Newsletter

  Visit the historic Wagner Ranch Nature Area and celebrate the olive with tastings and cooking demos. Take a docent tour of the ranch, which is a nature preserve that offers hands-on experiential education for 1,000 school children each year. Meet turtles and baby goats and enjoy nature arts and crafts, food, music, and garden…

  Biofuel Oasis offers an afternoon of free urban farming workshops and a chance to taste and vote for the best East Bay honey. Learn about edible flowers, backyard beehives, raising baby chicks, grey water harvesting, biochar, and more. Celebrate the harvest with a 10{94d79dd6af1e87a94e700e4c297236468333f22e27ed5757b44711974a9a4b91} discount on all store items and 10 cents/gallon off on…

  The annual Foods of the Americas Exhibition showcases an array of crops, from chocolate to quinoa, that originated in the Americas thousands of years ago. Come enjoy various special events associated with the exhibit: a family day featuring corn husk dolls, tastings, and crafts; a presentation on food biodiversity and forgotten crops; and a…

    The first hints of autumn are in the air, along with the scents of seasonal treats from a magical culinary crew—the trolls! You might be surprised, but the trolls have a thing or two to teach us about food. As explored in The Troll Cookbook (Dromedary Press, 2016), troll cooks combine fresh local ingredients…

At the annual Fall Plant Sale at Merritt College, find water-wise options, native plants, succulents and cacti, and a wonderful variety of winter edibles. Activities on Saturday include demonstration tables, mushroom cultivation, floral design, a children’s corner, local food, and more. Sunday features plant sales only. Parking is limited at the Horticulture Department, so please…

This annual celebration at Full Belly Farm features traditional arts and crafts, hay rides, farm tours, fresh food, nature walks, and hands-on workshops. It’s a chance to learn about rural living and local agriculture while also enjoying games, contests, music, and dancing. Advance registration is required for Sunday workshops. Camping in the orchard is available. Cost:…

This sale offers a broad selection of water-wise plants, including many California natives and a wide array of lawn replacement options. Find exotic and unusual plants including rare cycads and palms, carnivorous plants, cacti, and succulents. Expert staff and volunteers are on hand to answer questions, offer advice, and help you create a drought-resistant garden.…

  Entrepreneurs looking to open a business can learn from the masters in this professional development course offered by Oakland’s Food Craft Institute (FCI). Develop the skills and knowledge to launch a craft beer business as you learn from top brewpub owners and micro-brewers about sourcing equipment and ingredients as well as managing finances and…

Seed sharers can celebrate a new law, just signed by Governor Brown, that removes regulatory barriers which previously threatened seed libraries and other non-commercial seed sharing. The California Seed Exchange Democracy Act, an amendment to the California Seed Law, exempts non-commercial seed-sharing from the labeling, testing, and permitting required by commercial seed businesses. The new…

Fiber artists from Nevada County display and sell their handmade art and wares at Berkeley Horticultural Nursery. Visitors can purchase handwoven scarves, shawls, and towels, as well as fleece blankets, hand-spun yarns, felted items, and more. Artist Sierra Mohr gives a presentation on the art of wet felting at 10:30am, food vendors provide treats, and…

Bring a good appetite to this high-energy street-food festival, where you’ll find a delicious variety of food and drink made from regionally sourced, sustainably produced ingredients. The popular annual event, now in its 8th year, features street food from regional food trucks and vendors, all priced at $8 or less. Look for an array of…

Edible East Bay invites readers to taste a sweet array of new tomato varieties from the tomato breeders at Baia Nicchia and Wild Boar Farms. You’ll get to meet the farmers, Fred Hempel and Brad Gates, and taste their outstanding tomatoes, perhaps a Maglia Rosa Cherry, Black Beauty, or even a Michael Pollan. Then taste the tomatoes…

Perhaps you already know that millets are gluten free and contain more protein, minerals, vitamins, and fiber than wheat, corn, or rice. Visit The Millet Project at the UC Gill Tract Farm to see millets growing, meet the farmers and UC Berkeley researchers involved in the project, and taste millet beer, chips, and bread. Millets are…

Join ZeroFoodprint to explore whether or not to eat beef in light of its production effects on climate change. A foodprint is a meal’s carbon footprint or the amount of carbon-dioxide-equivalent emissions produced by that meal. Learn about beef production, grass-fed beef, and related issues through a panel discussion moderated by ZeroFoodprint and Chris Ying of…

  Edible Communities, the publishing umbrella for Edible magazines, hosts Edible Institute, a one-day conference on the Future of Food. Leaders from diverse sectors of the food industry gather in Chicago for this forum about challenges and opportunities that will impact the way we source, view, and share food. Presentations are of special interest to…

Transform your lawn through sheet mulching, a layered mulch system that improves soil health, manages weeds without herbicides, and increases soil permeability. At this workshop, learn about sheet-mulch techniques like edging, planting small and large specimens, and laying down cardboard. Sheet mulching can be used to establish a landscape or to enrich existing plantings. Workshop…

  Gardener and educator Sameer Tyagi invites the public to his Heirloom Tomato Maze, made with 370 hay bales, 200 heirloom tomato varieties, and 1,800 plants. Sample a selection of tomatoes, dig in for a gardening workshop, and pick fresh tomatoes, herbs, and veggies. Instead of soil, Tyagi uses partially decomposed hay bales to grow…

Berkeley winery Donkey & Goat spotlights local makers at upcoming First Friday events. Spend a relaxing evening at the winery sipping Donkey & Goat’s natural wines, and enjoy tasty foods, live music, and high-spirited yard games. September’s event lineup features  The Pacific Salsa Company, music by Anthony Presti, and local art from El Shamanico. Free admission.…

Join the indoor “picnic” on the future site of People’s Community Market as Real Food Real Stories brings together storytelling, live music, and food prepared by local chefs. The event features an intimate discussion with community organizer and social entrepreneur Brahm Ahmadi, who shares his story of advocating for a healthier food system and building People’s…

Learn to create realistic roses from crepe paper with Lynn Dolan of Castle in the Air. Il Fiorello offers this class as part of its Crepe Paper Botanical Series. You’ll make beautiful roses using high-quality European paper, artists’ chalk, scissors, wire, and glue. Il Fiorello hosts a wide variety of culinary and culinary-related classes. Cost: $75…

Urban vintners Bob Rawson and Fred Dick got their start making wine in Rawson’s San Francisco garage. This month the duo celebrates ten years of small-batch winemaking at Berkeley’s Urbano Cellars, known for its eclectic mix of Mediterranean-inspired wines and its popular blends in refillable one-liter bottles. Urbano sources its wine grapes from Northern California…

Tune in to FOODBIZ to learn about Eat.Think.Design, the wildly popular UC Berkeley course now available online. Meet Professor Jaspal Sandhu as he discusses the new online version of the course and how to apply design thinking to food, innovation, and health. Sandhu talks with Food Business School Dean Will Rosenzweig about the five-week online course,…

  Slow Food East Bay, Transition Berkeley, and The Ecology Center host a screening of A Place at the Table, a film about the implications of hunger in the United States. This thought-provoking exploration also offers solutions to ponder and act on. Please bring a dish to share at a community potluck before the screening. Following…

Food trucks will roll up near Emeryville’s Public Market each month beginning on Saturday afternoon, August 20. Off the Grid announces the launch of a new third Saturdays food truck event that features a wide variety of foods, curated live music, community partnerships, and children’s activities. Info: here Off the Grid: Emeryville Public Market Saturday…

Wander through the rows at Berkeley Horticultural Nursery to admire nature- and food-themed works by local artists. Pieces on view and for sale include watercolor and Chinese brush painting as well as sculpture and photography. Meet exhibiting artists Susan Ashley, Helen Krayenhoff, Keeyla Meadows, Don Melandry, Margo Rivera-Weiss, and Joan Yao, and enjoy live music…

Join in and share your DIY or DIT (do it together) skills at the family-friendly East Bay Mini Maker Faire. Interactive exhibits or those showing the process of making things are in high demand. Many crafts are welcome, including homesteader and domestic arts, textiles, arts and crafts, ceramics, glass, puppets, electronics, robotics, bicycles, and human-powered…

Join Kitchen on Fire chef Olive Said and nutrition consultant Lisa Miller for two market-related events this month. On August 18 at the North Berkeley Farmers’ Market, the duo offers demos on how to prepare local, seasonal produce. On August 20, they team up for a Farmers’ Market class at Kitchen on Fire, starting with a…

CUESA, the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture, seeks new volunteers to help out at farmers’ markets and with education programs and events. At an upcoming orientation, learn how to get involved at the Jack London Square market in Oakland or the Ferry Plaza market in San Francisco. Get the scoop on the history…

    Dubbed the largest street festival west of the Mississippi, this event features 600 booths selling handmade arts and crafts, a gourmet marketplace, live music, and children’s activities. Dozens of food vendors offer specialty foods ranging from marinades and chutneys to handmade pastas and desserts. Many of the food booths are run by nonprofits…

A Special Cookbook, a Special Brentwood Farm Come out to Brentwood to meet the First Generation Farmers. Their unique nonprofit community farm has a mission of facilitating food access within the local community, while also “conserving natural resources, providing public education, access to open space, and promoting beginning farmers, ranchers, and agripreneurs.” This event is centered…

  Explore the world in a cup with the new Oakland Indie Coffee Passport. Support Oakland’s indie cafés by purchasing a $13 passport valid for a drink at each of 11 participating shops. Visit cafes throughout the city like Red Bay Coffee Roasters, Enssaro Café, 1812 Coffee Company, Beulah’s Bean Truck, and more. Each stop…

  More than 100 speakers—scientists, farmers, environmentalists, elected officials, grassroots organizers, and food justice advocates—offer their expertise at this international conference. Learn about agro-ecology, biodiversity, climate justice, clean energy, and more at a variety of workshops, plenary sessions, and networking opportunities. Andrew Kimbrell, founder and executive director of Center for Food Safety, gives this year’s…

From Mark Bitterman’s Field Guide to Bitters and Amari: 500 Bitters; 50 Amari; 123 Recipes for Cocktails, Food and Homemade Bitters (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2015) Used with permission from the publisher.  Read our review by Kristina Sepetys. Makes 4 servings You shoot a bird. You light a fire. You muster some African spices. You grab…

Taste award-winning wines from Paso Robles Wine Country in an event at Oakland’s Scottish Rite Center. Meet the winemakers and owners, and learn about California’s third-largest wine-producing region. Evening admission of $45 includes wine tasting, cheese and charcuterie, and a Paso Robles Wine Country logo wine glass. Events for members of the wine buying trade…

Food First brings together an expert panel to look at how, why, and by whom food is wasted. Join Marcy Coburn of the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA), Evan Hazelett of Imperfect Produce*, and Brianna McGuire of Foodfully for a dialogue on the implications of food waste, the opportunities for food justice, and…

Capay Organic Farm hosts its 9th annual Tomato Festival with tastings, tours, live music, and camping in the orchards. Sample heirloom and cherry tomato varieties and vote for your favorites. Bring a picnic or purchase farm-fresh, locally made food and drinks. The winner of the Best Guest Picnic Contest receives three complimentary deliveries of organic produce…

Kitchen witchery is afoot! Join Lila Volkas for a magical lesson on brewing healing kombucha with medicinal herbs. Learn about the history and health benefits of this beverage made from sweetened tea fermented by a SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast). Sample an aphrodisiac kombucha, if you feel daring, or relax with anxieTEA kombucha.…

By Katie Gatlin A Fentons Creamery tour offers plenty of retro charm. With the happy cow mascot, daily-churned ice creams (20 kinds behind a bright glass case), sunshiny families celebrating birthdays, and couples sharing high-piled sundaes, I feel like I’m on a set for Grease or The Music Man. Founded in 1894, Fentons is an…

  Bay Area chocolatiers from Barlovento Chocolates, TCHO, Poco Dolce Chocolates, and Dandelion Chocolate welcome students into their kitchens to study the art and science of chocolate making for this Food Craft Institute intensive course. Learn about the hands-on techniques that produce outstanding tastes. Explore the thriving local chocolate scene, from large-scale production to in-house confectionery. Registration…

Throughout July, the Ecology Center hosts events to inform and engage the public about reducing plastic waste and finding alternatives to household plastic use. Check out their films, discussions with experts, a shoreline cleanup at the Berkeley Marina, and special activities at the Berkeley farmers’ markets. Learn about California’s plastic bag ban, which will be on…

Celebrate Bastille Day at Rockridge Market Hall with tastings, cooking demos, and storytelling. Sample traditional French recipes, artisanal cheeses, and a memorable selection of pantry ingredients. Meet Kitty Keller, founder of KL Keller Foodways, and hear stories about her adventures in France. Keller sources and imports those harder-to-find French ingredients from farmers and producers she…

It’s true, you’ve always harbored a secret desire to participate in the encierro (running of the bulls) at the fiestas of San Fermin, which are held the second week of July each year in Pamplona, Spain. Perhaps easier to work into your busy schedule this week would be a quick trip to Walnut Creek, where purveyor…

Drake’s Brewing Company debuts a summer IPA with proceeds donated to the East Bay Regional Parks Foundation. Kick Back is a Session IPA (4.3{94d79dd6af1e87a94e700e4c297236468333f22e27ed5757b44711974a9a4b91} alcohol by volume) with notes of tangerine, peach, and guava. It’s available through September at the brewery and at the park district’s concerts at Crab Cove on July 8 and August…

Oakland-based Chef Caesare Assad interprets traditional Native American dishes at an intimate San Francisco pop-up dinner. Chef Assad pays tribute to her mentor, Potawatomi Chef Loretta Barrett Oden, through interpretations of recipes developed by Chef Oden. The six-course meal features Seka Hills olive oil, heirloom vegetables from Full Belly Farm, and locally sourced salmon, quail,…

East Bay folks who like to station themselves on the bay shore for Independence Day fireworks are often rewarded with a show on every horizon. “You can see them going off in Berkeley, Marin, and San Francisco from here,” says R&B Cellars winemaker Barbara Brown of the upcoming fireworks. It’s easy to see how that’s…

Small U.S. family farms can apply for a $20,000 grant from Beekman 1802, which gives away 25{94d79dd6af1e87a94e700e4c297236468333f22e27ed5757b44711974a9a4b91} of profits from its Farm Pantry products. The business was cofounded by former city slickers Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Brent Ridge, stars of the reality TV show The Fabulous Beekman Boys as well as cookbook authors and farmers in…

Celebrate Latino culture with dance performances, a dance contest, food vendors, and a classic car show. Fruitvale First highlights the area’s Latino diversity as well as the cultural activities, restaurants, nonprofits, and community groups that enrich the neighborhood. Enjoy Aztec dancers, Afro-Cuban rumba, samba, and folklorico dance. Savor a variety of tastes from food trucks…

Spend a delicious evening in the Central Valley as farmers showcase their bounty of organic stone fruit. Thirteen farmers offer sun-sweetened peaches, plums, pluots, nectarines, apricots, and apriums, including heirloom varieties rarely found in grocery stores. Sample the fruit, take some home, and enjoy farm tours, a pie-making demo, crafts for kids, a Japanese tea…

The KPFA Summer Crafts Fair lights up the Craneway Pavilion this weekend, with more than 170 artists offering handmade jewelry, clothing, leather goods, pottery, sculpture, paintings, great gifts for Father’s Day, and much more. The fair benefits KPFA 94.1 FM public radio and also features food artisans offering samples and selling locally made products. A…

The People’s Community Market has secured a site and is holding a party to celebrate. The West Oakland grocery store will offer affordable, healthy foods as well as community resources and events. Community members can purchase shares to help fund the construction. Come see the site, meet the team behind the project, and enjoy a BBQ,…

Explore the world of insects, from the beautiful to the bizarre, on Bug Day at the UC Botanical Garden. Learn about plant-eating bugs and bug-eating plants at this family-friendly interactive event that features live insects, butterfly and bee crafts, honey tasting, and more. Entry is free with garden admission. Free shuttle service from the Lawrence…

Learn why Three Stone Hearth (TSH) believes in adding liver to ground meat dishes, nixtamalizing their polenta and cornmeal in lime, and culturing everything from milk to mushrooms. Spend the day with co-founder Jessica Prentice and explore the philosophy and practices that underlie their cooking. Come away with an understanding of traditional diets and how to…

Join CUESA for a lively stone fruit tasting, and try to name your fruits. Sample a luscious selection of the season’s best peaches, plums, nectarines, apricots, pluots, and plumcots at the Jack London Square Farmers’ Market. Try new flavors, and learn to tell, perhaps, an Arctic Queen from a Diamond Pearl. Find the tasting adjacent…

Come out to support a kitchen that reduces food waste, creates nutritious meals, and provides jobs for people who were formerly homeless. Meet guest speaker Robert Egger, advisor to the project and founder of DC Central Kitchen and LA Kitchen. Enjoy tastings cooked up by Alameda Kitchen Chef Harold using cosmetically imperfect food, and sip…

Soul Food Farm welcomes visitors to its annual marketplace for antiques, vintage jewelry and furnishings, retro décor, and other unique collectables. Relax in the lavender fields, enjoy a variety of offerings by local chefs, and settle in for a picnic in the olive orchard. Farm and food vendors offer an array of items including honey, lotions,…

City Slicker Farms announces the opening of its West Oakland Farm Park, where you’ll find an outdoor play space plus community garden plots and nutrition education. The celebratory weekend starts this Saturday with a free community meal made with produce grown on site as well as tours, gardening classes, and cooking demos. Workshops and cooking demos…

California’s edible and medicinal plants have been used since prehistoric times for a variety of  nutritional and therapeutic benefits. This full-day workshop at the UC Botanical Garden covers topics ranging from an introduction to major bioregions and plant communities to harvesting guidelines and safety issues. Class includes an interactive lecture, sampling of plant preparations, and…

EDDY’s voting wraps up tomorrow, and we need your votes! As many of our readers have heard by now, three of our 2015 pieces were nominated for Edible Communities EDDY awards. One of them (Scott Peterson’s video about seed saving) is currently in first place. If Scott’s video wins the EDDY, it will help us…

Downtown Berkeley becomes a hub for writers and readers this weekend as the Bay Area Book Festival highlights 300 authors in panel discussions and interviews. For food and cooking enthusiasts, a panel on Why We Cook What We Cook includes urban farmer Novella Carpenter and chef Tanya Holland. For cooks with a scientific bent, James…

Donkey & Goat Winery welcomes summer with First Friday art, music, and wine events at its Tasting Room. This Friday, enjoy soulful music by Jessica Jarvis, meet Oakland oil painter Ian Reynold, and view his work. Donkey & Goat’s handmade natural wines are available by the glass and bottle and taste just right with treats…

Come on over to Grabishfarm for a whole-hog, farm-to-fork dinner served in the pasture. Chef Craig DiFonzo of Oakland’s Lungomare, Chef Lev Delany of Oakland’s Chop Bar, and Winemaker Curt Schalchlin of Sans Liege Wines offer a memorable snout-to-tail feast using one of the farm’s heritage Mulefoot hogs along with foods grown on the farm. Tour the farm…

Please vote to help Edible East Bay win a Readers’ Choice EDDY Award. Voting continues through June 8 for the EDDY Awards. Scott Peterson’s video about a local seed saving activist is in first place, but another video is gaining ground. Vote daily to keep us in first place! Edible East Bay is part of…

Looking for summertime inspiration for your favorite teen? Berkeley cooking school Kitchen on Fire is offering Summer Teen Culinary Camps with a focus on international cuisine. Each day is dedicated to a different part of the world, starting in Europe and wrapping up in the Middle East and North Africa. Campers of all skill levels are welcome and…

This event offers a double benefit: Delight in French-inspired dishes and premium wines while also supporting meals for homebound seniors. A Taste of France benefits Meals on Wheels of Alameda County, which delivers 530,000 meals to seniors each year. Top chefs from local restaurants such as Italian Colors, Ozumo, Bellanico Restaurant & Wine Bar , Chop Bar,…

  Dancers Nina Haft & Co. present a site-specific performance and conversation about water and climate change. Starting at the Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center (HSIC), the public is invited to join the dancers and naturalists from the Center along a 2.5-mile loop of coast trail. Immerse yourself in an experience of dance, music, and nature, followed…

Join Green Tortoise Adventure Travel for a fun and memorable weekend retreat on a horse- and solar-powered biodynamic farm in Mendocino County. This is a chance for an up-close view of the spiritual, ethical, and ecological farming methods used by founders Stephen and Gloria Decatur. Guests will visit a solar energy facility and enjoy farm-fresh meals,…

Edible East Bay is part of Edible Communities, a network of more than 80 Edible magazines published in locations across North America. Each year, the EDDY Awards honor the best stories in various categories as well as best photography and digital content. Edible East Bay is thrilled to have three nominees in the running this…

  Taste Fruitvale’s Latino delicacies, find out about ingredients in Latino cooking, and pick up some cooking secrets from local bakers and cooks. Learn about the neighborhood’s rich Latino history, murals, and culture as you enjoy a walk from Peralta Hacienda to Foothill and back. Professor Alex Saragoza leads the walk and local merchants share…

The Ecology Center hosts this annual festival alongside the Saturday farmers’ market. All-ages activities include games, dancing, performances, and contests in hula hooping and skateboarding. Build a puppet, make art in the create-with-nature zone, check out the bike library, and explore family-friendly science. Free. Info: 510.548.3333 or here Annual Family Fun Festival Saturday May 28, 10am–2pm…

Learn to prepare umeboshi (sometimes also called sour plum or pickled plum), a classic Japanese pickle made from the ume fruit, which is like a sour apricot or plum. Join author Sonoko Sakai and Pollinate Farm & Garden for an in-depth, hands-on session all about making umeboshi. Considered a digestive aid, umeboshi is eaten alone or…

Oakland’s blockbuster literary event features 60 writers engaged in lively conversation and debate. The day’s panels are intriguing and far-reaching, ranging from The Uncanniness of Altruism to Revolution in the Middle East. This free gathering also welcomes young readers with book-making projects sponsored by Oakland’s Museum of Children’s Art (MOCHA), readings hosted by the Oakland…

See urban and suburban farming in action at two upcoming tours offered by The Institute of Urban Homesteading. This weekend, visit a small East Oakland property and meet some of its residents: rabbits, bees, chickens, goats, ducks, quail, cats, and a pig. Pet the animals, ask their owners questions, and enjoy tastes of the cheese…

Join the Fremont Chamber of Commerce in a celebration of California’s craft breweries. Sample an impressive variety of beers, and savor the wine, burgers, sliders, and other food truck specialties. Visit art and craft vendors and local businesses at the Gourmet Marketplace and the Business Marketplace. Live music and a DJ keep the day lively…

Visit Grabishfarm to celebrate and learn about International Heritage Breeds Day. According to the nonprofit Livestock Conservancy, modern animal agriculture has led to a tremendous loss of genetic diversity as many traditional livestock breeds have been replaced by “improved” breeds. Across the country, events like this open house are raising awareness about endangered heritage breeds…

Paper, wire, and glue are all it takes to create beautiful botanical art. In the first class in this series, make your own woodland strawberry plant. Learn to cut and mold high-quality European crepe paper to mimic the delicate blossoms, leaves, roots, and sparkling fruit of Fragaria vesca. Use artist chalks and alcohol markers to…

Our readers have long been excited about the recipes paired with beautiful photos or illustrations in our magazine and newsletter. For cooks and eaters alike, we’ve posted these recipes for soups, salads, sides, appetizers, entrees, and desserts on our Pinterest page. Dig in!

Ever wondered what makes an olive oil “extra virgin” and which brands are best? Come to the Pasta Shop to taste a variety of oils from top producers and explore different intensities and flavor profiles. Get your questions answered by experts, marinate some goat cheese or bocconcini (little balls of mozzarella), and try unusual pairings like…

The Grass Up! educational campaign run by Organic Valley welcomes the public to a gathering that’s all about creating a sustainable food future. Meet farmers, scientists, educators, and activists, and sample seasonal organic food and cocktails. At a series of learning stations, experts on soil, pastures, climate change, pollinators, and seeds are eager to discuss…

  Celebrate 20 years of edible education at the Edible Schoolyard Plant Sale, an event for the whole community. Get your garden started or give it a boost with tomatoes, vegetables, fruit trees and berries, herbs, perennials, annual flowers, and plenty of gardening advice. Enjoy locally made food, a beer garden, student-led tours, live music,…

Imagine a cross between a farmers’ market and a county fair, complete with food, music, dancing, and goods sold by local artisans, and you’ve got a good idea of what to expect at Happy Girl Kitchen’s Barn Fair. Enjoy homemade jams from Happy Girl, tarts by pastry chef Jenny Raven, coffee from Four Barrel, flower…

Congratulations to Clover Stornetta as it marks 100 years of serving up divine dairy products! The family-owned business has collaborated with Northern California farms since 1916, when the Petaluma Cooperative Creamery started to distribute Clover’s dairy items to stores and customers. The only U.S. dairy certified by the American Humane Association for its animal welfare…

This sale offers a wide selection of drought-resistant plants including many California natives. For lawn replacements, find different varieties of drought-resistant clumping grasses and plants. In addition, gardeners can delight in the exotic and unusual: rare cycads and palms, carnivorous plants, cacti and succulents, and more. The UC Botanical Garden’s expert staff and volunteers are…

  At this sale, gardeners can find perennial vegetables, rare fruits, and heirloom annual edibles, plus drought-tolerant plants, California natives, Mediterranean climate plants, and choice herbs. The impressive selection of veggies include kalettes, peppers, bumble-bee tomatoes, and “Michael Pollan” tomatoes. The plant sale takes place both days, but the food, live music, and vendors are…

Chef and fisherman Kevin Butler of Real Good Fish, a community supported fishery, joins the team at Niles Pie Co. to prepare a local seafood feast. Convivial communal tables make this four-course meal of Creamy Smoked Cod Chowder; Spring Herb Salad; Local Monterey Bay Sole Stuffed with Leeks, Mushrooms, and Goat Cheese; and Roasted Rhubarb…

In this porcine-themed culinary competition, five renowned local chefs create dishes prepared from whole, locally raised heritage breed pigs. This is an all-you-can-eat (and drink) event, as you cheer on the winner, who competes at the Grand Cochon event held in Aspen in June. Proceeds benefit the heritage pig charity Piggy Bank, a farm of…

Bring the whole family to the historic Wagner Ranch Nature Area for a free festival in honor of Earth Day. The event features Native American singers and drummers, nature crafts and games, frontier chemistry, docent tours through the ranch property, food, music, and the chance to test drive an electric BMWi3. The 134-year-old ranch serves…

Celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards in Livermore wine country. In 2010, Wente Vineyards received the Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing designation, and it’s one of the only wineries to certify every aspect of its business. Join fourth-generation winegrower Carolyn Wente for a festive anniversary dinner featuring a four-course meal paired with the…

  Get adventurous as you explore the art of pickling and fermenting fish with Kirk Lombard of Sea Forager, Willow Blish of Slow Food, and Andrew Renard, Three Stone Hearth’s Fermentation and Preservation Lead. Learn about fish seasonality and explore pickling lesser-known species. Try your hand at ojingeojeot (a Korean salted and fermented squid) plus Thai…

Market Hall Pastry Chef Neucimar Dias Da Silva grew up in Brazil, where coconut is plentiful. Here is his unique recipe for coconut macaroons, a Passover favorite. “[In Brazil], we have some kind of macaroons made with fresh coconut that contains no flour or egg whites. Instead of sugar, it is made with condensed milk.…

  The New Mediterranean Jewish Table: Old World Recipes for the Modern Home by Joyce Goldstein (University of California Press, 2016) Joyce Goldstein, former Chez Panisse chef and owner of Square One in San Francisco, has produced an extensive and authoritative guide to Jewish home cooking from North Africa, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Spain, Portugal, and…

Local author Sarah Henry and photographer Erin Scott have collaborated on a delightful new book about California farms and the people who grow and harvest our food. Farmsteads of the California Coast: With Recipes from the Harvest by Sarah Henry, with photos by Erin Scott. (Yellow Pear Press, 2016). Award-winning journalist Sarah Henry, one of…

Lace up your sneakers and come out to Capay Valley for a 5K run with farmer Thaddeus Barsotti and his family. Runners and walkers of all abilities are welcome. After the run, enjoy a farm talk with Thaddeus, tractor-tram rides, a petting zoo, arts & crafts, a harvest activity, and farm tours between 11am and…

Emeryville caterer Paulding & Company hosts a pop-up fundraiser to support their summer camp scholarship fund. Paulding & Co’s COOK! programs teach basic cooking skills, specialized cuisines, and kitchen science for kids ages 9–18. The COOK! fundraiser showcases the talents of teen chefs, who will gather earlier in the day to whip up a feast for lucky…

A group of esteemed experts talk about the U.S. food system and the health impacts of food insecurity. The lively debate will focus on creating communities where nutritious food is accessible and affordable. Speakers include Doria Robinson of Urban Tilth, Dr. Hilary Seligman of the Center for Vulnerable Populations at San Francisco General Hospital, and…

Building a robust Northern California grain economy is the ultimate goal as farmers, bakers, scientists, policy experts, and educators gather at the 2016 Community Grains Conference. Geologist and author David Montgomery starts us off as keynote speaker, and conference topics include seed supply, the meaning of “good farming,” soil health, and the nutritional value of…

  The energetic staff over at The Town Kitchen has been busy turning out scrumptious salads and sandwiches while building community ties throughout the East Bay. This time last year, the Oakland business that hires and trains low-income youth had delivered just 1,000 lunches: this month they delivered boxed lunch # 20,000. Known for building partnerships…

Does white-water rafting plus gourmet wine and food sound just about perfect? If so, join Michael Dashe of Dashe Cellars for his annual rafting and wine tasting trip down Oregon’s Rogue River. Experienced river guides lead the journey and take care of all the cooking and clean-up so you can enjoy the adventure and savor…

Delight in the work of Berkeley artist David Lance Goines, creator of memorable posters for Chez Panisse, Acme Bread, Mr. Espresso, and numerous other local businesses. Goines attended UC Berkeley and founded Berkeley’s Saint Hieronymus Press in 1968, where he still designs his work and prints it by letterpress and photo-offset lithography. Along with the…

Imagine the excitment of watching 80 highly trained dogs and their handlers demonstrate their skills for livestock work. Plan on an entertaining day as the dogs move sheep around a large course and vie for a place at the National Sheepdog Finals in September. Bring binoculars and a blanket or folding chairs. (Please leave Rufus…

In the first of several spring workshops organized by Slow Food East Bay, you can share the kitchen with chef Kevin Butler of Real Good Fish. The session includes instruction in various ways to dry, cure, and smoke fish to preserve it for future eating. Get hands-on experience with salmon (or black cod, depending on…

Taste some of the flavorful new wines being developed in Livermore Valley, where 35 wineries take part in the 8th Annual Barrel Tasting Weekend. Part of the booming Tri-Valley region, Livermore Valley has become a noteworthy wine region of California. Take advantage of this opportunity to meet winemakers and taste an assortment of wines right…

Meet California’s top artisan cheese makers, authors, chefs, winemakers, and brewers. This Sonoma County weekend offers an array of cheese-related learning and tasting experiences: seminars, pairings, tastings, farm tours, cheese-making classes, expert panels, and demos by top chefs. Highlights include the Cheesemongers’ Duel, California Cheesin’, the Artisan Cheese Tasting and Marketplace, and more. Rain or…

Join the Alameda County Master Gardeners for monthly conversations in their earth-friendly demonstration garden. Talks cover seasonal topics and include gardening advice and guided tours. The topic for March is the pros and cons of different types of mulch; April’s session is on hydrozoning and efficient watering. Gatherings are outdoors and may be cancelled due…

Dig in for an intensive permaculture workshop with a focus on creating regenerative systems that serve both nature and humans. Learn to integrate agriculture, biology, ecology, and design principles and to think in a holistic way. Spend two weeks connected to the earth and explore topics including permaculture ethics and principles, food forests, climate strategies,…

Sip a cocktail in support of Latina immigrants at farm-to-table Mexican restaurant Nido. Together with Mujeres Unidas y Activas (MUA) Nido has launched a new cocktail menu for March in honor of Women’s History Month. Nido will donate $1 of each cocktail purchased to the grassroots organization MUA, which empowers Latinas through workforce development, counseling, domestic…

Calling local gardeners and garden enthusiasts! All are welcome to come attend the West County DIGS Annual Supply Giveaway in support of public school gardens. Twenty-five district schools receive seeds, trowels, watering cans, mulch, and other supplies. Community members are invited to share in the joyful spirit of the event, meet school gardeners and district…

Explore the world of natural fibers and dyes and the connection they create between culture and nature. This exhibit examines traditional uses as well as trends in eco-fashion and creative textiles. Throughout the month, choose among workshops and demos on naturally dyed cosmetics, plant-based printmaking inks, papermaking with plants, naturally dyed eggs, and more. Workshop…

How green is your clothing? Join Fibershed founder Rebecca Burgess for a Real Food Real Stories event and learn how she’s creating a local textile economy that promotes sustainability and builds community. Enjoy the peace and beauty of the UC Botanical Garden Redwood Grove and learn about how our choice of clothing is connected to our food system. Feast…

Brush up on your urban farming know-how at a free Biofuel Oasis workshop or demo. The annual Urban Farm Day lineup includes sessions on edible flowers, rainwater harvesting, raising baby chicks, and backyard beehives. Members of the Phat Beetz Youth Pickle Company teach the art of fermenting veggies and making kraut, and Nishanga Bliss offers…

Join Wendy Renz, owner of Walrus– a charming Temescal Alley shop where vintage and pre-owned items are repurposed, upcycled, and given new life– to make your own knife rack from reclaimed lumber. You’ll do some basic woodworking, painting, and staining, with all tools and materials provided. No previous woodworking experience is required. Enjoy light refreshments too, and…

Kudos to the Wine Soul Train, winner of the Taste Award for Outstanding Culinary Travel Experience! Organized by the Oakland Food Policy Council, the bus tour of Northern California wineries owned by people of color brought national attention to successful Black- and Brown-owned wineries. The tour was prompted by a shameful episode on the Napa…

Eating Alone, an exhibition of food-centered street photography, explores the similarities and differences among people eating alone from San Francisco to Paris, New York to London. The subjects of these candid shots don’t know they’re being photographed as they enjoy a meal on a park bench or a quick snack while sitting on the sidewalk.…

Have you ever considered the environmental impact of growing grapes? To find out more, join the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) in partnership with the Center for Urban Education on Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA) for a panel discussion about environmentally sound wine grape production. Learn from sustainable growers using organic or biodynamic methods, and sample…

If you believe that gardening and cooking should be taught in school, you’ve got the perfect reason to indulge in a restaurant meal on Thursday, February 18. Participating restaurants will donate a percentage of the day’s sales to support the Berkeley Public School Gardening and Cooking Program, where pre-schoolers through high school students get their…

  2/6: Prepare for the big day this Saturday at For the Love of Chocolate, The Pasta Shop Fourth Street Berkeley’s annual Valentine’s event. From 1 to 4pm, you can meet (and taste samples from) Bay Area chocolatiers Barlovento Chocolates, Charles Chocolates, Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate, and Poco Dolce Chocolates and find items for that romantic…

Ever tasted Haitian chocolate? No… maybe not, since until recently no Haitian-grown chocolate was available in the United States. With chocolate being called Haiti’s “golden ticket to prosperity,” interest is high among chocolate makers and chocolate connoisseurs to sample it. “Haitian chocolate is an exciting and interesting origin,” explains Eli Curtis, who runs Bisou Chocolate in…

By Julia Prince “It’s all about crab at this time usually,” Hapuku Fish Shop chef/manager Evan Martin says with an accepting shrug. Martin is referring to California’s Dungeness crab season, usually running strong now, but closed this year due to toxic levels of domoic acid in the waters. However, enthusiasts of the Bay Area’s beloved…

Berkeley’s Ohlone Herbal Center is a place for the study and practice of traditional Western herbalism. Core faculty member Kelsey Barrett provides a glimpse into this field with an introduction to a nourishing green and a recipe to help us move healthfully from winter to spring. Emerge from Winter with the Power of Nettles By…

Set in the picturesque harbor in Princeton-By-The-Sea, the festival honors the area’s major fishing industry. Events include demos by celebrity chefs as well as talks on ocean warming and sustainability, the seafood chain, and the role of restaurants and food servers in shaping the future of local seafood. Chefs and speakers are curated by the…

Now is the time to try a new restaurant or visit a familiar favorite! Berkeley Restaurant Week kicks off on Thursday, January 21 with terrific lunch and dinner values through the end of the month. More than 20 Berkeley eateries offer outstanding prix-fixe menus of $20 per person for lunch and $25 or $35 per…

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 to the desired characteristics of the scion. Gardeners interested in having heirloom varieties of fruit growing in their yard do this sort of grafting.  At…

By Katie Gatlin You may have come across Tomatero Farm at your favorite East Bay farmers’ market, and if you’re like me, you can feel the warmth of a community there. “We’re not pretentious, not showy. We’re family. It’s just good produce,” says Vanessa LeJeune, a market worker with Tomatero. She’s been with the farm…

If you’re seeking a culinary mentor, now is the time to apply to the 2016 Women in Culinary Leadership program. Since 2012, The James Beard Foundation has offered this hands-on education to help women break into the culinary industry. Mentors are from restaurants across the country and include Napa chef Cindy Pawlcyn of Mustards Grill.…

Imagine fleeing your country and leaving behind loved ones, your business, your home, everything that you know and love. What would you take with you? How would you build a new life in an unfamiliar place? What many refugees and immigrants bring is their passion for food, culinary skills, and an entrepreneurial spirit—some of the…

Oakland-based artist and gardener Helen Krayenhoff, formerly on staff at Edible East Bay, has just completed a book of illustrated recipes for the 12 months of the year. Here’s her description of the book and her process for creating it: My recipe book is just fresh off the press. I spent some time this fall writing…

Tune in for the premiere of the Food Network’s Kids Baking Championship to see Oakland’s own Yahshimabet Sellassie-Hall, age 12, compete. Ten bakers, ages 10 to 13, must create the perfect pie with just the right balance of crust and filling and also prepare a flavored ice cream from scratch to complement their pie. One…

The annual KPFA Winter Crafts Fair returns to the Craneway Pavilion on the Richmond waterfront this weekend, showcasing handmade items by more than 200 artists. Browse, shop, and enjoy a stunning variety of art, jewelry, and crafts at this annual event benefiting KPFA 94.1 FM public radio. New this year: Conversations in Fiber, a quilt…

By Kristina Sepetys These jars of chunky, luscious goodness will do double-duty for you over the holidays, as a delicious ingredient for easy appetizers or a wonderful gift. Bay Area-based jam maker Lisa Donohue, who named Mimi’s Confitures for her maternal grandmother, creates these handcrafted chutneys and jams from local ingredients. Her Onion Jam, a 2014 Good…

Add to the local cheer and support the local economy at this winter open house hosted by the Institute of Urban Homesteading. Enjoy samples of jam, honey, mead, cheese, mustard, cordials, and more. Many handmade items are available, starting as low as $1. This year’s event also features party favors and a raffle. Free, but…

By Haley Pollock At the East Bay Waldorf School, students bake Santa Lucia buns each December to celebrate a Scandinavian tradition about teaching kindness. The story honors a woman who, hundreds of years ago, delivered provisions to the needy in the dark, wearing a crown of leaves and candles to light her way. With its…

Soup. Uttering that word can make you feel warm, loved, safe. When we want to comfort and nourish those around us, soup is what we turn to. When author Barbara Abdeni Massaad wanted to do something to aid the Syrian families in the refugee camp near her home in Lebanon, she began with soup. Every…

Join a fun and festive Livermore Valley wine country tradition. Wineries decorate their tasting rooms, showcasing special wines, arts, crafts, holiday music, and a variety of artisan foods. Admission is free, but tasting fees may apply and vary by winery. Donations of unwrapped toys are warmly appreciated and given to the Toys for Tots program.…

In the Winter Holidays 2015 Issue of Edible East Bay, contributing editor Sarah Henry reports on two farms forging economic ties and creating community with local independent restaurants in her story “A Tale of Two West Oakland Farms.” In the article, there’s a misidentification of Mandela Foods Cooperative, the West Oakland grocery store opened since 2009.…

By Kristina Sepetys Beginning in the 1980s, Joanne Weir worked with David Tanis, Lindsey Shere, David Lebovitz, and a host of other fine chefs during her years at Chez Panisse. So it was something of a homecoming for Weir when she climbed the stairs to the Chez Panisse Café on a chilly evening last month.…

  By Charlotte Peale If you’re wondering how to send some local flavor to far away friends and family this holiday season, consider a delicious confection from Donsuemor, a line of French pastries that originated in the home of an East Bay baker. Back in 1976 in her home kitchen, Susie Morris began baking traditional…

Meet California cuisine founder Alice Waters as she signs copies of her latest cookbook and talks about the building-block ingredients she relies on. My Pantry: Homemade Ingredients That Make Simple Meals Your Own is a delightful collection of essays and recipes illustrated with pen-and-ink drawings by Alice’s daughter, Fanny. Bring your culinary questions, and learn…

    The fun-loving legal experts at the Sustainable Economies Law Center know how to throw a great party. Their annual showcase offers a delightful mix of news about their latest endeavors, hilarity, fun, and great food cooked up by the Phat Beets Youth Pickle n’ Catering Company. Meet change-makers and social justice advocates, and…

Real Good Fish is expanding their CSF to the East Bay. The “community supported fishery” works like a produce CSA subscription, but for fish and seafood. They’re hoping to reel in some info from local fish lovers who might want to join. Take the survey here. Real Good Fish is able to provide “boat to…

A tasting, a talk, and a book review   A Kitchen Gypsy at Chez Panisse Celebrated chef and author Joanne Weir signs copies of her new book Kitchen Gypsy and shares memories from her days working on the line at Chez Panisse. Guests enjoy wine and tasty bites provided by the café. After the book…

Artist Celia Wedding invites you to come see her linocuts at the Jingletown Jazz Room, the tasting room for Ale Industries. Celia is a favorite on the pages of Edible East Bay, and her artwork is featured on our Fall Harvest 2011, Summer 2014, and Fall Harvest 2014 covers. The Second Friday gathering at the Jazz Room…

Roll up your sleeves and join City Slicker Farms as they create a new urban farm and park. Volunteers are needed to help form farm beds, lay irrigation, and put in the plants. Sign up for either workday and be a part of an exciting new community space. Info and registration: here Build a Farm…

Willing hands are needed as The Town Kitchen, an artisan lunch delivery service which offers training and employment opportunities to low-income Oakland youth, partners with Pandora Media to prepare 1,000 meals for people in need. The menu highlights local distributors: Imperfect Produce, Semifreddi’s Bakery, and GreenLeaf Produce. Once assembled and bagged (with handwritten notes), meals…

CSA customers give the gift of healthy food By Thaddeus Barsotti Farming is a job that connects natural resources and people. Our farm, Capay Organic, is blessed with our region’s early springs, hot summers, cool falls, and tolerable winters, which together yield a year-round, seasonal selection of produce that is second to none. It is…

  Have you been feeling sad or fatigued? Come learn about nutritional and other strategies to address seasonal mood dipping and low energy. Dietitian Jessica Wilson explains how food can influence mood and brain chemicals. Everyone welcome. Free, but registration required. Info: here. Food & Mood Monday, November 9, 6:30–8pm Women’s Cancer Resource Center 5741…

  Pay a visit to the Donkey & Goat Winery cellar for a festive tasting of their favorite Thanksgiving wines. An assortment of nibbles representing the holiday menu are paired with the wines. Guests can purchase limited library wines, and a selection of screw-top wines are available at a deep discount. Cost: $15. Club members…

  Watch the Séka Hills Olive Mill in action and taste the olio nuovo (early-harvest, unfiltered extra-virgin olive oil). In the tasting room, visitors enjoy guided tastings of Séka Hills olive oil, wine, honey, and nuts from the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. The Olive Crush Festival features olio nuovo, wine tastings, and tours, plus wood-fired…

Calling all ghosts, witches, and zombies to the costume parade at the Diablo Valley Farmers’ Market. Prizes are awarded for the scariest and funniest costumes, plus the best farmers’ market theme, most creative, and best overall. Try to guess the weight of the giant pumpkin, decorate mini-pumpkins, and play the pumpkin pitch game. The market…

Head over to Rockridge Market Hall to meet J. Kenji López-Alt, managing culinary director of Serious Eats and author of the popular blog The Food Lab. Kenji discusses his long-awaited book and offers demos on preparing kale, making vinaigrettes, and poaching eggs. Taste his recipes, get your autographed books, and take advantage of this one-day 10{94d79dd6af1e87a94e700e4c297236468333f22e27ed5757b44711974a9a4b91} discount on…

This big pomegranate party salutes the delicious ruby-red fruit and pairs it with nuts. Guests can enjoy pomegranate- and nut-filled foods and watch cooking demos by local chefs. A presentation from the Fresno Chaffee Zoomobile, art classes from the Madera County Arts Council, children’s games, crafts, and face painting are also in store. Pomegranates are for…

From honey to propolis, everything bees make has healing qualities. Learn to make your own bee medicines including an herbal honey, a salve with beeswax, and propolis tincture. Combine the bee products with common medicinal herbs like rose petals, rose hips, lavender, and calendula. Everyone goes home with a salve and herbal honey. Cost: $40…

  Food Day is an annual event intended to inspire changes in our diet and action to solve food-related problems. Hosts at this autumn picnic at Hayward’s historic Meek Estate include the Ashland Cherryland Food Policy Council, Hayward Seed Lending Library, Project EAT, and other community partners. A highlight of the day is the East…

The BUGs (Black Farmers and Urban Gardeners) Conference addresses the evolving Black farmer movement taking place nationwide. Workshops and discussion topics include fresh food access, sustainability and self-sufficiency, school gardens, and the critical relationship between food and health in the Black community. The conference is open to the public and includes farm tours on October 15, workshops,…

Berkeley’s Ohlone Herbal Center is a place for study and practice of traditional Western herbalism. With this brief article and recipe, core faculty member Kelsey Barrett provides a glimpse into this field with an introduction to an important root harvested at this time of year. Burdock: Edible Medicinal Power for your Fall Pantry by Kelsey…

Il Fiorello Olive Oil Company invites the public to bring harvested olives to the mill on Community Milling Day. Watch the process take place and come back the following week for a share of the freshly milled oil. The milling rate is $0.75 per pound of olives. No minimum quantity is required, but olives must…

  Farm Fresh to You invites the public to a free pumpkin harvest and tour at its farm, Capay Organic. Ride a tractor-tram around the farm, decorate a pumpkin, and make new friends at the farm-animal petting zoo. Farmer Thaddeus Barsotti gives a talk about organic agriculture, and the Farm Fresh To You market stand…

Come see what’s possible when creativity meets ingenuity. The East Bay Mini Maker Faire showcases the inventions of established and emerging local makers ranging from crafters and homesteaders to tech enthusiasts and scientists. This family-friendly event features urban farming and sustainability, rockets and robots, digital fabrication, DIY science and technology, alternative energy, bicycles, handmade crafts,…

Now in its third year, Uncharted is a dynamic festival that features cutting-edge speakers, interactive labs, and pop-up performances. About 40 writers, innovators, and pioneers from across disciplines explore key topics in culture, food, education, public policy, the environment, activism, technology, and the arts. Speakers include Anna Lappé, Alice Medrich, Joshua Johnson, Sandra Gilbert, W.…

Indulge in bagel tasting and find out who bakes the best bagel in the East Bay as Temple Sinai hosts a double-blind taste test of six locally produced, commercially available bagels. Enjoy your bagels with or without a variety of schmears (chopped liver, tuna, cream cheese, lox, and egg salad), and test your bagel trivia…

This annual exhibit showcases the cornucopia of food crops that originated in the Americas thousands of years ago. It runs through Sunday October 18, 10am–4pm daily at the UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Dr, Berkeley. Don’t miss the following special events that are part of this exhibition: Info and registration for all events: here Thursday October 8, 1–2:30pm Horticulturist Ken…

                      Hundreds of artisans, businesses, and community organizations join the district’s shop owners for a family-friendly street fair offering a tempting variety of items for sale, scrumptious foods, a kids’ zone, and circus performances. The Picnic with Market Hall features tastings and chef demos along…

This free festival celebrates the California olive at the historic 133-year-old Wagner Ranch in Orinda. Learn about and taste a variety of olives, olive oils, and vinegars; attend free olive-recipe cooking demos and docent tours through the historic ranch and olive grove; enjoy games, crafts, music, and food. Bring the whole family. Free admission. Tax-deductible…

Join Fremont’s Mission San Jose Chamber of Commerce for a weekend in the olive grove behind the San Jose Mission celebrating olives, olive oil, good food, and live music. Specialty vendors sample and sell their products, with food available from the Food Truck Mafia, and beer and wine from the MSJ Chamber booth. Children enjoy…

This juried show features works by more than 100 established and emerging artists and craftspeople who live or work in Emeryville. Now in its 29th year, the exhibition showcases a splendid array of paintings, sculpture, photographs, ceramics, and textiles. The individual works demonstrate the range of Emeryville artists and their engagement with varied aesthetic, political,…

  At the annual fall plant sale at Merritt College, you can find perennial vegetables, rare fruits, and heirloom annual edibles, many of which cannot be found elsewhere. Their selection of California natives, drought-tolerant plants, Mediterranean climate plants, herbs, and unusual plants of all types continues to expand. They grow 80–90{94d79dd6af1e87a94e700e4c297236468333f22e27ed5757b44711974a9a4b91} of the plants, with…

  Oaktoberfest in the Dimond, Oakland’s family-friendly craft beer festival, returns for its 8th year, with Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf tapping the first keg in a traditional Munich-style Oktoberfest kick-off. Highlights include 45 local craft breweries, a homebrew competition, family games and crafts, food booths, cooking demos, and beer-food pairings, all topped off with live…

Enjoy a day of farm tours, a pumpkin patch, bean winnowing workshops, and tomato tastings. Buy produce directly from the AgPark’s eight small-scale organic farmers who usually sell at farmers’ markets, through CSA subscriptions, and to local restaurants and stores. This diverse group of farmers grows traditional varieties of herbs and vegetables from India, Iran,…

Carnival games, silly scarecrows, and homemade lemonade are just the beginning at this favorite Piedmont event, now in its 17th year. If you like to cook, bake, preserve, or garden, consider entering a food you’ve prepared or grown in the festival’s popular Edibles Contest. This year, Edible East Bay publisher and editor Cheryl Koehler is…

Find an impressive selection of water-wise plants, including many California natives. Expert staff and volunteers are on hand to answer questions, offer advice, and help you create a drought-resistant garden. Ride the shuttle from the Lawrence Hall of Science lot to the sale. Park in the upper levels and look for the shuttle stop marked…

Use your ingenuity and cooking skills to improve food choices in East and West Oakland. Come up with a healthy dish that can be sold at corner store delis for $5 or less. This contest is put on by HOPE, a collaborative of public agencies, community-based organizations, and Oakland residents promoting health and well-being for…

Meet Oakland writer and cook Dana Velden, who asks us to seek deeper meaning in the kitchen space. Her book of essays, an extension of her popular Weekend Meditation column on TheKitchn.com, examines the kitchen as a place of awakening and joy. Velden offers meditation techniques, kitchen tips, and favorite recipes, and she explores what…

Come on down to your community farm for a harvest festival and fundraiser with workshops, a communal feast, music, children’s activities, and many opportunities to get your hands in the soil. Workshop topics include California bees and flowers, patriarchy in the food system, a community roundtable, edible weeds, ladybugs, and lots more. Info: here If…

This celebratory street-food festival is packed with delicious offerings made from regionally sourced, sustainably produced ingredients. The event is the premier educational program of the nonprofit Food Craft Institute. This year’s wide variety of vendors offer mouth-watering temptations including all the favorites: pizza, bánh mì sandwiches, and crème brûlée, plus surprises like ice cream tacos.…

Enjoy a self-guided tour of eight beautifully remodeled Rockridge kitchens ranging in style from classic Craftsman to contemporary. See innovative uses of new and traditional materials, creative solutions for smaller kitchens, and seamless integration of indoor and outdoor space. The kitchens vary from sleek and efficient working spaces to cozy multi-use family gathering spots, and…

Taste local honey and homemade kombucha, pet the chickens, and vote on the East Bay’s best honey. Free demos and urban farming workshops offer guidance on backyard beehives, winter gardens, keeping chickens, and more. Enjoy a 10{94d79dd6af1e87a94e700e4c297236468333f22e27ed5757b44711974a9a4b91} discount on all items in the store and a 10-cent-per-gallon discount on recycled biodiesel. Kids welcome. Free. Info:…

Calling all Bay Area bartenders and mixologists! Entries are now being accepted for the Lamorinda Arts Council’s Art of Mixology Cocktail Competition and Tasting on October 10, 2015. The fundraising event is co-hosted by Orinda Theatre Square and sponsored by Lamorinda Theatres. It will be held at the Orinda Theatre Square from 4:30 to 7pm.…

  Fiber artisans from Nevada County share their beautiful wares at Berkeley Hort. This annual event features an array of lovely offerings, such as Eileen Lee’s woven scarves and shawls; Sierra Mohr’s botanically dyed scarves and beautiful cashmere sweaters; Ingrid Knox’s towels, shawls, and blankets; Stephanie Ruff’s knitted baby items, hats, and cowls; and Susan…

Celebrate the apple harvest in an antique heritage apple orchard with varieties you won’t see anywhere else. Try your hand at cider pressing and hand-cranking ice cream, and taste the delicious results. Music, dancing, crafts, and old-fashioned games make this event a treat for the whole family. Free, but parking fees apply. Info: 888.EBPARKS or…

Celebrate this splendid food and wine festival’s 30th anniversary in a beautiful mountain resort. An outstanding array of events features celebrity chef cooking demos, Farm to Tahoe dinner, food and wine seminars, mixology, winemaker luncheons and dinners, and even a painting class. All this is topped off by the Sunday Culinary Competition and Grand Tasting.…

Join international leaders, farmers, scientists, community members, and environmental and food justice advocates for workshops, presentations, and networking. The conference is inspired by Dr. Vandana Shiva’s book Soil Not Oil: Environmental Justice in an Age of Climate Crisis. Speakers include Vandana Shiva, Fritjof Capra, Anna Lappé, former EPA senior scientist Ray Seidler, soil scientist Rattan…

Celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the glorious Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park. All are invited for tours, cake, and activities for adults and children. The garden is an enchanting sanctuary for many of the state’s rare and endangered plants and a place for visitors to wander among trees, shrubs, grasses,…

Wouldn’t it be nice to come home to a box of fresh-picked produce delivered direct from farms in the Capay Valley? The Capay Valley Farm Shop recently began offering delivery of CSA boxes filled with tree-ripe fruit and heirloom veggies to homes and offices in the greater Bay Area. As a farm hub, the shop aggregates…

Kids Cook with the Stars Sprouts Cooking Club offers classes and camps for Bay Area kids from all socioeconomic backgrounds who want to learn hands-on cooking with fresh ingredients. After finishing its ninth season of summer camp, Sprouts held a special week-long series that featured celebrity chefs teaching aspiring chefs ages 8–13. Many of these youths…

Mondays 5:30–6:30pm Huntington Park, Richmond, (corner of Carlson Blvd and Huntington Ave) Info: playndirt.com@gmail.com Mondays, 6:30–7:30pm Ohlone Greenway, Sacramento & Delaware streets, Berkeley Info: here Tuesdays, 6:30–7:30pm Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin Ave Info: here Thursdays, 5–6pm Richmond Public Library, in the courtyard 325 Civic Center Plaza Info: here Alternate Saturdays: July 11 & 25;…

by Amanda Polick A slight drizzle began as I approached Lauren Herpich, who leads locals and visitors alike on her Rockridge Food Tour. As people arrived, Lauren handed out food tour maps, water bottles, and morning buns from La Farine French Bakery. As soon as the soft dough and sugar hit my lips, I knew…

Saturday April 11, 10am–3pm West County Edition of the Great Tomato Sale Adams Crest Urban Farm 5000 Patterson Circle, Richmond Info: here Saturday April 18, 9:30am–2pm Edible Plant Sale & Spring Event Sunol Ag Park 505 Paloma Way, Sunol Info: here Saturday April 18, 10am–3pm Friends of the Regional Parks Botanic Garden Spring Plant Sale…

Saturday April 4, 10am Where the Wild Things Grow (Foraging Walk) Meet at Codornices Park on Euclid Ave, Berkeley Discover the edible plants at your feet with three expert foragers from UC Berkeley on a three-mile loop to Grizzly Peak Blvd and back down, including lots of stair paths. Berkeley has about 90 common species…

Bay Bucks is a thriving barter exchange for Bay Area businesses. The service is growing, and it now has a CSA box on offer. Let’s Go Farm in Santa Rosa recently joined the Bay Bucks exchange, which lets business owners offer up their extra inventory or skills and benefit from someone else’s. “We help businesses…

Since her start as a seven-year-old selling “imported” Kool-Aid at a premium to neighbors in Taipei, Jenny Eu has had a knack for food business. Although her beverage preferences have evolved from sugary punch to healthy, plant-based drinks, Jenny’s passion for food has been relentless as her skills and experience have evolved. Her Three Trees…

Fall Festivities Celebrations are popping up all around town. Choices abound, with a terrific array of fairs and festivals to savor.     Shake Up the Margaritas! A Quinceañera for Doña Tomás Sunday September 21, 5–10pm 5004 Telegraph Ave, Oakland In many Latin communities, a girl’s passage to womanhood (at age 15) is celebrated with a big party…

School Lunch As kids try to focus on homework, many adults are thinking hard about school lunches. Read on for lots of kid-centric food news, plus a few enticements for the grown-ups…     Beefing Up the Case for Healthy School Meals As school swings back into session, busy parents aren’t the only people thinking about…

Kids in Mind As kids head back to school, we offer up a host of events the whole family can savor, from a new PBS series that serves up inspiration, humor, and music about food to a book signing party (plus popsicles) at the Edible Schoolyard in Berkeley.   Sundaes & School Supplies Sunday August 24, noon–4pm Fentons Creamery…

Grill Time! Summer grills are sizzling hot, cooking up everything from pork ribs and burgers to squash, peaches, and figs. We’re featuring five books on outdoor cooking with equipment that ranges from backyard grills to cob ovens and camp stoves. Some include how to make your own condiments. We’ll also take you to a matsuri (that’s the Japanese word for “festival”) where you can sample…

Farmers and Vintners Come with us from farm to city to places in between! Read below to learn about a celebration of Oakland urban winemaking and another for a long-running farmers’ market. We honor a leader whose AgPark connects farms with urban neighborhoods and offer some good information on opportunities for farmers seeking organic certification. Our book reviews cover the latest titles on sustainable farming.…

Ice Cream Innovators We’re stepping way beyond plain vanilla this month. Come with us down the Rocky Road to the Salted Caramel and on into the Wildberry Lavender. We’ll stop in on Fentons’ 120th anniversary celebration, Berkeley’s new Bootleg Creamery, and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream (a cookbook) before taking a turn toward cheesemaking (dairy and not)…