The Anderson Valley has a reputation as one of the nation's great gourmet picnic baskets. Great wines (Husch, Handley, Fetzer), superb fruits, innovative cuisine (Cafe Beaujolais), and even good beer (Booneville Ale) originate at this crossroad of natural bounty and enlightened imagination. Ingredients are fresh, emphasis on organic farming methods is high, and the hard work of tilling and harvesting is undertaken by the Hispanic field hands who have come north to grab hold of a small part of the American Dream.
Part of the acculturation process, especially for the women, comes from learning not only a new language, but simply to read and write. In this context, salsa becomes much more than an exotic condiment.