West County Wild Kitchen

A bit over a month ago, in my seventh month of unemployment, I decided to start doing some work for myself. Some of you know my passions: food, fish and mushrooms. I decided to start working on educating and providing information to people interested, like myself, in the intersection of these things.

I hadn't been happy working in the restaurant industry in some time (where I had worked for 20 years; the last 12 as a chef), and the recent collapse provided much needed time for relaxation, reflection and self-improvement. It has also provided us all with a great opportunity to reconnect with nature in a more engaging fashion.

It’s from this place that I invite you to partake in the West County Wild Kitchen (https://www.westcountywildkitchen.com/)-Northern California seafood & wild foods from a cook's perspective. A new venture, seeking organic growth, that explores our local environment through a cook's lens, or vice versa. Soon, I'll be publicly launching my Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/westcountywildkitchen), which will host the content I create providing it on a subscription basis. There are three tiers of membership, with access to content ranging from a general monthly update, to a species of the month discussed in complete detail, to video demos and Q & A's, to a living, encyclopedic reference with comprehensive information on ecology, harvest and culinary notes.

There is no better or healthier distraction from the noise of today's (and particularly this week's) world. Subscriptions will make a great holiday gift for friends and loved ones and for those of you wanting to expand your knowledge of wild foods in our area and their cookery. For the beginning fisherperson who wants detailed information on proven harvest techniques, or for the experienced salt who needs some inspiration in the kitchen. Or maybe you've always wanted to start looking for wild edible mushrooms...

As West County Wild Kitchen grows into the new year, I'll be expanding my edible plant knowledge and obtaining a fishing guide license that will allow me to offer a unique experience of guided fishing/mushroom harvesting and butchery/cooking lessons in the field. Many other things may arise out of the creation of West County Wild Kitchen, but for now, I'm hoping to provide a place for people to relax, lose themselves in the real world, and eat well.

I don't want to push this on anyone or make any hard sell, just hoping to let you all know what I've been working on and figured that this would be a community that may be interested in my new venture. I'm pretty sure I didn't violate any board rules by posting this but if I did, please inform me and I'll remove the post.

Yeah buddy!  Off to the races in your gifting of this knowledge and experience.  Power to your writing, teaching and business model.   

This is really awesome oysterer. Glad you're able to pursue your passion in these uncertain times. In fact, I'd love to learn more about foraging for mushroom or other edible stuff around our parts.

Cool! 

Each of the past several years, I've taken a week's PTO and spent it in a sonoma or napa hideaway to prep for the holidays and enjoy the post-harvest shoulder season.  During which, I was always looking for someone to take us on a guided foraging trip, catch and cook style, whether that's at the coast, inland, lakes, etc.  Is that something that WCWK does or will do?

Congrats on launching the venture and best of luck

What a neat venture. Incorporating aspects of a wonderful world... and cool name. Can feel the juices flowing...yum

Very cool!!

Excited to see this blossom and grow, and wish you the very best of luck.

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

This is really awesome oysterer. Glad you're able to pursue your passion in these uncertain times. In fact, I'd love to learn more about foraging for mushroom or other edible stuff around our parts.

Each of the past several years, I've taken a week's PTO and spent it in a sonoma or napa hideaway to prep for the holidays and enjoy the post-harvest shoulder season.  During which, I was always looking for someone to take us on a guided foraging trip, catch and cook style, whether that's at the coast, inland, lakes, etc.  Is that something that WCWK does or will do?

This is exactly the type of content I'll be offering and eventually, yes the types of services I'll be providing

Yeah buddy!  Off to the races in your gifting of this knowledge and experience.  Power to your writing, teaching and business model.   

What a neat venture. Incorporating aspects of a wonderful world... and cool name. Can feel the juices flowing...yum

Very cool!!

Excited to see this blossom and grow, and wish you the very best of luck.

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Thanks Eddies and Jim-Hoping to be able to stick it out long enough to make it work!

There's definitely a market for this stuff these days with the resurrection of the DIY & local foraging scenes.  Your Patreon prices are absolutely reasonable and provide a nice differential of value per tier.  I'm so excited to see stuff like this.  I'll be sharing your site across my broader community for certain.

Good luck and keep us informed as you go!  This is going to be awesome to watch blossom.

Good stuff!  Best of luck.