The Foodie Guide

“We love our foods fresh and are happiest when we can have them that way. We believe that eating in season is the best path to a long and healthy life. Most of us are lucky enough to be able to choose from a wide array of foods throughout the year, but many of those foods are traveling long distances and are costing us in ways we cannot always foresee. Our next preference is to eat foods that have been processed as close to the source as possible. Food preservation is a time honored way of stretching the harvest bounty between seasons. In our not too distant past it was an absolute necessity for our rural population. Many of the techniques and recipes that used to be handed down from mother to daughter are being lost in our fast-paced times. We hope to carry on the tradition. “

Tags: apples, chutney, cooking classes, jam, lodging, pears, plums, quince

Allstar Organics is two acres of aromatic plants and antique roses at our home in Lagunitas, and 10 acres of over one hundred and fifty varieties of certified organic, specialty and heirloom crops grown on our production field located in Nicasio, in Marin County, CA. halfway between San Francisco Bay and Pt. Reyes Station.

Allstar is a warm weather farm with distinct seasons, and a highly mineralized, clay-based soil. Our soil enrichment program includes a diverse cover cropping system, microbiological drenches, and aged nutritional mulches. As a result, our vegetables acquire vivid color, distinctive texture, and intense fragrance and flavor.

Tags: herbs, produce, salts, sugars

Achadinha Cheese Company was formed in 2004 by Jim and Donna Pacheco of Pacheco Family Dairy in Petaluma, California. They produce two award winning cheeses with Pacheco Family Dairy Goat milk- Broncha and Capricious.

Capricious (Ca-pree-shus) ~ “Best In Show” American Cheese Society 2002. Washed curd, aged semi-hard goat cheese, hand rolled in the old California tradition. A truly unique artisan cheese made with attention to detail and naturally aged in fresh Pacific Ocean air. Savor the flavor as this cheese travels through the palate.

Broncha (Bron-ka) ~ Inspired by a Portuguese family recipe and infused with the subtle flavors of the brewers grains fed to our goats Broncha is a gentle table cheese. Try melting it in your best veggie recipes to add the special flavors that only goats milk can provide.

Feta ~ handmade by Donna Pacheco, Achadinha’s pasteurized goat milk Feta is a fresh style Feta, that is soaked in a sea salt brine and delivered to market within four weeks. The Feta has a sweet creamy taste and texture with a fresh brine finish.

Smoked Summer Goat Sausage ~ made with all natural goat meat, sea salt, seasonal spices, garlic, mustard seed, jalapeno peppers, sugar and the minimum amount of sodium nitrate to preserve the sausage. This Smoked Summer Sausage is made by Taylor Sausage, in Oregon, a USDA approved facility. The Achadinha Smoked Summer Goat Sausage may be served as an accompaniment to goat cheese, with fresh or preserved fruit, fresh baked breads and wine. In addition The Smoked Summer Goat Sausage may be used a main course any season.

Tags: broncha, Capricious, feta, goat sausage

A Farmer’s Market with a number of Contra Costa County’s small farms.

Tags: moraga, produce