Guild House Restaurant - Bakersfield (not curator reviewed)
Monday-Friday 11:30am-1:30pm
Location: 1905 18th Street
Why Go There? All-volunteer run restaurant in historic home, features daily changing prix-fixe three course luncheons, all proceeds, gratuities benefit Henrietta Weill Memorial Child Guidance Clinic; reservations encouraged, not required. Specific menus posted on the website.
More Information: Guild House Restaurant
Ampersand Ice Cream - Fresno
Daily 12:00pm-9:00pm
Location: 1940 North Echo, 7010 North Marks Avenue Suite 101
Why Go There? Small batch very local artisan ice cream, sorbets, changing flavors, vegan options. Look for whiskey caramel swirl, Lanna coffee, honeycomb.
More Information: Ampersand Ice Cream
JoMa's Artisan Ice Cream - Murphys
Daily 12:00pm-5:00pm
Location: 386 Main Street
Why Go There? The only local and downtown ice cream shop is popular with locals, visitors; small batch flavors reflect seasonal fruit and other ingredients, stays away from artificial colors (but uses commercial confections like heath bars, Oreo cookies, marshmallows so purists take note)
More Information: JoMa’s Artisan Ice Cream
Bracebridge Dinners - Yosemite National Park
December
Location: Ahwahnee Hotel dining room
Why Go There? Annual (since 1927) holiday season multi-hour meal/entertainment extravaganza requires formal attire, no cameras of any kind allowed in the dining hall. For many this is a coveted "bucket list" experience, worth the price. Originally offered one weekend a year with hopeful diners vying for spots via lottery, expanded to four December weekends, allowing more people to partake; advance planning/reservations highly recommended.
More Information: Bracebridge Dinners
Additional Resources
Kern County Scottish Society - Bakersfield
Annual Robert Burns Supper (January)
Farmers Markets - Bakersfield
Valley Farmers Market: Saturday 8:00am-12:00pm 1725 Golden State Avenue parking lot
Bakersfield: farmers markets Saturday 9:00am-2:00pm 3700 Mall View Road; Sunday 9:00am-2:00pm 8800 Ming Avenue
Raphio Chocolate - Fresno
Bean-to-bar artisan chocolate
SJC Farmers Market - Galt
Friday 5:00pm-9:00pm Fourth Street promenade/C Street (June-September)
Mammoth Lakes Farmers Market - Mammoth Lakes
Wednesday 4:00pm-7:00pm 3399 Main Street (seasonal, summer)
Merced Farmers Market - Merced
Saturday 8:00am-12:00pm corner 16th Street/Canal Street; (year-round)
Modesto Farmers Market - Modesto
Thursday, Saturday 8:00am-1:00pm 16th Street between H, I Streets (mid March-December)
Seasonal Farmers Market - Murphys
Sunday 9:00am-1:00pm (June-October); 505 Algiers Street (Murphys Community Park)
Weberstown Farmers Markets - Stockton
Thursday 8:00am-1:00pm (May-November), Sunday 8:00am-1:00pm (year round) 4994 Claremont Avenue behind Weberstown Mall
Downtown Tracy Winter Farmers Market - Tracy
Saturday 8:00am-1:00pm; Central Avenue between 6th-9th Streets (through March)
Oak Barrel Ice & Creamery - Turlock
Small batch artisan ice cream; 197 South Golden Gate Avenue (not curator visited)
Twain Harte Mountain Air Market - Tuolumne
Thursday 4:00pm-6:30pm; 22901 Meadow Drive (June-early September)
Twisted Oak - Vallecito
Winery hosts special event dinners; 4280 Red Hill Road at Highway 4
Annual Taste of Visalia - Visalia
Downtown (October)
Visalia Farmers Market - Visalia
Saturday 9:00am-12:30pm (winter hours); Corner 3500 Mooney/Caldwell Sears parking lot
Ahwahnee Hotel - Yosemite National Park
Hosts fall and winter special chef and vintner dinners (see separate, full listing for Bracebridge Dinner)