on the cover / By North Coast Journal Readers

Best Of Humboldt 2010 — Readers’ Picks

(Sept. 2, 2010)  Well, dang if the sun didn’t come back! We’re sure it has something to do with the return of all of those bright college students, their learnin’ fever burning up the Humboldt summertime gloom. And as the last dirty shreds of foggy gray drift off, we enter sweet autumn. The Time of the Sunshine. The time to admit we’re not always a crab pot of crankies. The time, even, to praise the lovely, late fog.

Yes, it’s time for the Best of Humboldt!

Best Restaurant: Jessica Lovelady welcomes you to 3 Foods Cafe PHOTO BY BOB DORAN

GALLERY >

As always, we sorta figured the dark veil would part around about now, and so we asked you, our favorite people — you readers, you! — to help us rave about Humboldt. We asked you to name “the best” in 12 categories: restaurant, coffeehouse, store, bar, band, local beer, export product, annual event, person, visual artist (apart from Duane Flatmo), nature experience and road. You delivered some obvious winners, and a few surprises. And, our staff and freelancers dropped their pitchforks to engage in a little Hum-hugging, too.

Now let’s all gather ‘round the last summer campfire and sing Hum-bay-yah. We love ya!

— Heidi Walters

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Best Restaurant

What makes a restaurant “the best”? Judging from the range of comments on dozens of local eateries in this hard-fought category, it really depends on the diner. Recurring words and themes regarding 3 Foods Café included: unpretentious, atmosphere, comfortable, affordable, fun and delicious (not necessarily in that order). As one commenter put it, “A restaurant is more than the food, it’s the experience.” Another praised the “savory, funky, fun meals.” “Diverse and accommodating,” said yet another. Diversity is definitely the rule here, along with whimsy. Start with wedges of pita and Fuji apple dipped in olive oil and Egyptian spice blend. Or maybe “Golden Nuggets,” tater tots with surprising dips. Or the “Light and Lovely,” a salad with gorgonzola, apples and caramelized walnuts. My faves: “Piccadilly Gone East” — ahi tempura, pink in the middle, with miso aioli and rice wine vinegar for dipping and “Harold and Kumar,” sliders (Humboldt grass-fed beef, of course) with blue cheese, frizzled leeks and aioli. Vegetarian options? Of course; gluten-free too. And they deliver (in more ways than one). (835 J St., Arcata.) — Bob Doran

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