Live Auction Only
A Wild Mushroom Foray, Gourmet Dinner + Two Night Stay on Inverness Ridge for Six
- Item Number
- 4
Item Description
Come discover the wild world of mushrooms at Point Reyes this winter with this once-in-a-lifetime mushroom foray, dinner and two-night accommodation in the heart of Inverness for up to six guests. Invite up to five guests to join you for a special winter retreat (December - March) at the Van Der Ryn Eco Refuge, designed and built by renowned ecological architect and author Sim Van der Ryn. You and your guests can check in and relax for two days in this 4,000-square-foot, three-story green retreat in the hills of Inverness. The site includes five bedrooms and four baths, and cozy alcoves for reading. The home is a marvel itself, built with sustainability in mind and reusing natural materials when possible.
The house's ground floor comprises a yoga/exercise/massage space and a 1,000-square-foot open kitchen and den that's ideal for dinner parties, talks and special gatherings like this. The second floor is a living room/work corner, wrapped in windows with vistas of the gardens, and an additional bedroom and bath. A spiral staircase in the living room concludes at the house's third floor, the master suite.
Along with being wi-fi equipped, each room displays Van der Ryn's own paintings and other art collected over 40 years, including Sim's personal architecture and ecology library. The home also boasts a large outdoor terrace overlooking a pond, and the surrounding forest which provides the perfect setting for birdwatching, reading or a quiet nap.
Mushrooms are a vitally important aspect of the diverse, natural world of Point Reyes National Seashore and are found in all types of habitats, from Bishop pine forests to Coast live oak woodlands, meadows, wetlands and more. They also add charm and magic to the landscape. On one of your retreat days you will slip into the surrounding forests for a guided mushroom foray at the height of our local mushroom season with a naturalist guide. Your party will learn more about the fascinating world of fungi, including the basics of mushroom identification and proper collection and handling techniques.
Your afternoon foray will culminate in a sumptuous mushroom-inspired dinner specially prepared on site at the Van Der Ryn Eco Refuge's open kitchen by Christian Caiazzo, owner and executive chef of Point Reyes Station's Osteria Stellina. Your mushroom guide and Sim Van der Ryn will join you for lively conversation, and for those who are interested Christian welcomes guests in the kitchen to glean first-hand the magic of the cooking process.
Christian is an accomplished veteran of many high-profile eateries, including Postrio in San Francisco and Union Square Café in New York, and has been in the business for more than 20 years before opening Osteria Stellina in Point Reyes Station in 2008. A chef by training, he has worked alongside Wolfgang Puck at Postrio in San Francisco, as Chef de Cuisine at Globe in San Francisco and as Executive Chef at San Francisco's TwentyFour, a fine dining restaurant at San Francisco's PacBell Park.
Your party will enjoy Christian's skillful hand, thoughtful care and presentation that will consist of some of Marin's freshest ingredients, paired wines, and perhaps, delicious edible mushrooms found by you on the trail that day. Likely finds could include porcini, hedgehogs, chanterelles, and candy caps.
You'll also receive, courtesy of the PRNSA Bookstore at Bear Valley, a copy of "Field Guide to Mushrooms of Western North America".
Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime experience - bid today!
This package will be auctioned off at Dinner on the Pacific Plate on October 8th. If you are not attending the event and wish to place a proxy bid contact Donna Faure, Associate Director, at (415) 663-1200 x 303 or donnaf@ptreyes.org
Item Special Note
Funds from the Dinner on the Pacific Plate Auction support important park preservation and environmental education projects at Point Reyes National Seashore, located just 90 minutes northwest of San Francisco on the Marin County coast. All winning bids made above fair market value are tax-deductible.
This package includes:
( 1 ) Two-night accommodation at the Van Der Ryn Eco Refuge, in Inverness, California, based on availability for up to six guests. Reservations required, holidays excluded and donors must schedule within two weeks of auction close.
(1) One-to-three-hour guided mushroom foray with a naturlist skilled in mycology.
(1) Gourmet mushroom inspired dinner prepared on site by Christian Caiazzo, head chef and owner of Osteria Stellina in Point Reyes Station (includes wine).
(!) Copy of "Field Guide to Mushrooms of Western North America".
Package expires April 1, 2017; there are no exceptions. Not redeemable for cash.
Donated by our friends at Osteria Stellina and Point Reyes Vacation Rentals.
Learn more about the donors at:
www.pointreyesvacationrentals.com
Point Reyes National Seashore Association stores data...
Your support matters, so Point Reyes National Seashore Association would like to use your information to keep in touch about things that may matter to you. If you choose to hear from Point Reyes National Seashore Association, we may contact you in the future about our ongoing efforts.
Your privacy is important to us, so Point Reyes National Seashore Association will keep your personal data secure and Point Reyes National Seashore Association will not use it for marketing communications which you have not agreed to receive. At any time, you may withdraw consent by emailing Privacy@frontstream.com or by contacting our Privacy Officer. Please see our Privacy Policy found here PrivacyPolicy.