The weekend of June 16-18 brings the second annual UrchinFest to the Mendocino Coast, an event that 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 to get the maximum enjoyment out of this unique oceanic event.
The first package includes a guided tide-pooling excursion, while the second package features a guided diving experience. Both packages culminate in 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. Further information on both packages can be found below.
TIDE POOLING PACKAGE
Friday, June 16 (evening)
Welcome campfire at Van Damme Beach. Kevin Smith of Catch and Cook CA will talk about how indigenous people populated California by following the kelp trail along the Pacific Rim while attendees enjoy S’mores.
Saturday, June 17 (morning low tide)
As the kelp dies, more creatures head to the tidepools, which makes tide pooling a great classroom. Those who purchased the tide pooling package will meet Kevin at Van Damme Beach, where the aim is to harvest seaweed, urchin, turban snails, and more. This activity starts at 5:30AM and will end around 8:30AM.
Saturday, June 17 (1PM)
Discover what’s happening under the waves, how the purple urchin came to dominate the ocean floor, and how to open these spiny creatures. Everyone gets front row seats for cracking open urchin and sampling. Ranger program presented by Esme Placencia; science speak and demo presented by Tristin McHugh of the Nature Conservancy.
Saturday, June 17 (evening)
All will convene in the Abalone Room at Little River Inn for cooking demonstrations, appetizers straight from the sea, and a 5-course uni-centric dinner paired with sake. Executive Chef Marc Dym and Master Sushi Chef Frank Takao show guests how to prep and cook the bounty of their tide pooling and diving adventures. Greg Fonts, who always brings up surprises from the depths, will supply the seafood. Guests taste and sip sake as they go along. After the demonstration and appetizers on the Abalone Room deck, guests will sit down to a five-course uni dinner inside. Professional Sake Educator Kerry Tamura of World Sake pairs each course with sake and discusses the nuances of each sip.
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.
For further info on the Tide Pooling package, please visit https://www.littleriverinn.com/urchin-tidepooling/.
URCHIN DIVING PACKAGE
Friday, June 16 (evening)
Welcome campfire at Van Damme Beach. Dr. Kevin Smith of Catch and Cook CA will talk about how indigenous people populated California by following the kelp trail along the Pacific Rim while attendees enjoy S’mores.
Saturday, June 17 (morning)
Greg Fonts, professional free dive competitor and owner of the The Freedive Shop, will give an introduction to the underwater wonders of the Mendocino Coast. Participants will collect their limit of urchin (and maybe some other surprises) in the protected waters of Van Damme Cove. All equipment provided.
Saturday, June 17 (1PM)
Discover what’s happening under the waves, how the purple urchin came to dominate the ocean floor, and how to open these spiny creatures. Everyone gets front row seats for cracking open urchin and sampling. Ranger program presented by Esme Placencia; science speak and demo presented by Tristin McHugh of the Nature Conservancy.
Saturday, June 17 (evening)
All will convene in the Abalone Room at Little River Inn for cooking demonstrations, appetizers straight from the sea, and a 5-course uni-centric dinner paired with sake. Executive Chef Marc Dym and Master Sushi Chef Frank Takao show guests how to prep and cook the bounty of their tide pooling and diving adventures. Greg Fonts, who always brings up surprises from the depths, will supply the seafood. Guests taste and sip sake as they go along. After the demonstration and appetizers on the Abalone Room deck, guests will sit down to a five-course uni dinner inside. Professional Sake Educator Kerry Tamura of World Sake pairs each course with sake and discusses the nuances of each sip.
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.
For further info on the Urchin Diving package, please visit https://www.littleriverinn.com/urchin-diving/.
Where to Stay
Two of the inns that guests can choose from as their headquarters for these extraordinary experiences are:
Little River Inn, right on the atmospheric coast, is a family-owned and operated historic resort that is home to a chef-driven restaurant, a nine-hole Audubon-certified golf course, professional tennis courts, and the friendliest service on the Mendocino Coast. Ideal for the entire family (and pet-friendly as well), the Inn has 65 guest rooms ranging from the economical to the luxurious. The restaurant, helmed by CIA-trained Executive Chef Marc Dym and Chef de Cuisine Jason Azevedo, is a destination unto itself. The dinner menu can be enjoyed in the charming outdoor garden area, while breakfast is available via room service, to be savored from the comfort of one’s own private deck (or even in bed). Little River Inn has a beautiful, nine-hole golf course that plays like 18 and is appropriate for many skill levels. The Inn also offers massage services both in-room and in the spa room. Overseen by fifth-generation owner Cally Dym, Little River Inn was proud to celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2019. Little River Inn, 7901 N. Highway One, Little River, CA 95456, 707. 937.5942, www.littleriverinn.com.
A historic landmark nestled in the center of Mendocino Village, MacCallum House is a boutique inn with a restaurant that creates meals to remember. Surrounded by lush gardens, the main property houses nineteen beautiful and unique rooms, along with an exceptional restaurant, which is recognized as one of California’s original farm-to-table and chef-driven dining experiences, cooking with all that is local, seasonal, and fresh. All stays include a gourmet breakfast. In addition to the Main House, the Inn features a choice of luxurious accommodations, including suites, cottages, and barn rooms, many of which boast fireplaces, hot tubs, saunas, ocean views, and more. MacCallum House, 45020 Albion St, Mendocino, CA 95460, 707.937.0289, www.maccallumhouse.com.
NOTE: Attendees need a fishing license for both packages. These can be purchased via the https://wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Fishing site.
These packages make a terrific Father’s Day gift, but space is extremely limited for both, so prospective attendees are encouraged to book soon!
