Spring 2007
The Saga of Burning Lamb
By Cheryl Angelina Koehler Did you mean to say “Burning Man?” I’m often asked. “No, “Burning Lamb,” I reply as I explain that the dinner I put on each summer in a Sierra Nevada wilderness area is a much smaller gathering than Burning Man, and thus far, all attendees have kept their clothes on for…
Read MoreWhat’s in Season? Asparagus & Strawberries!
By Barbara Kobsar Sturdy bundles of fresh local asparagus standing tall on a farmers’ market table are the quintessence of spring. The local “grass” season begins in March and lingers into June if weather conditions cooperate. Barbara Cecchini from Cecchini and Cecchini Farms in Brentwood runs a hands-on operation. “All of our asparagus is…
Read MoreCelebrate the Farm in Your Backyard
Twenty Years of the Berkeley Farmers’ Market By Kimber Simpkins A clear, brisk Tuesday in early spring, at half past noon—a few nondescript trucks and vans rumble up and slowly begin to unload along Derby Street in south Berkeley. The sun stretches over umbrellas and tents rising up in the middle of the asphalt.…
Read MoreThe Happy Forever Community Garden
Story and Photos by Simona Carini Once upon a time there was a traffic diverter. It was a sad handkerchief of dirt hemmed in by red concrete, its only decoration a “Do Not Enter” sign addressed to drivers, with the promise of a $75 minimum fine for violators. There lived in the same neighborhood in…
Read MoreA Morning Tour of Chinatown
By Derrick Schneider | Photos by Melissa Schneider Most friends consider me a fearless eater and crazy cook. I order offal when it appears on a menu; I render my own lard. So why have I avoided Oakland’s Chinatown for so long, when it lies a 10-minute walk from my home? Maybe I didn’t…
Read MoreMorels
Treasures that Spring from Scorched Earth Story and Photos by Anthony Tassinnello The gunshots rarely alarm me anymore, nor do the falling timber, speeding 4-wheelers, brown bears, giant masticating machines, icy creeks, relentless sun, or rattlesnakes, though I tend to take them all seriously. Ironically, I’ll need to stay close to these things…
Read MoreBee Ambassadors
By Sarah Inez Levy There are dog people and cat people, fish people and people people. We all look to other creatures for companionship, choosing those that can offer just the right combination of personality, looks, maintenance, and love. However, most of us wouldn’t go for a pal that is too small to cuddle…
Read MoreEditor’s Mixing Bowl
Twenty-three years ago I came to California for a visit, fully expecting to return east to resume life in a land with summer rains, early autumn frost, winter snows, and a springtime that waits until May to happen. But life’s design was for an extended stay in Oakland. It was remarkable to be living, so…
Read MoreA Conversation with the Market Hall Cheese Guru: Juliana Uruburu
The feast of East Bay artisanal food products is a grand one indeed. But if there is one guest at this table who might have reason to complain, it would be the cheese lover. The East Bay is not a dairy region, and although there are rumors of a few small-scale cheese artisans, their…
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