The people of Fortuna have evidently mastered manifestation, perhaps connecting with their namesake goddess. One can only assume this from the imminent opening of a larger branch of the Asia’s Best market there and a second location for the Garberville-based Il Forno Bakery (1006 Main St., Fortuna). What candles are you lighting, Fortunans? The chai […]
Jennifer Fumiko Cahill
Jennifer Fumiko Cahill is the managing editor of the North Coast Journal. She won the Association of Alternative Newsmedia’s 2020 Best Food Writing Award and the 2019 California News Publisher's Association award for Best Writing.
Posted inEat + Drink
Falafelove Blooms in King Salmon
A low chalkboard sign with the words “falafel” and “open” is the only warning before you miss the turn into the recently opened Falafelove’s little parking lot in King Salmon (1125 King Salmon Ave.). Inside, with jars of preserved lemons and olives overhead, owner Avi Leibson hustles between a fryer basket of browned falafel and […]
Posted inFood & Drink
The Fruits of Humboldt Cider Co.’s Labors
When the Humboldt Cider Co. first started pressing apples at its original location at Redwood Acres Fairgrounds, just an apple’s throw from its new tasting room on Hubbard Lane, the plan was to produce single varietals. Co-owner Michelle Cartledge is still a fan. “The [Imperial] Macintosh apple is really wonderful and balanced, and not too […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Hand Crafting at Diver Bar & Grill
SQUINT AT SHAWN STOOPS sliding a pizza into the Diver Bar & Grill’s hulking, black, riveted woodfire oven and you could imagine him shoveling coal into a steam engine. “When I built the pizza oven, it’s a boiler … steam donkey inspired,” he says, referring to the machines that once hauled timber from the redwoods […]
Posted inLetters + Opinion
Journal Welcomes California Local News Fellows
We are excited to announce the North Coast Journal was recently selected to be a host newsroom for the 2024 California Local News Fellowship, a state-funded initiative to invigorate local journalism, with a focus on underserved communities. In September, we will welcome recent California State University at Los Angeles graduate Anne To, who also served […]
Posted inEat + Drink
Best Oyster Goes Pop-up
By 9:45 a.m. on Saturday, June 15, chefs, staffers and volunteers were pushing through the doors of the former Mazzotti’s, carrying platters of oysters on drifts of white salt, cold stones and ice. Most of the restaurant, slated to open as another Italian spot under new owner Jack Wu, was dark, but there was plenty […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
A Shell of a Time
The Arcata Plaza was packed for the 34th Oyster Festival on Saturday, June 15. Locals and visitors alike stood chatting in long lines for beer and foraged festival foods amid the crowd of vendors and trucks. Meanwhile on the lawn, folks picnicked and danced to live music, and competed in oyster calling in the sun. […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
No Leftovers
Michael Peterson and his son Nicolas are unloading pillowcase-sized bags of purple Brussels sprouts from their Willow Creek Farm truck. There are boxes of pale green bok choy and sacks of rainbow carrots, too, stacked up outside the entrance to the Harvest Hub run by the North Coast Growers Association (NCGA) on West End Road […]
Posted inEat + Drink
What’s Good at the Friday Night Market
The first Friday Night Market of the season crossed light sabers with the Forest Moon Festival on May 31, packing Old Town’s closed streets with vendors and Vaders, buskers and Wookiees. Favorites returned, like Frybread Love’s Indian tacos, the empanadas from La Colombiana and, yes, that’s the mobile fryer of the Love Mini Donuts stall […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Kinetic Chaos, Kreiss and Soup Scoops
We’re looking back on a wild and wacky Kinetic Grand Championship weekend with all its attending sand, splashing, cycling and costumes. We’ve also got an update on the allegations against Judge Greg Kreis. Finally, we bid farewell to a pair of iconic Arcata restaurants and preview the upcoming Empty Bowls fundraiser for St. Vincent de […]