Archive for March, 2012

Wine, Wine, Wine! (by Bethany Woy)

It used to be quite a process to organize a trip to Wine Country, plan out which wineries you wanted to try, find someone willing to be your designated driver and check times and availability at each winery. With the growing trend of wine tasting happening not only in California but also all over the United States, tasting rooms have been popping up all over the place. A typical tasting room is operated by a winery (usually in a vineyard) where bottling, production and shipping take place.  Some wineries operate multiple tasting rooms in different cities. Sometimes smaller wineries join together in a single tasting room so they may showcase their product.
If you’ve never attended a wine tasting at a tasting room: Please do. It’s an amazing experience. I know wine tasting can be an overwhelming thing and sometimes wine gets a bad wrap because people think it can be pretentious. I promise you it’s not. Make it a hobby! It’s fascinating the amount of time the wine making process is and it’s a beautiful science. You can so quickly get in touch with your palette and food will start tasting different! And desserts! Pairing wine and food can be so much fun!

What should you be looking for in a wine while you are tasting?  Here are the basics:
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Come enjoy the finest wine and food in gorgeous Murphys, CA! Aptly named “Queen of the Sierras”, and one of Sunset magazine’s Top Ten Coolest Small Towns, Murphys is a superb destination for fine dining and wine tasting, and this tour shows you the best of both worlds. Stroll along 1800’s-era Italian brick and stone buildings where talented chefs and vintners now produce their mouth-watering dishes and award-winning vintages.

Our 3-hour tour includes up to 9 stops at the best restaurants and shops. You’ll eat unique dishes made from fresh, locally-sourced produce & taste fabulous, locally-made wines.
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Come join Local Roots Food Tours as we get up close and personal with local farmers, vintners, and executive chefs in our new Market-To-Plate Executive Chef’s Tour! This tour takes you through a popular downtown Sacramento farmer’s market, Cesar Plaza Farmer’s Market or East End Capitol Park Farmer’s Market and then into a four course, four star dining experience prepared by two local executive chefs!

This tour is a culinary and educational adventure. Participants are guided through an open-air market, where you can chat with the farmers and producers as the aroma of herbs and flowers waft around you. You’ll learn about what’s in season and how to choose and prepare foods from their seasonal harvest. We will meet local olive oil producers, lavender and flower producers, meat producers, and other artisans – in short, people who love to work with and talk about food! A shopping experience like no other!

Our tour continues with a 3 course exclusive lunch prepared by Executive Chef Michel at Morgan’s Restaurant (a four star, hidden gem restaurant serving farm-to-table ingredients). Lunch will be prepared using fresh local seasonal ingredients. Chef Michel will educate participants on how to use the produce they purchased at the morning market and share his culinary wisdom and passion for fresh, local ingredients. Definitely an up close dining experience! Lunch will be paired with a selected local wine.
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GIVE THE GIFT THAT GOES STRAIGHT TO THE HEART and SOUL

A WALKING FOOD TOUR ADVENTURE!

Our fun culinary adventures might be just the event you have been searching for.   Unique, tasty and memorable!  Gift Certificates with special messaging available for any tour on our menu.   Surprise your friend or loved one with a gift that fills the stomach and captures the heart!

Our LOCAL ROOTS FOOD TOURS GIFT CERTIFICATE is a GREAT way to show your love or appreciation to that someone.  Nothing says “thank you” or “I love you” more than delicious and fresh ingredient food!  Our gift certificates can be snail-mailed or emailed to the purchaser or recipient to be used at their discretion. Want to share a special message with the recipient? We can share your message with your gift certificate upon request.

Our food tour gift certificates are good for up to two years from date of purchase.  Special birthdays, newlyweds, anniversaries, graduations, housewarming gift, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day or simply a great way to say; “thanks”.

Unique, fulfilling and memorable.  What better way to be gifted!   Order online on our gift certificate form or call us directly 1-800-407-8918.

Looking for a unique experience by getting up close and personal with a local family ran farm or ranch?  Here’s a brilliant travel idea:  Farm Stays!  Rather than making a large footprint while traveling and seeing the sights… maybe consider staying at a working farm: eat fresh food, pick your own vegetables and maybe even eggs! You may do as much or as little as you want. Many farm stays provide bed and breakfast type lodging. (get to know Farmer John and ask how his crops are harvested or why his wife cans peaches the way she does!)
Farm stays are becoming increasingly popular because farmers’ desire more diverse and dependable income streams AND consumers want to reconnect with rural heritage and their food supply. Where is our food coming from?

What methods are taken to insure freshness and quality at farms? Go check out a farm stay! It’s a perfect getaway for a few days and couldn’t be more educational and comfortable! Many of the farm stays have all the amenities that a hotel has (maybe minus the spa and valet parking!) But it’s a win-win situation.
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