I caught up with Channa Ranch thanks to a table at the Napa Farmer's Market. A lovely looking…read moredisplay of sausage on ice. Several different types available, my eye was drawn to the Calabria "Spicy Italian Style Sausage" though there are multiple others including a Ranch Style, Chinese Style, Provençal-style, Sweet Italian, Al Pastor Chorizo, Käsekrainer pork and cheese and yes, a country-style páté. Perfectly sealed and transportable, it was carried around for an hour through the market before going into the fridge, And in the evening, stirred up with some peppers and onions (also bought at the market) for a fabulous meal. Oh, and with a great load of gluten-free sourdough! If you're in the area or maybe you see them at a farmer's market, pick some up. [Review 20993 overall - 510 in California - 1978 of 2023.]

Fresh peppery finish shows freshness, high antioxidant levels, and very high quality (fall 2025…read moreharvest). Bariani is one of the few elite brands in the grocery aisle that is the real deal. Also featured on Martha Stewart way back. Perfect for dipping bread in. Bariani isn't like other mild olive oils with a lot less flavor. And no super high density olive groves which produce at low cost but the trees don't grow as well.

Very good quality olive oil, been using it for over 12 years. Just ordered 4 more bottles…read more Excellent service. Thank you

I learned about Wind Dancer Ranch at the Downtown Palo Alto Farmer's Market. Lisa Leonard, the…read moreproprietor, is a relatively recent participant from Brooks, CA. Brooks is west of I-505 and north-east of Lake Berryessa. Lisa comes to Palo Alto on alternate Saturdays. It is worth your time to get to know Lisa! http://www.winddancerranch.us/ On the website you will find that there are alternative delivery options to the above-mentioned farmer's market. http://www.winddancerranch.us/wdr-deliveryoptions.htm There is also a "winddancerranch.com" but it is in Texas. They raise Friesian horses and fancy cats. Don't be mislead. Once in the past we enjoyed a meal or two from one of her rabbits, but I am here to praise the milk-fed Churro lamb she is offering this spring. Don't be mislead because she sells Churro wool, that the breed is only desirable because of its Navajo rug wool. In all my 72 years I've never tasted better lamb, or 'liver with onions and bacon,' or sauté of kidney and heart in a sherry/mustard sauce. Churro milk-fed lamb makes a gourmet meal! I was delighted to learn that I could take delivery of this whole lamb unfrozen! It was a bit bigger than either Lisa or I anticipated (12-15 pounds turned out to be almost 19 pounds) but it was a straightforward task to turn it into meat for cooking with nothing more than two sharp knives, a short chef's knife and a pointed boning knife, and a meat saw (ours has 10-teeth-per-inch) for which you could substitute a coping saw or hacksaw with the proper blade. The saw is very helpful in cutting the backbone (chops) and large bones (leg and shoulder.) To give us the courage to undertake the task, my wife and I referred to this step-by-step tutorial: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/gallery/2008/nov/19/foodanddrink You can do it, too. It took us 2-3 hours from start to meat wrapped, inventoried, and in the freezer. We even boned the legs and shoulders, roasted the bones, picked off the meat for a first meal, and made soup stock from them and the fatty scraps.

Lisa's heritage pork is the best. And the lamb and rabbit is great. I love their treatment of their…read moreanimals - we've visited the ranch and all the animals are clearly living happy free-ranging, pastured lifestyles. Great place for ethical, great tasting meat.

Awesome yummy best almond ever. No longer at old town Folsom sure miss them! Why does yelp require…read morelong winded!?

I've never been to their actual farm, but they are at the Farmers Market at Cesar Chavez Park every…read moreWednesday and they are the nicest people! I stop by every week to try some samples and buy a bag. This week I bought a bag of their seasonal Pumpkin Spice because I'm obviously that basic Fall b****. They are so great for satisfying that sweet tooth without feeling guilty. I'm also a fan of their Orange Honey which is one of my favorites and the new lemon one they are testing out is pretty great too! Stop by the Farmers Market next time to try their samples, buy a bag (or 2) or even to say hi! You won't be disappointed with whatever you choose to do! FYI: You can order online too or even check out their farm in Arbuckle!

After trying other CSAs in the area I came across Riverdog Farm from a newsletter sent out by my…read morefavorite pork butcher, Fatted Calf. $20 a week for organic produce, why not give it a shot. So I paid for a month in advance (you pay by check either by the month or the quarter) and waited for my first pick up. Fortunately there are a few options for picking up your box in Napa (check their website to see if there's one nearby you) including one only a mile away from our home. Yeah! The pickup location, at least in my area, is in someone's carport which is fairly typical of CSAs, thank goodness for volunteers. Just verify your pick up by signing the clipboard by your name, grab your box or unload it into your own bags (if you take the box return it in your next visit) then prepare to be wowed by the amazing produce. Each week is a little but different and changes along with the season. What's always in the box is the most beautiful organic produce I've ever seen. This weeks box had a bunch of gorgeous rainbow chard which was sautéed along with Fatted Calf sweet sausage served on top of Model bread with poached eggs. Best chard ever! I've posted a few pics of the last few boxes, judge for yourself, Riverdog Farm is amazing. It doesn't get any better than this. PS... They also raise organic fed hogs and chickens. Picked up my first pork share (delivered along with my regular box pick up) and the cuts look so tasty. Can not wait to braise the fresh hocks. Check their website for a complete list of pork share offerings.

I haven't written a single Yelp review since the Great Pandemic began. I would like to return to…read moreYelp, starting now, writing thankful and positive reviews for establishments that have come through for all of us in a time of crisis. Let's start with Riverdog! I was pretty confident that I'd written about Riverdog in the past and was somewhat shocked to see that I praised only their eggs in my short initial review. Yes, the eggs are great, and everyone knows it. But I can make a long, long list of Riverdog products that consider to be top notch: green garlic, raw chickens, pork chops, carrots, daikons, asparagus tips, onions, black radishes, little gems when they're available, .... At the moment, their early girl and heirloom tomatoes are truly excellent. In recent weeks, I've gotten their squash and green beans -- excellent again, of course. Riverdog prices are not outrageous, in view of the high quality. Their wares merit a detour. The farmers (Trini and Tim) and their employees (shout out here for Becky) are all super-nice. Check them out!

Best apricots ever. Cheryl is the bomb. At the corner with the best apricots ever. And she's very…read morefunny. Stop Buy lots

Great Apricots! Easy access on and off freeway. I assume they do other fruits throughout the year.read more

Capay brought some vibrant produce to the Outer Sunset Farmers Market San Francisco. There was a…read moregreat mix of varied squashes, peppers, greens, beets, tomatoes, and so much more today at the market. Got to love farm fresh produce. Farming organically since 1976.

I have never felt more peaceful and content than the times I've been to Capay Organic Farms…read more I still find it hard to believe this place is located so close to Sacramento. I often feel like I'm in another place and time here. Cool breezes, wine flowing, music playing and the fresh produce here make my heart smile. They're family friendly events are always worth the trip. There's usually something entertaining to see and do, along with plenty of sitting areas to set up a picnic to waste your day away with. Make sure you keep your eyes open for their wine tasting event. Their barrel of grapes set up for you to step on is laughter evoking and strangely therapeutic. Plus their veggie and fruit delivery service is top notch. It ranges in the expensive side, but the quality of the food received is superb. Those apples had to have some special powers in them because they rocked my world. How could one piece of fruit be that good? This is one place Sacramento needs to be supportive of. Now go support these good people today!

A true community grocery. Don't expect anything fancy, but few markets have the range of products…read morefrom bait to beer, local olive oil and soap, dog food and used clothing, that you'll find at the Corner Store. Remember the US before it was swallowed by corporate/industrial culture? Do yourself a favor and stop by the Corner Store. Be sure to bring your kids. Tell them how this was how we used to to live, and why it was a more sustainable and equitable economy in many ways.

So I went to my youngest brother's Esparto High School graduation and learned to my dismay that Pat…read morerecently sold the Corner Store. I CRIED. I felt immediately devastated, even though I understand business is business. However, SO many people buy businesses that have been around for decades, only to make changes that ultimately make the place unrecognizable, or what's worse, the service changes too, and not for the better. I have yet to drop in to say hello and to introduce myself, but I will, soon. I can only hope that the new owner's understand that for a lot of the original families that inhabited Guinda going back to the 1800's, such as the Hackett's, Logan's, the Petty's and the Slaughter's (and many more!) , this place holds SO many memories. So many AMAZING memories. Some of us still live here, some of us still have property here, we visit frequently and always shop at the corner store. It's a tradition I've instilled in my 8 year old son too, who cannot WAIT to get to Guinda every time to be able to walk down to the store by himself and spend his hard earned money. :) I left my review a 5 stay for this reason alone. I hope to keep it there after my first visit back to meet the new owner(s).