Posts by Edible East Bay

  A cup of hot tea can soothe or energize, and it’s even better when you blend it yourself. In this online class, you’ll blend herbs into teas that can benefit your health as you learn more about herbs and why some can serve as powerful medicine. Have some tea bags and loose herbs from…

  Ruby Blume, founder of the Institute of Urban Homesteading, offers classes to improve your garden know-how. Join her this Sunday for a refresher on soil care and what to do in the garden from now through December followed on Monday by an overview of seed-saving techniques along with guidance on which are the easiest…

  Celebrate National Farmers Market Week at this virtual cooking class as Agricultural Institute of Marin (AIM) presents Chef Tony Adams, a cookbook author and director of the Cavallo Point Lodge Cooking School in Sausalito. To take part, choose your meal, shop for ingredients at your local farmers’ market, and then cook alongside Chef Tony.…

As an individual citizen, perhaps you have recently tried to donate food to a food bank. You most likely learned that your monetary donation will be graciously accepted,. With the pandemic now creating far larger populations facing food insecurity than have been seen in nearly a century, food banks are looking to commercial food businesses…

  This week’s virtual gathering at Real Food, Real Stories features Kanchan Dawn Hunter, co-director of South Berkeley’s Spiral Gardens Food Security Project. Hear her story, and take part in a lively Q & A session. Kanchan co-manages Spiral Garden’s Community Nursery and Farm and also co-founded Soil Sistahs, a gathering of BIPOC women that meets…

What’s in Season writer Barbara Kobsar went to Brentwood to pick Suncrest peaches.  Mint & Stone Fruit Herbal Shrub Recipe and photo by Anna Marie Beauchemin | East Bay Herbals   The shrub is a traditional beverage made with fresh fruit, honey (or sugar), and vinegar, which combine to create a uniquely zippy drink to…

  How are government programs working with farmers to feed more people and minimize food waste? In recent months, the USDA and state agencies have supported the purchase of food from farmers as a way to feed those who are unemployed and to reduce food waste. Even before the pandemic, some food banks were buying…

   Chef and restaurateur Tanya Holland of Brown Sugar Kitchen brings her talents to a new podcast, Tanya’s Table. Tune in to hear Holland connect in conversation with leading innovators and tastemakers Samin Nosrat, Alice Waters, Questlove, Danny Meyer, and many others. Begins Tuesday July 28, with one of 14 episodes airing every Tuesday through…

  From Helen Krayenhoff’s 12 Simple Seasonal Vegetable Recipe Ideas      

  Sheltering in place has unfortunately resulted in an alarming rise in single-use plastic disposables. There’s also been rising demand for plastic-based personal protective equipment and a huge increase in  plastic related to online shopping and takeout food. At this Zoom class, Denaya Shorter, director of community engagement for Berkeley’s Ecology Center helps us understand…

  Most of us rely on getting seeds or starts from a nursery, but that recently became a lot harder to do. You can become more self-sufficient by making seed saving part of your practice. Learn how to save seeds and grow your own resiliency in this class offered by Richmond Grows and the Richmond…

    Pre-packed food boxes for contact-less pickup or delivery have been in great demand with housebound farmers’ market shoppers, but it’s been a new concept that each market has had to invent from scratch. Staci DeShasier, executive director for Contra Costa Farmers’ Markets Inc., was trying to make this happen at the Walnut Creek…

  The Bay Area Book Festival presents a timely conversation on the uncertain future of the restaurant industry. Join in as experts discuss the devastating new reality that Covid-19 has caused for restaurants and restaurant workers. How can we support these workers, many of whom are minorities, people of color, and women? Speakers include local…

    We’ve become a walking people since the plague began. We walk through our own neighborhoods and sometimes off into other people’s neighborhoods. We make new friends as we linger and talk from a distance, and as the plague stretches on, we gingerly make plans to spend a little time with old friends, sitting…

    East Bay Bakers This group of about 20 professional East Bay bakers is donating to Black Organizing Project and Anti Police-Terror Project. They have two types of boxes for $40 each plus an assortment of à la carte items, coffee, and tisane. You need to preorder at www.eastbaybakers.com for pick up on Saturday, June…

  On June 19 from 3 to 4 pm, join Bryant Terry, Chef-in-Residence at San Francisco’s Museum of the African Diaspora, for “Choppin’ It Up with MoAD.” In this chapter of a weekly Instagram live series, Terry talks with noted farmers, chefs, authors, activists, and entrepreneurs of African descent about how they have been navigating…

  This live daylong broadcast begins as Chieftess Queen Quet of the GullahGeeche Nation gives a “drum call for justice and a stand for land,” says presenting organization, A Growing Culture. Following throughout the day is a series of presentations and dialogues featuring East New York Farms, Sylvanaqua Farms, Soul Fire Farms, and others. The…

    This Friday, June 19 at 3pm, join San Leandro–based Crop to Kitchen and Kitchen Toke Magazine for a conversation surrounding the intersectionality of race, food, and cannabis. Tune in for some of the leading voices in the culinary cannabis community in a discussion about how we can create equity, inclusive spaces, and opportunities for BIPOC chefs and…

Edible East Bay editor and layout designer Cheryl Angelina Koehler has been having a wildly good time creating e-books with her new friend/collaborator, photographer Judy Doherty. In the early days of the shelter in place, they found themselves bouncing off each other’s enthusiasm as they worked on the books with an aim toward drawing new…

Gardener’s Notebook by Joshua Burman Thayer Did you know you can grow productive avocado trees here in the San Francisco Bay Area? We are close to the northern edge of where avocados will thrive, but with some planning and care, you can achieve long-lasting avocado success. Years ago, I had a great opportunity to learn…

    The recent increase in people who want to grow food, raise chickens or bees, and learn DIY skills is keeping Institute of Urban Homesteading founder Ruby Blume busy. Her Brave New World series of workshops and farm talks covers topics from compost tea and backyard chickens to food preservation and folk medicine. All…

    “Voting will not save us from harm, but silence will surely damn us all.” —Stacey Abrams November is still a while off, but for now, one way we can vote is with our forks. Edible East Bay decided to gather recommendations for local Black-owned food businesses to support by reaching out to other Black business…

  Fifteen years in publishing, and this is the first time we have missed getting an issue out on time. Like so many small businesses, Edible East Bay has been deeply impacted by the cascade of Covid-19 disruptions. It’s affected our stories, our advertisers, our contributors and staff, and also our whole distribution model. The uncertainties…

Story and photos by Annelies Zijderveld   Monifa Dayo is not new to pivoting.  In 2016, the chef realized she had grown weary of the steep physical demands and endless manual labor of commercial restaurant work. Stepping away, she opened Sur Place, a work space inside a private residence, where she could host events like…

The COVID-19 pandemic is also taking a toll on the environment through an alarming increase in single-use plastics. Join an expert panel to find out how the virus is affecting the future of reusables and how the plastics industry is taking advantage of the crisis to promote fear about reusables. Panel members include Professor Kate…

  Unwind with a free pretzel-making class. Photos courtesy of Squabisch. Learn to make your own German-style pretzels from the pretzel pros at Squabisch. This free class is being held on Thursday May 28 from 5–5:40pm. Go here right before it starts and use Meeting ID: 633 296 3447, and password: 6t7XBi, or look for…

Many common kitchen herbs and spices are medicinal powerhouses and are also easy to grow. In this online class you’ll learn about herbal tea gardens, first-aid gardens, and herbs that attract pollinators. Find out which herbs to choose, how they can be used, and which are suitable for pots and containers. Planning Your Medicinal Herb…

    Lisa Miller, co-owner of Berkeley’s Kitchen on Fire, says that in mid-March, as every business in town was suddenly faced with discovering how to continue through a lockdown of uncertain duration, she and her team jumped in with their own variation on making and packing meals for no-contact curbside pickup/delivery. But Miller was…

    A group of volunteers in North Berkeley has been collecting masks for farm workers south of Half Moon Bay. They’ve already delivered 100 masks to the organization ALAS: Ayudando Latinos A Soñar, a Latino cultural arts and social services program ​supporting youth and families, but more masks and cash donations for the group’s…

  In our imaginations, we’re all tooling around the Bay Area looking at the scenery, visiting shops, and stopping at roadside eateries to enjoy some casual-classic California cuisine featuring local ingredients . . . you know … a burger with a fried egg, bacon, and balsamic onions, some ahi poke crispy tacos, or a chicken…

  Brentwood is perhaps the only East Bay community that still has tracts with side-by-side farms producing abundant food. Some of these beloved East Contra Costa County farms have now opened to the public for those interested in keeping up their annual u-pick tradition. Read up here and watch the very helpful video on COVID…

    Healthy soil leads to a happy garden! Learn to fortify your soil through home composting with help from the Planting Justice Transform Your Yard team. Find out what’s needed for various compost systems and how to identify which will work best for your home garden. Topics include which materials to compost, how to…

    Restaurants in San Leandro, Hayward, Castro Valley, San Lorenzo, and the unincorporated areas of Ashland, Cherryland, and Fairview may apply for $15,000 to cover costs associated with preparing meals for distribution to home-bound seniors, medically vulnerable patients, and families experiencing food insecurity and hunger as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Food businesses…

    Seed saving advocate Rebecca Newburn of Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library has tapped members of the Contra Costa Master Gardeners program to lead newbie gardeners in this online session. Learn about what to grow and when to grow it, sunlight requirements for different plants, how to start plants from seeds, how to build…

The process of upcycling works its magic in two ways: first, it makes use of something that would otherwise be wasted, and second, it transforms that item into something of higher quality. The idea of making a valuable upcycled product was percolating back in 2012–2014 when Claire Schlemme was in Boston, running an organic juice…

  Butterflies hover over this prinsesstårta from Crispian Bakery in Alameda. A tradition from Sweden, this torte consists of alternating layers of sponge cake, jam (typically raspberry), pastry cream, and whipped cream topped by a shell of marzipan. Visit Crispian’s online shop for pickup and delivery.   Pastry Chef David Benton started his Sugarsweet Cookie…

  Good breakfast grub will fuel you up for a day full of gardening, cooking, reading, and three virtual events. Make your own earth-friendly vegan lox and gluten-free bagels with this recipe by Mackenzie Feldman, whose environmental advocacy work was featured in our Summer 2019 issue. That story also included Mackenzie’s splendid vegan and gluten-free…

  Join in from the comfort of your living room as Sustainable Solano hosts a three-part Zoom event with leading permaculture expert, John Valenzuela. The introduction is followed by a video tour through several demonstration food forests in Solano County. The event concludes with a Q&A that delves into the exciting subject of home and…

    Up for some cooking? Try this gratin by Chef Christian Reynoso from our Spring 2020 issue. Want someone else to do the cooking? Cafe Umami serves hearty bowls filled with brown rice, veggies, and meat or fish. And you can stock up on Chef Marie’s krauts! If you’ve been a regular at most any East…

    Seed saving advocate Rebecca Newburn of Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library has tapped members of the Contra Costa Master Gardeners program to lead newbie gardeners in this online session. Learn about what to grow and when to grow it, sunlight requirements for different plants, how to start plants from seeds, how to build…

  Here’s your chance to watch The Story of Plastic, a riveting new documentary, at a digital party and panel discussion as Berkeley’s Ecology Center and Zero Waste Youth USA host a virtual screening of this searing expose. The hour-and-a-half-long documentary uncovers the ugly truth behind plastic pollution and the false solution of plastic recycling. The panel…

  COVID: A collection of images taken of those directly affected by Covid-19 or its economic repercussions On April 2 in her series of portraits, photographer Clara Rice visited Oakland’s Sequoia Diner. “Sequoia Diner has become a new-ish staple of the Laurel District in East Oakland, a big part due to the hard work and…

Many common kitchen herbs and spices are not just medicinal powerhouses, but also easy-to-grow choices for your garden. In this online class, you’ll learn about herbal medicine, the basics of planning a pollinator-friendly herb garden, and preservation methods for harvesting and collecting herbs for later use. Get recommendations on where to purchase herbs and learn…

When you can’t hop to the store for last-minute provisions, a seder plate can get a bit inventive! Here we have chips as matzo, kimchi as horseradish (maror), and a deconstructed charoset. All considered, not bad! So much of life is happening these days on Zoom, and you might be among those who are holding…

  In her book Feast: Food of the Islamic World, author Anissa Helou writes extensively about the date “. . . the most important fruit in Islam.” She call it “the first food people [Gulf Arabs] eat when they break the long day’s fast during the month of Ramadan . . . “… the tradition…

  Russian Easter Bread Кулич   Reprinted with permission from Beyond the North Wind: Russia in Recipes and Lore by Darra Goldstein, copyright © 2020. Photography credit: Stefan Wettainen © 2020. Published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House. The tall domed loaf known as kulich is always paired with the pyramidal…

  Niles Pie Co., a worker-owned bakery in Union City, California, is up and running during shelter-at-home, filling orders for pick up and delivery. Founder Carolyn Berke shared this recipe. Makes 1 9- or 10-inch pie 4 large eggs 1 cup heavy cream 1 cup milk Several shavings fresh nutmeg ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon…

Artist Gary Handman doesn’t have an exclusive on suffering through the Shelter at Home order, but his new Journal of the Plague Year, now unfolding on Instagram @ghandman, is a good place to laugh as you commiserate. If you’re interested in more entertainment from the pen of Gary Handman, his story on his hardbound food…

    For meal information on school districts not listed here, check the district website or call for updates.   Alameda Unified Berkeley Unified Hayward Unified Oakland Unified Mt. Diablo Unified West Contra Costa Unified Pleasanton Unified School District Child Nutrition Services Continues Meal Service During School Dismissal: PUSD is committed to continuing to feed…

  Check out these recent articles: The great lengths some will go for a better flour tortilla. An interview with the founder and attendees of Resistance Served, a symposium that centers the experience of Black and African Americans in the hospitality industry. From our friends at Edible Ojai & Ventura County, a story on the road…

  Looking for safer ways to get healthy food? Your nearby farmers’ market is a good option, and it’s likely to be open! We’ve been checking in with the markets to learn about evolving decisions on closures and find that most are staying open. However, it’s a good idea to check via market websites and…

    For adventure-loving food and wine enthusiasts, Retzlaff Vineyards announces a summer river rafting trip with Far and Away Adventures. It’s a rare chance to experience the thrill and beauty of Idaho’s Middle Fork Salmon River with the luxury of comfortable tents and camp chairs, gourmet food, and outstanding wine. On the river, guests can be part of a paddle-boat team helping to steer a top-flight whitewater raft. Beyond the thrill of the rapids,…

      Want to better manage and conserve water in your garden? Come learn about irrigation design, installation, repair, and assessment with urban farming irrigation specialist Lori Palmquist. The workshop takes place at Alameda Point Collaborative’s urban farm, a two-acre site that produces fruits, vegetables, raw honey, and flowers. Cost: $10 at the door,…

      Enhance your film night with a four-course dinner at Babette Café in the company of fellow film-goers. There are three films to choose from, and each is followed by an equally memorable meal. Film lineup features Pain and Glory, I Hate Mondays, and Coup 53. Dinner cost: $95 includes food, wine, tax, and tip. Info…

   Purchase this book.   Award-winning author and food scholar Darra Goldstein will be signing copies of her new book, Beyond the North Wind: Russia in Recipes and Lore, at this Market Hall event, where you’ll also get to taste two of the recipes: Beet Salad and Steamed Buckwheat with Sauteéd Mushrooms & Onions. The book explores the heart…

      Honor Black History Month with a dive into the history and legacy of Black farming in the United States and globally. Films include Forgotten Farmers: African-American Land Loss, The Young Black Farmers Defying a Legacy of Discrimination, and broadcast journalist Edward R Murrow’s 1960 documentary Harvest of Shame. You’ll also enjoy music by the Black…

  Karen Urbanek of flying noir hand paints her chocolates using natural colors mixed with cocoa butter. She adds sparkle with mica, a naturally occurring mineral. Photo and video by Jon Milavec. Meet chocolate makers, chocolatiers, cookbook authors, and pastry chefs at two upcoming chocolate gatherings in San Francisco. Among the makers is Karen Urbanek of flying…

    This winter wine-tasting highlights Black vintners and winemakers as well as Black artists and musicians. Founded in 2011 by Berkeley native and Silicon Valley technology professional Fern A. Stroud, Black Vines® hosts this annual celebration of culture, art, and wine education. Cost: $70 includes gourmet hors d’oeuvres, tastings from featured wineries, and a keepsake glass. Proceeds are donated to a local nonprofit. Info and tickets: here  Black Vines…

  Learn how to turn orange, lime, and other citrus peels into scrumptious candies in this hands-on class, which explores the principles of candy making and infusing flavors using flowers and herbs. Students take home a jar of candied peel and are treated to light refreshments and a 10% discount on purchases. No experience needed. Cost: $150. Please bring…

      Slow Food East Bay welcomes chefs from Bhutan and Burma, who offer a sampling of their cooking with dishes like wild mushroom curry, fish noodle soup, sel roti, and more. Hear their stories, which describe the experience of being driven away from one’s homeland due to ethnicity and the ways in which that experience breaks connections to the past. The evening’s beneficiary is Oakland Bloom, a…

    In partnership with The Black Joy Parade, this cocktail crawl visits favorite Oakland spots owned by people of color. Enjoy Hennessy cocktails and food, with all proceeds supporting this year’s Black Joy Parade, held on February 23. Transportation between cocktail crawl venues is included. Cost: $65. Ages 21+ only. Info and tickets: here The Black Joy Cocktail Crawl   Friday…

    Come learn from experts in the areas of animal rights, animal advocacy, and veganism. Speakers investigate the ways that different forms of oppression prop one another up and how best to create supportive alliances. An Animal Rights Herstory Panel details the struggle for animal rights since the 1980s. Cost: $25 in advance, $35 at the door,…

    A new exhibit at the Oakland Museum of California features two maps from past issues of Edible East Bay by staff illustrator Margo Rivera-Weiss, who recently passed away. The show displays a diversity of maps from Oakland, the Bay Area, and California, including Margo’s renderings of Favorite Fish Tacos and Worker Cooperatives. Come explore new perspectives on familiar places and…

    In honor of the month of love, Julie’s Coffee & Tea offers a fragrant, luscious five-course tasting menu designed to wake up the senses and warm hearts. In addition to sparkling cava with a hibiscus flower, enjoy dates stuffed with goat cheese, wrapped in bacon, and drizzled with local honey; an arugula salad…

    What better way could there be to celebrate Valentine’s Day than with a fun-filled night of hands-on cooking and eating under the direction of a master chef? These events at Kitchen on Fire can make great Valentine’s Day fun for anyone: lovers, vegetarians, friends and family, and even singles, and everyone is sure to…

  From hot peppers to hamburgers (the UFO variety), this show in stained glass will be a treat. Join in for sweet deals, snacks, and art that looks good enough to eat. Info: here “Edible” Group Show Sunday February 9, 2–5pm Stained Glass Garden 1800 Fourth St, Berkeley        

  Our hats are off to this year’s East Bay Good Food Award winners. We can’t wait to taste the winning pasta, salame, fish sauce, cacao fruit jam, and other outstanding products. Almanac Beer Co Alameda Winning Product: Apricot Sournova   California Fish Sauce Pleasanton Winning Product: Koji Fish Sauce   Cleophus Quealy Beer Company…

    Join herbalist and educator Anna Marie Beauchemin of East Bay Herbals for a four-week course on incorporating herbalism into your everyday life. Learn the basics of herbal medicine, natural remedies for common ailments, and ways to begin using herbs in your home and kitchen. The class includes lessons on simple medicine making, giving…

    A scion is a young shoot or twig of a plant, especially one cut for grafting or rooting. At the 32nd Annual Fruitwood Scion Exchange, you’ll find the best varieties for growing your own fruit. Discover local favorites and near-forgotten heirlooms as you peruse hundreds of varieties you might want to graft onto your…

    CUESA welcomes farmer Leah Penniman for an exploration of food, economic equity, systemic racism, and climate. Penniman is the author of Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm’s Practical Guide to Liberation on the Land and co-executive director of Soul Fire Farm, a project that works toward food and land justice. Come learn about Penniman’s work…

    Join in for a full-day event to explore ways to bring permaculture into the world beyond gardens and farms. City Repair has helped people in urban neighborhoods reclaim public spaces with art and celebration. Social Forestry connects villages and communities to their forested water catchment basin. Be part of a conversation about how…

    Yoga and wine enthusiasts of all levels can enjoy this one-hour vinyasa class followed by a flight of six wines. Côte West produces single-varietal California wines including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé of Counoise, Grenache, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Cost: $25. Info and registration: here Read up on Côte West and other East…

  Cloverfield Farm, the first certified organic farm in El Sobrante, grows a variety of fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, and potted plants. People of all ages and abilities who want to help out with winter farm chores are invited to the farm for a volunteer workshop. If you have your own gardening gloves and pruners (for…

  The 41st EcoFarm Conference goes virtual on January 20-23, 2021, offering meaningful opportunities for anyone who cares about growing a healthy food system and world. The event is well known as an essential networking and educational hub for ecologically-minded farmers and ranchers, and also attracts a wide range of sponsors, exhibitors, speakers, volunteers, and…

Start the year with this recipe from Market Hall Foods.     Three Apple Slaw Recipe courtesy of Executive Chef Scott Miller, Market Hall Foods Our version of this simple dish has proven to be one of our most sought-after salads. It’s a welcome addition to any table and a refreshing foil for rich holiday…

  Want to learn more about sustainable farming and urban food systems? A new certificate program at Merritt College can put you on a career path related to small-scale farms, nonprofits, food policy, and food science. Come learn how to plan and design small farms as well as gardens for home, school, and community. Start…

  Come enjoy cuisine from Senegal with Chef Nafy Flatley of Teranga. Kingston 11 Cuisine hosts as Chef Flatley cooks up maafe, fonio, yams, and more.  She’ll be in conversation with Willow Blish of Slow Food East Bay about raising first-generation Americans and keeping them connected to their cultural foodways. Cost: Sliding scale $45–$85. Info…

  Explore new eateries and revisit old favorites as Oakland and Alameda offer dining deals and special events during January restaurant weeks. Celebrate the history of Oakland cuisine on food tours, at dinners, and with a scavenger hunt. At the Alameda kickoff event, sample craft cocktails and vote for Master Mixologist 2020. Enjoy prix fixe…

Gingery Wild & Basmati Rice Salad with Apricots Recipe courtesy of Prepared Foods Director Sandy Sonnenfelt, Market Hall Foods This salad is festive, easy to make, oh-so-pretty, and full of flavor⁠—an ideal contribution to any holiday table. During festive feasting, try topping this dish with duck confit, which has been crisped in a pan and…

    Learn to use more seasonal vegetables in 2020 with Fremont LEAF’s new series of cooking classes. Taught by Niles Pie co-owner Hali Clizer, these sessions offer the chance to learn about, prepare, and enjoy dishes using produce from the farmers’ market. Come make winter pot pies, carrot muffins, nutritious salads, and two kinds of…

    Taste handcrafted products and stock up on small-batch goodies at prices much lower than offered at retail shops. Choose from among handcrafted jams, mustards, salsas, vinegars, mead, honey, soaps, tinctures, and more. At 1pm and 3pm on both days, Institute of Urban Homesteading founder Ruby Blume offers short talks. Come learn about moving…

  Bring your creative spirit to this mini zinefest /comix fest showcasing new and emerging East Bay artists. See zines, art, and comics and meet creators striving to build a more diverse, holistic community. The event gives space to traditionally underrepresented voices and seeks to make people feel welcome, understood, and uplifted. Reserve your space…

      This winter, take advantage of the chance to watch endangered coho salmon returning from the ocean to spawn. Through January 25, the Salmon Protection and Watershed Network (SPAWN) offers Coho Salmon Creekwalk Tours of the Lagunitas Creek Watershed. Led by naturalists, tour participants observe endangered coho salmon at the peak of their…

    Join local experts for a lively, informational olive oil workshop and tasting. Olive oil specialists Nancy Ash of Strictly Olive Oil and Kathryn Tomajan of Fat Gold (with assistance from Roberta Klugman) guide participants through a series of new harvest oils with accompanying foods. Learn about the production of olive oil from tree to bottle and…

  Stone Edge Farm Kitchen Larder Cookbook By John McReynolds, Mike Emanuel, and Fiorella Butron Recipes reprinted with permission from © Stone Edge Farm Kitchen Larder Cookbook by Rizzoli, 2019.  Images: © Leslie Sophia Lindell   WARM OLIVES WITH PRESERVED LEMON   Serves 6 Cold olives right out of the refrigerator pale in comparison to…

    Finding holiday gifts is a joy when you shop for hand-crafted items at the farmers’ market. The Winter Crafts Fair at the Downtown Berkeley Farmers’ Market highlights Bay Area artists and artisans and serves as an annual benefit for the Ecology Center. Come peruse jewelry, kitchenware, glassware, wooden bowls, wool clothing, and much…

  When you visit Dafna Kory’s Emeryville kitchen at 1307 61st Street, you can sample shrubs, jams, and ginger snacks during special holiday hours and take advantage of gift wrapping during the month of December. Take home a bottle of quince shrub and relax with this cocktail at the end of the day. Ask a…

  Printmaker and Edible East Bay contributor Gary Crandall is among the artists displaying his wares at the Handcrafted Holiday Sale in Walnut Creek. Crandall is offering linocut prints, including 20 versions of five designs from his Farm Hands series. The sale also features glass, jewelry, ceramics, photography, fiber arts and more, all crafted by…

  Peruse handcrafted goods and sample June Taylor’s organic preserves, syrups, and confections at this salon offering chocolates, textiles, linens, apparel, ceramics, jewelry, collage, stationary, and more. Info: here June Taylor works directly with small family farms, seeking out heirloom and forgotten fruits. Following traditional methods of preserving, she hand cuts fruit and cooks it…

  After preparing a big holiday meal, most of us crave a break from hours in the kitchen and from the rich food we may have over indulged in. The good news is that we may already have all the ingredients for an easy, delicious, and super healthy meal for the next day—bone broth, made…

  Food Shift serves up a vegetarian feast to celebrate its powerful impact in the community. The nonprofit rescues food that would otherwise be thrown away and uses it to feed people and to provide jobs and job training. Come enjoy a meal prepared by Chef Tu David Phu and the Food Shift Kitchen, and…

Learn some basic Spanish as you indulge in Spanish-influenced Californian tapas at this monthly event. Esther leads guests in simple Spanish conversation as she shares her family’s traditional dishes from Valencia. It’s a project of the culinary collective Made2Gather, founded by Chef Lee Davidson with the goal of connecting people to their communities, cultures, and…

Peruse a variety of handmade wares as the Bedford Gallery holds it 12th annual craft fest. Local makers display artisanal foods, cookware, jewelry, art, apparel, ceramics, home décor, and more. Find gifts for food lovers from Farm Fresh to You, the Xocolate Bar, Hosffi Chocolates, and Kindred Cooks. Enjoy the art too—the gallery show is…

Want to ban plastic wrap from your kitchen? Come make a reusable cloth food wrap using beeswax. The wraps offer an easy solution for keeping bread, vegetables, and cheese fresh or for covering containers in the fridge. Learn about materials used in this wrap and take home your own handmade creation. They make great gifts…

Come learn about clean energy sources and their role in disaster relief at the (non-alcoholic) Solar Power Happy Hour. Biofuel Oasis is raising awareness about twin solar projects, Footprint Project and Rent.Solar, by showcasing their rentable solar-power trailer in the store parking lot. This trailer was recently deployed to Donaldson Way Elementary School in Napa County, where…

  Join Zeida Flores for a hands-on workshop in making tamales. Learn about the meaning of the tamal in Mexican culture and go through each step of making black bean and vegetable tamales using organic masa. Zeida Flores is from Jalisco, Mexico, and is currently a student of culinary arts at Laney College. Cost: $50–$75.…

Photo courtesy of Slow Food East Bay Mexican food is featured as Slow Food East Bay hosts the next dinner in its Cultural Food Traditions series. Join in for a memorable evening with chefs from El Huarache Azteca and La Oaxaquena. Hear their stories and discuss pre-Hispanic food traditions, the variety found in Mexican foods, and…

  Pull out a favorite book and head to the Lake Merritt Sailboat House for an event that features reading, great food, and a silent auction. Meet poet and host Ryan Nicole along with guest author Justina Ireland. Support the work of Acta Non Verba’s Youth Urban Farm Project, a creative outdoor space in East…

  Celebrate the first season of farming and offer gratitude to the land with a day of activities and an ancestral feast at the MESA Farm, a center for urban agroecology in El Sobrante. Come dressed as one of your ancestors, whether in the traditional clothing of your lineage or quite literally as your great…

  Join other urban farmers* at Urban Adamah for a dinner conversation about resource sharing, network strengthening, and improved collaboration. Share in a big pot of vegetarian soup, salad, plus beer and wine, and bring a dish to share if you feel inspired. Please arrive promptly at 6pm for the meeting. *This gathering is for those…

  Come take part in an outdoor community pizza party, Peralta Rancho-style, to inaugurate the new adobe oven. Make your own pizza and find out how adobe ovens have been used over time for cooking and community gatherings. Adobe artisan Miguel Elliott talks about building the oven. Free. Info: here   Adobe Oven Inauguration &…

  Come celebrate the start of the olive harvest with a visit to the Séka Hills Olive Mill. Watch the mill in action and taste olio nuovo (early-harvest, unfiltered extra-virgin olive oil) as well as treats from local food artisans and vendors. Owned and run by Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, the tasting room offers an…

  Artisanal chocolate and custom-roasted coffee are plentiful at this kickoff fundraiser for the Julia Morgan Berkeley City Club building. Sample an array of products from local chocolatiers and coffee roasters and enjoy cooking demos, mini-lectures, live music, a silent auction, and synchronized swimming in the historic indoor pool. Known as the “Little Castle,” the…