Foodie Find: Sonoma Meals

If you’re anything like me, you are busy. Oh, sure it is summertime, things are meant to slow down, the days are long and laid back, plenty of lazing around the pool or popping off to beachy locales. Right? Um, not really.

I realize, with a loud argh, that once again, I missed the Friday Farmer’s Market while running errands or doing chores. Another precious day off whizzes by without me making that batch of fresh tomato sauce or vegetable soup I’d hope to use for dinners all week. We are busy people, but I know we all want to eat well, cook seasonally, support our local farmers, and simply provide healthy food for our families. If I told you that you could have all of that while bobbing on a raft in the pool or taking long beachside walks, wouldn’t you be psyched?

Two lovely, and super talented local gals are here to rescue us from the perils of ordering icky, unhealthy take-out or from having to pop one more highly processed, frozen meal into the microwave. Sonoma Meals is the brainchild of two very talented local women foodies and chefs, Sarah Pinkin and Veronica Coleman. The concept is easy: simply order from a weekly, ever-changing selection of the most delicious, seasonal items and then — presto! — practically instant, healthy, straight from the farmer’s market meals are delivered straight to your door! The gals work with local farmers and artisans to create thoughtful, interesting homemade dishes that change weekly and with the seasons.

One recent afternoon, I returned home to find my cooler bag filled with goodies from Sonoma Meals perched happily on my front doorstep. I rushed in and excitedly tore into the icy goods and found a selection of beautifully packaged and presented foodstuffs. A salad of crisp little gems was tossed with sliced, fragrant peaches and toasty hazelnuts. A simple vinaigrette was on the side; the whole combination made for an immediate, lovely light lunch on my back porch. A dish of exotic, but lightly spiced pork warmed in the oven for dinner the next night was a godsend after a long day of running around, while I gobbled the green vegetable-filled Italian wedding soup en route to the airport one extremely busy, food-less afternoon.

I absolutely adored two little crescent-shaped pastry hand pies filled with healthy veggies and warming spices. Baked quickly and golden, the flakey pastries were the ideal things to toss in my tote, nibbled on in the middle of an epic, multi-hour hike up Mt. Tam.

A visit to Sonoma Meals’ website is a beautiful way to explore exactly how easy and affordable it is to order. No matter how little or how often you need just a bit of help in the kitchen, or if your family has certain dietary restrictions, there simply cannot be a more simple way to relax this summer than seeking out these scrumptious goodies. Check out sonomameals.com for all the details on ordering, ingredients, and more.

What’s new: Oxbow Public Marketplace

It is almost impossible to think about spending anytime in doors while the weather is this spectacular. Although, there are those long hours in the late afternoon when the sun is high and air conditioning actually sounds lovely. These are the perfect hours for a leisurely visit to Napa’s Oxbow Marketplace. If you haven’t visited in awhile, you’ll be surprised to find many delicious new vendors and a happy, busy vibe of shoppers strolling the stands, all happily munching on a plethora of tasty treats or sipping a cold beer, glass of wine, or expertly crafted coffee.

A just-finished, polished wooden food bar dotted with high stools overlook a fiery grill that quickly char a heavenly array of smoke-scented, beefy choices in addition to the existing, glistening meat case at Five Dot Ranch. Smiling patrons can now sit and slice off hunks of juicy steak or sink their teeth into massive burgers and drippy sandwiches. Draft beer here, the no-brainer perfect accompaniment.

Cate and Company is the shiny new bakery offering a gorgeous selection of baked goodies, pretty sandwiches, and fresh salads that you would never guess are all gluten-free. Between bites and shopping, visit the Napa Valley Distillery and cozy up to the little bar for a fun, informative spirits tasting. Napa Valley grapes and fruits are locally distilled and barrel aged to create award winning, delicious liquors. Be sure to visit their super cute space, which is also filled with everything imaginable for creating perfect cocktails at home. In addition to these yummy new food-focused spots, there are now several new gifty shops loaded with many beautiful things you never knew you needed. Visit oxbowpublicmarket.com for all the details on these new vendors and their listing of wonderful summer events.

Must-have ingredient: Luxardo Cherries

I just paid $24 for a jar of cherries. And I would do it again.

These are no normal cherries. They are not your grocery store, red dye #5, gross cocktail cherries. These cherries are magical little balls of sweet, sticky deliciousness. They are deep ruby in color and taste like your most memorable kiss. It takes every speck of my almost nonexistent willpower to not gobble up these cherries straight from the jar. I wouldn’t dream of popping any other cherry into my now perfected whiskey sour, drizzling a little of the addictive syrup into the shaker for its sugary sweetness, or sinking one in the bottom of a darling little vintage martini glass before pouring an icy Booker’s Manhattan on top.

My recent addiction is the Old Fashioned. The simple combination of muddled Luxardo cherry, their juices, and a hefty slice of orange is heaven with the addition of a few jiggers of good bourbon stirred in. Twenty-four dollars is a small price to pay for cocktail nirvana. Find Luxardo Cherries locally at the Oxbow’s Napa Valley Distillery.

Kristin’s perfect Whiskey Sour
Serves 1

In a pint glass, put one ounce of chilled simple syrup, the juice of half a large lemon, a small drizzle of Luxardo cherry syrup, and two generous jiggers of your favorite Bourbon. Shake or stir vigorously. Fill a large tumbler with ice and pour mixture over. Garnish with several cherries. Sip merrily.

Deliciousness found: Murphy’s Irish Pub Tater Tots

I would never believe you if you told me you didn’t love a tater tot. Starchy, fluffy potatoes shredded, mashed, formed into a little ball and fried. I mean, hello? What is not to love? Dip that yummy little crispy ball in some spicy ketchup and it is borderline lust, if you ask me. There are some pretty scrumptious tater tots to be had around Sonoma — Steiner’s! — although, the homemade version from Murphy’s are crazy-good.

Fantastically larger than your typical tot, these guys are hand-formed fluffy bits of happiness. The genius in the kitchen there decided to stuff them with gooey pepper jack cheese…swoon! A house-made, smoky chipotle ketchup is on the side. Order beer. Order tots. Sit in the sun. Dunk with unabashed joy. Check out Murphy’s full, newish, wonderfully yummy menu online at sonomapub.com.

Beyond the burrito
Nine food trucks getting great mileage out of unique mobile cuisine.

Rogi, Los Angeles. This mobile menu of Korean-Mexican fusion is credited with launching the food truck craze in 2008.

Schnitzel & Things, New York. Try the fried chicken and pork version.

Sugar Philly, Philadelphia. Crème brulee torched to order.

Gastropod, Miami. Short ribs and pork bellies served from classic Airstream trailer.

Smack Shack, Minneapolis. Lobster rolls.

Roli Roti, San Francisco. Rotisserie chicken, by the piece or whole.

Non Nom, Los Angeles. Vietnamese sandwiches.

Marination Mobile, Seattle. Hawaiian-Korean fare includes Spam Musubi.

Streetza, Milwaukee. Pizza: 25 kinds at $3.75 a slice.