In Humboldt spring, if the patio is dry, much less sunny, take advantage. Not all the benches were dry at Eureka’s branch of Redwood Curtain Brewery when the rain let up at last, but enough for a burger and fries framed in a patch of sun in front of the attached Cookin’ Nook truck. The […]
Eat + Drink
Posted inEat + Drink
Chef Pangnou Vang Behind the Counter at Sushi Blue
Pangnou Vang’s face is mostly hidden under the bill of her ballcap as she works, angling the blade of her long, wooden handled knife horizontally along a block of salmon belly. The fingers of her other hand rest lightly on top of the fish, following the shape of the knife like a peaking wave as […]
Posted inEat + Drink
The Elizabeth Dawn and CBD Mocktails Rising
The evolution of a concept can yield such an interesting timeline. Cannabis starts to become legalized in many states and suddenly we have a new beverage option hitting the shelves. Cannabidiol (CBD), one of the 60 active compounds found in cannabis, is non-psychoactive. The cultivation and sale of industrial hemp-derived products, including CBD, were legalized […]
Posted inEat + Drink
Meeting in the Middle at Aromas Café
Cut in sturdy rectangles and topped with waves of whipped cream, Adela Rodriguez’s tres leches cake takes a full day soaking in whole, condensed and evaporated milks. It’s a bit firmer than usual, holding up to and holding in the sweet liquid. Marisol Madriz, with whom she co-owns Aromas Café (1651 Myrtle Ave., Eureka), thinks […]
Posted inEat + Drink
Mexican and Masala
The bright flags staked around the Taqueria Martinez truck parked beside A&L Feed at 2314 Central Ave. in McKinleyville advertise tacos and burritos. So does the truck itself, emblazoned with pictures of asada fries and tortas. But above the order window through which Miguel Santiago Martinez is taking lunch orders, there hangs a paper menu […]
Posted inEat + Drink
Magical, Cozy Winter Cafés
It’s that time of year again. Sometimes referred to as “false spring” here in Humboldt. Don’t be fooled, friends. Narcissistic spring has not arrived yet. We are still hanging out with that old winter charmer, though they are getting sleepier by the day and will soon rest. For now, we can still find comfort in […]
Posted inEat + Drink
An Appetite for Local Food History at the Clarke
“You don’t think you’re going to make much of a sweat working at a museum but moving things around really gets you there,” says Josh Buck, executive director-curator of the Clarke Historical Museum. Looking at the behemoth of an iron stove hauled into the main hall from the backroom of the Samoa Cookhouse, it’s easy […]
Posted inEat + Drink
Wildwood Waffles Heads North
The sweet smell of Wildwood Waffles has left Rio Dell. After a final weekend of waffling, owner Harry Smith has packed up his irons for Gig Harbor, Washington, where another branch is already in business. “This isn’t my choice to leave that place,” says Smith, nor did he want to leave Rio Dell. But after […]
Posted inEat + Drink
Sushi Spot’s Tipping Point
The social media response to Sushi Spot posting its new policy regarding gratuities was swift and nuclear, with Facebook posters and commenters largely deriding the announcement, some even swearing off patronizing the business for good. But the plan itself, the automatic addition of an 18-percent “equity fee” for dine-in and 10 percent for takeout to […]
Posted inEat + Drink
Alchemy’s Pop-up Magic
Less than an hour before sunset, the Alchemy Distillery (330 S. G St., Arcata) gives off the glow and thrum of a party through the large open window counter, where patrons sit inside and out, bustling bar traffic on one side, overhead heat lamps cutting the chill on the other. There’s still a line of […]
Posted inEat + Drink
Mazzotti’s Shuts its Doors
On Thursday, Jan. 11, Joe Mazzotti says he had nobody to cook at Mazzotti’s, so he didn’t open the iconic Arcata Plaza restaurant. “December was probably one of the toughest financial Decembers I’ve had to face,” he says, explaining the restaurant was only pulling in about half of its usual $5,000 per night. “My money […]
Posted inEat + Drink
Spreading Vegetable Joy
It’s January and “Eat more vegetables” is in the air. There are variations, of course. Fruits are mentioned as well, the Mediterranean diet makes frequent appearances, the gut microbiome may also be invoked. The core message from many voices remains the same: Eat more vegetables. The path to implementing that resonant piece of advice must […]