The second annual UrchinFest will take place on the Mendocino Coast from June 16-18, 2023. This unique event celebrates the tasty, fascinating (yet also invasive) purple sea urchin.
During the festival, two iconic Mendocino lodging properties – Little River Inn and MacCallum House – will be offering all-inclusive guest packages for the adventurous epicurean.
The Little River Inn package includes a guided tide-pooling excursion, where guests can learn about the urchin and its role in the marine ecosystem. The package also includes an educational demonstration and dinner showcasing the harvested bounty, along with a sake pairing highlighting each course in the feast. Lodging (2 nights) and daily breakfast are included with each package as well.
The MacCallum House package features a guided diving experience, where guests can learn how to harvest urchins sustainably. The package also includes an educational demonstration and dinner showcasing the harvested bounty, along with a sake pairing highlighting each course in the feast. Lodging (2 nights) and daily breakfast are included with each package as well.
TIDE POOLING PACKAGE
Kevin Smith of Catch and Cook CA will give a talk on how indigenous people populated California by following the kelp trail along the Pacific Rim at a welcome campfire on Friday, June 16th at 7pm. Attendees will also be able to enjoy s’mores.
Tide Pooling at Van Damme Beach
On Saturday, June 17th, those who purchased the tide pooling package will meet Kevin Smith of Catch and Cook CA at Van Damme Beach at 5:30am to harvest seaweed, urchin, turban snails, and more. The activity will end around 8:30am.
As the kelp dies, more creatures head to the tidepools, which makes tide pooling a great classroom. Kevin will teach participants about the different creatures they find and how to harvest them sustainably. Participants will also have the opportunity to cook some of the creatures they harvest over a campfire.
This is a great opportunity to learn about the marine ecosystem and how to interact with it in a sustainable way. The cost of the package is $50 per person and includes all necessary equipment and instruction.
Purple Urchins: A Threat to the Ocean Floor
On Saturday, June 17th at 1pm, join Esme Plascencia, a Park Interpretive Specialist at Van Damme State Park, and Tristin McHugh, a scientist with the Nature Conservancy, for a talk on the purple urchin.
Purple urchins are an invasive species that has been wreaking havoc on the kelp forests of California. They are voracious eaters and can quickly clear an area of all kelp. This has a devastating impact on the entire marine ecosystem, as kelp provides food and shelter for many other creatures.
During the talk, Placencia and McHugh will discuss the history of purple urchins in California, the impact they are having on the environment, and what is being done to control their population. They will also demonstrate how to open a purple urchin and sample its delicious meat.
A Night of Uni
On Saturday, June 17th, guests of the Little River Inn can enjoy a night of uni, the Japanese delicacy made from sea urchin roe. The evening begins with a cooking demonstration by Executive Chef Marc Dym and Master Sushi Chef Frank Takao, who will show guests how to prepare and cook the uni they harvested during their tide pooling or diving adventures.
Guests will then enjoy a five-course uni dinner, paired with sake by Professional Sake Educator Kerry Tamura of World Sake. The dinner will feature a variety of uni dishes, including uni carpaccio, uni nigiri, and uni uni.
The Tide Pooling package includes all the activities listed above, plus two nights lodging and two breakfasts for two people for $2,500.
Use code Urchin23 to book the tide-pooling experience at either www.littleriverinn.com or www.maccallumhouse.com.
URCHIN DIVING PACKAGE
Welcome Campfire
On Friday, June 16th, Dr. Kevin Smith of Catch and Cook CA will give a talk on how indigenous people populated California by following the kelp trail along the Pacific Rim at a welcome campfire on Van Damme Beach at 7pm. Attendees will also be able to enjoy s’mores.
Underwater Wonders of the Mendocino Coast
On Saturday, June 17th, Greg Fonts, professional free dive competitor and owner of The Freedive Shop, will lead a morning of exploration of the underwater wonders of the Mendocino Coast. Participants will learn about the different marine life that can be found in the area, and how to collect their limit of urchin (and maybe some other surprises) in the protected waters of Van Damme Cove. All equipment will be provided.
Discover the Purple Urchin
On Saturday, June 17th at 1pm, join Esme Placencia, a Park Interpretive Specialist at Van Damme State Park, and Tristin McHugh, a scientist with the Nature Conservancy, for a talk on the purple urchin.
Purple urchins are an invasive species that has been wreaking havoc on the kelp forests of California. They are voracious eaters and can quickly clear an area of all kelp. This has a devastating impact on the entire marine ecosystem, as kelp provides food and shelter for many other creatures.
A Night of Uni
On Saturday, June 17th, guests of the Little River Inn can enjoy a night of uni, the Japanese delicacy made from sea urchin roe. The evening begins with a cooking demonstration by Executive Chef Marc Dym and Master Sushi Chef Frank Takao, who will show guests how to prepare and cook the uni they harvested during their tide pooling or diving adventures.
Guests will then enjoy a five-course uni dinner, paired with sake by Professional Sake Educator Kerry Tamura of World Sake. The dinner will feature a variety of uni dishes, including uni carpaccio, uni nigiri, and uni uni.
The Urchin Diving package includes all the activities listed above, plus two nights lodging and two breakfasts for two people for $3,200. Use code UrchinDive to book the diving experience at either www.littleriverinn.com or www.maccallumhouse.com.
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