Co-owner Esmerelda Hernandez and the rest of the Los Giles Taqueria truck crew woke at 5 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 9 to start prep for more than 700 meals — around five times their usual day of sales. But this day, the black and gold truck will be posted up at Trinidad Town Hall, cooking […]
Eat + Drink
Rio Dell Restaurants Reopen with Losses
A determined person could eat at every restaurant in Rio Dell in a single day. Businesses along Wildwood Avenue took losses in the aftermath of the 6.4 earthquake that hit the tiny Eel River Valley town especially hard. Beyond the damage from the quake, like damaged equipment and dining rooms, the days without power and […]
Food Trucks and World Central Kitchen to the Rescue
Three-year-old Leilani Valverde held a partly unwrapped burrito sideways in both hands, took a bite out of the middle and came up smiling. According to her father, Christian Valverde, who brought her with him to the Rio Dell fire department Thursday morning, it was her first hot meal in two days, ever since a 6.4 […]
Food Trucks and World Central Kitchen to the Rescue
Three-year-old Leilani Valverde held a partly unwrapped burrito sideways in both hands, took a bite out of the middle and came up smiling. According to her father, Christian Valverde, who brought her with him to the Rio Dell fire department Thursday morning, it was her first hot meal in two days, ever since a 6.4 […]
‘Guy’s Hometown: From Ferndale to Flavortown’ to Air
It’s a Humboldt-heavy month at the Food Network. First it was Big Island Kine’s feature on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, and now a special Guy’s Hometown: From Ferndale to Flavortown episode is scheduled to air at 9 p.m. on Dec. 30. Many fair-goers will recall Fieri’s crew hauling cameras and equipment around the Humboldt County […]
Chicano Bakes‘ Pan Dulce and Disco
The cover of Esteban Castillo’s second cookbook Chicano Bakes is like a panaderia dessert case set up in Studio 54. A flan that shines like Donna Summer’s lip gloss, a square of pink-frosted cortadillo cake is cut sharp as Bianca Jagger’s suit. It’s a departure from the signature style of sunny lighting, bright backgrounds, and […]
Add Another Squash to the Table
Winter squash is my comfort food this time of the year, helping me accept the irrefutable reality of winter. By the time December comes around, several dishes featuring them are on dinner rotation. Winter squashes work wonders on two levels: first with their colors and shapes, which brighten up the space where I store them, […]
Buddha’s Fists in Chicken Coops
Chayote, or Buddha’s fists squash as we call it in Chinese, is a thin-skinned squash. Some are smooth and others are prickly. I’m ecstatic to share some of my harvest this year and have given over a dozen of the sprouted squash for friends to plant next year. Chayote is a prolific producer in Humboldt. […]
Big Island Kine on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives
Guy Fieri fans and poké enthusiasts, you’ll want to tune in for this week’s episode of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, when the Humboldt-raised host features local food truck Big Island Kine. The episode “Burgers, Bowls and Bangers” airs Friday, Dec. 9, at 6 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 10, Saturday, Dec. 24. “Guy Fieri pops into a […]
Bob’s Footlong’s Comeback
After 72 years in business, Bob’s Footlong, beloved hot dog haunt of teens and truckers alike, shut its doors November of 2021. But like the chili stains on a shirtfront, it seems it wasn’t gone for good. Jessica and Daniel Milich have bought the business, are now, keys in hand, hiring staff and readying to […]
Oberon Plans its Final Weeks
Nicholas Kohl, owner of Old Town’s Oberon Grill, has announced the restaurant will close its doors for good after December. The business will be open through at least Dec. 31, during which time he and the staff will be juggling one last round of holiday parties. A number of factors played into the decision, according […]
What’s Good: Patino’s and Humboldt Bay Burgers
Patino’s Quesabirria Slam Dunk The quesabirria taco has Mexican food enthusiasts happily in its grip, all of us grinning orange oil-slicked smiles now that the Tijuana specialty has made it this far north. But while dunking your way through an order of the crispy, gooey, beef tacos with a side of deep red consommé goes […]
