Tulip Tourism Outside Salinas at Earthbound Farm Stand in Carmel Valley, California by Ruth Paget

Tulip Tourism Outside Salinas at the Earthbound Farm Stand in Carmel Valley, California by Ruth Paget 

While scrolling through my TikTok feed, I saw some posts about the You Pick Tulip Days at Earthbound Farm Stand in Carmel Valley, California. 

My husband Laurent, daughter Florence Paget, and I all thought this would be a nice family outing for the weekend and set out on a warm Sunday morning for Earthbound Farm Stand. 

I have put together a blog round up about tulip tourism for bouquet gatherers wanting more information. 

Earthbound Farm Stand’s Instagram has the best souvenir photo of tulip days, which I have provided a link for below: 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DUWFm4PD_ny/

Earthbound was packed with diners when we arrived at 9:30 am. People wanted their coffee and baked goods before heading out to snip their bouquets. We would pick up some food after visiting the tulip garden. 

Earthbound Farm Stand naturally offers some great organic salads on its menu, which I have provided a link to below:

https://www.earthboundfarm.com/recipe-category/mains/

Tulips are most commonly viewed as a cultivated flower from the Netherlands. However, they are a wild plant that originally grew in the mountains of Central Asia. The Turks cultivated the tulip before it was introduced to Europe in the 16th century. At one time, tulips even became part of a speculation frenzy called tulipomania. 

The following blogs go into more detail on the history and cultivation of tulips:

*Tulip origins – Amsterdam Tulip Museum 

https://amsterdamtulipmuseum.com/blogs/tulip-facts/where-did-tulips-originate

*Tulip history and cultivation 

https://www.sarahraven.com/articles/the-history-of-the-tulip?srsltid=AfmBOopi3XWXQHCZaj1aVanKcLFW1x9gXT0g8F7fIzhhDdsmbcfPRx3M

*Tulipomania – fact https://www.history.com/articles/tulip-mania-financial-crash-holland

The tulip season is approaching its end in mid-March, so you might want to call and make sure they are still blooming at the Earthbound Farm Stand. 15 tulips currently cost $35. The tulip field is open 9 am to 3 pm from Wednesday to Sunday.

After photographing tulips and visiting the tulip field, Florence bought a turkey club sandwich and a greeting card with a line drawing of the Earthbound Farm Stand by Margaret Schaller. 

I like it that Salinas and Monterey County have no shortage of flowers like tulips or artists. 

Note: I grew up in Michigan, which honors Dutch culture, especially tulips, in its town of Holland, whose website follows:

https://www.holland.org/things-to-do/dutch-experiences/

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

UChicago Year of Games 2026 Still Going Strong reposted by Ruth Paget

The 2026 Year of Games at the University of Chicago is still going strong, including a visit to the Gygax House in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin where the game Dungeons and Dragons was born several decades ago.

For a calendar of events, lectures, and exhibits, click on the following link for the Year of Games at the University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois:

https://mailchi.mp/uchicago.edu/subject-line-5865619?e=cef015051e

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Vincent performed by Shakespeare Santa Cruz April 24 - May 10, 2026

Shakespeare Santa Cruz is performing Vincent, a one-act play, from April 24 - May 10, 2026 in Danta Cruz, California about the life of Vincent van Gogh as told by his brother Theo.

Ticket information and play details follow:

https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/santa-cruz-shakespeare/vincent

Posted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Ariel Theatrical 2026 Ticket Information posted by Ruth Paget

Ariel Theatrical has tickets for sale for its 2026 spring season available now:

For ticket information and play details, click the following link to their website:

https://www.arieltheatrical.org/tickets-show-schedule/

Posted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France

ComicCon Salinas is March 22, 2026 in Spreckels, California reposted by Ruth Paget

The Salinas ComicCon with Anime and Cosplay is being held on March 22, 2026 in Spreckels, California.

For ticket information and event details, click on the event link below:

https://ohanacomiccon.com/salinas-toy-anime-comic-con/

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Western Stage Season Pass Sale Extended to March 31, 2026 reposted by Ruth Paget

The Western Stage at Hartnell College in Salinas, California has extended its 2026 season pass purchase period to March 31, 2026.

See the link below for ticket information and details about plays:

https://mail.google.com/mail/mu/mp/465/#cv/priority/%5Esmartlabel_promo/19cd9df99cd97681

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France

LA ComicCon - 11-30 to 12-1, 2026 repost by Ruth Paget

The Los Angeles (CA) ComcCon will take place from October 30 - December 1, 2026.

Details about tickets and the event follow:

https://mail.google.com/mail/mu/mp/465/#cv/priority/%5Esmartlabel_promo/19cd937cef152b40

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

German Back-to-School Schultute Goody Cone Tradition and Craft Project repost by Ruth Paget

The German Back -to-School Schultute Goody Cone Tradition and Craft Project Reposted by Ruth Paget

The German Back-to-School Scultute Goody Cone Tradition dates back to the 1800s.  

Schultute cones are filled with Germany candy and school supplies.  You can buy these cones ready made in Germany or make them yourself for a more personalized selection of candy and decorative style.

The following website details the current tradition, the history, schultute contents, and how to make these back-to-school cones at home:

https://whysogermany.com/schultute-the-german-first-day-of-school-tradition/#:~:text=Children%2520receive%2520this%2520cone%2520as%2520they%2520start,just%2520a%2520gift%252C%2520the%2520Schult%C3%BCte%2520stands%2520for

Have fun planning for your next back-to-school project!

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

German Strawberry Jam Recipe reposted by Ruth Paget

German Strawberry Jam Recipe reposted by Ruth Paget

This recipe from Best German Recipes is great for Monterey County California with its strawberry fields, too:

https://mybestgermanrecipes.com/german-strawberry-jam-recipe/amp/

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Jam-Filled Berliner Donuts reposted by Ruth Paget

Jam-Filled Berliner Donuts reposted by Ruth Paget

The following post about Berliner donuts is interesting:

https://www.daringgourmet.com/berliner-german-donuts/

Donut Shops in Salinas, California:

Winchell’s 

https://winchells.com/ or DoorDash

Sunshine Donuts

Order on Door Dash

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Making Classic Donuts with Beer reposted by Ruth Paget

Making Classic Donuts with Beer reposted by Ruth Paget

I found this interesting blog about making Classic donuts with beer. There are some other recipes as well, but the old fashioned donuts are most interesting for brew pub California:

https://domesticfits.com/classic-glazed-beer-doughnuts/

Posted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

April 22, 2026 is Earth Day by Ruth Paget

April 22, 2026 is Earth Day by Ruth Paget

National Geographic Kids - History of Earth Day

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/celebrations/article/earth-day

Recycling Landscaping Trimmings Idea

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/03/recycling-landscaping-trimmngs-by-ruth.html?m=1

Making Biofuel from Landfill Idea

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/01/list-top-10-bioenergy-companies.html?m=1

Making Classic Beer Glazed Donuts

https://domesticfits.com/classic-glazed-beer-doughnuts/

Earth Day has an official organization.  Their website follows:

https://www.earthday.org/

Posted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Chinese Probiotic Black Bean Chicken with Vegetables at Golden Star Restaurant in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget

Chinese Probiotic Black Bean Chicken with Vegetables at Golden Star Restaurant in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget 

The black beans used in black bean chicken with vegetables at Golden Star Chinese Restaurant in Salinas, California are fermented black soy beans. 

As a fermented food not only do fermented soy beans have a delicious salty flavor, they are also a probiotic that promotes gut health. Fermented black beans are high in protein content and fiber. They usually replace oyster sauce as a flavoring agent when they are used in a dish. They enhance the flavor of vegetables, especially cabbage. 

At Golden Star, they flatten the chicken used in black bean chicken with vegetables to make it cook quickly in a wok. When the chicken is done, it is taken out and set aside. 

More oil goes into the wok to heat up followed by the seasoning trio of minced garlic, minced fresh ginger, and chopped scallions. Fermented black beans are added to the seasoning trio and stirred in before adding the following seasonal winter vegetables: carrots, green bell peppers, mushrooms, and cabbage. 

Once the cabbage and carrots soften up, the flattened chicken is added back in and heated up with the vegetables. Just before serving, shaoxing wine is added in for flavor. 

This dish is best eaten steaming hot over rice. I love the distinct vegetable flavors that become even more pronounced with the black bean sauce. 

The flattened chicken curls in the wok when heated. There seems to be a lot of chicken in the black bean chicken, but flattening the chicken might make ¾ of a breast seem like twice that amount.

I like the flavor of salty, fermented black beans and the seasonal winter vegetables very much. This preparation also tastes good with shrimp. I am biased, but I think the seasoning trio of garlic, ginger, and scallions is pretty tough to beat for flavor and health. 

The black bean chicken with vegetables at Golden Star Restaurant in Salinas, California is a very flavorful dish that makes excellent use of the organic produce in Salinas Valley. 

Chinese food lovers already know this is a tasty dish, but diners seeking a probiotic dish that is mildly flavored might enjoy trying black bean chicken with vegetables as well. 

Note: There is parking behind Golden Star Restaurant with a passage to Main Street where Golden Star Restaurant is located in Salinas, California. 

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Music Games Created by Ruth Paget

Ruth Paget created the following music games to transmit family knowledge from one generation to the next.

Click on the link following the game titles to access the games or look up the game title in the search bar.

*Clefs: The Music Fundamentals Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/04/clefs-music-fundamentals-game-created.html?m=1

*Duple: The Musical Rhythm, Meter, and Metric Organization Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/04/duple-musical-rhythm-meter-and-metric.html?m=1

*Phrygian: The Musical Scales, Keys, and Mode Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/04/duple-musical-rhythm-meter-and-metric.html?m=1

*Solfege; The Sining and Harmonic Organization Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/04/solfege-singing-and-harmonic.html?m=1

*Plagal: The Harmonic Organization Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/04/plagal-harmonic-organization-game.html?m=1

*Bass Line: The Harmonic Composition Fundamentals Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/04/bass-line-harmonic-composition.html?m=1

*Cambiata: The Melodic Composition Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/04/cambiata-melodic-composition-game.html?m=1

*Picardy Third: The Harmonic Composition Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/04/picardy-third-harmonic-composition-game.html?m=1

*Codetta: The Visual Score Analysis Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/04/codetta-visual-score-analysis-game.html?m=1

Sylvain Tutoring in Salinas, California and Princeton Review can help prepare for the AP Music Theory Exam.

by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Ancient Western Civilization Games Created by Ruth Paget

Ancient Western Civilization Games Created by Ruth Paget 

Ruth Paget created the following games to transmit family knowledge from one generation to the next to promote lifelong learning and a pleasant lifestyle. 

To access the games, type the name of the game in search bar or click the link that follows the title of the game: 

*Pharoah Hatshepsut 

Pharoah Hatshepsut Game

*Thutmose III: The Ancient Egypt Game 

Thutmose III Game

*Ramses II: The Ancient Egypt Media Game 

Ramses II Game

*Marathon: The Ancient Greece Strategy Game 

Marathon Game

*Salamis: The Ancient Greek Navy Game 

Salamis Game

*Tyre: The Ancient Greek Engineering Game 

Tyre Game

*Gaugamela: The Ancient Greek Bittersweet Victory Game 

Gaugamela Game

*Cannae: The Ancient Carthage Strategy Game 

Cannae Game

*Alesia: The Roman Conquest of Gaul Game 

Alesia Game

*Ancient Rome and Latin Reading List Games 

Ancient Rome Reading List

Games Created by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Calzone Change Up at Gino's Pizza in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget

Calzone Change-Up at Gino’s in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget 

A calzone fills an entire large pizza box at Gino’s in Salinas, California. 

Calzones at Gino’s are in no way a hand-held item. At Gino’s you split the calzone in two and share it with two people for dinner. You eat them with a knife and fork and do not carry them like you do in Naples, Italy where they originated. 

I like the Italian-American calzone at Gino’s for size and flavor. 

A calzone is made with a large, round piece of pizza dough. At Gino’s, they fill one side of the dough with ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, and sweet pepperoni. 

The unfilled side is turned over the side with the filling and the edges are sealed and crimped to look like a Galician (located in Northwestern Spain) empanada. The calzone at Gino’s is baked to form a crisp crust with a soft, warm interior. Gino’s calzone comes with mozzarella sauce on the side for dipping. 

A family of four could amply eat with an order of two calzones at Gino’s in Salinas, California. I recommend the calzone as a multicultural change for a standing pizza night dinner. 

For more information on calzones, check out the following website: 

https://www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/packages/food-network-essentials/calzone-vs-stromboli#:~:text=What%20Is%20a%20Calzone?,fried%20and%20are%20called%20panzerotti.

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Gambrinus: The Global Beer Types Game by Ruth Paget

Gambrinus: The Global Beer Types Game Created by Ruth Paget 

I named the beer types game for Gambrinus, the European king of beer, who was famous for drinking a stein of beer in one swallow. 

Gambrinus Game Objective:  

Enable player(s) to make better purchasing decisions based on knowledge.

Items Needed: 

To play this global beer types game, you will need: 

-A copy of the Oxford Companion to Beer edited by Garrett Oliver

-large index cards 

-pens 

-access to the internet to look up the hops used in various beer types 

The following background information on beer culture can serve as an ice breaker for individual or team play: 

European Beer Buying Tips: 

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2019/12/european-beer-buying-tips-lager-ale.html?m=1

Beer Economics in South Jersey 

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2021/12/beer-economics-and-food-by-ruth-paget.html?m=1

Pub’s for Prime Pork Chops – Sustainable Animal Husbandry 

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/10/prime-pork-chop-dinner-at-pubs-prime.html?m=1

Oktoberfest Food 

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/12/oktoberfest-food-ideas-for-us-suggested.html?m=1

Alvarado Street Brewery - Sustainable Beer Practices 

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/02/german-style-kolsch-beer-and-loaded-blt.html?m=1

Beer Hops Game Game Directions: 

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2021/06/beer-hops-games-created-by-ruth-paget.html?m=1

Firestone Walker - California Brew Pub

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/11/pretzels-burgers-and-rock-music-at.html?m=1

To play Gambrinus you need to make an index flash card with the name of the beer on the front of the card and the following information on the back: 

1-beer category – ale, lager, or hybrid 

2-main city and/or country of origin 

3-hopes used for flavor and/or aroma  

4-2 or 3 historical facts for discussion (these will vary by player) 

The Oxford Companion to Beer edited by Garrett Oliver lists 107 different types of beer in the world. 

If you learn 10 beers at a time with all 4 pieces of information, it is easier to manage learning the entire list. 

Start by learning one of the characteristics at a time for the 10 beers and so on. 

Quiz yourself on all 4 characteristics for every 10 beer types you learn. When you have gone through all 107 beer types, quiz yourself until you know everything by heart. 

Gambrinus is a great game for learning material individually and then playing as a team. 

Happy Gaming! 

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Mathnasium Tutors are in Salinas, California Now Reposted by Ruth Paget

I received an announcement in the mail that reports that Mathnasium Math Tutors now has an office in Salinas, California on Constitution Boulevard.

More information is available on the link below:

https://www.mathnasium.com/math-centers/salinas

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

24/7 Salinas, California by Ruth Paget

Salinas, California has several 24/7 businesses that benefit tourists, workers, and locals alike:

*Valvoline for car maintenance

*Denny’s Diner - 3 locations

*Winchell’s for Donuts, Sandwiches, and Coffee - 3 locations

*Chevron on North Davis (RV dump services in addition to gas)

*Shell on North Davis (diesel station)

*CVS Pharmacy on South Main Street

*Car Wash - Shell Station on South Main Street

This is an introductory list, which may grow.

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France

Sustainable Wine Culture Practices in France by Ruth Paget

Sustainable Wine Culture Practices in France by Ruth Paget 

When I lived in France, I was able to witness several sustainable wine culture practices in the Touraine and Bordeaux wine regions. (My husband Laurent’s grandfather was a wine salesman for these regions, who kept several of these traditions alive in his family.)  There is money to be made in all these practices that also create jobs.

*Making wine vinegar throughout the year 

Unfinished red wine that has become sour can be made into vinegar with the addition of apple cider vinegar. I like how Normandy, which has apples, but no vineyards, is linked to the wine trade through the making of wine vinegar for both red and white wine. 

The following youtube.com video shows the procedure for making red wine vinegar with measures: 

https://m.youtube.com/shorts/u_SOgZWRxcs

*Making Salade à la Tourangelle with wine vinegar 

This is a spring and summer recipe that makes use of the abundant baby greens that grow in the Touraine, the organic cendré chevre goat cheese from the Touraine, tomatoes for which the Touraine is famous, and wine vinegar. 

My recipe for this salad follows: 

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/10/salade-lavtourangelle-in-salinas.html?m=1

*Drinking Marc Eau-de-Vie 

Marc is a French equivalent of Italian grappa. Marc is an eau-de-vie made from grape skins, seeds, and stems that remain after grape juice is crushed out of the grapes at harvest to make wine. 

These leftover items are further crushed to make a bitter eau-de-vie. The most famous marcs in France are Marc de Champagne and Marc de Bourgogne, but technically every winegrowing region could make marc. 

*Gathering and Using Grape Leaves in Several Kinds of Food Dishes 

Once the harvested grapes are crushed and marc is made, grape leaves can be harvested for use in salads, sautéed like spinach, and stuffed with rice and/or meat.

My blog follows on how to work with grape leaves as food: 

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/11/greek-grape-leaf-recipes-reposted-by.html?m=1

*Using Twigs from Pruning for Various Paper Products 

The most immediate use of twigs from pruning is grilling. The twigs from grape vines are supposed to impart a good flavor to grilled meat. Twigs can also be made into paper products like toilet paper, tissue, paper napkins, paper tablecloths, paper towels, writing paper, post-it notes, and paper bags. 

*Eating Boar Stew 

Boars are wild pigs with curled tusks that live in vineyards and eat grapes and leaves. They are considered pests. The French have no qualms about eating one if they capture it. They can make boar stew with chicken, if they have not boars on hand. 

Many variations of boar stew exist, but they usually include some winter root vegetables and maybe mushrooms along with a bottle of red wine in the recipe. 

*Using Old Wine Barrels to Finish Tennessee Whiskey and Kentucky Bourbon 

Old cognac barrels are routinely sold to the US for Tennessee whiskey and Kentucky Bourbon. The seasoned barrels add to the flavor of these beverages. 

*Using Old Wine Barrels as Planters 

Wine barrels cut in half make good planters. If you plant roses in them and place them by vineyards, they can provide early signals of blight and mildew that might affect the fields. 

*Possible Use of Old Barrels to Make Paper Products 

Old Barrels might be able to be made into paper products before using the option of burning them for heat.  

These sustainable wine culture practices in France can be reproduced in the US, especially in California, to make money and create jobs.  Some of these sustainable practices are centuries old, but not fully adopted in all regions where wine is grown.  Adopting them might have the side benefit of helping reduce food insecurity by using grape leaves as food.

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games