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

INTRODUCING THE ANAIS+RAYA CULINARY COLLECTIVE AT PICNICS KITCHEN | SUNDAY FARMERS' MARKET FEASTS

What could be a better way to kick-off your week than gathering with friends & family on a Sunday evening for a home-cooked meal? And not just any meal, but a farm-fresh dinner prepared in an open kitchen using produce from the SoCo and Newport Beach Farmers' Markets, featuring 3-4 dishes that blend vegan, gluten-free, free-range, grass-fed, organic and raw foods together. It's a celebration of pure, unadulterated, local foods eaten in a warm, inviting, communal setting. It's the new Sunday Farmers' Market Feast by Anais + Raya at Picnics Kitchen in Costa Mesa. (Located at 435 East 17th Street #7, Costa Mesa, CA 92627)

Vibrant fresh produce from local Southern California farms such as Bautista Creek Farms in Hemet, CA.

Chef Raya Belna & Anais Tangie have teamed-up to launch the all-new Anais+Raya 'Culinary Collective' concept this month at Picnics Kitchen. Together, their vision is to create a space where they cook farm-to-table, teach alternative living with whole foods, and host their Sunday Night Farmers' Market Feasts as well as pop-up restaurants & other events that will highlight local chefs, farms and businesses.

Anais Tangie (left) & Raya Belna (right): Co-Founders of the Anais+Raya Culinary Collective at Picnics Kitchen in Costa Mesa, CA

Anne Watson Photography is a proud supporter of Anais+Raya at Picnics Kitchen, and patrons will find an all-new Anne Watson Photography gallery wall located in the Culinary Collective's main storefront featuring Food Photography that showcases the simple, elegant beauty of local farm-fresh produce. All prints are available for purchase and Anne Watson Photography will be available for hire at a specially-reduced rate to all clients who host events at Picnics Kitchen.

The Anne Watson Photography gallery at Picnics Kitchen showcases the simple, elegant beauty of farm-fresh produce

Last Sunday, July 1st marked the launch of the Picnics Kitchen Culinary Collective with a special Friends & Family Farmers' Market Feast. The kitchen buzzed with excitement as Raya & Anais cooked up a storm! The food was beautiful, the company was fantastic and it was sure to be the first of many wonderful, farm-fresh feasts to come!

In fact, Farmers' Market Feasts will be hosted every Sunday from 5-7pm with a changing, seasonal menu based on what is available at the market that day. Purchase tickets at http://anaisandraya.com/feast to reserve your space. Tickets must be purchased in advance. A maximum of 20 Family Style ($30/each), and five Chef Table ($40/each) will be accommodated every Sunday.

To whet your appetite, below is a recap-through-food-photos of last week's feast. Bon appetit!

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