Christmas Markets

I’m sure you’ve noticed lately the proliferation of Christmas Markets here on the Central Coast. Even Etto has participated in a couple of them as a vendor. They are a popular tradition that started in Germany back in the 1400s, which is a seriously long time ago. Here on the Central Coast we don’t have a 600 plus year history with Christmas markets, but I guess you have to start somewhere.
 
There are so many local artists that get to show and sell their wares at these fairs and that's a great thing. Buying from local artists keeps money in our community and helps keep the arts flourishing. I recently bumped into an old friend at one of the markets and she offered to showcase her ceramics at Etto this Saturday with our mutual friend Roger Combs - one of the west coast’s finest wood workers.
 
We first met Korey Dudley when our kids were maybe just shy of three years old as she was the shepherd of Children’s House Montessori in Atascadero. A couple of our friends' kids attended the school and since they seemed to like it we met with her and applied, as much to get our kids (off the streets) into school early so we could work hoping this would be a good fit. It was more than a good fit and our children thrived at her school.
 
Korey originally attended UC Santa Cruz looking to major in Art, but when she realized this path wasn’t available she switched to child development eventually obtaining her degree from Cal Poly. Upon graduation she wasn’t sure what to do next, but a confluence of fate brought her to a funky building in Atascadero that became her original Montessori school in 1980. She opened it at the age of 23 with 15 three and four year olds and Children’s House Montessori was born.
 
From the beginning her school had a focus on the arts with ceramics projects a constant for the kids that she fired at Mrs. D’s studio down the street. This work with ceramics continued over the next forty years as her school grew with countless children including our own twin girls.

As the school transitioned to new ownership a few years back Korey had more time to focus on her own ceramic projects and even was asked to display and start selling them by various supporters. Please visit us this Saturday to check out Korey’s work at Etto and maybe pick up a piece or two for yourself or even as a one of a kind gift.

She will be joined by her good friend and frequent guest Etto pop-uper, Roger Combs who is a master craftsman with all things wood. I received a piece made by him as a gift thirty years ago, way before I’d even visited Paso Robles for the first time. His work is amazing and timeless - you can even discuss comissioning some custom furniture.
 
We look forward to seeing you this Saturday at what might be the world’s smallest Christmas market, but ……………..bigger isn’t always better.

Thanks to all of you who have gifted this season with Etto, it's been our biggest year by far. We still have a good selection of panettone left with even more arriving Saturday morning. If you haven't celebrated Christmas morning yet with this Italian delight or made French Italian toast with panettone yet - maybe this is the year. More porchetta will be arriving too so check out the recipe below. We will be doing our best to keep the ravioli and pasta sheets stocked this weekend, but will be refilling on Tuesday the 23rd, so please be patient if we happen to run out over the weekend - our pasta elves will be busy.