After a parade of winter storms, the sun is shining especially bright these days.
And what one farmers market found out was, when the sun comes out, so do the stars. Culinary TV stars, that is.
Judges on the Food Network show, Guy’s Grocery Games, had a roaring time shopping and laughing at the Santa Rosa Community Farmers Market on a recent Saturday.
Disbelief, and then starstruck!
Chefs Aaron May, Damaris Phillips, Catherine McCord, and Mei Lin, winner of Top Chef Season 12, stopped by unannounced and strolled through the market on Farmer’s Lane.
They almost got away without a picture for the market but Manager Jim Fenton wasn’t about to let that happen. Jim loves Food Network and is a big fan of Damaris in particular. In Aaron’s Instagram post, you can see Jim in the background slowly realizing who they are. He rushed to summon Kelly Smith, the executive director of the market organization, for a picture.
“Jim came running over to tell me they were there,” Kelly recalls. “I didn’t believe him until I saw them! I was starstruck, which never happens to me. They were all so nice and normal!”
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CalFresh accepted, Market Match offered
Santa Rosa Community Farmers Market is open every week on Wednesdays (9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) and Saturdays (8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.) at Farmer’s Lane Plaza, 1501 Farmer’s Lane, Santa Rosa. As a member market of Petaluma Bounty’s Farmers Market L.I.F.E. program, the market offers Market Match to CalFresh customers. Bring your EBT card to the market manager’s booth (look for the teal canopy) to use CalFresh at the market and get matching funds up to $20 to use for fruits and vegetables.
Follow the chefs on social media
Here are some of the social media accounts of the celebrity chefs who visited the market. Follow them for culinary tips and inspiration.
- Aaron May on Instagram
- Damaris Phillips on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
- Catherine McCord on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest
- Mei Lin on Instagram and Facebook
Guy’s Grocery Games is filmed in our area. The show’s producer/star Chef Guy Fieri needs no introduction as our local community hero and culinary maestro.