North: Chico, Incline Village, Nevada City, South Lake Tahoe, Willows
Sierra Nevada Brewery Beer Pairing Dinners - Chico
May-Fall
Location: 1075 East 20th Street
Why Go There? Popular, well-known sustainable brewery/taproom/restaurant schedules special family style garden-to-table beer pairing dinners; regular restaurant menu offered year-round, multiple types of brewery tours available. Hosts seasonal farmers market, touring top musicians, entertainment.
More Information: Sierra Nevada Brewery
Thunder Bird Lodge - Incline Village (NV)
Location: State Route 28 (lodge access only by reserved docent-led tours, special events)
Why Go There? National historic site Thunderbird Lodge, a Tudor Revival summer estate built in the mid 1930's by wealthy, eccentric George Whittell, Jr. who also commissioned a gorgeous wooden yacht in 1939. Both are now part of Lake Tahoe-Nevada State Park/maintained by the Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society which hosts annual fundraising prix-fixe winemakers dinners, other food/beverage events to support the lodge/grounds, including lawns, gardens, boat house, and stone terrace with spectacular views of Lake Tahoe.
More Information: Community Events
Three Forks Bakery & Brewery - Nevada City
7:00am-10:00pm (Saturday-Sunday 8:00am); closed Tuesday
Location: 211 Commercial Street
Why Go There? Award winning beer, wood-fired pizzas, farm-sourced ingredient salads, homemade soups, variety of crusty breads, artful, delicious baked goods; expect to wait during peak dining hours in this casual brewery cafe with indoor, seasonal outdoor seating.
More Information: Three Forks Bakery & Brewery
Treats Ice Cream - Nevada City
Daily, opens 1:00pm for ice cream (8:00am-12:00pm coffee service)
Location: 210 Main Street
Why Go There? Small-batch artisan high quality ice cream shop also offers seasonal sorbet flavors, gelato, fresh baked cookies, hot chocolate. Flavors change often, (not listed on their website or facebook page, be surprised). Tasty Bourbon Breakfast, a boozed up ice cream with tiny bits of crunchy cornflakes is too soft to stay on a cone (order that one in a cup).
More Information: Treats + Facebook
Wheyward Girl Creamery - Nevada City
Wednesday-Sunday 11:00am-5:00pm (Sunday opens 12:00pm)
Location: 209 Commercial Street
Why Go There? Cow/goat/sheep milk cheeses featured in small retail shop; offers cheesemaking classes; carries locally made bean-to-bars artisan chocolate bars, other selected specialty foods.
More Information: Cello Chocolate + Facebook
Sample the Sierra - South Lake Tahoe
September
Location: Bijou Community Park
Why Go There? Annual outdoor day-long farm-to-fork Sample the Sierra Festival features local farms, restaurants, chefs, wineries, distilleries, artists, food/beverage pairing small plates, chef competition; music, fundraiser.
More Information: Sample the Sierra
Sierra Nevada Cheese Company - Willows
Location: 6505 County Rd 39, Willows
Why Go There? Within the production facility/offices of the mid-sized artisan creamery that produces award winning goat and cow milk cheeses, cultured dairy products, a very small retail refrigerator exists for walk-in customers, and offers a selection of their products, some overruns, ends at great prices.
More Information: Sierra Nevada Cheese
Additional Resources
Sierra Oro Farm Trail - Butte County
Self-guided Sierra Oro Farm Trail tour of member farms, wineries; Oktoberfest weekend
California Nut Festival - Chico
Annual one day California Nut Festival celebrates California grown almonds, walnuts; Patrick Ranch Museum grounds (April)
Chico Certified Farmers Markets - Chico
Farmers markets: Second Street/Wall Street municipal parking lot (year-round Saturday 7:30am-1:00pm); North Valley Plaza Mall Pillsbury Road Parking Lot adjacent to Trader Joe’s; (year-round Wednesday 7:30am-1:00pm)
Sierra Nevada - Chico
Sierra Nevada Brewery hosted farmers/artisans market (May-October)
Aromas Café and Restaurant - Clearlake
Woodland Community College culinary program student run themed lunch menu Aromas Cafe; Tuesday-Thursday 11:00am-1:00pm; 15880 Dam Road Ext
McMcloud Chamber - McCloud
Annual Mushroom Wine Music & Art Festival features a multi-course mushroom dinner, entertainment, art (Memorial Weekend)
Mt Shasta Farmers Market - Mt Shasta City
Seasonal farmers market; Monday 3:30pm-6:00pm (May-October)
Nevada City Farmers Market - Nevada City
Farmers market, Union Street between Broad/Main Streets; Saturday 8:30am-1:00pm (May-November)
Annual Events - Northstar Tahoe
Annual Autumn Food and Wine Festival (September)
Annual Taste of Plumas - Quincy
Annual Taste of Plumas features local food, beverages, raises funds for Plumas Arts; Plumas County Fairgrounds (April)
Red Bluff Chamber - Red Bluff
Year-round farmers’ market Saturday 8:00am-12:00pm (9:00am October-May); City River Park; seasonal Wednesday 5:00pm-8:00pm; Washington Street/Pine Street (June-August)
Healthy Shasta - Redding
Seasonal farmers markets: Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday 7:30am-12:00pm, varying locations, open/close dates
Lassen County Farmers Market - Susanville
Seasonal farmers market; Saturday 8am-12:00pm; South Gay Street between Main Street/Cottage Street; (June-September)
Tahoe City Farmers Market - Tahoe City
Farmers market Commons Beach; Thursday 8:00am-1:00pm (May-October)
Weaverville Certified Farmers Market - Weaverville
4:00pm-7:00pm Wednesday (seasonal, ends mid October)