lima bean fields covered the coastal landscape, an important crop for the early pioneers. They grew easily in the moist coastal climate, an early low-water sustainable crop.
To celebrate this agricultural history, the Battle of the Bean, local amateur and professional chefs may use any dry bean in their culinary masterpieces, not just limas. Expect everything from cupcakes to dips to salads to stews and more. Judged by both your votes and professional judges, winners will receive cash prizes, with the coveted Lima Bean Trophy as grand prize.
There will be children’s activities and free tours of the museum grounds, a cakewalk, silent auction, adoptable dogs, petting zoo, raffle prizes, beer and wine, root beer floats and hot dogs, plus live music by the Salty Suites.
You will learn secrets from the old time local farmers who grew the fields of beans, raised turkeys and love to tell stories of the old days before flowers, surfboards and million dollar homes defined Encinitas. Local 4-H and Future Farmers of America members have organized an extensive Petting Zoo. The San Diego County Farm Bureau will answer your gardening-farming questions. Interested in raising urban chickens in your backyard? There will be someone to guide you on your way.
For general information, call (760) 632-9711 or e-mail to [email protected].
