Thoughtful Gourmet Blog

Do you remember ZIMA? ZIMA, the smash hit easy-drinking malt beverage delivered to the world from Coors Brewing Company (now Miller Coors) in 1994, is with us no more (Coors discontinued it years ago) but a mini-revival in the clear, citrusy beverage is well underway. To wit, Brian Felley & Mo Hodges, owners and drink-slingers […]

With Christianity’s high holy days just weeks away, wine is on my mind. Wine, a part of Christian religious traditions since its earliest days, deserves a place at holiday tables. A wine made from grapes grown in and around an Italian monastery and used in religious feasts? Bingo! I recently sampled two wines made near […]

Stepping onto the grounds at the Cairdean Estate is, at first glance, unremarkable. To the right of the parking lot, heavy machinery stands in front of a wide building. To the left, a series of low-slung buildings sit quietly, as if waiting for something to happen. There is little noise, other than the occasional whoosh […]

Gluten free oatmeal is nothing new but oatmeals boosted with the nutritive power of matcha are are a new edition to the cereal market. The work of sisters Annette Downing and Susan Downes, Matcha Marketplace is a line of simply seasoned, not too sweet oatmeals. Made with gluten-free rolled oats, the oatmeals are available with […]

Looking at Anar Restaurant from the street, it would be hard to tell this new lunch and dinner spot was open for business. Housed in a non-descript building on an industrial stretch of Harrison Street, its single window tinted in defense against the sun, Anar looks desolate. Push open the shaded door and the scene […]

  “Glamorous” is not a word often associated with West Marin. Here, oyster farms operate cheek-by-jowl with dairy farms and agricultural projects of all kinds. Tack and farm supply shops outnumber fashionable boutiques. Fog is revered for its year-round ability to cool off grapes and goats. West Marin Food & Farm Tours, run by West […]

Get thee to Sausalito for The Sausalito Woman’s Club Preservation Society’s Harvest Festival & Market on Saturday, September 27th, from 3-7 PM. The usually private and historic landmark clubhouse in Sausalito (120 Central Avenue) plays host for the event. $40 gets you in the door; proceeds to benefit the Sausalito Woman’s Club Preservation Society, a […]

When cooking outdoors, my family relies on a gas grill. (No judgments, please!) Cleaning and prepping the grill was always the most challenging part of grill cooking until I discovered Grill Wipes. Produced by Grate Chef, a company that develops products for the backyard griller, Grill Wipes clean and oil your grill without any mess. […]