Showing posts with label local foods. Show all posts
Showing posts with label local foods. Show all posts

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Saturday Errands in San Juan Bautista


Hellllooo! Yes, it has been a while. I am alive and well, thank you very much. Officially retired I am, so there you go. I've been catching up with the Husband who has been in every-day-is-a-Saturday mode for years.

This morning we actually got out of the house early to do errands in San Juan Bautista. First stop was the Pinnacle Farmstand in San Juan Valley for fresh locally grown organic vegetables and fruit. Only past 9:00 a.m., the place was already full of customers with potatoes, broccoli, beans, tomatoes, peppers, onions, lettuces, squashes, cantaloupes, apples, and other produce in their baskets and reusable bags. We're fortunate to have a source for organic vegetables and fruit in the area.

From the Saturday-only produce stand, we meandered the back roads to the Mission City. The further west we drove, the deeper we went into the morning fog. At Prescott Road, we turned left onto San Juan Highway to town while the fog veered to the right to head back to the coast.


It was a hard choice for breakfast: San Juan Bakery or Vertigo Coffee ? Vertigo Coffee or San Juan Bakery? The Husband let me choose, so sweet of him. 

Vertigo now serves delicious pastries, baked on the premises. The last time we were there, we had a peach scone with our mocha latte. Sigh, sweet delightfulness.

Because it had been awhile, I opted for the bakery where the Husband and I shared the last ham and cheese croissant that was in the display case We also split a raspberry and cream cheese croissant, and each had the perfect bite of an apple fritter doughnut hole. Droool. It's a good thing we don't live within walking distance to the bakery.


If I had remembered to wear my hiking boots we would've walked up the De Anza Trail for a bit. Instead we wandered a couple of blocks, peeked into store windows, and read signs about upcoming events. We also sat for a short spell on a comfy bench, enjoying the beautiful morning and saying hello to passersby.

Our last stop in San Juan was Vertigo Coffee where we purchased a bag of their roasted coffee beans, which comes with a free cup of coffee. Whooo-hooo!

See ya.


Saturday, February 11, 2017

I Spy . . . Pieces from the Past


I spy with my little eye an old-timey clock and valentines displayed in the San Juan Bakery window. Precious!


Friday, January 13, 2017

I Spy . . . Bwak! Chickens. Kinda


I spy with my little eye cute chickens in a once-upon-a-time barn. . . except they aren't real chickens and the barn is now a bakery.

The  chickens are part of the delightful whimsical decor at the Suncoast Organic Farm Bakery on 6310 Southside Road in Hollister. Have you been there lately? It's about five miles south of downtown Hollister, on a back road parallel to Highway 25 (or Airline Highway, as we oldtimers like to say) The bakery is down a short driveway surrounded by orchards and loveliness.

Artisan breads, croissants, pastries, cookies, granola, soups, sandwiches, ice cream, and more are made at the bakery. The bakery has a patio for customers to relax and eat the goodies they purchase.  To see more photos of the bakery, please check out this post that I wrote last year.

The bakery is only open two days: Friday afternoons (from 12:00 to 7:00 p.m.) and Saturdays (from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).

One more thing. Suncoast publishes its menus on its Facebook page. If you share the day's menu and mention it to the bakery's cashier, you'll get a discount on your bill. Nice, huh?




Monday, January 9, 2017

Window Shopping


I love looking into the window at  The Farm/Bertuccio's Market.  You never know what reflection you'll see.

Have you been to the farmstand recently on Airline Highway, just before the Union Road intersection? They now sell organic vegetables along with regular vegetables, eggs, dried fruits, apricot jams and syrups, artisanal olive oils, and other yummy packaged foods. And, when they're in season--fresh, local artichokes. Whooo-hooo!



Saturday, December 10, 2016

I Spy . . . a Jolly Big Red Rig


I spy with my little eye a happy-looking big red truck driving east on Highway 156.

This I spied as I waited in the car at the corner of Union and Mitchell Roads while the Husband bought honey from the local Honey Guy.  


Friday, September 23, 2016

I Spy . . . A Yellow Door


I spy with my little eye a happy yellow door around the middle of Downtown Hollister. Open the door at 615 San Benito Street and enter the Farmhouse Cafe, a restaurant that opened recently.

I haven't tried it yet, but I've heard many good things about it. Fresh local organic ingredients, friendly people,  and delicious food. What's not to like about that, right?

Farmhouse Cafe is open from Monday to Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Check out the Farmhouse Cafe website to learn more about them.


Friday, August 26, 2016

I Spy . . . Doughnut Holes


I spy with my little eye light and fluffy doughnut holes from the San Juan Bakery on Third Street. Yummmmm. One or two of these glazed nuggets, along with a more substantial pastry and coffee make for a happy breakfast. Once in a while, of course.

The Husband and I like to eat our treats at the cute table outside the bakery or take them down to the park next to the San Juan Bautista City Library. It's a great way to start our morning of doing a bunch of errands.



Friday, August 12, 2016

I Spy . . . Happy Hour


I spy with my little eye a sign for Happy Hour at Vertigo Coffee Roasters in San Juan Bautista!

Vertigo Coffee Roasters .  .  . craft beer by local breweries .  .  . wood-fired brick oven pizza .  .  .  and Happy Hour! What's not to like with that combination, eh?



Wednesday, May 11, 2016

The 2016 Downtown Hollister Farmers' Market


Hollister has its own certified farmers' market. Yes, indeed. The 2016 season opened last Wednesday. Did you make it?

Every Wednesday, until September 28, 2016, the Downtown Hollister Farmers' Market will be from 3:00 to 7:30 p.m. on San Benito Street. The main street will be closed between Fourth and Seventh Streets from noon to 8:30 p.m.


The market's layout is different this year.  You'll find the produce booths in the middle part of the market. The food booths are on the south end, near the Veterans Memorial Building. There are tables at both the south and north end of the market for you to sit and eat, rest, and/or people watch.

I saw a variety of new food vendors last Wednesday, selling such items as Puerto Rican sandwiches, Hawaiian shaved ice,  artisan tamales, hot dogs, and fried peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Yummmm.  To see photos of some of the food booths, check out the "Food Court at the Hollister Farmers' Market" album at Facebook. You don't need to register or sign in at the site to view it.

See you at the farmers' market!




Saturday, March 5, 2016

Fisher's Delicatessen


Want to eat a delicious, heartwarming meal that features locally-grown and made products in Hollister? Then check out Fisher's Delicatessen, at 650 San Benito Street in downtown Hollister, that recently opened. 

The new restaurant is owned by Chef Mike Fisher, a popular caterer, who is well-known in the region for his amazing dishes. A Hollister native, Chef Mike graduated from Le Cordon Bleu Academy of Culinary Arts in Paris and broadened his culinary skills and experience at the Hotel del Coronado, Bernardus Lodge, and other distinguished restaurants. Chef Mike has also been part of the team putting together the annual San Benito Olive Festival.

Fisher's Delicatessen offers both sit-down service and take-out. Its creative menu includes small plates (such as babaganoush, hummus, and marinated olives), salads (grilled asparagus, hello), soups (seafood chowder!), sandwiches, and entrees. If you're into craft beer on tap or the wines from San Benito County, the restaurant has several choices for you. 

When the Husband and I were there yesterday, the entrees included lasagne bolognese, turkey stew, tri-tip steak, and harissa shrimp skewers. I had the stew, which was made with free-range turkey. There is definitely a difference in what ingredients are used. Yummmmmm.  

Fisher's Delicatessen is open from Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Chef Mike Fisher


Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Artichokes of Hollister


Artichokes grow in Hollister?

I always thought artichokes grew in foggy, sandy areas, so it still surprises me whenever I see the artichoke fields around here. Workers were harvesting the artichokes in the fields along Union Road this morning. One of them mentioned that Bertuccio's Market on Airline Highway (aka Highway 25), near Union Road, will be selling some of the artichokes.  Yaay! Beats driving all the way to Castroville for fresh artichokes.


Wednesday, October 7, 2015

See You Next Year!


Last Wednesday was the last day of the Downtown Hollister Farmers Market. Until next year, at least two places to find local, fresh fruits and vegetables are Bertuccio's–The Farm at the corner of Highway 25 and Union Road and the Pinnacles Farmstand in San Juan Valley on Saturday mornings.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Pietra Santa


This is tasting room for the Pietra Santa Winery in the Cienega Valley above Hollister. I always forget how beautiful and magical it is up by the winery.

Pietra Santa is Italian for Sacred Stone. The sacred stone in this case is the amazing soil from which grape vines and olive trees grow to produce crops for award winning wines and olive oils. To learn more about Pietra Santa, check out its website or Facebook page.

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Brewery Twenty Five


Yesterday morning, the Husband and I read on Facebook that Brewery Twenty Five delivered a freshly brewed keg of stout beer in Hollister. Our quest was on to get a taste of the beer handcrafted by local brewers Sean and Fran Fitzharris. We knew it could only be deliciously out of this world. And, if we didn't act fast, we would miss out yet again on tasting their brew.

Although the young couple established Brewery Twenty Five a couple of years ago, it has only been in the last few months that they have started selling their beer to retail outlets. Because the beer is brewed in small amounts, Brewery Twenty Five is not at the point yet to have a regular delivery schedule. When you hear that so-and-so has it on tap, be sure to get there tout de suite. It won't be available for long.

So, where can you find Brewery Twenty Five on tap from time to time? Running Rooster in Hollister and Bear's Hideaway in San Juan Bautista. And, soon, Vertigo Coffee in San Juan Bautista will be serving it.


Yesterday evening, the Husband and I did end up drinking a pint of the brewery's Many Moons Stout. It was absolutely amazing and very smooth. After a couple of sips, I was no longer in a grouchy mood. I think it tastes better than Guinness, and at one point the stout reminded me of Courvesier.

The delightful Sean and Fran happened to be at the Running Rooster bar last night. They told us that beer was made with an expresso blend from Vertigo Coffee and cacao nibs from TCHO, a chocolate company in the SF Bay area. I can imagine making an ice cream float with Many Moons Stout. Yummm!


Thursday, September 10, 2015

Shop Locally: Market 25 on the Bolsa


Traffic karma was on our side and the Husband and I were able to safely pull into the parking lot of Market 25 on Bolsa Road (aka Highway 25) yesterday. Our first time there.  It was at the end of the day, so there wasn't much produce left. But, we did buy six ears of corn for a buck, as the sign along the highway stated. The corn was yummily sweet.

Market 25 is one of three produce stands owned by Uesugi Farms, of which the other two are in Morgan Hill and Saratoga. (By the way, Market 25 is located on the Gilroy portion of Highway 25.) The owners are not kidding when they say they sell local fruits and vegetables. Some produce, such as strawberries, corn, and peppers, are grown by Uesugi Farms. Others are from local farmers in Hollister, Gilroy, Castroville, and other nearby areas.

The stand also sells jams and juices from Gizdich Ranch in Watsonville. We learned that every Thursday, around noon, Gizdich Ranch delivers a frozen assortment of their delicious pies. Whoo-hooo! Guess who will be stopping at Market 25 one of these Thursday afternoons.

To learn more about Market 25, check out its website.


Sunday, August 9, 2015

Premium Sweets

Marich premium chocolates at San Benito Bene.

Chocolate espresso beans. Yum.

Dark chocolate chipotle almonds. Yum.

Chocolate blueberries. Yum.

Triple chocolate toffee. Yum.

All these delicious chocolates are made locally by Marich Premium Chocolates. Aren't we lucky? To check out their other chocolates and confections online, click here.

You can purchase Marich chocolates at their facility on 2101 Bert Drive, near Fallon Road, during the week. Call first for their hours. They're also available at some stores throughout San Benito County. San Benito Bene, for example, has a counter full of various Marich products.

Saturday, August 8, 2015

Vertigo's Pizza


The pizza at Vertigo Coffee in San Juan Bautista is totally yummylicious. I love that the pizzas are baked in an outdoor wood-fired pizza oven on Vertigo's patio, and that I can drink the best fresh-roasted coffee around or a local brew while waiting.

For more about Vertigo Coffee, check out this article in Monterey Bay Edible. Scroll down to the piece titled "Café Culture".

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Rain?


The other day, the Husband and I pedaled our bicycles by the tomato cannery. I felt very tiny droplets fall on me. I looked up. Ah! Tomato mist. The droplets even tasted a bit tomato-y.


Sunday, July 26, 2015

Walnuts of San Benito County


Walnuts have been produced in San Benito County for many, many years. Although there are fewer acreage of walnut orchards, walnuts ranked third in the fruit and nut crops category in 2014 in terms of their value. Last year, the walnut crop was worth over $5.5 million, according to the San Benito County 2014 Annual Crop Report.



Saturday, July 18, 2015

Wine grapes

Wine grapes at Leal Vineyards, off of Fairview Road

In 2013, wine grapes made the top 10 crops grown in San Benito County, according to the annual crop report. The local vineyards produced 15,733 tons of wine grapes on 3,885 acres. The combined gross value of their wine grape production was $21,771,500.

Vineyards are growing all over the county, on widespread acreage as well as on small estates. Click here for a list of local vineyards—and wineries.

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