Follow the Blue Bottle Coffee Cart

Ramblings of the Blue Bottle Coffee Cart How it rolled here, there, and back to where it started at the Temescal Farmers’ Market   By Cheryl Angelina Koehler Summer 2006: Rockridge and Temescal residents are in a swoon as Urban Village Farmers’ Market Association brings them their own neighborhood farmers’ market. There in Oakland’s DMV…

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Split Jaw • Split Pea

By Garth Grimball | Illustration by Jessica Caisse   “You know how I always say I’ve never met a soup I didn’t like?” It is remarkable how many stories my grandfather begins with this rhetorical question. The man lives for soup and talks about it at length to anyone, so much so that my family…

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Happy Acre Farm

Recipe for a Happy Acre Two young farmers, one selfie-loving mutt, and a baby in the broccoli crate By Cheryl Angelina Koehler Photos by Helena and Matthew Sylvester Recipe by Chef Anna Buss   Jump to recipe Farming as a vocation often calls to mind dire reports on the demise of the family enterprise and…

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Community Minded

Be In Community at East Bay Community Space and The Well   Visit two adjoining spots on Telegraph Avenue, East Bay Community Space and The Well CafĂ©, where you can enjoy affordable workshops and events and an impressive selection of teas, drinking chocolates, and gluten-free foods.   Want to take part in a curated tea…

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Favorite Fish Tacos of the East Bay

    What is it about fish tacos?   Our publisher can’t go anywhere that has fish tacos on the menu and not order them. “I love the way the fried batter and the sliced cabbage give two kinds of crunch, and that bit of spicy heat always makes my day,” she says, “however I’ve…

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Zucchini Noodle Salad with Peas, Radishes, and Romanesco

From What’s in Season?   Recipe by Barbara Kobsar | Illustration by Charmaine Koehler-Lodge   Serves 4–6 3 medium zucchini ½ cup chopped green onion 2 or 3 radishes, trimmed and sliced thinly 2 cups blanched Romanesco florets 1 cup English peas Dressing 1 cup cottage cheese (for a mild dressing) or 1 cup crumbled blue…

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Disposable-Free Dining

Berkeley takes another step forward in its commitment to reducing waste in our landfills   The City of Berkeley has taken its commitment to zero waste a step further, passing new legislation that changes the rules on throwaway cups, containers, and other disposable food ware. In late January, the Berkeley City Council gave a unanimous…

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Pelé Aveau’s Split Pea Soup with Ham

From the story Split Jaw • Split Pea  By Garth Grimball | Illustration by Jessica Caisse Serves 8 1 pound green split peas 2 tablespoons butter 1 medium onion, diced 1 large carrot, diced 2 celery stalks, diced Pinch of cayenne 1 tablespoon curry powder 3 sprigs thyme 1 bay leaf 2 quarts chicken stock…

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Prerna’s Roti

From Chicken Curry Day by Prerna Singh     Indian meals are never complete without roti or one of any number of other wonderful flatbreads. There are endless ways to make Indian flatbreads, and it mostly varies by region. For instance, soil in the southern part of India is very good for rice crops, so breads…

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Anna’s Kale-Arugula and Toasted Cashew Pesto

  Chef Anna Buss started her food journey on an educational farm in Israel, where she learned how to grow and cook with seasonal ingredients. On moving to the Bay Area, she worked as a farmers’ market chef for the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association and also for Frog Hollow Farm. A longtime member of…

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Benchmark Pizzeria Opens in Oakland

A Pizza Nerd Makes His Mark Peter Swanson’s Benchmark Pizzeria spawns a second location By Alix Wall | Photos by Kala Minko Melissa Swanson, Jennifer Moffitt, and Peter Swanson take charge of Benchmark’s new restaurant on the corner of Washington and Ninth in Old Oakland. Peter Swanson is a self-described pizza nerd. Through seven years…

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A MODERN TAKE ON PINOLE SEED CAKES

From Indigenous Food at CafĂ© Ohlone By Anna Mindess | Photos by Cynthia Matzger     “Our name for pinole in Chochenyo is muyyen,” says Vincent Medina. “It’s one of the first foods we’ve worked to learn about. A mixture of native seeds—chia, redmaid, amaranth, tarweed, etc.—it’s loved by our people in those old days, and that…

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Garden Allies

Friends, partners, collaborators, cohabitors . . . Grown together, plants can be more than the sum of their parts   By Joshua Burman Thayer  | Illustrations by Cheryl Angelina Koehler Did you know that plants form alliances? Like humans, plants do better when they associate with other plants for mutual benefit, such as to procreate,…

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What’s in Season?

Produce harvested at its peak is your sure bet for flavor and freshness. By Barbara Kobsar | Illustration by Charmaine Koehler-Lodge   February Dense in texture but mild in flavor, cauliflower offers endless possibilities in salads, pastas, soups, snacks, sauces, hummus, and even mac and cheese. We find it in a myriad of colors these…

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Editor’s Mixing Bowl

They say that appearances are everything, and that certainly goes for a magazine cover. In order to succeed, a print publication must quickly convince folks walking by to reach out and take a copy home for a closer look. In theory, a dog stepping up to announce the Spring 2019 issue of Edible East Bay…

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Source Guide Spring 2019

edible EAST BAY Source Guide Join our Edible East Bay community. Advertise and thrive. niki(AT)edibleeastbay.com 415.994.6595     Arts, Education, & Entertainment CALIFORNIA ARTISAN CHEESE FESTIVAL  Indulge yourself in Cheese Bliss. Tours March 16–24. Festival March 23–24 in Sonoma Wine Country. artisancheesefestival.com MRS DALLOWAY’S Full-service, indie neighborhood bookstore. Wide variety of garden books, cookbooks, and…

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Mad Science Mocktails & Miraculous Miracleberries

  Join the mad scientists at Counter Culture Labs in Oakland and learn to make liquid nitrogen ice cream, farm cheese, Fight Club soap, mad science mocktails, and more. Come for a full day of Valentine’s workshops or choose one or two favorites. Cost: $20 per workshop. See details and signup links below: Saturday February…

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Summer Starts

Gardener’s Notebook   Now is the time to sprout your summer crops from seed. In April and May when you purchase a $4 tomato or $3 pepper start, that plant was started from seed way back in February. The nursery worker who started it was thinking ahead to the vegetable-growing season, and you can too! …

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Put a Song in Your Heart

  Enjoy a delightful and intimate Valentine’s Day celebration at Alameda restaurant C’era Una Volta. With a Song in my Heart features songs about love and romance performed by four extraordinary singers. The evening starts with a four-course meal and wine, with a portion of the proceeds donated to the James Toland Vocal Arts, which…

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Explore Palestinian Food and Agriculture

Kristina’s Bookshelf Zaitoun: Recipes and Stories from the Palestinian Kitchen by Yasmin Khan (W.W. Norton, 2019) Yasmin Khan describes herself as an adventurous eater. She’s also a human rights activist whose work took her to Palestine, where she explored the food and agriculture of the region and visited the kitchens of Palestinian cooks. She describes…

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Truffle Time

  Celebrate Alice Medrich and Bay Area chocolatiers as you indulge in luscious samples and find gifts for Valentine’s Day. Taste confections, bars, and truffles from Charles Chocolates, Lonohana Estate Chocolate, Barlovento Chocolates, Humphry Slocombe, Dick Taylor Chocolate, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co., Laura Chenel Cheese, Dandelion Chocolate, and Alexandre Family Farm.  Alice Medrich will be signing books,…

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Celebrating Black Farmers through Film

  Join Pollinate Farm & Garden and Farms to Grow, Inc. for the third annual Black Hands in the Soil, an evening of film about the legacy of Black farming in the United Sates and around the world. The evening’s feature documentary, 40 Acres and a Mule, details the early struggles of Black farmers in the…

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Learn to Prepare Vietnamese Dishes in Your Own Kitchen

Kristina’s Bookshelf   Vietnamese Food Any Day: Simple Recipes for True, Fresh Flavors Andrea Nguyen (Ten Speed Press, 2019)   Bay Area food writer and cookbook author Andrea Nguyen (Into the Vietnamese Kitchen, The Banh Mi Handbook, The Pho Cookbook, Asian Dumplings, and Asian Tofu) was born in Vietnam and came to the United States from Saigon as a…

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Get the Scoop on Sustainable Food and Farming

Join this gathering of farmers, ranchers, food experts, and homesteaders for Sierra Harvest’s annual Sustainable Food and Farm Conference. You’ll learn about best practices, tour area farms, and get ideas for enhancing your home garden, farm, or food business. Participants craft their own curriculum, choosing from 20 workshops including fire preparedness, seasonal meal planning, basic and emergency…

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Squash for Dessert!?

Kabocha Squash Crème Caramel Recipe by Anaviv’s Table Chef Kadie Vita   The chefs at Anaviv’s Table relish each season for the unique produce that becomes available. So if winter is making you feel a little blue, Chef Kadie Vita has the perfect antidote, this delicious Kabocha Squash Crème Caramel. Kabocha, a Japanese winter squash,…

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Nik Sharma Visits Market Hall

  Come meet Nik Sharma, San Francisco Chronicle food columnist and author of the blog A Brown Table, at Market Hall on February 2. You can get a signed copy of his first book, Season: Big Flavors, Beautiful Food, and have a chance to taste some of the book’s recipes like Curry Leaf Popcorn Chicken; Deviled Eggs with…

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Spark Joy in Your Fridge

  Organizing guru Marie Kondo is bringing mindfulness to cluttered closets around the world, but we have yet to see her tackle a refrigerator. It’s not for lack of opportunity—a fridge shelf packed with foods in various stages of freshness isn’t all that different from the messy closet drawers Kondo loves to purge, and her…

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Protect your Topsoil Through the Winter

Gardener’s Notebook   Pelting rains, driving winds, and what looks like a creek flowing through your backyard. These winter storms make it hard to remember that just a few months ago, Northern California was up in flames and blackened by smoke. The challenge now is to protect your soil and give it a bit of…

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Do You Love Cheese?

If so, start planning now for California’s premier cheese event, the California Artisan Cheese Festival. Seminar presenters have just been announced and include Planet Cheese author Janet Fletcher; cheese expert Juliana Uruburu; American Cheese Society Certified Cheese Professionals Vanessa Chang and Rachel Perez; Cheese Twins and Food Network celebrities Charlie and Michael Kalish; and co-founder of Culture Magazine Lassa Skinner. Seminar topics…

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Swaptime for Gardeners

Scion: A detached living portion of a plant—such as a bud or shoot—that can be grafted onto rootstock to create a new plant that joins the strength of the rootstock with the desired characteristics of the scion. Gardeners interested in having heirloom varieties of fruit growing in their yard do this sort of grafting.  At…

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Great Deals, Memorable Meals

  Explore Oakland’s booming food scene during Restaurant Week, when eateries throughout the city offer prix-fixe lunch and/or dinner menus. You’ll find tasty meals for $10, $20, $30, $40, and $50 at spots like Benchmark Oakland, Clove & Hoof, Nido, Reem’s, Lake Chalet, and many other places. New this year: Enjoy interactive dining experiences where…

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Make 2019 the Year You Don’t Let Food Go to Waste

“If you haven’t chosen a New Year’s resolution yet, I recommend a commitment to waste less food,” says Xouhoa Bowen, founder of Community Impact Lab in San Leandro. Like most of us, Xouhoa found herself frequently throwing out food that had spoiled—until she took the Stop Food Waste Challenge to find out how much of her…

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Start Your New Year on an Organic Farm

What’s winter like on an organic farm? Come find out by helping with seasonal chores at Cloverfield Farm in El Sobrante. Learn new skills as you assist with grape pruning, dormant fruit tree spraying, blackberry clearing, seed starting, and vegetable transplanting. Activities are offered for all ages and abilities. Wear work clothes, sun hat, and…

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We’re Angling for the Best Fish Tacos:

What’s Your Favorite?     When you get that fish taco craving, where in the East Bay do you head? Artist Margo Rivera-Weiss is mapping readers’ picks. Send us an email [editor@edibleeastbay.com] or post your favorite fish taco spot where we can find it on  Instagram (use #eebfishtaco in your post), Twitter, or Facebook.

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Vegan Holiday Cooking

Kristina’s Bookshelf   Christmas holidays are filled with delicious foods like cheeses, roast beasts, grilled fishes, and desserts rich with butter. In short, typically not a lot of vegan fare. Three new books are stuffed full of delightful, creative vegan dishes to keep you covered for both big festive meals and casual at-home cooking.  …

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Sow a Cover Crop

Gardener’s Notebook   Too many holiday visitors hanging around the house? Get the team outside to tend the earth in a family affirmation of healthy food! December is prime time for planting an edible ground cover to nourish and protect your soil and also create some good food for the table. By planting these easy-to-sow cover…

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Mercado Latinx Pops Up in Jack London Square

  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…

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Winter Open House at Buena Vista Wood

  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…

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Simple Goodness from Local Author Cal Peternell

Kristina’s Bookshelf Almonds, Anchovies, and Pancetta: A Vegetarian Cookbook, Kind Of by Cal Peternell (William Morrow, 2018)   Looking for a charming little gift book or ideas for simple meals during the holidays? The latest release by Chez Panisse chef and devoted home cook Cal Peternell has 60 recipes that rely on three ingredients: almonds,…

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How to Donate Food from Catered Events

  At this time of year, holiday festivities abound—and with them an abundance of food, sometimes more than guests can eat. If you’re hosting a catered event at home or work, plan ahead for the donation of any trays of extra food with these tips from StopFoodWaste.org.   At least a few days before the event,…

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Holiday Pop-Up Shop

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.…

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Crazy for Crafts?

    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…

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Donate a Box!

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…

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Inspiration From the Farm

Kristina’s Bookshelf   Earth to Table Every Day: Cooking with Good Ingredients Through the Seasons By Jeff Crump and Bettina Schormann (Penguin Random House, 2018)   Quick Bite: Slow Food advocates and chefs share 140 basic, seasonal recipes for everyday cooking that rely on easily-available produce.   What Looks Good: Apple and Walnut Salad with Radicchio;…

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What’s at Your Farmers’ Market this Week?

Our publisher/editor Cheryl Angelina Koehler sent this photo from last Saturday’s farmers’ market in Chico, a city in California’s northern farm country that’s been much in the news lately due to the tragedies wrought by the Camp Fire. Cheryl goes there each quarter to help Edible Shasta-Butte publisher Candace Byrne get her magazine to press, and the…

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Bondolio Olive Farm Welcomes Rolando Beramendi

  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…

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Shop Your Community: Check Out Your Local Farmers’ Markets!

    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…

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Food Shift Marks Seven Years

  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…

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Carrot Top Salsa Verde with Roasted Root Vegetables

Perfect for a winter day, this side dish pairs starchy roasted root veggies with a savory fresh herb sauce made from the carrot tops, adding a new dimension of flavor and making use of the whole vegetable.   Salsa Verde   3 tablespoons capers, drained 2 whole cloves garlic, peeled 5 anchovy fillets (optional) Tops…

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Tend Your Soil

Gardener’s Notebook  As you clear out your fall tomato beds, take a little time to give some love to your garden’s soil. Then seed in some fava and garlic to grow through the winter months.   Safety First If you’re preparing a new growing space at your East Bay home, you might want to bring…

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Portion Planning Made Easy 

When family and friends roll in for the big Thanksgiving dinner, it’s sometimes hard to gauge how much food you’ll need to keep your guests full and happy. That’s where the handy Guest-imator comes in, developed by Save The Food. Plug in the number of eaters you expect, make some menu choices, and voila! There’s your…

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Teaching Kids About Local Food Systems

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,…

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Make it Tasty, Make it Flaky!

  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…

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Seasonal Inspiration

Kristina’s Bookshelf Ciderhouse Cookbook: 127 Recipes That Celebrate the Sweet, Tart, Tangy Flavors of Apple Cider By Jonathan Carr, Nicole Blum and Andrea Blum (Storey Publishing, 2018) Inside: A family of cider makers shares 127 recipes for dishes that incorporate cider in creative ways. Pantry basics like cider syrup, molasses, quick pickles, and vinegar add flavor…

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Top Cap Mushrooms

It all started with a shiitake mushroom fascination. At the time, Morgan Proctor and Greg Olson both had administrative positions in urban offices and were living in a small space in Oakland with no outdoor area for plants. Given their shared interests in nature, nutrition, and gardening, and after being wait-listed at a community garden,…

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César Turns Twenty

Hail CĂ©sar Twenty Years in the Heart of the Gourmet Ghetto By James Mellgren | Photos by Cherie Azzopardi CĂ©sar, the popular Berkeley tapas bar, turned 20 years old this year. In human years, that isn’t old enough for CĂ©sar to order one of its own cocktails, but it’s a significant milestone nevertheless in the…

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DIY Herbal Gifts

Homespun Herbal Gifts for the Holiday Season Story, Recipes, and Photos By Anna Marie Beauchemin Clinical Herbalist, East Bay Herbals Herbal medicine is an age-old tradition steeped in the belief that the plants and foods around us hold medicinal value. It embodies the concept that the natural world is integral to our wellness, and that…

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Recipes for an East Bay Lunar New Year

Recipes by Carolyn Phillips Illustrations by Margo Rivera-Weiss Last February, Edible East Bay staff illustrator Margo Rivera-Weiss helped friends Ruth and Michael Chen usher in the Year of the Dog as they made jiao tze (or jiaozi) according to an old recipe they carry around in their heads. Anticipating the approach of the Year of…

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Anaviv’s Table Opens in Richmond

Arnon Oren at the entrance to his catering kitchen, now moonlighting as Anaviv’s Table. Richmond Flowers at Anaviv’s Table This new dining spot offers elegant food in a surprising setting By Alix Wall | Photos by Stacy Ventura   Most guests at this dinner party didn’t previously know each other, yet the conversation flows with the…

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Salt Cod & Potato Cazuela

From CĂ©sar Turns Twenty by James Mellgren with photos by Cherie Azzopardi Recipe reprinted with permission from CĂ©sar: Recipes from a Tapas Bar by James Mellgren and Olivier Said, Ten Speed Press, 2003 This is one of the oldest dishes on the CĂ©sar menu. It has garnered legions of fans, and the few times it has…

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Local Delivery by Piikup

MEET PIIKUP the local company that brings our magazines to you It was a very hot day at the O2AA West Oakland Artisans Festival in June 2017, but a stroke of luck landed our Edible East Bay booth next to the Civil Pops cart. Those deliciously healthy, Oakland youth–made, frozen-fruit treats were drawing a steady…

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Source Guide Winter Holidays 2018

Arts, Education, & Entertainment ECOLOGY CENTER Building a sustainable, healthy, and just future through farmers’ markets, education, curbside recycling, and advocacy. 2530 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley. 510.548.2220. ecologycenter.org FRINGE FLOWER COMPANY  Seasonal, locally sourced, farm fresh flowers for daily delivery and special celebrations. 1489 Newell Ave, Walnut Creek. fringeflowers.com KITCHEN ON FIRE Award winning cooking…

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Savory Winter Vegetable Cobbler from Anaviv’s Table

From Anaviv’s Table Opens in Richmond  by Alix Wall, photos by Stacy Ventura Serves 6–8 Filling 2 cups medium-diced butternut squash (peel before dicing) 2 cups medium-diced celery root (peel before dicing) 1 cup medium-diced purple daikon radish 1 medium red onion, diced 1 large fennel bulb, diced 1 cup shredded chanterelles (or other wild mushrooms) 1 teaspoon minced…

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Editor’s Mixing Bowl

Anticipation is a word I easily associate with the approach of the holiday season. It’s that wistful feeling from childhood, when we scribbled our names in catalogs next to pictures of toys as little voices in our excited dreaming heads called out to our parents to bestow these things upon us. I always drew two…

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Japanese Vegan Hot Pot

From Top Cap Mushrooms: Story, photos and recipes by Rezel Kealoha Hot pot is a great way to entertain a group on a cold winter’s night. If you are unfamiliar with the tradition, here’s how it’s done: Each guest at the table has a small soup bowl set on a plate with chopsticks, soupspoon, and…

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Herby Lion’s Mane Farmers’ Market Tacos

From Top Cap Mushrooms: Story, photos and recipes by Rezel Kealoha Serves 2 For the plates: 4 tortillas 2–3 tablespoons plain hummus (or garlic and chive flavor, if you can find it) 2–3 tablespoons pickled ginger Handful of baby arugula Handful of fresh herbs (parsley, mint, and chives make a good combination) Lime wedges For…

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An Edible Hedgerow in the City

An Edible Hedgerow in the City By Joshua Burman Thayer “Thrush in a Fig Tree” illustration by Rigel Stuhmiller In our densely packed urban areas, space is at a premium. Courtyards, corridors, driveways, and narrow strips along property lines can seem lost for gardening use, but there are strategies for filling those zones with plants…

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Gailan with Oyster Sauce (haoyou jielan) from All Under Heaven

  Illustrations by Margo Rivera-Weiss Recipe by Carolyn Phillips Farmers grow what their land and the market will support, so in diverse California, that means plenty of traditional Asian produce. The Old Oakland Friday market is particularly known for its wide selection of Asian vegetables, which home cooks with a working knowledge of Asian culinary…

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New Opportunities for Home Cooks

The Future of Food is … Home Cooked? A new California law legalizes sales of home-cooked food, bringing new food experiences and meaningful economic opportunities By Jaspal S. Sandhu | illustrations by Lila Rubenstein DĂ­a de los Muertos signals the start of high season for tamales. On a recent Tuesday morning, I’m driving along East…

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Ready Set Reuse!

Nohemi Perez, co-owner of Ed’s Cheesesteak, packed this BLT in a GO Box for Paul Liotsakis, who launched GO Box in the Bay Area. Ed’s Cheesesteak is a GO Box vendor and also serves as Oakland’s wash site for the boxes. GO Box brings reusable take-out containers to Oakland By Rachel Trachten Photos by Cheryl…

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Cooking with Gratitude

Cherishing What We Have and Wasting Less Around the world, feasts of gratitude for a good harvest are among the oldest traditions, marked by a rest from working the fields and plentiful meals. An abundance of food is at the center of our Thanksgiving celebrations as well, yet few of us have a deep connection…

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Near Breton

Far Breton Recipe and photo by Debbra Mikaelsen Although there is often a stack of cookbooks on my nightstand for bedtime reading, much of my food curiosity comes from fiction. I first heard of Far Breton when a character in Kate Atkinson’s latest novel fondly recalled the dish. A Google search led to David Lebovitz’s…

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Witty Tunes for Foodie Families

Songs about liver, ten thousand pancakes, and eating worms? Absolutely! These are just a few of the topics Gunnar Madsen covers in his 2018 Parents’ Choice Awards Gold Medal–winning CD, I Am Your Food. Kids and kids-at-heart will appreciate the singer-songwriter’s charming, catchy tunes and clever, sometimes poetic, lyrics. Chew on this: “Liver, it’s the…

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Small Press, Big Pig, Clever Hen

In the world of book publishing, small presses can introduce and take chances on new authors. They can publish smaller runs of books that may not, at least at first, draw a large audience, as well as shorter books that experiment with form and offer content that might be viewed risky by larger publishing houses.…

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Less Plastic, More Beeswax

  Story by Rachel Trachten Lily Rockholt demonstrates melting the beeswax by ironing. The cloth is ready to use after ironing and cooling.   “Use less plastic” was the rallying cry for those attending the Ecology Center’s workshop on making a beeswax-cloth food wrap. Lily Rockholt, the Ecology Center’s events coordinator, led a group through…

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Barbara’s Mandarin, Fennel, & Avocado Salad

6 mandarin oranges, peeled and sliced crosswise into ÂĽ-inch rounds ½ fennel bulb, thinly sliced (reserve fronds for garnish) 2 avocados, peeled, pitted, and sliced 1 small shallot, peeled and thinly sliced ÂĽ cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons champagne vinegar Salt and fresh ground black pepper Divide orange slices between 4 salad plates. Layer…

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What’s in Season?

Produce harvested at its peak is your sure bet for flavor and freshness. By Barbara Kobsar | Illustration by Charmaine Koehler-Lodge November Root vegetables like beets, parsnips, turnips, horseradish, daikon, radishes, and potatoes are the market stars this month. So are sweet potatoes, which come in two main types: The golden-skinned, pale-fleshed varieties tend to…

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Build Your Resistance to Colds and Flu

  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…

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Turn Your Olives Into Olive Oil

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.…

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Jam On at Holiday Craft Fairs

  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…

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Hazelnut Buckwheat Crisps

From the story Baking Up a Sweet Career From Scratch by Samantha Nobles-Block These thin, snappy, nutty cookies are perfect with coffee or as an after-dinner treat paired with dark chocolate. Note: For accuracy, bakers like to measure their dry ingredients in grams. A kitchen scale can help you achieve success with this and other recipes.…

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Thrills, Chills, and Farm Animals in Temescal

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…

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Keep Democracy Alive

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…

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Irresistible Olives

Mark the start of the olive harvest by watching the SĂ©ka 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 SĂ©ka Hills Tasting Room owned and run by Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. The…

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BBQ Pros Go Mano a Mano

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…

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Explore the Flavors of the Islamic World

Feast: Food of the Islamic World by Anissa Helou (Ecco, 2018)   Anissa Helou has lived and traveled extensively throughout the Mediterranean region and the Middle East, and she has written several cookbooks on cuisine from the area. Her latest effort, more than 500 pages, is perhaps the most extensive yet. It features breads, rice…

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Hop on the Harvest Fun at City Slicker Farms

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  …

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Apples, Pumpkins, and Costume Parades 

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…

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Fall Planting Guide

Gardener’s Notebook by Joshua Burman Thayer As the days shorten and the stress of the sun lessens, we’re in a prime window for planting perennial evergreen species that can provide your household with edible abundance. That window stays open from early October until the third or fourth day of our first big storm, when the…

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Fiber Arts Come to Berkeley Hort

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…

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Whoopie Pies

Recipe excerpted from Rose’s Baking Basics © 2018 by Rose Levy Beranbaum. Photography © 2018 by Matthew Septimus. Reproduced by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved. (Adapted by Edible East Bay.) WHOOPIE PIES This recipe is said to have originated in the Pennsylvania Dutch country. Although it is called “pie,” it is actually…

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A Baking Master Teaches the Basics

  Rose’s Baking Basics: 100 Essential Recipes, with more than 600 Step-by-Step Photos by Rose Levy Beranbaum (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, September 2018) Anyone with a sweet tooth, take note! Rose Levy Beranbaum, who has been baking for nearly 40 years and teaching others along the way, has a new cookbook that’s an excellent everything-you-need-to-know baking…

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Family Fun at Two Olive Festivals

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…

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Oakland Spirits Beckon

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…

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Bring on the Pumpkins!

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 DĂ­a De Los Muertos, especially timed with favorite staff movie Coco. Events vary each…

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Build Strength in Community at the Gill Tract Farm

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…

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Enter a World of Saffron, Rose Petals, and Family Stories

  Bottom of the Pot: Persian Recipes and Stories By Naz Deravian (Flatiron Books, September 2018) In Bottom of the Pot, Naz Deravian, a Los Angeles-based writer and home cook, shares her world of saffron, rose petals, pistachios, dried limes, tamarind, memories, music, and poetry to introduce over 100 recipes. She describes the book as “a…

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Emeryville Spotlights the Arts

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…

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Cookies & Beer, Together at Last

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…

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Candidates’ Forum Focuses on Food

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,…

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Feel the September Heat

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…

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A Recipe for Cocktail Week

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…

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Get Behind the Wheel!

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…

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Dinner Theater Gets Naughty

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.…

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Eat Real Turns Ten

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…

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Art, Arbor, and Architecture

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…

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Honey Heaven

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…

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Art in the Nursery

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…

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A New Look at Soul Classics

  SOUL: A Chef’s Culinary Evolution in 150 Recipes By Todd Richards (Oxmoor House, May 2018) Soul, a terrific new cookbook by self-taught James Beard Award–nominated Chef Todd Richards, is great inspiration for making use of the colorful abundance of late summer and early fall produce in markets right now. Richards’ mantra is that chefs…

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Climate Friendly Cuisine for Pros

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,…

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A Flavorful Dish for the High Holidays:

Braised Chicken Thighs with Almonds & Honey Recipe by Sandy Sonnenfelt, courtesy of Market Hall Foods. Food styling & photography by Asha Loupy, courtesy of Market Hall Foods. During the Jewish High Holidays, treat your family and friends to a chicken dish rich in North African and Spanish flavors. Sandy Sonnenfelt, Market Hall Foods’ director of…

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Rockridge Fun Spills Out to the Streets

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…

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Relish the Flavors of the Sierra Nevada

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…

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Try a Bumblebee and a Great White. Stand in Awe of the Giant Pumpkins!

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…

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Meet the Local Wild Cherry

Meet a Local Wild Cherry: Prunus ilicifolia On a recent stroll along the north bank of the Carquinez Strait in Benicia, I came upon a California native plant loaded up with edible cherry-like fruits. Prunus ilicifolia, aka hollyleaf cherry, evergreen cherry, or simply California wild cherry, was called islay by California’s Salinan tribespeople. The Salinans…

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Here’s to Oakland!

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…

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Calling Chalk Artists and Chocolate Lovers

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…

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Raise a Glass in the Livermore Valley 

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…

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Say No to Plastic and Yes to Beeswax!

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…

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Baking Inspiration from the Garden

Kristina’s Bookshelf Sticky Fingers, Green Thumb: Baked Sweets that Taste of Nature By Hayley McKee (Hardie Grant Books, 2018) I love earthy recipes that let you pick your ingredients directly from the garden. Flowers, herbs, and edible plants abound in Hayley McKee’s cookbook, looking like they were just brought in from the yard (as they probably…

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Let Them Eat … Brioche!

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…

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It’s an Apples and Hops Garden Party

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…

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Source Guide Fall 2018

Arts, Education & Entertainment BAUMAN COLLEGE  Nutrition Consultant and Natural Chef training programs encompass the revolutionary ideas and scientific approach to nutrition. baumancollege.org EAST BAY WALDORF SCHOOL  Where Children Thrive. Located 20 minutes from Berkeley at 3800 Clark Rd, El Sobrante. eastbaywaldorf.org EMERYVILLE CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS  Gala opening on October 5. Exhibition runs October 6–28. emeryarts.org…

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Asian Vegetable Seeds

Autumn in the Kitazawa Test Garden Story by Helen Krayenhoff | Photos by Scott Peterson Meet Maya Shiroyama, current owner of Kitazawa Seed Company. Established in Oakland in 1917, Kitazawa specializes in seeds for traditional Asian vegetables and also introduces newly bred varieties for home gardeners and commercial growers. Seed producers spend years trialing and…

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MariLark Heirloom Tomato Risotto

From: A New Take on Giving Away the Farm By Rachel Trachten   One day as Costello was touring the garden at the French Laundry in Yountville, a worker gave him a few of their tomato plants. Charlie saved the seeds to share the plants with others. He calls these beauties “Red Laundry.” (Photo by…

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Feed Your Soil With Compost

While fall may be the best season to savor local fruits and vegetables, it’s also a great time to plant them. Thanks to a mild Mediterranean climate, East Bay gardeners can grow and harvest fresh produce all winter long. When planting your winter garden, make it thrive by feeding your soil with compost. Compost boosts…

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Is Dinner Hiding in Your Fridge?

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…

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Berkeley’s First Little Herb & Spice Shop

  When Jim Murdock opened his first Lhasa Karnak location on Earth Day 1970, it was just a little store within Shambhala Books in the heart of Berkeley’s hippie haven on Telegraph Avenue. The concept was popular enough that he soon opened his own storefront down the street. Standing behind the counter at his spiffy…

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A Sharp Couple

Bernal Cutlery and Clove & Hoof By Kristina Sepetys | Photos by Scott Peterson Bernal Cutlery, the beloved San Francisco culinary knife shop, has opened an outpost in Oakland right next door to Clove & Hoof Butchery and Restaurant. The location isn’t accidental. Josh Donald, owner of Bernal Cutlery and author of Sharp: The Definitive…

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Editor’s Mixing Bowl

T he slightly gritty feel of the paring knife cutting through the skin of a perfectly ripe avocado … the oily-smooth resistance while twisting the halves apart … two buttery-green surfaces revealed … a drizzle of peppery extra-virgin olive oil, a sprinkle of fleur de sel, and you have a great-but-simple moment to celebrate. It comes…

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Quince Candy and Syrup

From the story Baking Up a Sweet Career From Scratch by Samantha Nobles-Block Quince has lots of pectin, which makes this apple-like fruit a natural fit for candy making. Once you get comfortable with the recipe for these sparkly treats, get creative by adding a chopped apple or beet or any other variation that sounds appealing.…

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How Marykate McGoldrick Found Her Baking Groove

Baking Up a Sweet Career From Scratch Pastry chef Marykate McGoldrick’s path to Camino and beyond By Samantha Nobles-Block Photos by Cayce Clifford One spring evening in 2010, a 37-year-old public school teacher named Marykate McGoldrick welcomed three San Francisco restaurateurs into her tiny Oakland apartment. The Lee brothers, owners of Namu Gaji and Namu…

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Who’s Hungry for Change?

During trying times, despair can gnaw at you. And yet, in the face of all that is difficult, monstrous, odious, unfair, and unjust in this country, it is also true that there are many citizens doing their level best to make a difference in their communities and beyond in the face of great odds. One…

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Sharing the Bounty at MariLark Farms

A New Take on Giving Away the Farm By Rachel Trachten Charlie Costello wants to give you free tomato plants and teach you to save seeds. Last year, Costello gave 400 tomato plants to East Bay gardeners for their schools, urban farms, and homes. This year, he’s on track to share just as many, or…

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Avocado Adventure Chetwyn Farm

Avocado Adventure in Zone 16 Living the green dream at Hayward’s Chetwyn Farm BY CHERYL ANGELINA KOEHLER | PHOTOS BY EMMA NAJARIAN The tumbledown 1890s-era farm tucked into a barely accessible fold in the hills above Hayward was one of those properties real estate agents feel reluctant to show. In spite of its proximity to…

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Oakland Cocktail Week

Week of September 15–23 Cheers to Oakland’s Low-ABV Cocktail Crafters (and all the rest) At the dawn of the contemporary craft cocktail age in the early aughts, San Francisco swiftly became Northern California’s darling of the scene, with bars like Bourbon & Branch and Trick Dog gaining national recognition as top drinking destinations. Oakland wasn’t…

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MK Gold Bakery Huckleberry Tart

From the story Baking Up a Sweet Career From Scratch by Samantha Nobles-Block Foragers with an eye on their secret huckleberry patch or anyone lucky enough to find farmed huckleberries at a farmers’ market will want to try this luscious tart. No huckleberries? Try it with blueberries or blackberries, which we did for this photo shot…

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MK Gold Bakery Rye Ginger Cake

From the story Baking Up a Sweet Career From Scratch by Samantha Nobles-Block Deep, dark, rich, and spicy with the heat of ginger. Use the darkest organic molasses and brown sugar you can find. Yields one 9-inch cake ½ cup sugar ½ cup dark brown sugar, packed 1 cup grapeseed oil or rice bran oil 1…

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Hazelnut Buckwheat Crisps

From the story Baking Up a Sweet Career From Scratch by Samantha Nobles-Block These thin, snappy, nutty cookies are perfect with coffee or as an after-dinner treat paired with dark chocolate. Note: For accuracy, bakers like to measure their dry ingredients in grams. A kitchen scale can help you achieve success with this and other recipes.…

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Wine Words

Digging Deep on Terroir Book review by Derrick Schneider Wine and Place: A Terroir Reader By Tim Patterson and John Buechsenstein UC Press, January 2018 People who have pursued fine wine are probably conversant in terroir, the French word that connects a food’s flavors to a place of origin, even if only to notice the…

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Hooked on Cult Crackers

Crunchy, Seedy, and a Little Bit Cult-y Swedish cracker culture comes to Berkeley Story and photos by Anna Mindess As a kid growing up in Malmö, Sweden, Birgitta Durell took knäckebröd (crispbread) for granted. These mostly rye-based  crackers are eaten there daily, paired with everything from pickled herring to lingonberry jam. Many Swedes still make…

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Toasted Walnut and Beet Dip

By Barbara Kobsar | Illustration by Charmaine Koehler-Lodge ½ pound beets, roasted and peeled (see What”s in Season?) 1 cup walnut pieces or halves 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 1 teaspoon minced garlic 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil Salt and pepper to taste Spread walnut pieces on a baking sheet…

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Contents Fall Harvest 2018

RECIPES Barbara Kobsar’s Walnut & Beet Dip MariLark Farms’ Tomato Risotto MK Gold Bakery Buckwheat Madeleines MK Gold Bakery Berry Tart MK Gold Bakery Rye Ginger Cake MK Gold Bakery Hazelnut Crisps MK Gold Bakery Quince Candy Easiest Chicken Curry Ever EXPLORE Events at Ardenwood Historic Farm Source Guide Guide to Good Eats Ongoing Edible Events Upcoming Edible…

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Almanac Beer Co.

Fruit Forward Almanac brings California beer terroir to Alameda By Derrick Peterman Soon after they met at a home brewing club in San Francisco, Jesse Friedman and Damian Fagan discovered they shared a novel approach to brewing: Both were experimenting with ingredients from the farmers’ market. “We tried lots of different fruits, and in some…

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What’s in Season?

Produce harvested at its peak is your sure bet for flavor and freshness. By Barbara Kobsar | Illustration by Charmaine Koehler-Lodge PEARS It’s pear season! One of the earliest European-variety pears to arrive at market is the Bartlett, easily recognized by its bell shape, semi-soft flesh, and yellow-to-red skin color. The green-skinned d’Anjou; small, sweet…

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Food Shift

Catering with a Conscience Your next catered meal could have surprising ripple effects. Food Shift has expanded its campaign against food waste by branching out into catering, offering tasty meals that provide local jobs while keeping food out of the landfill. Food Shift collects surplus fruits and veggies from Imperfect Produce and the San Francisco…

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MK Gold Bakery Buckwheat Madeleines

From the story Baking Up a Sweet Career From Scratch by Samantha Nobles-Block Madeleines are best eaten the day they are made, so make some tea or coffee and invite friends over to help you enjoy them. Black cardamom, smoky and floral, is lovely here (if you can find it), but green cardamom is delicious as…

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Source Guide Fall 2018

Arts, Education & Entertainment BAUMAN COLLEGE  Nutrition Consultant and Natural Chef training programs encompass the revolutionary ideas and scientific approach to nutrition. baumancollege.org EAST BAY WALDORF SCHOOL  Where Children Thrive. Located 20 minutes from Berkeley at 3800 Clark Rd, El Sobrante. eastbaywaldorf.org EMERYVILLE CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS  Gala opening on October 5. Exhibition runs October 6–28. emeryarts.org…

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Guide to Good Eats Fall 2018

Alameda C’era Una Volta 1332 Park St 510.769.4828 ceraunavolta.us Tuscan cuisine and seafood specialties in a European setting with additional outdoor seating. Recognized by L’Associazione Cuochi Fiorentini. Dinner and weekend brunch. Catering available. Julie’s Coffee & Tea Garden 1223 Park St 510.865.2385 juliestea.com Alameda’s one-of-a-kind spot for coffee, tea, herbal tonics, wholesome eats, and tea…

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Meet the O2 Artisans Aggregate

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 &…

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Get Dirty on a Local Organic Farm

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…

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Stone Fruits and Family Farms

Kristina’s Bookshelf Earlier this summer, I joined my friend Victoria for her annual pilgrimage to Wolfe Ranch in Brentwood, where she goes for Blenheim apricots. Located 40 minutes from Berkeley down a winding country road and across a small bridge, this family-owned orchard sells apricots, cherries, peaches, plums, and other fruits. The sunny morning we visited the quiet, bucolic…

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Tomato Time in the Capay Valley

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…

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Farmers’ Market Cocktails at Jack London Square

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…

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Sip, Sample, and Stroll

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.…

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Livermore Tasting Adventures

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…

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1951 Coffee Hosts Holocaust Refugee Sylvia Ruth Gutmann

Author and Holocaust survivor Sylvia Ruth Gutmann speaks at 1951 Coffee, a cafĂ© 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.…

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 It’s Hawaii July on Treasure Island

Come spend the day on Treasure Island, where this month’s Treasure Fest theme is Hawaii July. You’ll find terrific food, beverages, crafts, and antiques, including Hawaiian dishes, refreshing tropical cocktails, vintage tiki kitchenware, and Hawaiian apparel. DIY workshops, kids’ games, and entertainment keep the whole family engaged. Pets are welcome and parking is free. Admission:…

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Kristina’s Bookshelf

Buzz: The Nature and Necessity of Bees by Thor Hanson (Basic Books, 2018) Bees provide honey, contribute to the beauty of flowers, and supply as much as a third of the foodstuffs we eat. But they’re also at risk of disappearing. This is the topic of concern that Dr. Thor Hanson, a Guggenheim Fellow, Switzer Environmental Fellow, and award-winning…

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For the Love of Avocados…Keep them Fresher, Longer

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…

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Plant for the Future with Edible Hedges

Gardener’s Notebook Do you have a property line with nothing growing on the border or an annoying view of a road or apartment building? Plant for the future by installing an edible hedge. Pineapple Guava Originally from Brazil, pineapple guava (Feijoa sellowiana) brings together two valuable qualities: It’s tropical and also quite drought tolerant. This…

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Kids in the Kitchen

Kristina’s Bookshelf New Favorites for New Cooks: 50 Delicious Recipes for Kids to Make By Carolyn Federman (Ten Speed Press, 2018) A new cookbook by Berkeley native Carolyn Federman might provide just the support you need to get your children busy in the kitchen. Federman has had a long tenure in food education, consulting on…

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Jam On!

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,…

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Fruit-Growers Delight

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…

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Art is in Bloom at Alden Lane Nursery 

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…

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Bon Appétit!

Come celebrate Bastille Day with all things dĂ©licieuses, 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…

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Love the Planet! Go Plastic-free in July

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…

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Did You Forget What’s in Your Refrigerator?

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…

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Bryant Terry

Afro-Vegan: Farm-Fresh African, Caribbean & Southern Flavors Remixed by Bryant Terry (Ten Speed Press, 2014). The chef, food justice activist and author of Vegan Soul Kitchen and The Inspired Vegan reworks and remixes some favorite ingredients and classic dishes of the African Diaspora to present more than 100 delicious new recipes. Notes include Terry’s insights…

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Black Women, Food, and Publishing

Kristina’s Bookshelf Last December, chef and writer Tunde Wey published an essay in the San Francisco Chronicle titled “Black Women Are the Future of the Food Industry.” The piece generated a lot of conversation and inspired the upcoming event, “Black Women, Food, and Publishing.” Oakland resident and vegan chef/ author Bryant Terry will moderate a…

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Why Does the Farm Bill Matter?

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.

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Solstice Garden

Gardening at the Solstice We have arrived at the summer solstice, the time of year when daylight lasts the longest and the sun is as far north as she gets. Here are some ways to transition your plants from spring to summer growth. In North America, the month following summer solstice (which in 2018 was…

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Over the Moon for Olive Oil

Come taste a variety of California extra-virgin olive oils and learn how to choose, use, and store them. Tastings take place in Market Hall’s Berkeley and Oakland stores through the end of June and offer special pricing and prize giveaways. Pacific Sun award-winning oils are featured on Saturday, June 29. Info: here Market Hall Foods…

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Calling All Cyclists Who Love to Eat Local!

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…

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Herbal Self-Care  

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…

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Shop Your Fridge First

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…

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Time to Clean Out Those Cupboards!

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.…

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A Big Pig and a Small Press

Kristina’s Bookshelf In the world of book publishing, small presses provide a valuable alternative to large corporate publishing houses. With less overhead, small presses can introduce and take chances on new authors and publish smaller runs on books that may not, at least at first, have a large audience or generate a lot of revenue.…

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Go Buggy in the Garden

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.…

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CoCo San Sustainable Farm

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,…

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Sip & Sail on the Bay

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…

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Look Sharp

Kristina’s Bookshelf Sharp: The Definitive Guide to Knives, Knife Care, and Cutting Techniques, with Recipes from Great Chefs By Josh Donald (with Molly Gore), photography by Molly DeCoudreaux Chronicle Books, 2018 Experienced cooks will tell you that good knives are fundamental to good cooking, and that’s certainly a message at Bernal Cutlery, a much-loved shop in…

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Happy Birthday CUESA!

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,…

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Save Those Seeds

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…

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Summer Sampler Workshops

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…

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Love Salad?

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…

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Growing Moringa

Gardener’s Notebook By Joshua Burman Thayer Moringa Can Be a Boon to Your Garden Have you heard of Moringa oleifera? An amazingly fast-growing perennial, moringa is edible from root to shoot. High in iron, it offers a nutritional boost to people as well as animals, and can be a real boon to your garden or orchard…

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Eating My Way Through Italy

Kristina’s Bookshelf Eating My Way Through Italy: Heading Off the Main Roads to Discover the Hidden Treasures of the Italian Table By Elizabeth Minchilli (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2018) Elizabeth Minchilli’s new book, Eating My Way Through Italy, brings to mind the best qualities of the Lonely Planet guidebooks, which many of us discovered in the mid…

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Meet Elizabeth Minchilli … 

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…

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Diaspora Dinner Honors Chef Tanya Holland

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…

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What’s for Dessert? 

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…

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Grassy Goodness

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…

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It’s a Double Header Celebration at Camino in Oakland

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…

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New World Peppers

Kristina’s Bookshelf Peppers of the Americas: The Remarkable Capsicums that Forever Changed Flavor By Maricel El Presilla (Ten Speed Press, 2017)  When I’m shopping at Mi Tierra Foods or Monterey Market, I’m always intrigued by the assortment of El Guapo and El Mexicano brands of dried, whole peppers in cellophane bags with green, red, and…

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