For those of us who’ve been pushing the boundaries of what constitutes a “sample” at the Loleta Cheese Factory — skewering cube after creamy cube while patient cashiers restock — the recent addition of the Queso Kings grilled cheese bar is a revelation. With new owner chef Robert Stokes at the helm, the tiny town’s […]
Food & Drink
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Secret Spots
What’s better than stumbling upon a hidden gem? Let us help the serendipity along and point you to a couple of our favorite tucked-away bistros. Humboldt Bay Bistro Past the shop-lined streets of Old Town and the looming silhouette of the Carson Mansion, the window-lined Humboldt Bay Bistro is building a devoted following. Some of […]
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Potent Potions
The heady pleasure of sipping a well-executed artisan cocktail cannot be overstated. Even perusing The Griffin’s drink list chock-full of herbal simple syrups and local craft liquors and essential oils is enough to lift your spirits. Locals will recognize the friendly faces of owners Cordelia Ray and Vanessa Griffin crafting drinks behind the bar. Both […]
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Against the Grain
It seems like there’s a new vodka on the market every other day. Each brand says it’s more pure, or more traditional than the previous one. And all say they are the best “odorless/flavorless” alcohol on the market. Simply put, new vodkas are nothing new. Until they are. Blue Lake Vodka is made by distillers […]
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Sweets by the Sea
When you step into Humboldt Chocolate, tucked behind the gazebo in Old Town Eureka, breathe deeply. The air is heavy and sweet in the little shop. That’s because chocolatiers are hand-making each molded, cream-filled, foil-wrapped piece right on the premises. Peek through the window into the kitchen — you may glimpse Ken Buntin at the […]
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Family Style
A couple of hours before dinner, Jan Wortman is sitting by a window in the lobby of the Historic Requa Inn, gesturing at the slim road between the hotel and the Klamath River. She recounts how for 50 years she’d drive past the inn on the way to her grandmother Geneva’s house and dream of […]
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Roadside Attractions
Humboldt has classic summer road food well worth pulling over for. Nothin’ fancy, just favorites from the grill and the fryer that will take you back. Don’t forget napkins. Lots of napkins. Chili dog aficionados around here are devoted to Bob’s Footlongs (505 12th St., Fortuna). Feed your nostalgia with an order of piping hot […]
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Dive Right In
Once upon a time, to refer to a drinking establishment as a “dive” was to insult it, to declare its dark corners unwelcoming places populated by seedy people who’d as soon stab you as clink a pint. And then the ’90s happened. Grunge went beyond a music genre — it was a lifestyle best acted […]
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Pints on the Patio
Summer stretches well into fall in terms of fine, mellow weather in Humboldt. Revel in the sunshine and eat with your sunglasses on. Bittersweet Honestly, we are struggling to find the bitter here. This tag-team venture with Slice of Humboldt Pie and The Local Cider Bar is a very sweet deal. Stake out a couple […]
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Sweet Eats
Don’t wait until after dinner for your dessert — head into Humboldt Sweets (614 Main St., Ferndale) for breakfast. The cinnamon rolls ($5) and massive caramel pecan cinnamon rolls fresh from the oven are a hot mess in the best possible way ($6). You might also see for yourself just how naughty the cream cheese […]
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Surf & Turf
Why choose just one? Here are a couple of places to get something from land and something from the sea. Double D Steak & Seafood Every town has an old, by-gone restaurant that makes locals misty and hungry recalling it. In Fortuna, that place is the un-fussy, family-run steak and pasta joint Parlato’s. But right […]
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The Palace Saloon
With its red and white classic two-story Victorian exterior, its 40-foot bar, original woodwork and trophy-antlered walls, the Palace Saloon has been a community institution since 1890. Back in the day, local merchants, cattlemen, dairymen and townsfolk, all made the Palace their go-to for news, gossip, drinks and good company. These days, most folks stop […]