KELSEYVILLE ? The inaugural Kelseyville Olive Festival kicked off with a spitting good time Sunday at the Kelseyville Olive Mill.
Well-known people from around the community chewed on an olive, then spit the pit as far as they could, including Supervisors Rob Brown and Jeff Smith, Sheriff Rodney K. Mitchell and deputy Francisco Rivero, who is running for sheriff, and Kelseyville Olive Mill owner Jeff Smith.
No one got as far as Matt Morgan of Chic Le Chef, whose olive pit landed more than 50 feet away from where he launched it. His technique ? arcing the pit.
Hundreds of people came to the free festival to enjoy wine, beer, food and olive oil tasting, olive mill tours, and the raffle and silent auction with all proceeds benefiting the Lake Family Resource Center. Cooks used olive oil or olives in their recipes.
Becky Hartle and her dad, Michael, came in behind Morgan with their olive pits about 40 feet past the spitting line. They were visiting family in Middletown from Cincinnati. The pair discussed technique beforehand.
The younger Hartle said she curled her tongue around the pit and closed her mouth around it before launching with full force.
“It”s like a pistol,” she said.
Livia Kurtz, event organizer, said she was excited the event went so well.
“It”s all coming together fine,” Kurtz said. “Everybody here is so nice. We worked together to make it happen.”
Kurtz thanked the sponsors for making the event possible.
The festival was sponsored by the Kelseyville Business Association, Kathy Fowler, Theresa Lyndall, Main Street Bakery, Lake County Arts Council, Wildhurst Vineyards, Tulip Hill Winery, Debi Freeland, Featherbed Railroad, Mendo-Lake Office Products, Roto Rooter of Lake County, Twin Pine Casino, and Bill and Patty Brunetti.
Organizers also gave out prizes to winning foods and posters, including Ceago for People”s Choice Olive Oil, Ahi Tuna with olives by Twin Pine Casino for People”s Choice Professional Recipe Contest, Marilyn Allmon”s California Olive Log for Amateur Recipe Contest Winner, Pat Courtney for the adult poster and Steven Sprague for the youth poster entry.
Trena Pauly of the Kelseyville Business Association said she thinks the event is a good sign for Lake County because people are bringing their families out to enjoy healthful food.
“I think it”s great,” Pauly said. “Olive oil is a healthier way to cook versus butter.”
She said she hopes to come again next year.
Lake County wineries poured a selection of wines, including those from Twin Pine Casino, Moore Family Winery, Shed Horn Cellars, Rosa d”Oro, Steele Wines, Wildhurst Vineyards and Kelseyville Wine Company.
Lake County home brewers gave tastings of their beers, from Jack Morris, Cobb Mountain Brewing Company and Kelsey Creek Brewery.
Restaurants and chefs offered food, including that from Main Street Bakery, Zino”s Ristorante & Inn, Chic Le Chef, Ross Christensen, Studebakers Coffee & Deli, LuLu”s, Smokin S BBQ, Authentic BasQ BBQ and 4-H.
Contact Katy Sweeny at kdsweeny@gmail.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
