What’s in season: Farm, Food & Drink

NEPTUNE’S DELIGHT
The Bloody Mary’s simple, two-ingredient base—tomato juice and vodka—lends itself to countless interpretations. We’ve sampled this cocktail in our region, and the “Neptune’s Delight” served at Morgan’s Lobster Shack in midtown Reno is a standout. The 22-ounce cocktail-meal consists of Chopin vodka and house-made Bloody Mary, topped with a crab leg, shrimp, Berkshire bacon, hard-boiled egg, celery, dill beans, olives and citrus. We also enjoy the Bloody Mary’s served at Monkey Cat in Auburn, Tofanelli’s in Grass Valley, and the Golden Era Lounge in Nevada City, among others.

THREE FORKS BREWING, WHEYWARD GIRL CREAMERY & MATTEO’S PUBLIC
We love regional food collaboration, a longtime theme in our magazine. Three Forks Bakery & Brewing Co. and Wheyward Girl Creamery — neighbors in downtown Nevada City — have been teaming up for beer and wine tastings and pairings. Three Forks’ menu features a cheese plate to pair with beer and wine.

As a special appetizer, Matteo’s — also of Nevada City — offers artisan cheeses from Wheyward Girl Creamery with mixed nuts, olives, apricot jam and a toasted baguette. Matteo’s has a superb selection of craft beers.

FARM TO SCHOOL
Now in its 10th year, Sierra Harvest’s farm-to-school program in western Nevada County has grown from tending a school garden at Hennessey Elementary to serving 96 percent of the kindergarten-eighth grade students with a wide range of programs, including guest chefs, field trips, garden carts, school lunches made with food from local farms. Fall is the prime time for farm to school with a bounty of local food to sample, such as Asian pears.

NATIONALLY KNOWN FARMER JOEL SALATIN VISITING THE FOOTHILLS
Joel Salatin, one of America’s most famous farmers (AKA “the high priest of the pasture”), is a speaker at Sierra Harvest’s Sustainable Food & Farm Conference on February 9-11 in Grass Valley. Joel co-owns, with his family, Polyface Farms in Swoope, VA. Featured in The New York Times bestseller Omnivore’s Dilemma and the award-winning documentary Food Inc., the farm services more than 5,000 families, 50 restaurants, 10 retail outlets, and a farmers’ market.

STONE HOUSE DINNER JAZZ SERIES
The Stone House restaurant in Nevada City is offering a Dinner Jazz Series this fall with fine dining and the Sacramento Jazz Quartet, among others. StoneHouse.io