news story / By North Coast Journal Staff

Best Of Humboldt — Staff Picks

Up until fairly recently, local locavores wanting to eat from their own foodshed and follow the 100-mile diet always found a serious hitch: They were hard-pressed to find wheat for bread. And what is life without toast and PBJ sandwiches? (Although, come to think of it, peanuts might be a problem too.)

There are some folks growing wheat way out in Scott Valley in the Siskyous (a 150-mile drive from Arcata), but there hadn’t been any grown in Humboldt County for years. At least not until Keven Cunningham started up Shakefork Community Farm in the Arcata Bottoms, and SoHum farmers John LaBoyteaux and Dan Primerano planted a wheat crop at Camp Grant out by South Fork. Now all you need is a mill and an oven and you’re ready to bake that bread. Add a churn for homemade butter and you’ve got toast.

— Bob Doran

BEST LATE-NIGHT GREASY GUT-BOMB

Whether it’s the inhibition-lowering power of alcohol, a mean case of the munchies or some mysterious biochemical reaction of the human gut, those post-party wee hours seem to trigger an animalistic craving for junk food — oh, the glistening fat of freshly cooked hamburger; the subtle crunch of salt crystals on hot French fries; the thick, creamy sweetness of an old-fashioned milkshake. Du-roool.

For all the above and then some, have a DD haul your soon-to-be-expanding ass to Toni’s off Giuntoli Avenue in Arcata. No gourmet pretensions at this 24-hour joint — just expertly calibrated burgers and a shit-ton of fried stuff. (Soups and salads are on the menu, too, though I’ve never asked them to prove it.) Feelin’ strong, my friend? Try the double bacon chili cheese dog or the triple country burger. Their homemade onion rings, which resemble oil-saturated parchment flaps, would be kinda gross if they weren’t so tasty. Malts and shakes are available in stoner-pleasing flavors like chocolate peanut butter, butterscotch and pineapple.

Me? I go with the bacon cheeseburger, onion flaps and a chocolate malt, and worry about the hangover later. (1901 Heindon Rd., Arcata)

— Ryan Burns

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