Category — Peninsula

 I spent last Saturday shopping for food. Started at the Redwood City Farmer’s Market, then Sigona’s, a local market in Redwood City and then Trader Joe’s. I later went to Rainbow Grocery in San Francisco.

The verdict? Sigona’s is one of the best markets on the Peninsula if you are looking for great value on local, organic produce. For less than $60, we got over 15 vegetables and fruits, mostly organic, mostly local, plus organic Rocky chicken (much better quality than the Trader Joe’s organic chicken) plus Strauss nonfat milk. Organic bell peppers at less than $2/lb. This was way cheaper than even conventional prices at the Redwood City farmer’s market. No crowds in the store. Friendly staff. I think the prices at Sigona’s Redwood City location is way cheaper than the one at Stanford Shopping Center. Checkout Sigona’s sometime if you’re looking for a good market on the Penisula.

My sister hosted a fabulous weekend long bachelorette trip at Costanoa. We rented three canvas family cabins with bonfires for each one. We hiked to the ocean along the sandy bluffs, ate at their restaurant, and had a bbq on their lawn. Costanoa is a beautiful retreat located on the coast near Highway One in Pescadero, right between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz. Think of this place as luxury camping, with a warming hut and nice bathrooms with saunas. We also hung out in the hot tub area and then karaoked through the rest of the night.

The quaint seaside Peninsula town of Half Moon Bay has a brand new organic and natural food supermarket called New Leaf Community Market near the intersection of 92 and highway 1. It’s a local version of a large scale natural food market, like a Whole Foods for Half Moon Bay. This recently opened a couple months ago.

My fiance and I took a nice tour of the store-sparking new floors, clean and brightly lit, with tons of fresh organic produce. The ready made food in the deli and hot foods, soup and salad bar were a lot better than I expected for a local market. We picked up some organic raspberries, an organic fennel and pinenut salad as well as a tofu salad to go. I would definitely come back here!

Our real stop was for dinner at a restaurant in Half Moon Bay called Chez Shea. This was my second time eating at this downtown restaurant on Main Street. Almost all of the food is sourced locally and organically. The taste is extremely fresh and clean with global flavors. The first time I ate here, I tried their Indian curry and rice. In my most recent visit, I tried their chile renno with an organic beet salad to start. All of the food was fantastic! My fiance Vivek and I feel that this restaurant is a total find in the area–rated up there with some of the best organic restaurants in San Francisco. Come check it out!

Over the last week, I had frozen yogurt cravings. I went to Harmony Frozen Yogurt located in San Carlos last Thursday, and Fraiche in Palo Alto on Saturday night. They are both great local organic frozen yogurt shops; I would go here over Pinkberry or Red Mango any day.

Here’s my head to head comparison:

Flavor: Harmony frozen yogurt wins. They offer Straus organic yogurt, with flavors like plain, mango and raspberry. Fraiche is good too, but Harmony wins by a slight edge with more unique flavors of yogurt.

Variety: Fraiche wins. They offer fresh real yogurt as well as frozen frozen yogurt. Their sauces include creative options like ollalieberry and varieties of granola and even handmade mochi.

Organic: both win! Both are organic and believe in investing in green and healthy food.

California State and federal government officials plan to spray across the San Francisco Bay Area in order to eradicate the apple moth. According to a recent Chronicle article, “Hundreds of residents in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, where pheromone pesticides were aerially applied late last year, have reported health symptoms, including shortness of breath, muscle aches and sore throats.”

Read more about these issues through a local non profit dedicated against the spraying called Stop The Spray. I signed the petition to stop the spray on Care2 which already contains over 14,000 signatures.

As a farewell to a good friend who moved back to Amsterdam, a group of us stayed as a hostel in Pigeon Point Lighthouse, a beautiful spot just 10 miles south of Half Moon Bay. It was very easy to drive to on highway 1.

The hostel probably has one of the best views for the amount we paid. Inside, we shared a cozy kitchen and living room, with views of the lighthouse and ocean. We later hung out in the outdoor hot tub which was right next to the ocean.

The next day, we took a walk to the beach right next to the lighthouse and looked at the tidal pools. A friend found a crab, and we spotted several seals out of the water staring at us.
We ended the day with a hike up Wilbur’s point, where we saw a nice panorama of the lighthouse and ocean. Pigeon Point is definitely a find–I would go back!

I’m not sure why, but my original post on Emerald Hills market in Redwood City / Emerald Hills ranked one of the most searched and viewed post on my blog (thanks to Google Analytics!). Because of the number of page views, I’ve added some pictures of the market, a wonderful and clean midsized store.
The deli is nicely laid out with an assortment of to go foods.
The produce selection is a mix of organic and local foods, with some conventional products. Surprisingly, the pricing is not as bad as you’d expect from a boutique store, and they have plenty of selection to choose from if you do not want to drive all the way to downtown Redwood City or San Carlos. Emerald Market is located on 3205 Oak Knoll Drive in Redwood City.

Whole Foods and Trader Joes shoppers rejoice! There are some new stores in the horizon that will soon provide more options for shoppers:
Tesco, one of the biggest markets worldwide, is coming to the US, first in the Los Angeles area. Tesco is opening convenient stores with healthy, already made fresh meals to go. They are trying to brand themselves as a cross between Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. Having tried some of their food when I was in London, I was very impressed. Tesco is going for upscale, organic food, but at a price that is reasonable.

Another competitor, Safeway is entering the organic market with a new chain of restaurants called “Citrine Bistro”. It’s interesting that on the Citrine website, it doesn’t tell you that Safeway is behind the fast, healthy, world fusion food idea. This past weekend, I drove by its first location in downtown Redwood City, where I saw a brightly lit and inviting restaurant, modern and clean. I first heard about this through a coupon that was mailed to my home, $10 off Citrine. The menu includes organic ingrendients from Safeway’s organic products for entrees that are Asian, Italian, American and Mexican. I think this will be a threat to Whole Foods given their pricing.

With summer in full force, check out the San Francisco Bay Area’s 90 farmers market according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The picture above shows organic carrots and other veggies being sold by Calderon Organic Farms of Hollister.

Here is a list of resources from the San Francisco Chronicle to find a farmers market.

• SFGate. www.sfgate.com/food/farmersmarkets. A list of Bay Area farmers’ markets.
• Planet Drum. www.planetdrum.org/gc_farmers_markets.htm. Information about farmers’ markets and local agriculture.
• Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture. www.cuesa.org. Information about seasonality and the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market.
• California Federation of Certified Farmers’ Markets. www.cafarmersmarkets.com/search. Information about markets throughout the state.
• KQED. www.kqed.org/topics/home/cooking/farmers-markets.jsp. A market guide. =
• The Green Gate. www.nrdc.org/greengate/guides/markets.asp. National Resources Defense Council’s Bay Area guide.

Where can you find a great cup of coffee, and some of the finest chocolates around? Check out Coupa Cafe, a hangout for techies, Stanford students, and food connoisseurs. I had a meeting in Coupa this morning and as I was waiting, I noticed the sea of laptops everywhere. Wireless is free here, but better yet is the selection of food and coffee.

Stanford is making a big effort to push sustainability on campus. Everything from facilities, food, to teaching are converging into becoming more green. For example, Stanford Dining is the first certified Green Business university food service program in the nation which includes sourcing local and organic foods. Find out more from the Stanford Report.

May is the time of the year in which many of the smaller seasonal farmers’ markets open in the San Francisco Bay Area. This is a list from the www.cafarmersmarkets.com. Enjoy fresh local organic produce in your neighborhood!

East Bay

• Fremont/Centerville, Fremont Boulevard and Bonde Way. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., year-round.
• Fremont/Irvington, Fremont Boulevard and Bay Street. Sundays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., year-round.
• Fremont/Kaiser Hospital, 39400 Paseo Padre Parkway. Thursdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., year-round.
• Fremont/NUMMI, 45500 Fremont Blvd. Fridays, 2-6 p.m., June 1-November.
• Hayward, Main and B streets. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., year-round.
• Hayward/Kaiser Hospital, 27400 Hesperian Blvd., Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., year-round.
• Livermore, Carnegie Park, J and Third streets. Thursdays, 4-8 p.m., May 17-Oct. 18.
• Pleasanton, Main and West Angela streets. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., year-round.
• Union City, Cesar Chavez Park, Smith and Watkins streets. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., year-round.
• Union City/Kaiser Hospital, 3553 Whipple Ave. Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., year-round.

San Francisco

• Alemany, 100 Alemany Blvd. (near the intersection of Interstate 280 and Highway 101). Saturdays, 6 a.m.-5 p.m., year-round.
• Bayview-Hunters Point, Third Street and Oakdale. Wednesdays, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., May 16-Oct. 31.
• Crocker Galleria, 50 Post St. at Montgomery. Thursdays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., year-round.
• Ferry Plaza, Ferry Building, the Embarcadero and Market Street. Saturdays, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., year-round; Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., year-round.
• Fillmore, Fillmore and O’Farrell streets. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., April 28-Nov. 17.
• Heart of the City, Market Street between Seventh and Eighth streets. Wednesdays, 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and Sundays, 7 a.m.-5 p.m., year-round.
• Kaiser Hospital, Geary Boulevard and St. Josephs Avenue, at the hospital entrance. Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., year-round.
• Marina, location to be determined. Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., June- October.
• Noe Valley, 24th and Sanchez streets. Saturdays, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., year-round.
• Parkmerced, the Meadows, Arballo and Serrano drives, Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., June-October.

Peninsula

• Belmont, Caltrain parking lot, El Camino Real and O’Neill Avenue. Sundays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., May 6-Nov. 18.
• Burlingame, Park Road at Burlingame Avenue. Sundays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., May 6-Nov. 18.
• Daly City, Serramonte Shopping Center in the parking lot behind Target. Thursdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., year-round. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., year-round.
• Half Moon Bay, Shoreline Station, Kelly Avenue at Highway 1. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., May 5-December.
• Menlo Park, between Chestnut and Crane streets downtown. Sundays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., year-round.
• Millbrae, 200 block of Broadway between Victoria and La Cruz avenues. Saturdays, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., year-round.
• Pacifica, 400 block of Old County Road, near Rockaway Beach Avenue and Highway 1. Wednesdays, 2:30-6:30 p.m., May 16-November.
• Redwood City, Winslow Street at Hamilton. Saturdays, 8 a.m.-noon, April 7-Nov. 24.
• Redwood City/Kaiser Hospital, 1150 Veterans Blvd. at Maple. Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., year-round.
• San Carlos, Laurel between Cherry and Olive. Thursdays, 4-8 p.m., May 3-Sept. 13.
• San Mateo/College of San Mateo, 1700 W. Hillsdale Blvd. Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., year-round.
• San Mateo/25th Avenue, First Presbyterian Church, 194 W. 25th Ave. Tuesdays, 4-8 p.m., May 15-Oct. 23.
• South San Francisco, Orange Memorial Park, Orange Avenue at Tennis Drive. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., May 12 to Nov. 17.
  South San Francisco/Kaiser, 1200 El Camino Real. Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., year-round.

South Bay

• Campbell, Campbell Avenue between First Street and Central Avenue. Sundays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., year-round.
• Cupertino, Vallco Fashion Park, Wolfe Road at Interstate 280. Fridays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., year-round.
• Los Altos, State Street between Second and Fourth streets. Thursdays, 4-8 p.m., May 3-Sept. 27.
• Los Gatos, Montebello Way and Broadway Extension, downtown Los Gatos. Sundays, 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m., year-round.
• Morgan Hill, downtown train station at Third and Depot streets. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., May 12-Nov. 17.
• Mountain View, Hope Street and Evelyn Avenue, across from the Caltrain station. Sundays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., year-round.
• Palo Alto/California Avenue, California Avenue, near El Camino Real. Sundays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Starts June 3, will be year-round.
• Palo Alto/Downtown, Gilman Street behind the post office, downtown. Saturdays, 8 a.m.-noon, May 12-December.
• San Jose/The Alameda, The Alameda and Hanchett. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., May 26-Sept. 29.
• San Jose/Alum Rock Village, 57 N. White Road. Sundays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., year-round.
• San Jose/Blossom Hill, Princeton Plaza Mall, Kooser Road and Meridian Avenue. Sundays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., year-round.
• San Jose/Cambrian Park, Camden and Union avenues, Wednesdays, 4-8 p.m., May 2-Oct. 31.
• San Jose/Downtown, San Pedro Square between Santa Clara and St. John streets. Fridays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., May 4-Dec. 14.
• San Jose/Evergreen, Evergreen branch library, 2635 Aborn Road, Sundays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Opens May 20, end date not set.
• San Jose/Japantown, Jackson Street between Sixth and Seventh streets. Sundays, 8:30 a.m.-noon, year-round.
• San Jose/Kaiser-Santa Teresa, Cottle Road and Highway 85. Fridays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., year-round.
• San Jose/Santa Teresa, Santa Teresa Boulevard and Camino Verde. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., June 2-October.
• San Jose/Santana Row, Stevens Creek and Winchester boulevards. Sundays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., year-round.
• San Jose/Willow Glen, Lincoln Avenue and Willow Street, behind the Garden Theatre. Saturdays, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., April-November.
• Santa Clara, Jackson Street, between Benton and Homestead. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., year-round.
• Santa Clara/Kaiser, 710 Lawrence Expressway, Thursdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., year-round.
• Saratoga, West Valley College, Fruitvale and Allendale avenues. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., year-round.
• Sunnyvale, South Murphy Avenue between Washington and Evelyn avenues. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., year-round. Wednesdays, 5-8:30 p.m., June 20-Aug. 22.

I found a small family run market in Emerald Hills, an area hidden away in the hills of western Redwood City bordering Woodside. Emerald Market opened about a year ago, and inside its doors is an upscale, immaculately clean market full of organic produce, a high end butcher, and even a takeout deli, soup and salad bar. Its location is a bit tucked away, but for the residents in the area, it’s a convenient place off of 280. They also had a nice seating area outside, and in the plaza is a famous burrito place called Sancho’s. I couldn’t find Emerald Market’s website, but here are some reviews from Yelp. I hope this place can survive in its very hidden location!

One of my friends from high school started a great food company, Hodo Soy Beanery. It’s an all organic, fresh, locally produced soy product company–from tofu, to soy milk, and special textures of soy that you typically can’t find at a market. They sell at farmers markets such as the Ferry Building in San Francisco, the Berkeley Farmers market, the Marin Farmers market and recently in Oakland and San Mateo. I’ve tried their tofu, soy milk and other products and it all tastes very fresh and light.