Forest Fire exhibition in Truckee
The FOREST FIRE Exhibition at the Truckee Community Recreation Center is winning rave reviews. In this immersive exhibit, visitors take a 13,000-year journey through the captivating story of the Sierra Nevada Forest’s relationship with fire and the surprising and essential role humans play within it. (Image: “Dao Lulelek” by Judith Lowry) They walk through a […]
Twelve 28 Kitchen: “We get asked for our recipes all the time”
LIKE MORE AND MORE LOCALS, we have enjoyed our dinners at Twelve 28 Kitchen in Penn Valley. Under Chef Zach Sterner, who has been cooking for 18 years as a private chef at small restaurants and at a Michelin-starred dining room, Twelve 28 Kitchen turns out imaginative and memorable meals. Though a relative newcomer to […]
BriarPatch brings virtual wine and food pairing event to the masses
FOR SAM VANDEGRIFT, self-proclaimed “Provocateur of Vinous Joy,” sensory storytelling is the way to connect people to wine and food. His own wine journey spanning two decades can be traced back much earlier, to when he was a boy running around barefoot in his mom’s garden in Willamette Valley, Oregon where he developed his palate […]
“Passing the apron” at Tess’ Kitchen Store
Tess’ Kitchen Store store in historic downtown Grass Valley has been in continuous operations since 1931, when original owner Tess Hawkins had a gift and card shop. Since then, the store has relocated on Mill Street, each time to a bigger location. In 2010, Steve Rosenthal and his wife, Rachel, purchased what had become Tess’ […]
Our visit to China: Pandas, Peking duck — and Mandarins
WE FEATURE THE SWEET MOUNTAIN MANDARIN in our fall issue, so it’s fitting we’re writing the introduction while vacationing in China — where a version of the seedless, easy-to-peel fruit likely originated centuries ago. It’s “fall break,” and we decided to visit this exotic destination to explore its rich culture, enjoy the cuisine and see […]
Our holiday gift ideas
EMILY’S CATERING A first-rate, full-service caterer with imaginative dishes made from scratch using fresh, local ingredients. Some of Emily’s pies were used in the 2019 film “Pie–The Movie not 3.14.” Emily’s also offers delicious homemade baked goods, desserts and gift packages at its “pop-up” bakeries: November 26-27 for Thanksgiving; and December 20-23. 421 Colfax Ave., […]
Mountain Mandarins: A Sweet Crop
WHEN ORGANIZERS IN NEWCASTLE — nestled in the foothills near Auburn — held their first Mountain Mandarin Festival 26 years ago, they never imagined that it would grow to a three-day event that now attracts up to 35,000 people from throughout the West. Visitors to the Mountain Mandarin Festival — held on the weekend of […]
Shop at Briarpatch for barbecues and picnics
AH, SUMMERTIME! LONG, WARM DAYS, camping trips, lakeside picnics and backyard dinner parties. In growing numbers, people are turning to BriarPatch Food Co-op for whatever they need for their summer adventures. BriarPatch’s food is nutritious, organically grown and free of artificial additives — good for our health but also the environment. Shopping at “The Patch” […]
Longtime Carpe Vino chefs to open Josephine in Auburn
AUBURN HAS GONE FROM A quaint outpost for antiques to a vibrant city bubbling with young doers and creative outdoor types making Auburn happen,” according to ExploreAuburnCA.com, an economic development website dedicated to the foothills town. Josephine is a shining example — a restaurant that Chefs Eric Alexander and Courtney McDonald plan to open in […]
FoodWineArt Insider: Sacramento Shake Shack, world traveler Lexie Alford
LEXIE LIMITLESS An adventurous local woman — 21-year-old Alexis Alford of Nevada City — this spring announced she had become the youngest person to travel to every sovereign nation. “I traveled to all 196 countries by 21 years old. My ultimate goal is to show people that the world is not a scary place and […]
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