'ART WITH FALL FOODS' | THE NEW ANNE WATSON PHOTO GALLERY INSTALLATION AT THE OC MART MIX

Autumn has always been my favorite season. Kids are back to school, there's a crispness in the air as if God's turned up the A/C, and all of my favorite holidays - Halloween, Thanksgiving & Christmas - are only a matter of weeks away. AND so many of my favorite foods make their seasonal reappearance: Squash, Pumpkin, Brussels Sprouts, Root Vegetables, Apples, Mushrooms... ahh, it's heavenly! So, as a tribute to my favorite season, I've updated my gallery at The OC Mart MIX in Costa Mesa's SoCo Collection with some fun 'Art with Fall Foods'. Up now through Thanksgiving. Stop by to check it out - and if you love Fall as much as I do, feel free to email info@annewatsonphoto.com to purchase your very own prints!

{And stay tuned for the soon-to-relaunch Anne Watson Photography web site where you will be able to purchase prints online! More details coming soon.}

The newest Anne Watson Photography art installation at The OC Mart MIX in Costa Mesa's SoCo Collection: 'Art with Fall Foods'

Butternut Squash

Turnips

Brussels Sprouts

Fall-themed Rosetta Latte Art by Portola Coffee Lab Barista, Amanda Petrocelly

Left: Acorn Squash | Right: Forest Mushrooms

Japanese Kabucha Squash

DA-LE RANCH | SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RANCHING AT ITS BEST

Tucked away (way, way, waaaay away!) in the hills near Lake Elsinore, California is a little gem of a ranch owned by two very lovely people who I have been fortunate enough to get to know over the past year. Their names are Dave & Leslie, and their ranch is Da-Le Ranch. (Dave = Da, Leslie = Le... get it?!) Every Saturday, Dave makes the 60-mile trek out from their ranch to SoCo Farmers' Market in Costa Mesa, which is where we met.

Dave & Leslie of Da-Le Ranch with their adorable llama, appropriately named 'Kisses'!

My husband Tim & I have become Da-Le Ranch 'addicts' over the past year - to say that the meat that Dave & Leslie produce is delicious is putting it mildly. Everything from steaks to ribs to sausages - pork, beef, chicken, lamb, rabbit, duck - you name it, they sell it. And it is Da-Le-Licious! It's clear that this meat is coming from some very happy animals. So, when they very kindly invited us out to visit them for the day earlier this month, Tim & I jumped at the chance.

Left: Da-Le Ranch | Right: My husband, author Tim Watson, on our off-road tour of the property with Dave

We loved every second of our day at Da-Le Ranch - it's not often that Tim & I get to venture off the beaten path and spend a day relaxing while getting to 'meet our meat'! It was so wonderful to see firsthand how Dave & Leslie promote sustainable farming and natural & organic concepts in living. And, personally, it made me so happy to see how the animals that Tim & I choose to eat are given such happy, healthy lives at Da-Le Ranch.

Below is a small tour-through-photos of our day with Dave & Leslie. And if you're in Orange County, be sure to check out the Da-Le Ranch booth on Saturdays at SoCo Farmers' Market, and Sundays at the Newport Beach Farmers' Market. And, you can also pick up eggs & meats during the week in OC at the Anais+Raya storefront on 17th in Newport! For all the latest news, be sure to follow Da-Le Ranch on Facebook.

Dave with 'Kisses' the Llama

WINNERS ANNOUNCED! ANNE WATSON PHOTOGRAPHY / KOOZIE VIBES END-OF-SUMMER GIVEAWAY

If you live in Southern California, you'll be able to feel that Summer is FAR from over today! It's 103 degrees outside our house right now AND it's Friday. Which has my Koozie Vibes koozies calling my name with a little koozie siren song... "Anne... come fill us with a delicious cold beverage & chill out... feel the Koozie Vibes..."

On a hot day like today, who wouldn't want some FREE KOOZIES?! So, it's perfect that we are now able to announce our three lucky winners from the Anne Watson Photography / Koozie Vibes End-of-Summer Giveaway! Drumroll, please...

Oh My Gatos! Our winners are:

- Megan Harris
- Jaime Kautsky
- Stefanie Fewster Harris

Congratulations, ladies! You've each won a koozie 4-pack (identical to the koozies pictured below)! Please send an email to info@annewatsonphoto.com ASAP with your shipping address & your Koozie Vibes koozies will be in the mail to you by this time next week!

Thanks to everyone who participated! And always remember, if you want to pick up some Koozie Vibes koozies of your own, simply logon to www.koozievibes.com & buy yours today. Thank you - and May the Vibes Be With You.

ANAIS+RAYA CULINARY COLLECTIVE | NOW OFFERING PRIVATE DINNERS + MONDAY & WEDNESDAY FARMERS' MARKET MEALS

This Summer here on the Anne Watson Photo Blog we shared with you a photographic feast of the new Anais+Raya Culinary Collective that was launched in July by Chef Raya Belna & Special Eats OC's Anais Tangie. And while their weekly Sunday Farmers' Market Feasts have continued to thrive as a fantastic option for home-cooked, farm-to-table Sunday evening meals, even more dining options have been added to the Anais+Raya repertoire in recent weeks that were too cool not to share.

Both Anais & Raya have been up to things - creating culinary masterpieces that showcase each of their talents. Chef Raya has launched the new Wildcraft Elixir Bar along with Diviana Alchemy's Julia Corbett. Located inside the Anais+Raya Culinary Collective, this Superfood Elixir Bar offers RAW Vegan lunches & snacks, superfood juices & smoothies and much more. We'll have a full blog on Wildcraft coming up shortly. (I am currently on Day 2 of a Wildcraft 3-Day Fall Juice Cleanse and can't wait to share photos of these beautiful juices & tell you about this amazing experience!)

Meantime, I have also had the pleasure of experiencing Anais' culinary talents in recent weeks, and... WOW. In addition to Sunday Farmers' Market Feasts and Private Catering, Anais is offering evening Farmers' Market Dinners on Mondays & Wednesdays from 5-8pm that are available for dine-in or take-out, no reservation required. And, she also offers Private Dinners at the Culinary Collective that can be prepared & served for up to 15 guests by reservation only. It is perfect for an inviting, intimate dinner party - all the delicious, farm-fresh SoCo Farmers' Market food you can eat while you sit back & enjoy with your guests.

Below is a lil' peek-through-pictures of an incredible private dinner that Anais catered for myself and a handful of our friends in August. It was a fantastic experience - the wine flowed while we feasted on gorgeous SoCo Farmers' Market produce & outta-this-world Da-Le Ranch sausages, Ribeye steaks & bacon. Visit www.anaisandraya.com now to make your reservation. Bon appetit!

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Left: A refreshing Brazilian Batida cocktail made with SoCo Farmers' Market Stone Fruits | Right: Anais Tangie of Special Eats OC, SoCo Farmers' Market & the Anais+Raya Culinary Collective

Da-Le Ranch Sausages with Whole Grain Mustard | Basil Pesto Dipping Sauce with Fresh-baked bread

So simple & delicious - this was one of the tastiest salads I've ever eaten. Heirloom tomatoes topped with sprouts tossed in a lemon-herb vinaigrette.

Michael Harris works some delicious, buttery Spaetzle magic...

Holy Spaetzle, this was incredible!

GORGEOUS Da-Le Ranch Ribeye Steaks, getting the perfect sear

Dave Lieberman whipped-up some honey-vanilla whipped cream to top-off Anais' grilled peaches for dessert. Yum!

Farm-Fresh Dessert = Healthy & Delicious

SUNDAY SUPPER | AN ITALIAN TRADITION BROUGHT TO LIFE IN OC BY LUCCA CAFE

Since living in Rome, Italy in 2008/2009, my husband Tim & I have found it difficult to go out for Italian meals here in Southern California. Not because the Italian food here isn't good. But, somehow it's just not the same. It's hard to put into words exactly why - all I can think of is that somewhere along its trans-Atlantic, trans-continental journey, much of the Italian cuisine we've experienced since moving back to California has felt like it's lost some of its 'soul' by the time it reaches us here on the West Coast of America. That was how we've felt for the past couple of years... until August 12th, when we found our senses magically transported back to our favorite Roman neighborhood restaurant by the talented, and very soulful, Chef Cathy Pavlos of Lucca Cafe in Irvine, CA.

Chef Cathy Pavlos: Executive Chef & Owner of Lucca Cafe in Irvine, CA

Dining in Italy is about so much more than just the food itself. Granted, the food is phenomenal, but it's also about the experience. To me, it's about gathering around a table with family & friends, relaxing, taking your time, enjoying good wine & good conversation and savoring every bite of course-after-course of fresh, seasonal food. And the food is gorgeous & not overly-complicated - 'less is more' - the produce & meats are allowed to shine & speak for themselves, and the flavors dance over your tongue as you feel warm, happy & alive.

I hadn't felt this way since dining with our family at our favorite local neighborhood ristorante, 'Sora Rosa', around the corner from where we lived in Rome. But, that all changed at Lucca Cafe this month. Chef Cathy Pavlos & the team at Lucca host a once-a-month family-style Sunday Supper that is everything Italian dining is supposed to be & more. Long family tables, four abundant courses, large platters of beautiful, locally-sourced seasonal food, wine flowing, the chef interacting with her guests... It is truly Paradiso!

Beautiful, locally-sourced, seasonal foods are a key to what makes Lucca Cafe's Sunday Suppers so amazing. These are the men behind the magic! Left: A.G. Kawamura of OC Produce | Right: Dave Samuels of Ingardia Bros. Produce

August's feast was entitled, "My Sunday Picnic with Alice: Sunday Supper inspired by Alice Waters."  Known as 'the mother of American Food', Alice Waters is the owner of Chez Panisse in Berkeley, CA and is famous for her use of organic, locally-grown ingredients. Chef Cathy's Sunday Supper Menu reflected this mentality, showcasing local produce at its finest paired with California wines.

Below, feast your eyes on a taste-through-photos of what we lucky diners at the August 12th Sunday Supper were fortunate enough to enjoy. And then be sure to follow Lucca Cafe on Facebook & Twitter, and sign up for the Lucca Cafe Newsletter, to stay on top of the latest Lucca news & to learn about upcoming Sunday Suppers. Buon appetito!

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Lucca Cafe Sunday Supper: August 12th, "My Sunday Picnic with Alice" inspired by Alice Waters | Right: Eggplant Caviar

Stuffed Cage-Free Eggs

Left: Tangent Paragon Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2010, Edna Valley, CA | Right: Heirloom Tomato Salad with Marinated Beets & Stefano Burrata Cheese

Housemade Bacon Yorkshire Pudding Popovers served by Chef Cathy Pavlos of Lucca Cafe, Irvine

Sweet Corn Soup getting a swirl of Roasted Sweet Pepper Puree

Chef Cathy Pavlos presents her Sweet Corn Soup with puree of Roasted Sweet Peppers

Sweet Corn Soup with a puree of Roasted Sweet Peppers

Left: Fess Parker Santa Barbara County Viognier 2009 | Right: Fresh-Baked Zucchini Bread

Left: Consilience Santa Barbara Syrah 2010 | Right: New Potato Salad

Left: All-Natural Halal Chicken Cooked Under a Brick | Right: Glazed Purple Carrots

Chef Cathy Pavlos presents her All-Natural Halal Chicken Cooked Under a Brick

Left: Grilled Pork Rib Eye Steaks accompanied by Green Beans with Marjoram | Right: All-Natural Halal Chicken Cooked Under a Brick with Glazed Purple Carrots

And, for Dessert... Baked Farmers' Market Peaches with Handmade Vanilla Bean Ice Cream & Alice's Oatmeal Currant Cookies