Archive for ‘coffee’

Want to Start a Preserves Business? Here’s One Way…

By Susie, 12 March, 2012,

inna jam Hot off the pixels, the San Francisco Chronicle introduces the new Food Craft Institute (FCI), based in Oakland’s Jack London Square from the folks who brought us the Eat Real festival. The institute will offer what I call “apprenticeship bootcamps,” with hands-on learning from numerous food crafters and entrepreneurs as well as business-ey types such as moi!

You can learn from the likes of Dafna Kory, who is taking her jam business – kicked off at the local forage sf underground markets – to the next level, thanks to Kickstarter. Chip in and get some of her popular preserves. Hope to see you at the FCI!

Or think really big about how you might start a unionized berry farm with an honor system farm stand like Swanton Berry Farm.

Food Crafters – Enter the 2012 Good Food Awards !

By Susie, 6 July, 2011,

The Second Annual Good Food Awards is now accepting entries! Food producers may now enter their products on the Good Food Awards website under the categories of beer, charcuterie, cheese, chocolate, coffee, pickles and preserves, and (a brand new category) spirits.

Also new this year, the Good Food Awards will be recognizing a select group of winners with a Gold Seal. This award will honor producers who have reached the stage of full, certified organic status while also leading on taste and social responsibility. For more information click here to view the full press release.

The deadline for entries is September 1, 2011.

Third Coast Coffee Roasting Tour in Austin

By Susie, 13 June, 2011,

Ironically the photos of my Third Coast Coffee Roasters tour in Austin contain no coffee. While I’m definitely enjoying my morning cup, it was a few other aspects of the operation that delighted me enough to post this here virtual tour.

Third Coast Coffee is a member of Cooperative Coffees, “a green coffee importing cooperative, comprised of 22 community-based coffee roasters in the USA and Canada, who are committed to building and supporting fair and sustainable trade relationships for the benefit of farmers and their exporting cooperatives, families, and communities.” (Seems like a good life list goal is to visit all 22 members!)

The cupping room is designed white for sensory deprivation--making the coffee the main stimulant in the room.

A wall map pin points growers which members of Cooperative Coffees visit to directly purchase the green coffee.

Coffee grounds stay close to home, as compost for a vege garden behind the roastery.

And finally, a different rubber stamp for each coffee variety which they make in house. This thrilled me no end. They use a little oven to bake the rubber and, well, you'll have to ask them for the details.

If you’re in Austin and like to seek out coffee roasters, pop in. There’s no fancy cafe, just good coffee and good people. 4402 S. CONGRESS AVE #109 • AUSTIN TEXAS • 78745 • 512-444-7820

The Elmwood in Berkeley – Come for Jeremy’s, Stay for the Food

By Susie, 16 August, 2010,

In French “ici” means here. In Berkeley Ici means “ice cream made here,”, long lines, and happy faces. The last time I was on this block of the Elmwood, it had quite a ghostly feeling of not having much there, there. The old hardware store’s future seemed questionable. A few places were vacant. The rebirth of this wonderful part of Berkeley surrounded by many brown shingle Craftsman homes is thrilling, much like North Berkeley / Gourmet Ghetto’s evolution. The Elmwood shopping area is just a few blocks long, centering around Ashby (an easy exit off Highway 80) and College Ave.

The Elmwood Cafe lets you vote for which charity 50% of its profits should go to. Oh and they serve up great coffee in an old soda fountain / drug store.

At Summer Kitchen, Charlene and Paul hope “guests feel that our Summer Kitchen is an extension of their own kitchen.”

A wine shop and new food market further spice up this vibrant chunk of college. (In fact the other day I joked with someone we spent an extensive evening in a 50 feet area, from a cafe, to a restaurant, to the Elmwood Theater.)

Many long time businesses are equally exciting as the new life:

Nabalom Bakery on Russell St. off of College is a very very old and amazing bakery with buttery pastries – filled with fresh fruits, cheese, and other delights. You can also find at Philz Coffee, both in San Francisco and North Berkeley (as far as I know). They also have wifi.
Body Time used to be called the Body Shop, before the Body Shop came to the U.S. Celebrating their 40th anniversary, they make wonderful natural bath and body products and will customize to your own blend. The China Rain is a favorite.
And of course Jeremy’s, for bargain designer clothing and shoe shopping for men and women. (A new designer consignment store just opened too, in a space formerly occupied by a car repair place, on Ashby.)
A string of long-time, tiny restaurants lead up to Jeremy’s. My friend dreams of Holy Land falafels, which I tried recently and found fabulous. And did you know it’s possible to find $2.75 sushi maki rolls at Manpuku? Jam packed too.
We mustn’t forget Dream Fluff donuts, a long time maker of Homer Simpson’s faves that also features a full breakfast for $4.99.

What are some not-to-be-misseds that I missed? There’s really too much to list!

Jeremy's clothing store Elmwood Cafe ici ice cream flavors Summer Kitchen and the block

Amazing Muffins in Portland Oregon – Random Coffee

By Susie, 28 May, 2010,

Walking down Alberta St, NE I passed Random Coffee House, the red wooden exterior immediately said “home” to me, maybe since I too was clad in red and black.

Picking where to have coffee in Portland can be stressful: So many good choices and you never know if there’s somewhere just a little better a block away. After seeing the scene at Tin Shed, which had shades of 18th St. hipsteresque, I turned back and headed to randomness.

There it was, a shelf full of large freshly baked muffins in the most diverse flavors I’d ever seen:
-Raspberry coconut bran (my choice – yum);
-bacon cornmeal cheddar made with Beeler Bacon and Tillamook cheddar (how local can you get);
-cinnamon rhubarb which my muffin-pusher declared her favorite; a -gluten free lemon poppyseed which I’d go back for if I weren’t having lunch in an hour
-and blueberry for the traditionalist