food

A day in Monterey

February 25, 2018
















Jon and I are counting down the weekends we have before the baby comes, so today we went to Monterey for a quick day trip. I'm a very big girl right now, so we were hella efficient and spent most of the day at the public library #lit. (literally.)

Our first stop was Compagno's Market and Deli, a local sandwich shop with excessive military decor?  It was delicious and seriously the whole sandwich is such a good deal- $12.50 for a sandwich the size of a large take out tray. No really look at the picture of Jon eating the sandwich. It required two hands to hold HALF of the sandwich. He is eating the other half for dinner as I type this.

Second, we went to Revival Ice Cream because that is what I have wanted to do for almost two years. We got Rose Tea (with cream cheese and white chocolate) and the Bee's Knees (burnt honey, bee pollen, beeswax, and honeycomb candy) in a waffle cone and it was perfect. Other flavors included: Apple Miso, Eucalyptus Mint, and some coconut milk flavor with lots of herbs.

After that, we just hung out at the Monterey public library (the first public library in California! Did you know!?) It was a great library- the clientele was mostly very old and the one guy at the table next to us typed with so much strength, I couldn't stop laughing.

Anyway, we dropped by a few places to pick up groceries- the Wharf Marketplace and one of those "10 artichokes for a dollar!" stands on the side of Highway 1, spending the rest of the drive home brainstorming names for our baby boy.

I am going to miss days like this one when we become a family of three!!

farmers market

the most beautiful summer day: downtown farmer's market

July 26, 2017








I'm realizing there are different vibes Santa Cruz will put on depending on the time and place. The boardwalk vibe is teeming with tassle-topped high schoolers and Bay Area families anxious for a real beach day. The campus is expansive and its murmurs get absorbed by towering groves of redwoods. 

And then the downtown farmer's market is actually bright and uniquely free. 

I think I get overwhelmed sometimes by the liberal angst of the city and the hollow vibe of the university, but visiting the Santa Cruz downtown farmer's market for the first time with my friends Ayaka and Rinko totally unfolded the sunnier side of this town. Located in the parking lot by Cedar and Lincoln every Wednesday, the market blew me away with the neighborliness of the people and the variety of the market produce. In some ways, it seems to represent what Santa Cruzians love the most about themselves: they're down to earth, against the trend, and fantastically creative. 

In particular, I appreciated the balance of produce stands to artisan goods and the well-rounded variety that was available. The participating farms were evenly distributed: some had stone fruits, others had berries, there were varieties of squashes, cauliflowers, tomatoes, and onions, and some had shishito peppers and shiso! 

Of the local eats and goods, I saw a bone broth stand, incredible flower arrangements, drinking chocolate, etc. but the best part was watching Rinko eat her ice cream. Guys, this was literally the second time she had ever had ice cream. In her 2.5 years of life. I've had Penny Ice 3 times in 24 hours! 

Anyway, now that I've visited this market once, I will definitely be back. I came home with some bi-colored corn, juicy heirloom tomatoes, some spinach bulani, a box of strawberries, and some nectarines. There are some things Grocery Outlet just can't give you. 

A few details:
  • The downtown farmer's market takes place every Wednesday from 1:30-5:30/6:30 depending on daylight savings.
  • There is a good sized shaded seating area to enjoy your coffee, ice cream, or whole rotisserie chicken.
  • There is a veggie valet system! What?! So Santa Cruz! Basically, so you don't look like me clutching millions of clear plastic bags as you try to get Rinko's face out of the flower water bucket. You drop off your goods and can bring your car around to pick it up at the curb.




farmers market

exploring Santa Cruz farmer's markets: Live Oak

July 24, 2017









Most weekends, Jon and I drive around the Bay in a frighteningly large circle (17 to 85 to 101 to 80 to 880 to 17). We love getting a chance to see our beloved friends who literally only live like 40 miles away but we pretend like it's 400 wah wah I know, Bay Area people are so lazy blah blah.

One lovely Saturday morning, we finally decided to check out a local farmer's market because we just felt like it was expected of us. We spent about twenty minutes total, Jon got his maximum minutes of Vitamin D through direct sun exposure, and we returned back to our home and spent the rest of the day on our computers. Weekend life is real.

A few details:
  • The Live Oak farmer's market takes place every Sunday from 9AM-1PM at the parking lot on 15th and East Cliff Drive.
  • We were delighted to see that this parking lot was none other than the same parking lot as US Meal, Jon's favorite burger joint. Seriously, it's very confusing as a restaurant, but very convincing and delicious as a burger. 
  • This farmer's market had a range of produce/flower/dairy stands and hipstead-y/wow that is. a very specific target audience stands. 
When we were there, I saw two Asians with datedness similar to our own and Jon told me it was the weekend, so I shouldn't bother them. I will find them eventually. 

farm

the sweetest farm stand

July 24, 2017





Everett Family Farms is one of those places that you know can't be replicated just anywhere. Unlike white subway-tiled coffee spots (<3 you Verve), local farm stands that operate daily on the honor system only pop up where the community is invested in its long term viability. I was first introduced to this place by a friend who volunteered here for a year. I know she is a legitimate farmer because when I asked her to help me clear my garden, she didn't even wear gloves. She flung a 30 inch worm into a corner of my garden with her bare hands. These are the type of brazen harvesters Everett Farms employs and I am so glad they exist!

A few details:
  • Everett Family Farms is open daily from 10AM to 6PM where they offer seasonal produce (+eggs!) year-round. 
  • Find them at: 2111 Old San Jose Road, Soquel, CA 95073.
  • There is a scale, calculator, scratch paper, cash box, and a Venmo account available to help with your purchase.
Honestly, grocery shopping can be super stressful sometimes! Pulling into Everett Farms and taking time to compare the knobbly skins of Japanese kabocha or ruffling the bountiful layers of panisse lettuce makes buying fresh food so much more fun. Soon, I will post recipes of what Jon does with the random produce I bring home to calm down.