The cold air seeps into the streets of San Luis Obispo as soon as the sun goes down. Higuera street lights up with countless booths, people pack the few blocks, walking, looking, talking and buying everything from fresh vegetables to salmon.

The air smells of food, ribs, chicken, chinese, tacos, tamales, strawberry shortcakes, pies... it becomes full of energy as food vendors shout out encouraging banter between them as they fulfill orders; as people stop and form half-circles to watch dancers or listen to bands play music of all different kinds, each one just one block from each other.

A large sign in the middle of the street warns “No Dogs Allowed” as couples pass by oblivious to it, a dog on a chain wagging its tail happily. Chefs move purposefully from stall to stall, stopping to make orders, or confirm them, with the farmers and vendors. Some of them pull a cart with several boxes already full of produce.

Behind the booths, proud farmers and vendors watch the crowds that form around them and answer questions, barter and laugh.

This is the San Luis Obispo Farmers' Market, the weekly event that inspired this blog and which has not been forgotten!

Although some developments have kept my writing from here for a bit, my visits and love for it have not diminished.

Especially now that winter is in our doorstep, the last remains of Halloween are gone and people prepare for Thanksgiving and other season holidays and the rare opportunities to prepare large feasts present themselves (we need more of those, IMHO)

So, my intent in the next few weeks will be to find and share what the farmers and vendors from the Farmers' Market recommend for Thanksgiving. From tips to recipes, I will post quite a few here, even including the ones that made me a legend (in Mexico City) for Turkey dinners.

For now, I bid you goodnight, but I will be back soon....