Posts by Edible East Bay

  Artisans from Mercado Latinx join farmers, makers, and crafters for a pop-up at the Jack London Square Farmers Market. CUESA welcomes 27 local Latinx artists, chefs, designers, and crafters to the market. Come shop for an assortment of holiday gifts along with farm-fresh market produce. Info: here   Sunday December 16, 10am–3pm Jack London Square Farmers…

  You’ll find an enticing selection of affordable handcrafted goodies at this convivial open house, held this year at Buena Vista Wood, a rare brick home built in 1936 with exquisite redwood detailing and expansive views of the Bay. Among the many items for sale are homemade jams, mustards, shrubs, cordials, seeds, vinegar pickles, dried…

Edible East Bay Cover Artists’ Works at UC Botanical Garden Pop-Up     Gorgeous gift items created by Edible East Bay cover artists Rigel Stuhmiller and Helen Krayenhoff are among the offerings at the UC Botanical Garden’s annual holiday pop-up market. It’s a great place to find unusual handmade gifts created by area artists and businesses.…

    Finding holiday gifts can be a fun adventure when you combine it with a visit to the farmers’ market! For the next three Saturdays, the Downtown Berkeley Farmers’ Market hosts the Ecology Center’s Winter Crafts Fair right alongside the booths where farmers sell their fresh seasonal produce. Come meet local artists who make…

It’s a win-win to give the gift of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables from a local farm. A great way to do this is with a produce box or holiday basket through a local CSA (community-supported agriculture) farm. One option is Farm Fresh to You, which runs a CSA program with its farm Capay Organic and…

  Enjoy an authentic Italian experience as you meet Rolando Beramendi, author of Autentico: Cooking Italian, the Authentic Way, at Bondolio Olive Farm and Mill. Beramendi, the founder of Manicaretti Italian Food Importers, will sign copies of his book and talk about artisan Italian ingredients and foodways. Visitors can tour the olive mill, purchase pizzas…

    Here’s a fun outdoor alternative to online shopping: Stroll through your local farmers’ market and enjoy the bustling energy and good spirits. Peruse the offerings and sample locally grown fruits, veggies, herbs, nuts, jams, honey, and olive oils. Our East Bay markets are bursting with wonderful foods, handmade products, and special holiday items…

  Join Food Shift for a celebration and fundraiser at Encuentro in Jack London Square. Guests will hear about Food Shift’s new catering program and be part of a conversation with activist Joanna Macy about the times we’re in and the impact of Food Shift’s work to reduce food waste. Take home small-batch food products like…

Berkeley’s Center for Ecoliteracy announces the release of a series of hands-on lessons about where food comes from and how it gets to our tables. Available at no cost, Abundant California provides ten lessons designed for grades 3–5. Its focus is on local food systems, highlighting popular California crops and the specific phases of growing, harvesting,…

  Wondering how to make a simple pie crust that turns out flaky and delicious? Check out this video from the innovative bakers at Two Chicks in the Mix to help you get it just right. The chicks also offered this advice for holiday cooks and hosts: “Creating a memorable holiday gathering is all about making sure…

  As fall sets in and we prepare for winter, come learn about some herbs historically used to resist and recover from seasonal illnesses. East Bay Herbals offers this workshop on the uses and benefits of popular cold and flu herbs and which herbs aid with recovery from different illnesses. Free, but please register: here Herbs…

Ever wondered how olives become olive oil? Come find out on Community Milling Day, when Il Fiorello Olive Oil Company invites the public to bring harvested olives to the mill and watch the process firsthand. When you return the following week, you’ll bring home some freshly milled oil made from combining all the participants’ crops.…

  For over 12 years, readers of Edible East Bay have enjoyed Barbara Kobsar’s “What’s In Season?” column. Meet Barbara at the Walnut Creek Farmers’ Market and several upcoming holiday craft and gift fairs, where she’ll be selling her Cottage Kitchen jams, pepper jellies, and apple pies made with local produce. At the fairs, you’ll also find a…

Bring the whole family to the Temescal Farmers’ Market for plenty of Halloween happenings, including a costume photo contest, petting zoo, raffles, and pumpkin giveaways. Meet friendly farm animals and enter the haunted farmers’ market Instagram photo contest to win a farmers’ market basket valued at $100. Free. Info: here   Temescal Farmers’ Market Sunday…

Enjoy the fare at participating Bay Area restaurants on October 25 and help assure that all eligible voters can cast a vote in the upcoming midterm elections. Restaurants and bars will donate a portion of all proceeds to the National Voter Protection Action Fund, which combats voter suppression and protects elections, and the Alliance for…

Mark the start of the olive harvest by watching the Séka Hills Olive Mill in action. Discover the exciting flavor of olio nuovo (early-harvest, unfiltered extra-virgin olive oil) as you are guided through tastings of olive oil, wine, honey, and nuts in the Séka Hills Tasting Room owned and run by Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. The…

Which pitmaster can create the perfect mix of rubs and seasonings, manage the fire, and cook up the tastiest ribs? This high-energy cooking competition—dubbed a “caveman-style BBQ throwdown”—is also a fundraiser for Sprouts Cooking Club. Come enjoy delicious food, wine, live music, and a silent auction at the lovely Retzlaff Vineyards. All proceeds go to…

Come spend a lively day at the West Oakland Farm Park and join in for hand-on activities and cooking demos by local chefs. Workshops offer lessons in planting, composting, and making fire cider. Live music, pumpkin decorating, and mural painting by Los Pobres Artistas add to the fun. Free, but donations welcome. Info: here  …

The Diablo Valley and Moraga farmers’ markets welcome the community to special harvest festivals this weekend. Halloween fun is front and center with a kids’ costume contest and parade offering prizes for the best and most creative costumes. Kids also get their own goodie bags and a tasty apple. The whole family can join in…

At Berkeley Hort’s popular annual trunk show, Nevada County fiber artists share handmade items for perusal and purchase. Come see a lovely collection of clothing, hand towels, scarves/shawls, yarn, blankets, and rugs. Watch a magical demonstration of indigo dyeing by Eileen Lee (mzfiber.com) and snack on savory okonomiyaki prepared by Okkon Japanese Street Food. Enjoy…

Eat, Dance, and Play in an Olive Grove Bring the whole family to this lively fest to enjoy food, wine, live music and dance, and special activities for kids. Shop for olive oil and olive wood products, specialty foods, and honey. The Olive Festival is an annual event presented by the Mission San Jose Chamber…

Feel the Halloween spirit on Local Food Adventures’ spooky walking tour filled with tricks and tasty treats. This 90-minute tour highlights some of the Piedmont area’s hidden gems, including the final resting places of famous and infamous Bay Area residents. You’ll get to taste La Farine’s eerily red velvet cupcakes, visit the Chapel of the…

The harvest season is in full swing each October weekend at Orchard Nursery. Come enjoy pumpkins galore, a local makers’ market, activities for kids, and live music, and be sure to meet the friendly farm animals. This year’s scarecrow theme is Día De Los Muertos, especially timed with favorite staff movie Coco. Events vary each…

Join friends and neighbors for a day of fun, good food, farm chores, and reflection at the Gill Tract Community Farm. Help out with farm work, clean up the creek, and take part in the seminar “How Urban Agriculture Can Cool the Planet.” The event promises activities for kids, a lunch featuring farm-fresh veggies, and…

The arts are thriving in Emeryville, with eye-catching works on display at the city’s annual juried exhibition. Come enjoy paintings, sculpture, photographs, ceramics, textiles, glass works, and poetry by 115 artists and craftspeople who live or work in Emeryville. See new works by established artists and be among the first to appreciate emerging talent. The…

You know you’ve secretly wanted cookies and beer together, but elegant desserts like madeleines, French almond cakes, and biscotti always get served with coffee, tea, or a glass of milk. Now’s the time to jump out of that rut. Alameda bakery Donsuemor has brewed up some inventive new couplings to help you celebrate Oktoberfest in style. Working…

Access to healthy food, food workers’ rights, and the impact of agriculture on the environment will be front and center when District 15 State Assembly candidates Jovanka Beckles and Buffy Wicks come together on October 3 to discuss important issues related to food. The 15th Assembly District, the seat currently held by Democrat Tony Thurmond,…

In 2017, Edible East Bay artist Helen Krayenhoff created the third in her series of simple recipe books, 12 Pepper + Chile Recipe Ideas. It seems the dried chili ardor hasn’t cooled as she’s continued her collaboration with John Beaver at Oaktown Spice Shop to design and produce this handsome poster to celebrate Chili Month…

What a way to enjoy the season’s watermelon! Try this recipe and have some extra fun by entering our Cocktail Week Instagram contest.  Contest info: Snap a picture of yourself at your favorite East Bay bar or eatery and post it on Instagram with the tag #oaklandcocktailweek and @edibleeastbay for your chance to win two tickets to…

The SF Cheese Fest expands to two days this year, offering a sampling of education and pleasure. The theme of “4 x 4” honors the event’s fourth anniversary along with the four milk types (cow, goat, sheep, and water buffalo) available for cheesemaking in California. Come meet cheesemakers from around the state and taste cheeses…

Immerse yourself in a naughty, pleasure-filled dinner theater experience as the Soiled Dove brings you back in time to an 1890s saloon and dance hall in San Francisco’s Barbary Coast red-light district. Presented by performance and art collective Vau de Vire, the action takes place under a 12,000-square-foot Tortona Big Top installed in downtown Oakland.…

For a taste of street food done right, check out the Eat Real Festival, marking its 10th anniversary this year. Come hungry to sample a variety of regionally sourced, sustainably produced foods and drink, from barbecue and falafel to brews, ciders, and espresso. Sign up for a class on cheesemaking, malting, or fermenting, and check…

Tour the garden and art at Oakland’s 1913 Guy Hyde Chick House, designed by Bernard Maybeck, as you enjoy hors d’oeuvres, drinks, a silent auction, and entertainment in the garden. The evening event is a fundraiser for the Plant Exchange, which offers swap events throughout the year for local gardeners to share plants and garden equipment. Funds will help…

Come on over to Biofuel Oasis for samples of honey, kombucha, and fermented veggies. Participate in one of the free urban farming workshops. Subjects cover planting a fall/winter edible garden, making kombucha, inoculating logs with mushrooms, and growing sprouts and microgreens. Bring your questions about beehives and honey bees for Biofuel Oasis worker-owner Jennifer Radtke…

Come meet local artists, including Edible East Bay cover artists Shari Arai DeBoer, Helen Krayenhoff, and Celia Wedding. Enjoy exquisite drawings, paintings, and pottery in a garden setting with live music performed on the patio. Pop-up food is by Okkon Japanese Street Food serving their okonomi yaki, and Uji Time offering Japanese fusion desserts: mochi ice…

Food service professionals: Learn to minimize food waste, reduce your carbon footprint, and attract eco-conscious consumers. Bay Area nonprofit Acterra serves up a full-day educational conference for those working in restaurants, hospitals, schools, corporate campuses, catering, entertainment venues, and other institutions. The focus is on the profitability of sustainable and climate-friendly practices like plant-forward meal planning,…

Come celebrate the beloved neighborhood of Rockridge at this lively outdoor festival. Enjoy foods, cocktails, tastings, and demos from local vendors at festival food courts. The popular Picnic with Market Hall features favorite local shops. Bring the whole family for live music and dance, a prize wheel, carnival games, and a photo booth. Free. Info: here or…

This farm-to-fork festival celebrates the bounty and flavors of the Sierra Nevada region. Taste your way through dishes prepared by local chefs using ingredients from nearby growers and producers. Each dish is paired with the perfect local wine or brew. The festival also offers a marketplace of locally handmade goods as well as the Sierra…

Urban farmer Charlie Costello invites the community to MariLark Farms’ annual tomato tasting and gathering of local gardeners. Come sample tomato varieties grown at MariLark— like the Bumblebee, Great White, and Red Laundry— as well as others brought by guests. See the variety of veggies on this thriving urban farm, including Charlie’s impressive (and still…

Oakland celebrates its unique bar heritage and community with $10 cocktails inspired by the city’s culture and history. Find drinks like the White Fang, Oak-ness Monster, Kamala Harris, and Blindspotted as more than 40 bars and restaurants from Oakland, Alameda, and Emeryville collaborate in a celebration that includes small business owners, the spirits industry, and…

Bring your creativity and your sweet tooth to this all-ages event, this year celebrating its 20th anniversary. Everyone is welcome to create a sidewalk chalk drawing along Shattuck Avenue in North Berkeley’s Gourmet Ghetto. Enjoy treats like chocolate rum gelato, dark chocolate truffles, Oreo shakes, bittersweet chocolate pudding, and chocolate ganache cupcakes as you stroll…

Join the fun as 35 Livermore wineries offer tastings along with local food, crafts, and music. Enjoy barrel samples and food pairings, take vineyard tours, and relax with lawn games and bocce ball. You can extend the celebration to the following day (Monday September 3), when most wineries will waive tasting fees for guests with…

Looking to use less plastic in your daily life? Instead of buying another roll of plastic wrap, make your own reusable beeswax cloth food wrap. These wraps are perfect for covering containers in the fridge or keeping bread, vegetables, or cheese fresh. Learn about materials used in this wrap and take home your own handmade…

Tour Lafayette’s Town Hall Theatre and sample dishes in the Brioche Challenge on August 25.  Whether Marie Antoinette actually said “Let them eat cake,” “Let them eat brioche,” or neither of these, you’ll have fun on a Local Food Adventures tour and tasting event to celebrate Town Hall Theatre’s new production of The Revolutionists. Take…

The UC Botanical Garden celebrates two favorite plants at this garden party, where you can sip local beer and cider on tap and munch apple cider donuts while enjoying live music. Free craft activities and Bernie’s Best apple juice are available for kids. Bring a picnic or purchase food from an onsite taco truck. At the…

Think You Have Nothing Good to Eat? You Might Be Surprised! We’ve all stared into a fridge full of assorted foods and thought there’s nothing good to eat. But with a touch of creativity, you can make magnificent meals with what you have on hand. Watch the video below and see how a father and…

Get to know a community of West Oakland artisans committed to developing environmentally friendly practices for manufacturing and agriculture. Meet local crafters, farmers, and artisans and peruse the high-quality goods they produce on site. Enjoy live music, food, beverages, and a friendly vibe. Free, but please RSVP. Info: here Third Annual O2AA Open Studio &…

Each season, Cloverfield Farm invites volunteers into their organic farm to lend a hand with seasonal farm chores. Activities are geared to all ages and abilities: You can help prepare vegetable beds, plant seeds into flats, clear cover crops in the orchard and vineyard, and pot rooted grape vines and olive trees. Wear your grubby…

Not sure if your eggs are still fresh? If the date has passed, they may still be good to eat. To find out, do the float test. Place the egg in a glass or bowl of water. If it sinks, the egg is still perfectly fine to eat. If it floats, send that egg to the…

The tomatoes are luscious and ready for tasting at Capay Organic’s annual festival. Sample an assortment of heirloom and cherry varieties, along with local olive oil and honey. Tour the farm, ride a tractor tram, visit the animals, and make herb salt with organic farm herbs. Bring your dancing shoes since the live music by…

Find out what happens when talented East Bay bartenders get inspired by farmers’ market produce. Take in a beautiful sunset on the Bay and enjoy a drink made with local stone fruit, melons, berries, or tomatoes. New this year, find a variety of dinner options available for purchase. All proceeds support education programs offered by…

Make your way through downtown Walnut Creek sampling tasty food and wine while also supporting the Diablo Ballet. Spend a lovely summer evening enjoying tastes from a variety of local eateries. Proceeds support the Diablo Ballet’s PEEK Outreach Programs, bringing arts education to underserved students and incarcerated teens. Cost: $39 through July 26, then $45.…

Get ready for a food and wine adventure in the Livermore Valley! On Thursday, 20 winemakers join up with Bay Area chefs to compete for top honors in food and wine pairing at Casa Real. Guests are invited to taste these delectable combos and vote for the People’s Choice winner. On Friday through Sunday, visit…

Author and Holocaust survivor Sylvia Ruth Gutmann speaks at 1951 Coffee, a café that trains and hires refugees and educates the community on refugee life and issues. Gutmann will speak about her experiences during World War II and how those experiences are reflected in the child separation and resettlement happening in the United States today.…

Did you know that July 31 is National Avocado Day?  Show your love and appreciation of this tasty and nutritious treat by storing them properly. Unripe avocados should be left on the counter to ripen at room temperature. Place avocados in a paper bag with an apple to ripen more quickly. Once ripe, store avocados…

Love to make marmalade? Jive on jam? Churn out chutney? Enter your favorite seasonal creation in CUESA’s summer preserves contest. Top three winners will take home food-related prizes, and everyone is welcome to taste and vote for the People’s Choice. Also happening at the Summer Jam: Becky Courchesne of Frog Hollow Farm gives a jam-making demo,…

Fruit lovers and growers get ready for the international Festival of Fruit, which features garden and nursery tours and lectures by prominent orchardists and expert growers of exotic fruits and vegetables. No registration is required to attend the Saturday vendor day showcasing a variety of products for edible gardening. Sponsored by the Santa Clara Valley…

Come out to Alden Lane Nursery to stroll under majestic oaks and enjoy locally crafted art, food, wine, and music. More than 40 artists display and sell their works, and Livermore winemakers share tastes from their selections. The nursery is in full bloom, with special displays and sales on offer. Kids can take part in…

Come celebrate Bastille Day with all things délicieuses, including French cheese, croissants, and charcuterie. Sample new foods, find items for the French corner of your pantry, learn to make sausage, and enter to win prizes. Specials on French products are available at Berkeley and Oakland Market Hall Foods shops throughout July. The July 14 Bastille…

Plastic is pervasive and difficult to recycle; much of it ends up polluting oceans and rivers and harming sea life. Throughout July, the Ecology Center hosts multiple events as part of Plastic-Free July, an international effort focused on how and why to reduce single-use plastics in daily life. Learn about disposable-free dining, plastic-free personal products, and…

Ever Forgotten What’s In Your Fridge? It’s the height of summer and fruits and vegetables are at their prime. This seasonal abundance makes it easy to overfill our refrigerators. With each new shopping trip, food that you already have can get pushed to the back of the shelf and forgotten. An easy way to reduce…

Congress continues to debate passage of this legislation that many Americans don’t fully understand. The Food & Environment Reporting Network (FERN) has put together an excellent video explaining the basics of the bill and why it’s important to people who care about food, farming, and anti-hunger programs.

Cyclists who appreciate farmland and local food will want to hop on for this tour of farms and ranches protected from development by MALT, the nonprofit Marin Agricultural Land Trust. Enjoy West Marin’s lovely coastline and valleys as you ride past farms and ranches that produce much of the cheese, meat, and seasonal fruits and…

How can we use herbs and gentle daily practices to care for ourselves? Join Maribeth Helen, herbalist and author of Self Care in Uncertain Times, for a workshop that offers a guided plant meditation and tools for supporting our best selves while navigating daily stressors. Bring a journal, something to write with, and a tea…

Too Much of a Good Thing? Ever bought food you already had or composted food you didn’t eat? You’re not alone. To reduce food waste and save money, plan the meals you’ll eat at home and list items needed. “Shop” your fridge, freezer, and cupboards for ingredients first. Get your free, handy shopping list to help…

At the Kitchen Exchange, you can trade in kitchen items you no longer need for others you really want. Hosted by The Plant Exchange and ITK Culinary, the event also features two cooking demos led by Doug Eng, founder of ITK Culinary. Bring your pots and pans, dishes, cutlery, linens, small appliances, glassware, and storage containers.…

Get to know the world of insects, from plant-eating bugs to bug-eating plants! Kids and adults will enjoy this interactive event that looks at “good bugs,” “bad bugs,” and insects that travel through water, soil, or air. Visit stations presented by garden docents and community organizations featuring live insects, butterfly crafts, honey tasting, and more.…

Explore Farming and STEM this Summer Spend a fruitful summer learning about urban farming and gardening. The CoCo San Sustainable Farm is holding a free summer camp where teens and young adults can learn to build planting beds, start seeds, install irrigation, and grow fresh organic vegetables. Discover how our food systems interact with bees, weather,…

Mike and Anne Dashe welcome wine lovers to a sailing adventure on the San Francisco Bay. Enjoy your favorite Dashe Cellars wines and a Parisian picnic while savoring the view from the deck of the classic schooner Freda B. Cost: $138 general public ($118 for club members). Tickets: here Winemaker Picnic on the Bay Saturday June…

Join CUESA, the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture, to honor its commitment to farmers’ markets, groundbreaking education, and sustainably grown food. CUESA celebrates 25 years of community nourishment with a party featuring 40 top restaurants and 20 bars and wineries. Meet CUESA’s community of farmers, chefs, and changemakers, and enjoy a silent auction,…

Saving seeds is surprisingly easy, and it is important for biodiversity and food security. Urban gardener Rebecca Newburn, co-founder of Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library, teaches the basics at this free class. Come learn how to save and share seeds from your tomatoes, lettuce, beans, peas, squash, and more. Info: here or 510.482.7844 Read more about…

Herbs for Wellness Interested in herbalism? You’ll learn to make a variety of healing products, including some that help protect your skin from the sun, as Anna Beauchemin of East Bay Herbals offers three free community workshops. Find out how easy it can be to prepare medicinal teas, healing oils, and salves. Free. Info: here Medicinal…

Keep Your Lettuce Crisp and Delicious Summer is salad season, and Bay Area farmers’ markets are brimming with many varieties of lettuce. Bought more than you can use right away? StopWaste’s how-to videos show how to keep lettuce and other leafy greens fresh, or how to revive them when they’re already a bit wilted. Keep…

In her newest book, Eating My Way Through Italy: Heading Off the Main Roads to Discover the Hidden Treasures of the Italian Table, Elizabeth Minchilli takes readers on a culinary journey that celebrates Italy’s regional specialties. Join her at Market Hall and taste some of the Italian pantry items mentioned in the book. No charge…

The Museum of the African Diaspora (MOAD) hosts the second annual Diaspora Dinner, this year honoring Chef Tanya Holland of Brown Sugar Kitchen. Join MOAD’s chef-in-residence Bryant Terry for a champagne toast at the museum followed by a multi-course dinner prepared by Holland and the St. Regis San Francisco culinary team. Chef Holland and Shakirah Simley, co-founder…

Chef Kellie Joe from Chicks and Love Pizza Catering is whipping up a seasonal dessert on June 10 at the Walnut Creek Contra Costa Certified Farmers’ Market. Come watch her prepare a delicious surprise you won’t want to miss. Seating is limited. Info: here For eight years, Kellie Joe and Vanda Chong, known as the…

Come celebrate grassland culture and a dedication to good food at this event hosted by Friends of the Petaluma River, True Grass Farms, and the Petaluma Grazing Collective. The organizers value the role grazing animals play in managing the health of oak savannas, grasslands, and coastal prairies. They’re honoring the work with a day dedicated…

Camino Restaurant celebrates its tenth anniversary with two special parties this weekend to thank customers for their support over the past years. Come see the restaurant and taste the wonderful cooking of Executive Chef Russell Moore, who co-owns Camino with his wife, Allison Hopelain. Info: here Camino Cocktail Party Friday May 18, 6pm– late Camino Restaurant…

Come celebrate Northern California’s craft breweries with plenty of burgers, sliders, gourmet snacks, brews, and samplings from vendors. Visit local business booths and arts-and-crafts vendors, and don’t miss the Burger Throwdown, a burger-cooking competition featuring local celebrities. Beer-tasting packages $5–$60. Info and tickets: here Fourth Annual Fremont Burger and Brew Fest Saturday May 26, 11am–5pm…

Meet Oakland author Michele E. Lee and hear about her engaging, informative book, Working the Roots, Over 400 Years of Traditional African-American Healing. The book is filled with firsthand accounts from elder healers along with traditional African-American remedies for a range of ailments. An opening performance features Yemanya Napue from Nicodemus, Kansas (a town established…

Help Oakland youth go to soccer camp by attending the ninth annual Jamaican Jerk Cook-Off at Drake’s Dealership. The fundraiser benefits the My Yute Soccer, which provides free summer camps and teen mentorship programs. Come explore Jamaica’s spicy culinary tradition as you enjoy Jamaican jerk cooked by local chefs. Craft beer, live Caribbean music, dance,…

Spend a lively Saturday at the Ecology Center’s Family Fun Fest. Held right next to the Berkeley farmers’ market, this wonderful annual event features activities like the Strawberry Walk, a B-boy dance lesson, and opportunities to meet friendly critters at the petting zoo. Other highlights include a bounce house, face painting, bike repair, and puppet-making. You’ll also want to…