Newsletter

  Join in the festivities as Rockridge Market Hall celebrates 30 years in the Rockridge community. Walk through the stations at Market Hall where vendors offer tastes of spiced cider, wine, cheese, fruits, jam, sausage, and baked goods. Guess the weight of the Great Pumpkin to win a basket full of autumnal treats, and take…

Recipe courtesy of Sally Darling, Market Hall Bakery. Sally Darling, bakery director at Market Hall, says, “I’ve made variations of this recipe for years, tweaking it here and there for a little more pumpkin, a little more spice. I am very happy with this version; it has just the right balance of pumpkin and spice…

  Come dressed to kill as Julie’s Coffee & Tea Garden serves up plenty of Halloween spirit with a party and art show. The Alameda shop hosts Concealed, an exhibit of handmade Halloween monster masks and mask-inspired photography by Bart D. Frescura. Show runs through November 6. Info: here   Halloween Art Party & Show…

  Join the community of the East Bay Waldorf School for this family-friendly autumn celebration. Enjoy games, live music, harvest soup, crafts, artisan vendors, and puppet shows. Pick up some fresh produce at the farm stand. Admission is free. Game tickets, food, and wares for sale. Info: here East Bay Waldorf School Harvest Fair Saturday…

  Meet Chef Tu David Phu as he presents the Savory Meal at San Francisco’s Hardwood Bar and Smokery. The dinner is part of the global farm-to-table event organized by the Savory Hub Network and showcases regenerative agriculture, a system that strives to reduce climate change by capturing carbon in soil. The farming practices used to…

  Bring your extra plants, gardening tools and publications, outdoor furniture, compost and compost bins, and decorative pots, as well as goldfish, koi, and compost worms to the Plant Exchange, and leave with plenty of new ones. This year marks the 10th anniversary of this free community event that promotes reuse, recycling, organic living, resource sharing,…

  Come dance in the streets in honor of Cheese Board’s 50th year. There’s plenty of cause for celebration, from vegetarian pizzas and salads to the shop’s outstanding cheese counter and divine cookie selection. Live music is always on the menu, too. Here’s to the next 50! Info: here Birthday Celebration at the Cheese Board…

  From pufferfish swords to pendulum painting, you’ll enjoy the fascinating variety at this annual maker’s fair. It’s a family-friendly occasion with rockets and robots, DIY science and technology, urban farming and sustainability, alternative energy, hand-made crafts, music, and local food, along with educational workshops and installations. The event takes place on Park Day School’s…

If you’ve been pondering a trip to Reno, book your visit for the weekend of the Reno Mural Expo. Oakland muralist and art teacher Edythe Boone is master of ceremonies at this exciting Art Spot Reno event. Thirty artists, including Boone and others from the Bay Area, brighten and revitalize downtown walls by creating murals…

Celebrate the harvest each Sunday this month at the Walnut Creek Farmers’ Market with special activities like spin art, apple tasting, a petting zoo, and pumpkin decorating. Get into the spirit of fall by wearing your costume to the market. To find out about the coming week’s activities, text the word “CABBAGE” to 41411. Info:…

Come view works by nearly 100 Emeryville-based artists and craftspeople in a variety of media. A gala public reception with the artists kicks off the juried show, which also features poetry readings and a special multimedia performance. The annual exhibit celebrates the role of the arts within the community and showcases emerging talent along with…

Here’s your chance to pick and taste a variety of cactus fruits, palm fruits, and other luscious items harvested during curator Brian Kemble’s garden walk. The Ruth Bancroft Garden, with its exceptional design and many water-conserving plants, is a great place for the public to come learn and enjoy. Cost: $30 members (please call the office…

  Maker’s Common, a new market and eatery in downtown Berkeley, is run by the co-founders of San Francisco’s Mission Cheese. Come see the bright, airy space and celebrate autumn with German-style beers, American cheeses, and housemade pretzels. The shop features a cheese and charcuterie counter, with assorted salads and sides to eat on site…

Help celebrate 30 years of this delightful annual festival of rural living and local agriculture. Enjoy farm tours, arts and crafts, farm-fresh food, a seed swap, folk music, dancing, seminars, and hands-on workshops. Camping in the orchard is available for $30 per car. Admission cost: $25 online, $30 at the gate, $5 for kids 2–12.…

  Spend a memorable evening at the Old Yellow House in Orinda, an 1890s home transformed by architect James Wright. His renovation combines materials from thrift and salvage stores with the use of natural and green energy. The Old Yellow House Awareness Institute promotes stewardship of the earth and its people and is hosting this…

  Join Chef Oscar Cabezas of Walnut Creek’s Telefèric Barcelona and indulge in a variety of tapas, the popular Spanish bar food. Chef Cabezas answers common questions about tapas food culture and Spanish gastronomy. Cost: $25. Ages 18 and over. Info and registration: here Tapas Demo & Tasting with Chef Oscar Cabezas of Teleferic Barcelona Saturday October…

    Orchard Nursery welcomes the harvest season with a fun mix of activities each weekend through the month of October. Come meet the farm animals and scarecrows and try your hand at apple fishing. Enjoy live music, make Halloween crafts, get expert garden advice, and sample locally crafted seasonal treats. You might even want to…

    It’s olive harvest time, and there are two local opportunities to celebrate! Bring your family and friends to the Wagner Ranch Nature Area, a historic site and nature preserve that’s open only twice a year to the public. Taste olive oils from local producers and attend olive-themed cooking demos. Pet the baby goats,…

    Head on over to Biofuel Oasis for free urban farming workshops and tastes of honey, kombucha, and fermented vegetables. Demos and workshops provide tips on fall and winter planting, baby chicks, herbs to ease stress, backyard beehives, and more. Be sure to cast your vote for the best East Bay honey. Kids welcome. Free. Info:…

Sandy Sonnenfelt, the prepared foods manager at Market Hall Foods, adapted this recipe for home cooks from the store’s beloved Savory Vegetable Kugel. She writes: “Instead of carrots, I used sweet potatoes and added leeks. Butternut squash would be great in it as well. I would encourage cooks to try any combination of vegetables they…

  Spend the afternoon on Sunday September 17 exploring neighborhood highlights at the annual Out & About Street Festival in Rockridge. You’ll find community and artisan booths, live music on the BART plaza, dance performances, and even a photo booth, plus lots of great food and beverages from the Market Hall merchants. This year, the…

  It’s time to step into the vat and stomp the grapes at Capay Organic. The farm’s annual Capay Crush Festival celebrates local wine and food with tastings, music, tractor tram rides, grape-themed crafts, and the messy fun of grape stomping. Bring your own picnic, or purchase food from Tacos 911, the Cali Love Food…

Pollinate Farm & Garden serves up a chance to make three types of kimchi with Sonoko Sakai, author of Rice Craft. Participants learn to prepare classic whole-cabbage kimchi, citrus “water” kimchi, and fresh daikon and cucumber kimchi as well as fresh rice balls. Take home the classic cabbage kimchi to complete the fermentation. Bring an apron,…

Oakland’s Eat Real Fest offers a delicious variety of sweet and savory street foods in a big block-party atmosphere. Meet local and regional chefs, farmers, and food producers, and taste your fill. All street food items at the festival are priced at $10 or less and incorporate regionally sourced and sustainably-produced ingredients. Eat Real is…

Natural dyer Helen Krayenhoff and knitters Carol Schwamberger and Jill Warner lead two classes for knitters who have mastered cast on/off, knit/purl, increase/decrease. At the first class, you’ll extract the dye from plant material collected locally, then tie the skeins to create random patterns and simmer them in the dye baths. Wear clothing and shoes…

Edible Marin and Wine Country invite you to celebrate the area’s craft spirit distillers and local restaurants. It’s a chance to try out the area’s many spirit offerings, from both new and established providers. Enjoy cocktails expertly paired with foods from some of California’s most acclaimed and up-and-coming chefs. Tickets and info: here Good Spirits 2017 Saturday,…

Enjoy Tahoe through food and drink with two September events: Up first is the 32nd anniversary of the Lake Tahoe Autumn Food & Wine Festival, a celebration of food, wine, spirits, and brews that also features hands-on cooking demos by celebrity chefs, a Farm-to-Tahoe dinner, winemaker luncheons and dinners, food and wine seminars, and Sunday’s…

This is the first in our newsletter series from StopWaste about delicious ways to use foods that might otherwise end up in the compost. You’ll also find food storage tips and a recipe from StopWaste in our new Fall issue. What’s the taste of late summer? A sweet, juicy peach, eaten out of hand! Through…

This free, family-friendly street festival offers plenty of fun and practical activities: educational tutorials, swaps, garden installations, and live art and music. Learn about community organizations, bicycle culture, and the Justice Zone: an evolving collaboration with local leaders focused on the retention of long-term Oakland residents. The event is a collaboration between PLACE for Sustainable…

The California Artisan Cheese Guild invites cheesemakers and cheese enthusiasts to the historic Social Hall SF for a lively evening of cheese tasting and pairings with local beer, wine, and cider. The theme is “melting together” as you meet 24 Guild-member cheesemakers from around the state and enjoy live music as you sample the cheeses.…

  Join the Tomato Gals, Peggy and Helen of Kassenhoff Growers, for a tomato tasting extravaganza. The summer heat has brought outstanding tomatoes, and you can try more than 25 varieties grown by Oakland’s Kassenhoff Growers and Starberry Growers in Nevada City. Sample the Berkeley Tie-Dye, Cherokee Purple, Striped German, and many others, and vote…

Artist’s Statement by Cover Artist Helen Krayenhoff   When I paint with watercolor, I first observe the light and dark areas and how the contrast between them creates the shapes I perceive. Where does an object face the sun? What part of it is hidden from the light? How do gradations of tone between light…

Want to try your hand at harvesting on an organic farm? Happy Acre Farm, located at the Sunol Ag Park, is looking for harvest help as well as assistance in their booth at the Jack London Square and Kensington farmers’ markets, both held on Sundays. Rewards include a share of the produce. Get in touch…

Blessing of the grapes and other seasonal harvest adventures By Cheryl Angelina Koehler, editor of Edible East Bay     Each year, as the northern hemisphere tilts into fall, I like to indulge myself with a trip out to our urban fringe areas to look in on the harvest. My interest in Alameda County’s southeastern…

EVENT CANCELLED DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT: Sip wines from more than 40 Livermore Valley wineries as the Annual Harvest Wine Celebration moves to a new spot at Las Positas College. Take in the view of vineyards and windmills from the college sports field. Enjoy arts and crafts by local artisans, lawn games, food trucks, and three…

  Join beekeeper Mike Vigo on the rooftop of Alameda Natural Grocery as he extracts the latest batch of honey from their hives. Taste fresh-from-the-hive honeycomb and honey, visit the observation hive, and learn about bees and beekeeping from Vigo of the Bee Ranchers. Once it’s extracted, the honey is bottled, labeled, and on the shelves…

Rockridge Market Hall marks its 30th year in the community with monthly thank-you events. Many customers who were kids when Market Hall debuted are now parents sharing the joys of good food with their own children. Bring the whole family for a festive afternoon of games, cupcake decorating, coloring, prizes, homemade play dough, music, and…

Thrive Dining offers a new option for people with cognitive impairments, neuromuscular disorders, or other challenges that make it difficult to use a knife and fork. Meals are served as one-bite and two-bite hors d’oeuvres intended to be eaten by hand. This method empowers people—including those with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer, or other conditions that can interfere…

California’s Healthy Soils Program is offering grants to farmers and ranchers who use farm practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and/or store carbon in soil, trees, and shrubs. Eligible practices include the addition of mulch and compost, cover cropping, reduced tillage, and the planting of windbreaks, hedgerows, riparian plantings, filter strips, silvopasture, and more. Applications…

MariLark Farms welcomes the public to its 5th annual tomato tasting. Tomatoes have been grown organically on-site and all are heirlooms from seeds saved the previous seasons. Each year the farm grows hundreds of tomato starts for the local community, creating new farms in the process and highlighting the importance of plant biodiversity, seed saving, and…

Meet local artists and enjoy live music as you stroll through the nursery. An array of artworks, plants, and garden supplies are available for purchase, as are snacks from Okkon Japanese Street Food. Artists Susan Ashley, Shari Arai DeBoer, Holly Healy, Kiyomi Koide, Helen Krayenhoff, Luz Marina Ruiz, and Celia Wedding offer watercolors, photography, pottery,…

Chefs and Managers Step Up to the Plate By Cassie Bartholomew, Program Manager at StopWaste You’ve probably heard that a staggering 40{94d79dd6af1e87a94e700e4c297236468333f22e27ed5757b44711974a9a4b91} of all food in the United States goes to waste before it ever reaches a plate, and the problem is just as prevalent in our homes as it is in restaurants, institutional kitchens,…

What happens when you combine classic open-faced Danish sandwiches with West Coast ingredients and techniques? Join culinary nutrition expert (and regular Edible East Bay contributor) Kristen Rasmussen de Vasquez for a pop-up featuring “West Coast Nordic” smørrebrød (“buttered bread” in Danish) along with her spin on a Scandinavian red berry pudding and garden herb sun…

Try these crowd-pleasing recipes from fourth-generation family business Mi Rancho, known for its organic tortillas made from non-GMO California corn. The Berber family runs the San Leandro–based business, which started as a small Oakland bodega. Today, Mi Rancho tortillas are a favorite with local restaurants as well as grocers across the state. Mi Rancho’s corn…

    Niles Pie wants to celebrate with the community as they become a worker-owned cooperative. Come on down to learn about what it means to be a worker cooperative as you enjoy live music, promotions, and giveaways at the Niles Pie open house. Scrumptious pie, pasties, empanadas, and salads are available à la carte. Please BYOB.…

Rockridge Market Hall celebrates 30 years in the community with a mini brunch at Highwire Coffee Roasters and Market Hall Bakery. This complimentary meal is a delicious thank-you to the public. Relax and enjoy coffee and juice, pear ginger scones, frittata, toasts with lemon caper cream cheese, gravlax, and fruit. This event is one of…

Meet Anya Ku and Elazar Sontag, the young authors of Flavors of Oakland: A Cookbook in 20 Stories, who interviewed and cooked with Oaklanders from many different cultures for their book. At this library event, the authors will share some of their favorite tales from the book and offer tastes of a few of the recipes. Ku…

For food, wine, and dance lovers, the Diablo Ballet Gourmet Gallop offers a fun way to sample flavorful dishes and memorable wines from an array of Walnut Creek restaurants. Participating spots include Massimo, Lark Creek Inn, Lottie’s Creamery, Sauced BBQ, and many others. All proceeds benefit Diablo Ballet and its PEEK (Performing Arts Education and…

This walking tour around Farmer Al’s famed Frog Hollow Farm features fruit trees at their peak for summer harvest. Learn about Frog Hollow’s farming practices and taste a variety of sweet peaches, plums, and nectarines, along with conserves, sun-dried fruit, heirloom tomatoes, and olive oil. The one-hour tour is followed by a 30-minute Q&A session with Farmer…

Want to up your savvy in the kitchen and garden? The Institute of Urban Homesteading offers an array of hands-on classes to help you do just that. From planning your fall garden to making your own cheese and yogurt, IUH serves up practical and fun skills you can bring to your own home. Here’s what’s coming…

Enjoy the warm breeze and waterfront sunset while savoring craft cocktails and dishes made with stone fruit, melons, berries, tomatoes, and other farmers’ market produce as CUESA brings their popular Cocktails of the Farmers’ Market from the SF Ferry Building to Oakland. It’s an all–East Bay lineup of bartenders and chefs at this Jack London…

  Edible East Bay honors farmer Nigel Walker, who passed away earlier this month. Walker founded Eatwell Farm in Solano County and was an early leader in the Bay Area’s organic food movement. Edible East Bay writer Matthew Green visited Walker at his farm in 2009 and wrote this chicken-and-egg story: here Photo: Matthew Green

Fentons Creamery welcomes the public to a double-header celebration of National Ice Cream Day and Fentons’ 123rd anniversary. To mark the event, Black & Tan Junior sundaes are just $1.23 throughout the day. Stop by for free samples, face painting, and crafts activities in the parking lot. Info: here National Ice Cream Day & Anniversary…

Come celebrate food, wine, and Livermore Valley’s unique terroir. Start with the food and wine pairing competition, in which 20 winemakers team up with Bay Area chefs to compete for honors at Casa Real. Enjoy a variety of events including cooking demos, wine seminars, vineyard tours, and exquisite meals. Cost varies with event. Tickets and…

Alden Lane Nursery welcomes the community to a family-friendly celebration of local art and music. Artists exhibit their work throughout the nursery and offer special demos of their skills. Enjoy Livermore wines, a selection of foods, hands-on art projects, and special sales in the nursery, which has hosted this event for the past 30 years.…

  Learn to support your body through high-quality nutrition and positive lifestyle choices. Two advanced nutrition consultant students from Bauman College offer a free, five-week wellness program to support renewed energy, allergy control, weight management, and sustainable eating habits. Meetings take place on the patio at Julie’s Coffee & Tea Garden, and Julie’s offers complementary…

  Fairyella ice pops are one of the treats on offer at the Capay Tomato Festival. The vegan pops, made by Benicia mom Kimberli Haris (pictured at right), are packed with organic fruits and veggies from Capay Organic. Read more about Haris and the pops: here Photo: Luke George Photography

Bring the whole family to this lively, tomato-packed event at Capay Organic Farm. Enjoy an afternoon of heirloom and cherry tomato tastings, farm tours, live music, dancing, and tractor tram rides. Bring a picnic, or purchase a meal or snack made with farm produce. Top your day off by camping in the farm orchards. Event…

Here’s a scoop for ice cream lovers who are allergic to nuts or sensitive to lactose: Take Local Food Adventures‘ newest Rockridge Ice Cream and Gelato tour, a family-friendly one-hour adventure with three delicious stops on College Avenue. Learn about the history of ice cream and enjoy nut-free flavors, sorbets, and/or soy-based ice creams (depending on…

Social enterprise Food Shift, a group that works to reduce food waste while also providing employment and job training, has just launched pop-up sales of food prepared with rescued produce. Hot entrées as well as frozen soups and pasta sauces are available and can be ordered in advance. Through a partnership with Josephine.com, Food Shift…

  Join the Ecology Center for a series of events geared toward reducing single-use plastic in daily life. Events include a film screening, shoreline clean-up, recycling tour, and workshops like plastic-free fermentation and reusable food wraps. Attend a panel discussion to learn about how plastics end up in our food. Submit your best photo to the…

Celebrate Bastille Day with French foods and festive music at Market Hall. Meet Georgeanne Brennan, author of La Vie Rustic, and hear her stories about living and traveling in France. Sample French ingredients like piment d’espelette, honey, salt, and cheese, and spin the wheel to win a prize. No charge except for purchases. On July…

Learn how to save seeds from your tomatoes, lettuce, beans, peas, squash, and more. It’s easy to do, and you’ll get hands-on experience in the class. Free, but please register: here. Seed Saving Class Wednesday July 12, 7–8:30 PM Richmond Public Library Community Room 325 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond Photo courtesy of Rebecca Newburn Read…

  Celebrate local foods and food makers at CUESA’s Summer Jam. Family-friendly events include a Better Burger Challenge, watermelon seed spitting, and kids’ crafts. Bakers and jam makers can submit their favorite dishes to the Cobblers, Crisps, & Crumbles and/or Summer Jam contests. Event info: here Contest info: Summer Preserves or Cobblers, Crisps, and Crumbles CUESA’s…

  Alameda social enterprise Food Shift is hiring a full-time associate to support administration, operations, and development. The organization works to reduce waste and increase access to nutritious food while developing models for job creation. The Food Shift kitchen is a job training and employment site for people with barriers to employment, which transforms surplus food…

  The Strawberry Moon is a favorite over at Super Juiced, a shop for organic smoothies and other healthy treats located in the courtyard at Swan’s Market. Read about the dynamic women who run the business in our Spring 2017 issue.  Makes 1 serving 1 banana 1 cup strawberries (fresh or frozen) 10 ounces almond milk…

  Readers of Edible East Bay’s Summer 2017 issue have been taking special notice of the art piece on the inside back cover. “At Oakland’s Ba-Bite,” a work in ink, watercolor, and collage, is by regular Edible East Bay illustrator and community artist Margo Rivera-Weiss. The piece is now being featured in a solo art…

  Rockridge Market Hall celebrates its cheese counter on June 30 as it honors 30 years of serving the Bay Area. The event showcases California artisan cheese producers and features mozzarella making and plenty of samples. Meet cheese maven (and former Oakland resident) Janet Fletcher, who will sign copies of her books Wine & Cheese…

  We’re delighted to update our current-issue story about The Conscious Kitchen, a group that’s working to improve taste and nutrition in school lunches. Conscious Kitchen recently got the go-ahead from the West Contra Costa County USD School Board for a pilot project at Peres and Madera Elementary Schools. Fundraising for the project has begun,…

Spend an evening in the kitchen at Three Stone Hearth (TSH) learning how to make your own dairy products. TSH worker-owner Linda Kallenberger discusses the art and science of making yogurt, butter, and crème fraîche in this hands-on session. You’ll also get to taste piimä cream, feta cheese, dairy kefir, and more at Linda’s Dairy…

Chef Samin Nosrat, who writes about the four elements behind successful cooking in Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, will be at Berkeley’s Local Butcher Shop offering samples made from her recipe for kefta kebabs with yogurt sauce. Pick up a signed copy of her book. Read our book review: here Book Signing with Chef Samin Nosrat Friday…

See three Bay Area chefs compete to bring food and performance art together as part of SF Design Week. Marvel at the magic as the chefs prepare culinary wonders in the kiln, throw a serving dish on the potter’s wheel, and plate food on sculpture made by potter Jered Nelson. Event includes dinner from San…

It’s a bit of a trek to Clovis, but this event may well be worth the effort. You’ll be joining the Ecological Farming Association for a sweet evening in a historic “natural farming” setting, tasting more than 60 varieties of peaches, plums, nectarines, apricots, and pluots from California organic growers. Enjoy fresh fruit pies, take…

  Sculpture and gardens go so well together, as you’ll certainly appreciate while wandering the paths among the beautiful succulent and drought-tolerant plants at the Ruth Bancroft Garden. Meet the artists as you enjoy live music by The Retroz Band, food from Roderick’s BBQ, and drinks from Calicraft Brewing Co. Member admission: $20. General admission: $25. Info…

Join the staff of Edible East Bay at the O2 Artisans’ Aggregate, an experimental network of artisans and businesses in a West Oakland collective community workspace. This open studio event showcases goods from member artists and other community crafters with live music from local favorite Rupa & the April Fishes. Enjoy performance art, demos of…

Join Chef Laura Stec of Innovative Cuisine for cooking classes at the Diablo Valley Farmers’ Market. Private group classes begin with a walk through the market with Chef Laura, who discusses how to select the best seasonal produce. Participants then prepare dishes with the chef, who shares culinary tips and tricks along the way. Upcoming classes…

Due to record rainfall over the winter, nearly half of the fields at Happy Boy Farms were flooded for weeks. Executive chefs Craig DiFonzo of Lungomare and Lev Delany of Chop Bar, who have been serving the farm’s organic produce for years, decided to roll up their sleeves and host a benefit dinner for the…

Rosalie Fanshel, a past Edible East Bay cover artist, welcomes the public to a reception for her exhibit featuring a six-foot tall drawing and her collection of woodblock prints called The Feminist Vegetable Cookbook. The show is up through July 31, with individual prints and the drawing for sale. Rosalie also designed the Berkeley Farmers’ Market logo art…

Stroll through the Ferry Building as you sample fine food and drink from local restaurants, bars, and wineries. Taste dishes and beverages from more than 60 spots, including the East Bay favorites AlaMar, Cosecha, Reem’s, and St. George Spirits. This walk-around feast features local farmers’ market produce and benefits CUESA’s kids cooking classes and its youth entrepreneurship…

Step back in time for a day at an old-fashioned country market. More than 25 antique dealers offer a variety of treasures, and you’ll also find plants, lavender products, flowers, and goods made at local farms. Stroll under old oaks surrounded by lavender fields and olive trees; bring a picnic or purchase foods from local…

Join the East Bay Beer Runners and Cleophus Quealy Beer Company to help prisoners gain skills and insight through gardening. After five miles or 5K at any pace you choose, quench your thirst at Cleophus Quealy. Canasta Kitchen will serve a full menu of tasty Mexican food, and spring brews will be on tap. This event…

  Here’s a good opportunity this summer for an in-depth study of permaculture, leading to a Permaculture Design Certificate. Beginners and experienced practitioners are welcome to this series of 16 classes offered by the Urban Permaculture Institute (UPI). Classes take place at Impact Hub Oakland, Alameda Point Collaborative, and various field trip sites. UPI offers a…

To honor its 30th year in the Bay Area, Market Hall is hosting special monthly events (on or around the 30th) as a thank you to the community. Different Market Hall merchants are featured each month. This month it’s a cookout with Hapuku Fish Shop and Marin Sun Farms. Come enjoy free tastes of grass-fed meats, grilled…

  This year’s Family Fun Fest features hands-on activities for all ages: games, contests, family Zumba, a petting zoo, free bike repair, and a bounce house. Join in on a Strawberry Walk, kids cooking contest, and puppet-making with found materials. The Fest is right next to the Saturday farmers’ market, where you can shop for…

UC urban agriculture experts and local partners share their extensive knowledge in two upcoming workshops. One session covers food safety basics for urban farmers; the second focuses on marketing and business management skills, including planning and labor laws. Take one or both workshops. Cost: $20 includes lunch and refreshments. Info and registration: here 2017 UC…

Author Events and Book Signings Might Become Harder to Find By Kristina Sepetys   That new cookbook you were hoping to get signed by the author at a bookstore event? Sorry, but a newly passed law could make getting your book autographed difficult or impossible.   AB 1570, a law passed by the California Legislature…

Among the many author appearances at this year’s Bay Area Book Festival will be Chef Samin Nosrat and illustrator Wendy MacNaughton talking with Davia Nelson of NPR’s Kitchen Sisters. The theme of Nosrat and MacNaughton’s new book is salt, fat, acid, and heat: the four elements needed to make meals truly delicious. It’s open seating at…

VISIT LOCAL FARMS ONLINE We’re delighted to share a profile from Digital Dirt, a media and storytelling project created by Marianna Zavala, who does education and community outreach for the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association. Marianna has been visiting farms and ranches to collect stories and photos to offer a behind-the-scenes look at all that…

In this 12-class series, experienced herbalists explore erogenous zone care and plant-based medicines that some consider taboo. Learn about psychedelic plants, topical remedies, holistic breast care, culinary herbs, clinical uses of cannabis, and more. In case you’re wondering, host Five Flavors Herbs does not sell psychedelics, cannabis, or related extracts. Series cost: $240 until May 31, $300…

Spend a memorable evening with the Vau de Vire Society as they present The Soiled Dove, a circus-infused dinner theater spectacular. You’ll find yourself in San Francisco’s Barbary Coast red light district living an evening of delicious decadence and danger. Indulge in a four-course experiential culinary event created by green catering company Work of Art.…

The Oakland Veg Fest celebrates the health and sustainability boosts of a plant-based diet. Sample a variety of vegan foods, and hear speakers and educators talk about different aspects of veganism. This animal-friendly event also features a cute dog contest. Come enjoy this free, open-air gathering beside Lake Merritt. Speakers include Kristie Middleton, author of…

Local Teen Builds Beehive, Family Awaits Sweet Returns   My gardening partner (and 15-year-old son) William Peale got a bee in his bonnet to build a Langstroth hive for our back garden. I fully supported him in his vision, because what gardener wouldn’t want a robust population of honeybees to help out with pollinating? After…

What happens when national policy prioritizes organic farming and remediating hunger? Find out on a tour of Cuba with Food First. Starting in and around Havana and traveling east, you’ll learn directly from Cuban farmers, educators, and government representatives about the country’s struggle to take control of its food system. Food First partners with Altruvistas and Fernando…

  Celebrate community, food, and gardens at the Edible Schoolyard’s annual plant sale. Stock up on veggies, tomatoes, fruit trees, herbs, flowers, and more. Get your gardening questions answered by experts, and bring an appetite for locally made food including wood-fired pizza and a variety of beers. Enjoy live music, and take a student-led tour of…

Curious about what makes extra virgin olive oil special? Here’s a great opportunity to learn from the expert olive oil tasters at Market Hall Foods. They’ll discuss what distinguishes different types and how to evaluate quality as they lead you through sampling a variety of oils from California, Italy, and Spain, all made in a…

  If you’re starting a coffee business, or seriously considering it, this four-day course at the Food Craft Institute (FCI) is just what you need to get launched. Learn about the culture and business of coffee, and explore methods for sourcing, roasting, cupping, selling, and serving. Course instructors who are successful roasters, wholesalers, retailers, and…

Real Food Real Stories unites people around food and storytelling. The group hosts intimate, friendly events where farmers, chefs, and other food changemakers talk about their lives while guests enjoy the food and conversation. At an upcoming gathering, Efren Avalos, owner and founder of Avalos Organic Farm, shares his personal story as a fifth-generation farmer.…

Meet the worker-owners behind local co-ops and collectives during an evening hosted by Slow Food East Bay and Port Kitchens. Join representatives from The Cheese Board Collective, Three Stone Hearth, Arizmendi, Alchemy Café, Mandela Marketplace, Sustainable Economies Law Center, and Project Equity to learn about their work and how you can support them. Relax with some popcorn…

Indulge in an afternoon of wine tasting on the waterfront as the new Oakland Urban Wine Festival comes to Jack London Square. Thirty Northern California wineries provide tastings, and guests can also enjoy small bites, craft beer, music, and exhibitor booths. Tasting ticket: $45, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting a local charity. Info and…

Enjoy every bite of a dim sum luncheon in Oakland’s Chinatown as you support women food journalists. The San Francisco chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier awards an annual fellowship (no strings attached) to a promising female Bay Area food journalist who is not a member of the organization. Author and illustrator Carolyn Phillips, whose books include…

This popular plant sale offers an extensive selection including perennial vegetables, rare fruits, heirloom annual edibles, herbs, California natives, and Mediterranean climate plants. Students in the horticulture club along with faculty, staff, and volunteers provide the labor for growing 80–90{94d79dd6af1e87a94e700e4c297236468333f22e27ed5757b44711974a9a4b91} of the plants in the collection. Parking at the horticulture department is limited, so please…

Even with all the recent rain, it still makes sense to be water-wise in the Bay Area. Choose from a wide selection of drought-resistant plants, including plenty of California natives, at this annual sale. Gardeners in search of more exotic and unusual options can peruse a selection that features rare cycads and palms, carnivorous plants,…

Meet acclaimed cookbook author and New York Times columnist Melissa Clark and taste recipes and ingredients from her latest book, Dinner: Changing the Game. Sample three of the innovative recipes from the book: Cumin Chicken Meatballs with Green Chili Sauce, Zucchini and Cornmeal Cakes with Mint Chutney and Yogurt, and Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe and Almonds.…

Bay Area restaurants are stepping up to support ZeroFoodprint in the effort to help chefs and restaurants reduce their carbon footprint or “foodprint.” Participating restaurants donate $1 per diner on Earth Day, April 22, to fully offset carbon emissions from that day and support ZeroFoodprint’s work with other restaurants worldwide. The list of East Bay restaurants…

Home brewers and beer enthusiasts can mix and mingle at an American Homebrewers Association (AHA) Rally at 21st Amendment Brewery. Guests are invited to take a VIP tour of the San Leandro brewery, sample various beers, meet the 21st Amendment brewers and staff, and bring home prizes. Cost: Free to current AHA members. Join the AHA: here…

Bring the whole family to the garden and classroom at Alameda Natural Grocery, where kids get a tree planted in their name, seed bombs to plant, and a re-usable shopping bag to decorate. Enjoy healthy snacks at this event co-sponsored by Genuine Health, One Tree Planted, and Alameda Natural Grocery.   Also at the grocery this…

Treat yourself to a memorable Earth Day at a historic ranch and nature preserve. Don’t miss this rare chance to tour the meadows and woodland and to see the red-legged frogs and resident pond turtle. Guests can visit goats and parrots in the garden and take part in DIY gardening projects, nature arts and crafts,…

Spring Planting Tips The days are warming, and soon the soil will begin to dry out after the ongoing deluge of this very wet winter. Here are some tips to help you get great productivity from your spring plantings and set things up for an abundant summer season. Start by cultivating your space. As you…

Enjoy a rare chance to see the kitchen staff in action at Three Stone Hearth (TSH), a new model to the nation for community-supported kitchens. Find out why TSH was ahead of the curve with trends like bone broth and kombucha, and how pasture-raised chickens are connected to resilient communities. Chef Maeila Long teaches knife…

Join Edible East Bay staff at the UC Gill Tract Community Farm for a community celebration of Earth Day. In the morning, get your hands dirty by planting, harvesting, and prepping beds. Stay for a soup and salad lunch prepared from the farm’s harvest. Afternoon panel discussions cover a range of topics, from mugwort to movement…

We’re looking through our Instagram feed for the best photos of East Bay outdoor dining and summer foods to include in our Summer ’17 Issue. If you follow us on Instagram and post your best pix with #edibleeastbaysummer, you may get your work in print! Here are three recent favorites from our Instagram feed:   cityslickerfarms We’re…

Charoset, a mixture of fruit, nuts, and sweet Passover wine, is an integral part of the Passover seder, but recipes vary depending on country of origin and the ingredients available in that region at this time of year. Learn about these regional differences in offerings from Sandy Sonnenfelt, the prepared foods and pasta program director…

Join Lori Caldwell, the Compost Gal, for a talk on adding annual or perennial edibles to your garden. Learn about techniques for building healthy soil to increase yields, minimize pests and diseases, and use less water. Participants receive a handy reader for reference. Lori is a Master Composter, Stopwaste Educator, and owner of CompostGal: Consulting,…

When you enjoy a meal at Gather, Cancun, Elmwood Café, Ippuku, or any number of other participating restaurants on Thursday April 20, you’ll also be supporting Berkeley’s school gardens. Participating eateries donate at least 15{94d79dd6af1e87a94e700e4c297236468333f22e27ed5757b44711974a9a4b91} of the day’s proceeds to the Berkeley Public School Gardening & Cooking Program. Students in preschool through high school benefit from…

Rodgers Ranch offers a day of urban farm adventures along with an impressive plant sale. Thousands of organic vegetable seedlings, succulents, herbs, and native plants are available. Guests can tour the garden and soak up new ideas at classes on soil health, grey water, herbs, and olive oils. Bring the whole family and have a grand…

If you’re looking to start or continue a culinary career, you may be eligible for a James Beard Foundation scholarship. Since 1991, the Foundation has awarded over $7 million in financial aid to more than 1,850 recipients attending culinary schools, colleges, and universities. Working culinary professionals may apply for grants to fund experiential learning at farms,…

Feeling inspired by all the great food-themed art featured in Edible East Bay? Try creating some of your own! April 8 is a good time to go check out the art supplies at FLAX in Oakland as they hold their one-year anniversary in their new Oakland location. Roll up your sleeves and try arts and…

Magic and medicine surround us, if you know where to look. Take a WITCHES* Walking Tour of Oakland halfway around Lake Merritt, co-hosted with Rooted in Resilience. Along the way, you’ll see 22 medicinal herbs and plants. Learn about plant propagation, smudge wands, and how to use medicinal herbs and plants in your home. Light…

  They’re on a mission to end hunger: The Starfish Throwers, heroes of an award-winning documentary film, are three individuals who each find a way to feed thousands. A chef in India, a twelve-year-old gardener in South Carolina, and a retired schoolteacher in Minnesota reach out and make a significant difference for hungry people in…

  Farms to Grow, a nonprofit helping under-represented farmers create and maintain sustainable farms, is offering monthly community-supported agriculture (CSA) boxes this spring for $10 and $25. Participating farmers may be Black, Native American, Hispanic, or members of other minority groups; women; or farmers facing physical challenges. Find Farms to Grow and many other local CSA programs…

  Join three local olive oil experts—Roberta Klugman, Nancy Ash, and Kathryn Tomajan—for an interactive workshop and tasting. Sample five oils paired with foods that enhance and highlight various flavors. Learn about methods for growing and production, and hear recommendations on the selection, use, and storage of oils. Workshop leaders will dive into the important…

  Want to create or expand your backyard urban farm? BioFuel Oasis hosts its annual Urban Farm Day with free demos and workshops on gardening, backyard beehives, veggie fermentation, and kombucha making. A highlight is the chance to meet Stefani Bittner, co-author of Harvest: Unexpected Projects Using 47 Extraordinary Garden Plants. She will discuss ways to use…

If you’re a fan of the farmers’ market, go one step further and become a volunteer. CUESA, the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture, is looking for people to help out at the Jack London Square market and with education programs and events. Get an insider’s view of the market, learn about CUESA and…

For those interested in starting a butchery business or expanding a restaurant’s whole-animal program, Food Craft Institute serves up an intensive four-day course for meat professionals, chefs, and aspiring entrepreneurs. Develop your understanding of how to succeed in the meat industry, from sourcing and whole-animal butchery to running a charcuterie program, managing inventory, and setting…

Farm Fresh to You, an organic farm and CSA delivery program, kicks off a season of farm-based events with their Spring Equinox Farm Tour. Ride the tractor tram around the farm and learn about sustainable agriculture from chief farmer Thaddeus Barsotti. Taste products from surrounding farms and pick out fresh organic produce from the produce…

New tastes are in store during Livermore Valley’s annual wine country celebration. The event, formerly known as Barrel Tasting Weekend, has expanded and now also features craft brews and artisan spirits. Amateurs and experts alike are invited to experience the region’s wine, beer, and spirits, all made with outstanding attention and care. Cost: $45 in…

Join the founders of KW Botanicals and Five Flavors Herbs on March 17–19 for an educational excursion to the Southern California desert. Enjoy the flower bloom at its peak and learn about harvesting, preparation, and application of over 20 native medicinal plants. (California acupuncturists can log 10 hours class time/10 CEUs pending.) Practitioner Cost: $175; General public and…

Gardeners, landscapers, urban farmers, and other garden enthusiasts can donate or bring home plants, tools, and equipment at this free event. Yard art, mulch, goldfish, books, compost bins, and lawn furniture are also part of this lively exchange. The event features a live band, food trucks, gardening demos, and advice from the Alameda County Master…

Celebrate the many pleasures of artisanal cheesemaking at this annual weekend event. Guests enjoy farm and creamery tours, tastings, seminars, and (new this year) cheesemaker dinners. At the Ultimate Best Bite Competition, teams of cheesemakers, cheesemongers, and chefs compete and guests vote for their favorite bites. Meet Food Network stars The Cheese Twins, hosts of…

If you’re overdue for a culinary treat, head out to Garré Vineyard & Winery in Livermore Valley Wine Country. Winemaker Kyle Kekic and Chef Abe of Café Garré have pulled out all the stops to offer a special five-course meal paired with the vineyard’s handcrafted wines. Cost: $110. Info and reservations: garre@garrewinery.com or 925.371.8200 Dinner Menu Salmon…

Art Classes and Gratitude from our Cover Artist     Many of our readers are already huge fans of this issue’s cover artist Margo Rivera-Weiss. Margo’s whimsical, captivating images frequently appear in the magazine, and Margo also shares their* artistry through teaching. Serious heath issues in recent months have prevented Margo from teaching, but they’re…

Exchange home-grown garden seeds, meet local gardeners, and hear the latest legal news about seed sharing at the Annual Bay Area Seed Exchange presented by BASIL, a project of the Ecology Center. You can also enjoy a potluck supper and live music by Mud Fence at this lively event, which is co-sponsored by Transition Berkeley, Sustainable Economies…

Heavens, it’s raining again! You’re looking at all the flood news footage and thinking you may need to rent a canoe for that Napa Valley wine-tasting adventure you had planned. Well, no need for that. You’ll soon be able to set up in front of the big screen at home, open one of those prized…

  Celebrate the release of seven new wines and taste them with a variety of foods. Meet Donkey & Goat owners and winemakers, and savor the results of their natural winemaking process as you sample these new offerings: Isabel’s Cuvee (Rose), Eliza, The Bear, Perli Chardonnay, Skin Ferment Grenache Blanc, Untended Chardonnay, and Old Vine Carignane.…

  Take a leisurely walk through Berkeley’s Gourmet Ghetto while sampling local wines, craft beers, and mead. Try sweet and savory bites from neighborhood shops along the way: Enjoy chocolates, gelato, honey, soups, cheeses, pizza, and more. Bring family and friends for a chance to sip, stroll, and shop. Event proceeds benefit Martin Luther King Jr.…

  Meet Viktor Sinzig and Natalie Flechsig, whose new mobile app, Halfy Hour, just launched in the Bay Area. It alerts consumers about restaurant and bakery food available for half price. Food businesses often discard items that aren’t sold by the end of the day, even though the food is still good. Using Halfy Hour, business…

Come hear Brandi Campbell Wood, chief of staff to Mayor Jesse Arreguin, discuss proposed new legislation in support of urban agriculture that could increase the amount of food grown locally. Get the details on creating gardens in unoccupied residential lots, commercial zones, or hillside spaces, and hear about rooftop gardens and the process for starting…

  Enjoy an evening of film, including the documentary Homecoming and several shorts about the legacy of Black farming in the United States, United Kingdom, and Kenya. Cost: $5–$25 sliding scale, but no one turned away for lack of funds. Light refreshments served. Presented by Pollinate Farm & Garden and Farms to Grow, Inc., a group…

Marvel at the beauty and complexity of seeds and seed vessels at this exhibit by the Northern California Society of Botanical Artists on display at the UC Botanical Garden. Also at the garden this month: a tour showing how plants travel. Learn all about botanical fruit and seed adaptations, like slingshots, parachutes, hitchhikers, helicopters, and other clever…

Twenty positions are available for women who want to be mentored by leading chefs and restaurateurs. Now in its fourth year, the James Beard Foundation Women in Culinary Leadership program offers women already working in the industry a chance to develop in-depth skills either in the kitchen and/or in restaurant management. Applicants must have a minimum…

Over at Berkeley’s Fournée Bakery, owner and pastry chef Frank Sally has been perfecting his heart-shaped Chocolate Babka just in time for Valentine’s Day. It’s made with a sweet, buttery dough, and Sally swirls Valrhona chocolate throughout, then adds a hazelnut streusel topping. The special miniature babka is a perfect Valentine’s brunch item or dessert…

Dark Heart Chili Sauce will be at the LocaLove Pop-up Crafts Market selling an array of their savory and sweet chili sauces, some on the mild side and others with plenty of heat. Stop by the pop-up at CelerySpace to make hand-printed Valentines and shop for baked goods, coffee, textiles, jewelry, and more. Dark Heart was born…

It will be a lively afternoon at Alameda Natural Grocery‘s Chocolate Festival, with a variety of chocolate demos, wine tasting at Farmstead Cheeses & Wines, and live music by Our Fireside Romance. One lucky guest wins a basketful of chocolate goodies. The market also offers a terrific selection of local and organic produce, hard-to-find special diet…

Enter a paradise of bars, confections, and truffles at Berkeley’s Market Hall 8th annual For the Love of Chocolate. Local chocolatiers, including Barlovento and Charles Chocolates, offer samples, and executive pastry chef Sally Darling demonstrates techniques for chocolate decorating. Visitors can taste cheese pairings with dark and milk chocolates as well as a house-made mole sauce prepared…

Reclaiming Traditional Mexican Foods Meet the authors of Decolonize Your Diet as they discuss their popular cookbook celebrating foods native to the Americas. Professors Luz Calvo and Catrióna Rueda Esquibel share the research and philosophy that led to the book and discuss the healing properties of a diet rich in corn, beans, squash, herbs, and…

Ready, Set, SCOBY! Join Edible East Bay artist Lila Volkas for a lively evening of kombucha making. Learn to safely brew your own kombucha and find out about its health benefits like improved digestion and boosted energy. Everyone receives a starter kit and can enjoy kombucha samples made with teas from Teance. Kombucha is prepared…

Professionals and home cooks are invited to join expert olive oil taster Nancy Ash at Séka Hills Olive Mill in the Capay Valley for an exploration of extra-virgin olive oil. Tour the mill and learn to taste and evaluate oils made from different olive varieties and a range of producers in California and abroad. Enjoy food pairings developed…

The chefs at Tender Greens in Walnut Creek offer local Dungeness crab three ways: Housemade Dungeness Crab Ravioli, Dungeness Crab Cioppino, or Whole Garlic-Roasted Dungeness Crab. The chefs’ ongoing relationships with local fishers keeps prices affordable at $15 per plate. Enjoy an optional wine or beer pairing for an additional $5. Info: here or 925.937.5100  Dungeness…

Join Chef Lisa Books-Williams for a class that highlights gluten-free and low-glycemic recipes and eating strategies. Learn to prepare Berry Green Smoothie, Kale with a Kick Salad, Squash Hummus with Seed & Veggie Crackers, Red Lentil Stew with Cashew Sour Cream, and “Snicker” Balls. Participants receive generous samples of each item and recipes to take…

As photos of snowy scenes in the Sierra Nevada appear on our screens, I can’t help remembering the times I went with my dogs up to Hope Valley for a few days of cross-country skiing. Coming back to my cabin at Sorensen’s Resort all tired out and hungry, I could hardly wait to change out…

  Oakland Restaurant Week kicks off next Thursday with 11 days of prix fixe meals offered for lunch and/or dinner. On January 19–29, special menus will be available for $20, $30, $40, and $50 at popular eateries including Clove & Hoof, Miss Ollie’s, Lungomare, Shakewell, and Encuentro. Some restaurants donate a portion of Restaurant Week…

Join Pollinate Farm & Garden for “Fruit-Filled Sundays,” a series of workshops they are holding this year to help gardeners plant and tend bare-root fruit trees. At the first of these events, you’ll learn the basics of a scion exchange and how to make the best of upcoming winter exchanges, including the Berkeley event on January 21. Fruit…

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.  The…

For those seeking in-depth knowledge about soil ecology, Dr. Elaine Ingham offers her annual Compost Tea & Soil Food Web Intensive at GreenFriends Farm. Ingham is a renowned soil biologist who shares her know-how in this workshop for farmers, landscapers, ranchers, creators and distributors of agricultural products, waste management professionals, and soil and garden enthusiasts.…

  This annual juried crafts fair showcases affordable, handmade art and crafts and benefits KPFA 94.1 FM public radio. More than 200 exhibitors offer their handmade or limited-edition goods in a wide variety of media. Festive food and live music add to the experience. Admission: $12; $8 for seniors and people with disabilities. Free for…

The Berkeley Farmers’ Market hosts local artists, artisans, and crafters at this annual fair, now in its 25th year. Find an assortment of goods made using sustainable practices, such as upcycled messenger bags, wooden bowls, nontoxic jewelry, clothing made from local wool, and natural body care products. And like every week of the year, the…

Healthier giving is high on the Alameda County Community Food Bank’s wish list this year. The food bank, which serves one in five county residents, has teamed up with the nonprofit SuperFoodDrive to encourage nutritious food donations. If you’re participating in a canned food drive, opt for higher-nutrition items like quinoa, lentils, nuts, rolled oats, canned salmon…

This annual event organized by the Institute of Urban Homesteading offers small-batch, one-of-a-kind artisanal goodies. Sample an assortment of foods, sip some mead, and get to know other homesteading fans. Items available for purchase include syrups, mead and port wines, mustard, jam, handcrafted soap, beeswax candles, herb salt, butcher block conditioner, cayenne and ghost pepper…

A holiday market with plenty of creative flair pops up on Saturday at CelerySpace, a Berkeley gallery and workshop venue. Find unusual gifts, meet local artisans and makers, and munch on delicious food from Alicia’s Tamales Los Mayas. CelerySpace presents innovative graphic design, lifestyle products, fine art, fashion, and food. Their exhibits and workshops promote creativity,…

Blue Heart connects local artists, grassroots organizations, and supporters of social, environmental, and food justice. Started by Stanford grads Lindley Mease and Theo Gibbs, the group chooses a different organization each month and shares visual art and stories about that organization with its subscribers.  In December, Blue Heart donates funds to Planting Justice, an urban farming…

  Slow Food members and friends from around the world are invited to be part of a joyful recipe swap. Share a family recipe by December 10, and receive a recipe from someone else on December 15. Make a new friend in the process! Slow Food was started 30 years ago to focus on the…

For its final First Friday event of the year, Donkey & Goat serves up its fabulous wine by the glass or bottle, and the Del Popolo Pizza Truck rolls in with personal pies from the wood-fired oven. Live bluegrass adds to the fun, and local art is on display in the cellar gallery. Free admission. Info:…

Dine out on Thursday December 1 in Berkeley, and help school gardens thrive. Participating restaurants give a portion of their proceeds from that day and evening to the Berkeley Public Schools Gardening & Cooking Program, which brings garden-based education to pre-school through high school students. At Berkeley public schools, nutrition-based cooking classes are also offered…

  In our new issue, we’re serving up an array of holiday foods and crafts that help the honeybees. Don’t miss the buzz! We’re also highlighting warming foods from different cultures, Chef Paul Canales, trolls in the kitchen, and much more. Magazines will be appearing at local farmers’ markets and businesses over the coming days.…

  Experience a menu taste-test with The Well and Sacred Table. You’ll sample hot and cold herbal medicinal drinks, an array of seasonal, organic appetizers, and delicious raw, vegan desserts. Hosts will appreciate your direct feedback on the dishes you try. Nourish your body, mind, and soul at this event. Cost: $20–30. Info and tickets: here…

  How better to express love or gratitude than with a gift of farm-fresh food? Orinda’s Blue Egg Farm, currently featured in our CSA Guide, grows a diverse selection of beautiful and nutritious organic vegetables, fruits, and living microgreens along with fresh herbs and herbal bouquets. Farmer Kathleen Schwallie also offers gift boxes, pots, and…

Vegan favorite Sanctuary Bistro hosts a fundraising dinner to support the work of local nonprofit Fresh Approach. The three-course prix fixe meal costs $35, with 22.8{94d79dd6af1e87a94e700e4c297236468333f22e27ed5757b44711974a9a4b91} of proceeds going to benefit programs that connect low-income neighborhoods to farmers’ markets. Fresh Approach offers mobile markets in food desert areas as well as nutrition education and cooking…

Paint up a storm at Pinot’s Palette while helping grant a wish for a child with a life-threatening medical condition. Simply A Starry Night is a fundraiser benefiting Make-A-Wish® Greater Bay Area, which has made more than 6,000 wishes come true since their inception in 1984. Enjoy local East Bay wine, appetizers, a silent auction…

  Oakland Stock offers a chance to support local artists as you enjoy a scrumptious bowl of soup. Artists propose projects in need of funding and diners vote on their favorite. The winning artist takes home the funds generated by the dinner and then reports back on progress at the next Oakland Stock. At this…

Meet Dorie Greenspan and celebrate her newest cookbook as Market Hall Foods becomes a cookie pop-up. Sample treats from the book and from Market Hall Bakery, and pick up some tips at the cookie decorating demo. In Dorie’s Cookies, bakers can find cookies of every stripe for holiday events, cookie swaps, and even breakfasts, as well…

  EAT, at Crockett’s Epperson Gallery, serves up a combined gallery exhibition and retail event showcasing the form, function, folly, and beauty of dining. With artwork by two dozen local artists from across all mediums, EAT is also a retail space that brings together culinary crafts and artworks for the table and home. The show,…

    The Bg Craft Fest has become an annual tradition at Walnut Creek’s Bedford Gallery. Local vendors display fine handmade crafts, art, jewelry, home goods, clothing, artisanal foods, and more. This year, visitors can also enjoy hands-on maker workshops. Have some DIY fun creating personalized hand-lettered stationery, verdant seasonal wreaths, festive felt garlands, or…

Voters in Oakland, Albany, and San Francisco can follow Berkeley’s lead in establishing a soda tax. Measure 01 in Albany, Measure HH in Oakland, and Proposition V in San Francisco place a tax of one cent per ounce on the distribution of sugar-sweetened beverages such as soda, energy drinks, and presweetened teas. Consumption of sugary drinks…

Three local farmers’ markets host Halloween Harvest Festivals and costume parades this weekend. Get into the spirit of the season with a kids’ costume contest, mini-pumpkin decorating, and other seasonal crafts. Try to win a $50 prize by guessing the weight of a giant pumpkin. Enjoy the seasonal variety at the market as you shop…

Join Sophie Egan, author of Devoured: From Chicken Wings to Kale Smoothies—How What We Eat Defines Who We Are, for a discussion about the ways that our national character drives our food choices. In conversation with Berkeley School of Public Health (SPH) lecturer Jaspal Sandhu, Egan explores American food culture and habits, “diet” foods, holidays…

Join author and activist Peter McCoy to discuss his work and his new book, Radical Mycology. The event includes a reading and presentation on fungal ecology, mushroom cultivation, mycoremediation, and the role of mushrooms in health, medicine, and spirituality. Founded in 2006, Radical Mycology is a grassroots movement based on teaching the value of mushrooms…

Pumpkins, apples, and seasonal pies await at CUESA’s harvest celebration. Come down to the Jack London Square Farmers’ Market for a harvest festival complete with trick or treating, pumpkin decorating, apple cider pressing, a cooking demo, and green smoothies. Edible East Bay’s publisher and editor Cheryl Koehler will help to judge the Fall Pie Contest, an opportunity…

Taste dishes native to the Philippines as interpreted by top chefs at this culinary expo hosted by the nonprofit Filipino Food Movement. Enjoy ten unique tastings with offerings like Popcorn Chicken Sinigang, Pork Belly Adobo Congee, Dueling Fish Relleno, and a Mango Panna Cotta with Coconut Foam. At the Buksan Dinner (ticketed separately) five chefs…

Two experts dive into issues of food diversity. Jonathan Foley is executive director of the California Academy of Sciences and Simran Sethi is the author of Bread, Wine, Chocolate: The Slow Loss of Foods We Love. Sethi says that American foods consist primarily of just corn, wheat, rice, palm oil, and soybeans. She traveled to…

Meet Mark Bittman, author of the How to Cook Everything series, the award-winning Food Matters: A Guide to Conscious Eating, and New York Times bestseller VB6: Eat Vegan Before 6:00. Bittman has starred in four television series, including Showtime’s Emmy-winning Years of Living Dangerously. In 2015 he was a distinguished fellow at the University of California…

The East Bay Waldorf School welcomes the community for lively games, music, wholesome food, crafts, vendors, theatrics, marionette puppet shows, and more. Be sure to taste the special harvest soup. Admission is free. Game tickets, food, and wares for sale. Info: here Saturday October 15, 11am–3pm Harvest Fair at East Bay Waldorf School 3800 Clark…

SAGE (Sustainable Agriculture Education) welcomes the public to a festive open house at the Sunol AgPark. Bring the whole family to explore the different farms, meet the farmers, and celebrate the season. Learn about the organizations involved with the AgPark, and enjoy the pumpkin patch, farmers’ market stand, gardening workshops, and kids activities like making corn-husk…

  Culinary co-working space Forage Kitchen launches with a public opening as part of Oakland’s First Fridays. Founded by cousins and food entrepreneurs Iso Rabins and Matt Johansen, this incubator for startup food businesses provides kitchen workspace, a communal office area, and business resources. Rabins and Johansen hope to create a community of working chefs, novices,…

More than 2,500 plants will change hands at Oakland’s Plant Exchange, where gardeners, landscapers, urban farmers, and outdoor enthusiasts from around the Bay Area swap a huge variety of plants as well as tools, other garden items, yard art, mulch, goldfish, books, equipment, compost bins, and lawn furniture. Master gardeners and plant specialists are on…

Indie bookstore Mrs. Dalloway’s hosts a brief talk with Stanley Ginsberg, author of The Rye Baker: Classic Breads from Europe and America. You’ll get to taste recipes from the book– a collection of more than 70 classics spanning rye’s regions and terroir.  Free.  Info: here Meet the author of The Rye Baker: Classic Breads from…

    You’ll find an abundance of good foods and amusements at this favorite annual event in Oakland’s Rockridge district. The Picnic With Market Hall features products, tastings, and chef demos from Market Hall Foods (formerly known as The Pasta Shop), Hapuku Fish Shop, Marin Sun Farms, Market Hall Bakery, Market Hall Produce, Paul Marcus…

  Each year Emeryville celebrates its thriving arts community with a juried show highlighting the work of both established and emerging artists and craftspeople. Open to artists who live or work in Emeryville, the exhibition features paintings, sculpture, photographs, ceramics, textiles, jewelry, furniture, and glass works. At the gala public reception on October 7, you…

  Round loaves of challah are traditional during Rosh Hashanah, when pieces of the eggy bread are dipped into honey to represent hopes for a sweet new year. Market Hall pastry chef Neucimar “Nel” Dias da Silva adapted this recipe from one he learned while attending a bakery conference at the Culinary Institute of America at…

  Join in for an afternoon pig roast including live music, locally produced wines, and hard cider. Savor a meal of roast pig, all the sides, and dessert, presented by the producers at Riggers Loft: R&B Cellars, Carica Wines, Irish Monkey Cellars, and Far West Cider Company. Enjoy the great views right on the Bay…