Newsletter

  What would it be like to sit down to lunch with someone you’ve never met? Interdisciplinary artist and filmmaker Christy Chan explores this question through a community art and storytelling project. People who sign up are paired with a lunch companion based on their shared food preference rather than their age, gender, race, job,…

  For adults only: Alembique Apothecary offers a botanical speakeasy inspired by the neighborhood alley bars of Paris and Barcelona. Guests are invited to enjoy individually crafted “tincturetails.” These botanical cocktails with low or no alcohol are made from plants like kava, hops, rose, cinnamon, cacao, and passionflower. Expect drinks that will surprise your palate…

  Slow Food East Bay announces a new series of gatherings celebrating diverse cultural and culinary traditions. Join Sacred Kitchen and ITK Culinary for the kickoff event, which includes hands-on food preparation in small groups led by local chefs. Chefs share their personal and culinary histories, and then the larger group gathers for a full meal,…

  Join Julie Drucker of Yemaya Seaweeds for a three-class series that includes sampling local seaweed varieties, learning how they’re processed, and understanding why it’s important to support seaweed harvesting. Classes also cover nutritional information, culinary suggestions, and best storage practices. Take an optional one-day field trip to the Sonoma Coast to identify and harvest seaweeds along the shore…

The Bay Area marks Zero Waste Week, March 16–21, with events and opportunities for all. Recycling Update at the Freight & Salvage features 25 experts giving brief talks on waste reduction, high diversion, and zero waste as well as plenty of networking opportunities. Zero Waste Youth USA hosts Downstream Pollution, Upstream Solutions, a youth convergence…

  Continuing its Abajo Dinner Series, Comal hosts a Traditional Agave Spirit Dinner. At this collaborative meal, Guadalajara native David Suro of Siembra Spirits showcases three handmade agave spirits as well as special offerings from Pedro Jimenez’s Mezonte brand and Mónica Leyva’s Pajarote brand. Enjoy your drinks with a menu of Oaxaca-inspired dishes by Comal’s…

In pairs or triplets, the medicinal power of herbs can far exceed that of a single one. Adding one or more herbs to the first may amplify its effect, broaden its action, or correct imbalances. Learn about powerful herbal pairs and discuss various herbs including echinacea, hypericum, calendula, and others. The class is taught by…

Just in time for spring planting, you’ll find a vast variety of seeds at the annual seed exchange hosted by the Bay Area Seed Interchange Library (BASIL). Celebrating its 20th year, this swap includes speakers, a potluck dinner, and hundreds of seeds from all around the Bay Area. Cost: Free when you bring seeds and…

  Slow Food East Bay and Transition Berkeley host an evening that delves into the prickly questions involved in raising livestock for food. Can a small group of dedicated farmers change the agricultural industry? How do we encourage people to eat less (and better quality) meat? Join in for a potluck dinner, then watch Eating Animals, a…

Ever wonder which medicinal plants grow nearby? Join Maria del Carmen Cortez (Carmen), a clinical herbalist and permaculture expert, for an informative plant walk in Dimond Park. Carmen will identify the medicinal plants growing in our midst and explain their uses. The group meets at Dimond Library and walks to the park together. Free. Info:…

  Well, everything, if you’re a cheese lover. Tickets are still available for several highlight events at the upcoming California Artisan Cheese Festival. Take part in tastings, seminars, and pairing demos; enjoy the chance to meet industry experts, authors, and celebrity chefs. Get on board for Cheese, Bites, & Booze, a walk-around tasting at the…

  Inspired by the Stone Soup fable, an upcoming event at Julie’s Alameda celebrates the power of community. Join in on the scheduled activity or bring your own project and get energized as part of a collective creative experience.   Stone Soup Community Event Thursday February 28, 6:30–8:30pm Free-Form Drawing Featured artist Steve Chabre guides participants…

  Class #1, The Urban Orchard Intensive: Learn about bare root tree selection and planting your urban orchard with fruit trees and fruiting shrubs. Get instruction and practice with grafting apple trees to take home. Cost: Full day $100–$150 sliding scale; individual sessions $40–$80 sliding scale.   Urban Orchard Intensive (full day) Saturday February 23, 10am–5pm…

  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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  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,…

  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…

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…

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,…

  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…

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…

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…

  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…

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…

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.

  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…

Show Mom some love with a visit to the Jack London Square Farmers’ Market this Sunday! Celebrate Mother’s Day with brunch on the waterfront, enticing candies or baked goods, and locally grown flowers. Everyone, young and old, can taste the herbal spritzers (market mocktails) at the CUESA classroom, and kids can create DIY gifts at the…

Oakland’s own Bryant Terry, chef in residence at the MOAD, hosts a summit encompassing issues of health, food, justice, media, and the arts. Come learn through presentations, panel discussions, and dialogue about the role of art and media in creating a healthier and more sustainable food system. The event offers a forum for exchanging ideas…

Celebrate the shop’s fifth anniversary with a weekend of fun and learning. Take part in hands-on activities, demos, and skill shares, and meet experts like urban farmer Novella Carpenter. Explore a variety of topics including backyard chickens, soil sampling, cannabis growing, and composting. Enjoy special activities for kids, prize raffles, a food truck, and baby…

Show Mom some love with a visit to the Jack London Square Farmers’ Market this Sunday! Celebrate Mother’s Day with brunch on the waterfront, enticing candies or baked goods, and locally grown flowers. Everyone, young and old, can taste the herbal spritzers (market mocktails) at the CUESA classroom, and kids can create DIY gifts at the…

  Celebrate the shop’s fifth anniversary with a weekend of fun and learning. Take part in hands-on activities, demos, and skill shares, and meet experts like urban farmer Novella Carpenter. Explore a variety of topics including backyard chickens, soil sampling, cannabis growing, and composting. Enjoy special activities for kids, prize raffles, a food truck, and…

If you read our Fall 2017 issue story about culinary arts instructor Vernon McNece, who teaches students at the California School for the Deaf (CSD), you may recall that he and his students were disappointed when they didn’t win at the annual Deaf Culinary Bowl in 2017. McNece vowed a triumphant comeback in 2018, and now…

All are invited to enjoy a paleo-style, allergen-friendly dinner. The Intentional Vegetable Feast is prepared with organic, nutrient-dense ingredients free of gluten, dairy, soy, eggs, nightshades, and alliums. The spring menu features fennel prepared in several ways throughout the meal along with locally sourced, pasture raised, and organic meat products. Cost: $55. Info and tickets:…

Spruce up your garden with new plants at this popular annual event. You’ll find an impressive variety, including perennial vegetables, rare fruits, heirloom annual edibles, herbs, California natives, and Mediterranean climate plants, many grown by students at the school. Enjoy local food, music, children’s activities, and ask-the-expert tables. Park on the main campus and walk…

Following its sold-out New York event, Hop Culture comes to Oakland with Juicy Brews WestFest, a craft beer festival benefiting City Slicker Farms. Founded by former Oaklander Kenny Gould, Hop Culture is a New York–based craft beer and lifestyle magazine. Juicy Brews WestFest takes place at Classic Cars West in Oakland and offers exclusively IPAs and…

Learn about growing medicinal herbs and teas from permaculturist and herbalist Maria del Carmen Cortez. After the presentation, the group heads outside to the garden planters in Dimond Park to plant herbs using seeds from the seed library. This program is a collaboration between the Dimond Branch Library and the Dimond Recreation Center. Free. Info:…

Tour Elegant Homes in Piedmont and the Oakland Hills Five beautiful homes designed in a variety of styles are featured on this annual home tour. Enjoy a food truck-catered lunch and find great gifts at a pop-up boutique at the Piedmont Community Center. The Children’s Support League of the East Bay hosts this event and…

Honor Earth Day at a historic ranch and 18-acre nature preserve that’s rarely open to the public. Meet red-legged frogs and western pond turtles, try out DIY gardening projects, and take part in nature-themed arts and crafts, face painting, and games. Tour the meadows, woodland, ponds and streams, and the historic home site of Theodore…

Make it a memorable Earth Day by taking part in hands-on farming, learning, and a tasty free lunch of soup, salad, and bread. Explore new ideas through a community seminar on the topic of Living on Ohlone Land. Kids activities throughout the day. Lots of local organizations offer information and demos. You can help the…

Dine with the author of Big Hunger Two organizations focused on ending hunger invite the public to a dinner with Andy Fisher, author of Big Hunger: The Unholy Alliance between Corporate America and Anti-Hunger Groups. His book encourages the anti-hunger movement to turn away from charity and towards economic justice and local economies. Join Food…

Join fermentation and preservation pro Andrew Renard at Three Stone Hearth to learn about why live-culture kombuchas and water kefirs—alternatives to sodas and other sweetened drinks—are so nourishing. You’ll leave with beverages you have crafted during class, plus cultures to try at home. Parents, bring your kids and enjoy this fun experience together. Cost: $60. Info…

Join the worker-owners at Niles Pie Company as they mark five years in their current location and look ahead to the next five. Relax and enjoy an afternoon of music, chalk art, promotions, prizes, and a pie-eating contest. The event is free, with plenty of pie, pastries, and merchandise for sale. Enjoy favorite pies— both…

Part conference, part festival, and part seafood-stravaganza, Slow Fish 2018 serves up three days of tastings, demos, and fun. Join a group of fishers, scientists, chefs, students, and sustainable seafood advocates all committed to promoting ocean health and building awareness about local fishing communities. Hosted by Slow Food San Francisco and part of a broader Slow…

In this class for kids ages 7–12, tofu experts from Hodo Soy teach young chefs to make silken tofu from soybeans and then use it to make a scrumptious peanut-butter chocolate pie. As the pies are baking, participants make their own breakfast scrambles with tofu, herbs, and veggies. Class finishes with preparation of angel hair…

A special Easter Egg Hunt at the Moraga Farmers’ Market connects kids to their local food producers. Children go through the market searching for coupons hidden in eggs to win farm-fresh produce prizes. As Moti Phillips, marketing director for the California Farmers’ Markets Association, explains, “Searching for Easter eggs in the market stalls gives young participants a…

Calling local gardeners, landscapers, urban farmers, and other garden enthusiasts! At the Plant Exchange, you can donate and bring home plants, tools, and equipment. This lively event also offers garden-related items like yard art, soil, pond supplies, pots, compost bins, and patio furniture. Enjoy a live band, food trucks, and gardening demos, and get plenty…

Learn to make pickled vegetables to spice up salads and enjoy as snacks and side dishes. After a brief intro to the processes of quick pickling and fermented pickling, participants get the opportunity to create some of each. As an extra treat, instructor Stacie Sandoval demonstrates her Southern grandmother’s quick Cha Cha pickle. Cost: $60.…

Meet wine writer Jon Bonné and celebrate his newest book in an event at Paul Marcus Wines in Market Hall. The New Wine Rules: A Genuinely Helpful Guide to Everything You Need to Know offers 101 short and smart lessons on drinking, buying, storing, and sharing wine. Here are two examples: Rule 47: You can…

Join Slow Food members from around the Bay to explore Alameda through three local enterprises. Taste gin and vodka at St. George Spirits, the first artisanal distillery in America since Prohibition; visit Ploughshares Nursery, a plant nursery that also trains and employs formerly homeless Alameda residents; and enjoy lunch at Trabocco, known for its Abruzzo-inspired…

Step up your gardening game by getting involved in seed saving at this exciting celebration. Spend a convivial two hours on the evening of Friday, March 16 swapping seeds and skills at the BASIL (Bay Area Seed Interchange Library) Seed Swap. Guests donate seeds or cash and take home seeds saved by gardeners around the…

Indulge in a delightful exploration of all things cheese at the Artisan Cheese Festival in Santa Rosa. Dig in and enjoy tastings, farm tours, chef demos and pairings, and educational sessions led by industry experts. Meet a variety of California’s top cheesemakers, chefs, authors, brewers, and cheesemongers. Seminar topics range from pairing artisan cheese with…

Come celebrate the change of seasons and the arrival of spring at a family-friendly block party hosted by the Persian Center. As the sun sets, people jump over bonfires to say goodbye to the cold winter and welcome the redness, warmth, and energy of springtime. Chaharshanbeh Souri, the Persian New Year Festival of Fire, takes place on…

If you’re eager to improve your urban farming skills, you’ll find plenty to do and learn at Urban Farm Day. Biofuel Oasis hosts this annual event featuring free demos and workshops on composting, backyard beehives, and wildcrafting (gathering plants and herbs from the wild). All store items discounted 10{94d79dd6af1e87a94e700e4c297236468333f22e27ed5757b44711974a9a4b91} and biodiesel is 10 cents off…

It’s National School Breakfast Week (March 5–9). The Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) and national anti-hunger campaign No Kid Hungry marked the occasion together at Futures Elementary School and REACH Academy, where Bay Area chefs led activity stations and cooking demos and helped serve breakfast to students. In partnership with No Kid Hungry, the District provided 1.4…

Known and beloved for its diverse and locally sourced menu, Gather Restaurant debuts Cocktails for Change. In the first round of this program, sales of four enticing drinks are donated to four nonprofits representing a broad range of issues: The Lorax (top photo: cachaça, lime, and prickly pear spirit served on the rocks). Funds go…

Do a Fridge Reality Check for Food Waste Prevention Week! Next week, March 5–9, is California’s first annual Food Waste Prevention Week. With support from elected officials, public agencies, and other organizations across the state, Californians will join together in a week of action to learn about food waste and what each of us can…

Don’t miss the fun at this youth-focused food justice storytelling event. Phat Beets Produce and Earth Island Institute co-host “What Does Food Justice Mean to You?” Lunch is provided by Phat Beets, a North Oakland–based nonprofit that works to promote a healthier, more equitable food system by creating access to affordable fresh produce, facilitating youth…

This interactive exhibit unites those with a stake in local food: sustainable growers and producers, institutional buyers, food service reps, and community advocates. Come to network and explore the huge variety of local food available in California. The event is organized by Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) / The Farmers Guild, which works to build…

Edible East Bay writer Anna Mindess is also an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter. If you enjoyed her story in our Fall Harvest 2017 issue about a cooking competition among Deaf chefs, you’ll want to check out her new story in Afar magazine, which offers tips and techniques she’s learned from the Deaf community about how to be understood…

Learn practical ways of creating healthier and more productive soil from renowned expert Dr. Elaine Ingham. Participants in her Soil Food Web Course gain an in-depth understanding of soil biology and the ways it affects plant health. The workshop is well suited for farmers, landscapers, ranchers, waste management professionals, and garden enthusiasts. Sign up for one,…

Join Slow Food South Bay to explore Alameda through three local enterprises. Taste gin and vodka at St. George Spirits, the first artisanal distillery in America since Prohibition; enjoy lunch at Food Shift, a nonprofit that reduces food waste and creates jobs; and visit Ploughshares Nursery, a plant nursery that also trains and employs formerly…

Kristina’ Bookshelf Power Plates: 100 Nutritionally Balanced, One-Dish Vegan Meals By Gena Hamshaw (Ten Speed Press, 2018) “My intent is for this book to help bring some simplicity and ease to healthful eating,” says blogger, nutritionist, and Food52 author Gena Hamshaw at the outset of her latest cookbook. And she delivers, with more than 100…

Could plant-based protein help solve hunger? Thanks to Redwood City startup Impossible Foods, meal centers run by local food banks are now serving the Impossible Burger, a plant-based food that looks, tastes, and sizzles deliciously like meat. According to Jessica Appelgren, vice president of communications at Impossible Foods, the company wants to address food insecurity. “We…

Come enjoy an evening of memorable films about Black farmers at Pollinate Farm & Garden. The second annual Black Hands in the Soil celebration includes a feature documentary and shorts about the legacy of Black farming in the United States and the United Kingdom. The feature film The Language You Cry In tells a scholarly detective story…

What does a mad scientist do to woo a sweetheart? Find out on Sunday, February 11 at Counter Culture Labs, a biohacking space for education and experimentation in Oakland’s Temescal district. You can learn to grow pink edible mushrooms, brew love potions, or make bubbling, luminous cocktails. Sign up for one workshop or all three. Counter Culture Labs,…

Taste samples from Bay Area chocolatiers like Barlovento Chocolates, Charles Chocolates, Endorfin Foods, and Guittard Chocolate Company at Market Hall Foods’ ninth annual For the Love of Chocolate event, which offers scrumptious one-stop shopping and tasting for Valentine’s gifts. Pick up tips for Valentine’s Day entertaining and dinner, discover chocolate and cheese pairings, and enter…

Learn about year-round gardening with Pam Peirce, San Francisco Chronicle columnist and author of Golden Gate Gardening. Pam shares information on garden planning, choosing crops and varieties for a small garden, growing edible flowers, attracting beneficial insects, and avoiding common pests. All gardening levels welcome. Cost: $30. Info and registration: here or 510.686.3493 At right: Garden…

Join Alice Waters at Chez Panisse, where you’ll get to know Iowa Democratic Congressional candidate Austin Frerick. Formerly a U.S. Department of the Treasury economist, Frerick has Waters’s support for his views on land and agriculture, including his opposition to the merger of Bayer and Monsanto. In Waters’s words, “He wants to protect and lift…

Nite Yun brings her unique brand of flavorful Cambodian street food to Fruitvale’s Transit Village starting February 17. The chef and owner of Nyum Bai has run her successful pop-up in the Emeryville Public Market, but now, she welcomes the public to her new restaurant of the same name, “Nyum Bai,” which means “to eat…

Julie’s Oakland welcomes guests to Partial Recall, an art opening that examines the way experience translates into memory. Paintings by Francine Hsu Davis are based on the artist’s memories of living abroad in Taipei, Taiwan. Enjoy the art, the company, and special drinks. Info: here Partial Recall: Paintings by Francine Hsu Davis Saturday February 10, 4–6pm…

Get in the Valentine’s spirit by choosing gifts made with care by local crafters. Find jewelry, ceramics, skincare products, and artisan foods, including Barlovento chocolates, Just Date Syrup, and Swelter Coffee. For those inclined to create their own Valentine’s cards, Leigh Wells offers a hand-lettering workshop (Cost: $75–$85.) Event info: here and on Facebook. Workshop…

The Rake opens its doors on January 26 in Alameda, offering beer, pub food, and the chance to watch malt being made. Read our Fall 2017 story about the founding of Admiral Maltings. Opening on Friday, January 26 The Rake 651 W. Tower Ave, Alameda

Six East Bay producers took top honors at the 2018 Good Food Awards competition. Edible East Bay offers heartfelt congratulations! Here’s who won: Akka’s Handcrafted Foods, located in Fremont and offering traditional chutneys, curry sauces, and Indian pickles, got the nod for its Garlic Relish. Drake’s Brewing Company in San Leandro was recognized for Cherryland, its heirloom…

Happy Lot Farm welcomes the community to its fifth annual block party and day of service. Individuals and groups are invited to help out with painting, weeding, and watering. Stay for lunch, birthday cake, music, and prizes! Led by founder and head farmer Andromeda Brooks, Happy Lot volunteers have been busy over the past year…

Savor the diversity of excellent food available in Oakland during Restaurant Week, when participating restaurants offer prix-fixe lunch and/or dinner menus. As part of California Restaurant Month, the week runs January 11–21 and includes two full weekends and over 100 restaurants. Dine at Chop Bar, Lungomare, Italian Colors, and many other spots, with meals offered…

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…

Be one of the first to hear the names of the 2018 Good Food Awards winners, those outstanding food producers and farmers honored for their delicious, authentic, and responsibly produced foods. Enjoy the gala ceremony led by keynote speaker Madhur Jaffrey, honorary hosts Alice Waters and Nell Newman, and master of ceremonies Sam Mogannam, owner of…

Buzz into 2018 with a new adventure: Become a beekeeper! Learn the basics of having a Langstroth backyard beehive, and enjoy the rewards of delicious honey and increased pollination in your garden. Expert beekeeper Jennifer Radtke teaches all you’ll need to know about acquiring bees and equipment, where to place the hive, how to extract…

Winter pruning helps your roses and fruit trees thrive in warmer weather. Learn the skills for basic pruning through these demos at Orchard Nursery & Florist in Lafayette. Free, but reservations are required. Call 925.284.4474. Info: here Saturday January 13, 10am–noon: Roses, Fruit Trees, and More Tuesday January 16, 10–11:30am: Roses Thursday January 18, 10–11:30am:…

Spread light and love with luminous gifts from local merchants. In each issue of Edible East Bay, we look to spark ideas on how we all can participate in making a more vibrant local economy. Many of our advertisers offer locally made gifts at their shops, but maybe you’ve run out of time to get there? By gifting…

Edible East Bay’s book editor Kristina Sepetys serves up her year’s local favorites for cooks, readers, and eaters alike. Read her reviews: Autentico: Cooking Italian, the Authentic Way by Rolando Beramendi Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking by Samin Nosrat with illustrations by Wendy MacNaughton Sourdough by Robin Sloan Unforgettable: The…

Julie’s and New Moon Apothecary host a special solstice gifts event. Find memorable gifts among a selection of handcrafted bath and beauty products, elixirs, crafts, jewelry, and other locally made wares. Enjoy herbal tea and snacks and learn more about herbal medicine as you support local businesses and celebrate the season with the community. Info: here…

Earlier this month, staff from Alameda County public agency StopWaste attended a fundraiser put on by local nonprofit Food Shift. Both organizations are dedicated to preventing food waste and finding delicious ways of using available foods. Edible East Bay is delighted to share this story from StopWaste along with recipes for two of the dishes served…

If you can’t get enough seafood, you’ll be happy as a clam on Christmas Eve at Lungomare. Chef Craig DiFonzo and the Lungomare team host a traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes honoring the Italian-American holiday ritual. Enjoy a special four-course dinner menu featuring fresh fish, seafood, and other festive seasonal delicacies, plus optional wine…

It’s a double pleasure to shop at the downtown Berkeley Farmers’ Market this Saturday and next, when the Ecology Center holds its annual Winter Crafts Fair. You’ll find beautiful and sustainably made gifts from Bay Area artisans alongside the market’s terrific selection of fresh local produce, organic options, and prepared foods. The crafts fair features a…

Pizzaiolo hosts its fourth annual Holiday Pop-up Maker Fair, with local vendors offering handmade goods. The fair is expanding out to the back patio this year, with more than 20 artisans taking part. Find jewelry, ceramics, skincare products, calendars, tea, tallow balm, and leather goods from vendors like Leaves and Flowers, Sarah Kersten, Summer Sequoia Tallow,…

East Bay printmaker Rigel Stuhmiller was inspired by the renowned Chino Nojo produce farm in San Diego to create a 2018 wall calendar offering a full year of illustrations of fresh, local produce. But this calendar not only helps you keep track of when produce is in season throughout the year: Purchasing it will help people with…

Taste homemade mustard, mead, plum wine, ginger beer, cultured butter, caramels, jam, and honey as you explore homemade, ultra-local, super-small batch goodies available only once a year. Find handmade soaps, tinctures, and salves; local herbs, seeds, and seed balls; dream pillow sachets, catnip toys, and beeswax candles; handmade tiles, cups, bowls, arts, cards, postcards, and…

Honey Spice Cookies Recipe courtesy of Sally Darling, Market Hall Bakery Makes 25–30 cookies Bakery director Sally Darling offers this advice for home bakers: “This recipe is moderately spiced, so if you prefer a cookie with more spice, feel free to bump it up. We use anise extract, but you can also substitute one teaspoon…

Farm Fresh to You, a community supported agriculture (CSA) and home delivery service, also offers a Donate-A-Box program. Help families in need by purchasing a box of organic fruits and veggies for the food bank of your choice. Since August 2014, this program has provided over 41,000 produce boxes to its food bank partners. Info:…

Holiday shopping is always a pleasure at the Craneway Crafts Fair, which benefits KPFA community sponsored radio station 94.1 FM. Peruse 200 booths featuring handmade art, crafts, and food. Experience the work of 180 juried artisans working in a range of media, and enjoy live entertainment in a festive food court. The Craneway Pavilion is…

Surprise your friends and family this year with a batch of homemade spicy kimchi. Andy Renard, lead fermenter and resident pickle master at Three Stone Hearth, teaches the DIY skills needed to transform a bowl of cabbage and spices into a robust probiotic condiment. Develop confidence and know-how, and leave class with a recipe and…

Join Megan Bre Camp, founder of Summer Sequoia Tallow, and learn to make traditional soaps from local, grassfed beef tallow, extra virgin olive oil, and organic essential oils. Through her business, Megan offers an artisanal line of organic tallow balms, soaps, and candles handcrafted in Oakland. The class is at Three Stone Hearth, where Megan was previously…

After a summer launch at the Jack London Square Farmers’ Market, Civil Pops recently arrived at Market Hall Foods in Rockridge and Berkeley. The young ice pop business was started by Civil Labs, an Oakland-based group that creates access to jobs, education, and asset ownership for underserved communities of color. Made with organic fruit, the pops…

If you can spare a clean, gently used (or new) coat or jacket, please bring your donations to the Ecology Center or any of the Berkeley farmers’ markets November 15–December 15. Socks and towels (gently used or new) are also welcome. Clothing is donated to Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS), a local organization helping homeless community…

This recipe comes from the team at Oakland-based Broth Baby, known for nutritious and flavorful bone broths. Here’s how they describe their version of a classic French dish: Fall brings so many sensations with its cool crisp mornings, softly light afternoons, and early evenings. It also whets our appetites for earthier, warmer flavors like umami-rich…

Oakland’s Preserved offers a wide variety of workshops in skills related to preserving foods. Classes are taught by local experts, and the shop also sells a range of DIY items, books, and artisan foods. Classes fill up fast, so sign up soon for upcoming holiday gift-making workshops. You’ll enjoy a hands-on learning experience as you…