The Farmer and the Chef

Cynthia Sandberg, a lawyer in Northern California, opted to give up her career to become a stay-at-home mother. She tended a vegetable garden at home as a hobby, but her talent in growing succulent heirloom tomatoes reached Michelin-starred chef David Kinch of the ritzy Manresa restaurant in Los Gatos, CA. Initially, she was hesitant to allow Kinch to sample her tomatoes—would someone with such a discriminating palate be impressed with the tomatoes from an amateur garden? The answer, to both Sandberg and Kinch's surprise, was affirmative. Under Kinch's encouragement, Sandberg expanded her agricultural output by launching Love Apple Farms, an 80-acre operation that would eventually produce over 300 products—with Kinch's restaurant becoming one of her chief customers. Mike Whalen's documentary works on many different levels: as an intelligent study of contemporary agriculture, with a focus on the value of local-grown produce; as a life-changing celebration of Sandberg's unlikely career odyssey and her ability to adapt to highly unusual challenges; as a celebration of Kinch's pursuit of culinary excellence via his insistence on obtaining the very best local goods for his gourmet creations; and as an intelligent study of two very different people working together in a marvelous agricultural and business partnership. An invigorating and entertaining film, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)