Nan Cole is a foraging expert based in San Luis Obispo, California, and the resident forager for Ventana Big Sur. She leads foraging walks, both urban and rural, she educates people about the do’s and don’ts of wildcrafting, and she cooks and bakes with her finds. In fact, one of the things that attracted me to Nan’s work was a photo on her Instagram page, @foragerslo, featuring a beautiful macaron made from redwood needle sugar and lemon zest. We walked up to a cozy spot on the side of Cerro San Luis to chat, and she pointed out native plants along the way, sharing how coyote brush is an antidote for poison oak and how mustard plant tastes like broccoli. Then, a couple weeks after our talk, I opened Sunset Magazine to find a full-page spread about Nan and her foraging program at Ventana Big Sur. A rock star! If you don’t feel inspired to join one of her foraging walks after listening to our conversation, you might want to check your pulse, because this woman is inspiring.
Website: ventanabigsur.com
Instagram: @foragerslo
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Captain Mark Tognazzini, fisherman and restaurateur, Morro Bay
Father Ian Delinger, priest, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, and food journalist, KCBX, San Luis Obispo
Golzar Barrera, chef and caterer, All Purpose Flower, Solvang
Gray Hartley + Frank Ostini, winemaker and restaurateur, Hartley-Ostini Wines, Hitching Post II, Buellton
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Matt Kettmann, Central Coast Editor, Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Santa Barbara
Libby Parker, registered dietitian and eating disorder specialist, Not Your Average Nutritionist, SLO
Trevor Peterson, distiller and owner, Bixby Gin, Lloyd Distillery, SLO
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Sheila Spector, home baker and food blogger, Dinner at Sheila’s, SLO
James Sparks, winemaker and owner, Kings Carey Wine, Santa Ynez
Hayley Cain, food writer and punk rocker, SLO
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