Fresno/Central Valley food gifts
I'd like to make baskets for several SoCal hounds, filled with Fresno and Central Valley goodies. I've previously sent Fiscalini Cheese, Sciabica olive oil, and Quady dessert wines (not together, of course).
Any ideas for locally produced items I should include? Thanks!
sillyrabbit
Nov 26, 2006 07:46AM
Why don't you go to the farmer's market at Shaw/Blackstone? Honey, dried fruits, nuts, etc. all local. Also, Fresno Deli has locally made middle eastern.
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Another good source is Sierra Nut House, SW corner of Nees & Blackstone, also have a decent if limited selection of wines.
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Check at the Fresno State farm market for campus produced items. Fresno State wines, olive oil, jams, nuts, salsas, or whatever else they have packages and produced would ship well. If you have refrigerated packaging some of the frozen and fresh products become possible.
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You should include De Bas chocolates! They're in Fresno...I don't know if they have a retail outlet at the location listed in the phone book.
They have some that are filled with wine and though it might seem like an odd combo, they're really very tasty.
A fairly interesting article about the company is at http://www.chocolatemonthclub.com/pastnewsletters/vol5no5.htm .
I haven't checked in a year but they used to sell them at Sierra Nut House, and at a candy/chocolates store (can't remember its name) at Shaw & Fowler in Clovis, next to the former Albertson's.
Also, it's been a looong time since I had it but I seem to recall that Bulldog Root Beer was pretty good. The Bulldog Brewery no longer exists of course, but there is still a website for the root beer, at http://www.bulldogrootbeer.com/ and it shows which retailers sell it (if that info's current, that is!).
The Grape Tray might be a good source - I remember they had other goods besides wine. It's been a long time since I was in there too, since I very rarely imbibe.
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The Fresno State farm store has started selling their honey recently. That might be nice. In Clovis, the Biscotti House on Clovis Ave near Sierra has wonderful biscotti. Lots of samples out to try so you can choose the right one. The Clovis Beirock shop at Armstrong and Shaw in the Save Mart shopping center used to be Tinamolina Cookies. She still does cookies and they are fabulous.
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Olives! oils, cured olives, spreads
Can vouch for both these suppliers:
Fusano Olives:
http://www.fusanoolives.com/index.htm
Adams Olive Ranch http://www.adamsoliveranch.com/smith_...
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Oh yeah, definitely Biscotti House! Besides biscotti, their harvest cake is what *real* (non-alcoholic) fruitcake is all about - http://www.rosettis.com/harvestcake.html
Two more local wineries are Nonini and Englemmann.
http://www.noniniwinery.com/
http://www.engelmanncellars.com/
There's also Valley Lahvosh, though I suspect they can probably find that easily in their local grocery stores.
If you do visit the Farmers Market at Shaw & Blackstone, there's a guy selling honey (Bobs Honey) and he makes a chocolate honey. It's made only with a particular cocoa without milk products, so you can store it without refrigeration, just like pure honey. Drizzled on graham crackers, it's a great treat.
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I mentioned Fresno State Farm Market the other day and today they put out a press release of the University products they have available.
Besides gift baskets they are selling, according to the release, the following campus produced items:
"Fresno State Orchards Estate Reserve Olive Oil ($14.95), the university’s debut pressing; pistachios ($4.99 a pound packaged, $4.29 in bulk); and honey ($5.95)."
"The Farm Market has the largest selection of Fresno State wines from the only on-campus commercial winery in the U.S. The new is 2006 Nouveau-style red, white and rosé ($6.95)."
"Strawberry, marionberry, apricot and mango jam ($4-$4.25 a bottle), apple butter ($4) and chocolate, strawberry, pineapple and cherry syrup for ice cream or pancakes ($4)."
"Almonds in 2- and 8-ounce packages ($1.50 and $4.50) in garlic and onion, barbecue and jalapeño flavors, roasted and salted and plain; coated in chocolate, yogurt or butterscotch ($1.95 and $6.75). "
"Chocolate, yogurt and butterscotch raisins ($1.29 and $3.49).
1.5-pound containers or plain raisins made from Autumn Royal, Summer Royal, Ruby Seedless, Golden Flame and Sweet Scarlet grapes ($4)."
"Smoked hams ($2.29/pound). "
http://www.fresnostatenews.com/2006/1...
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Great post FF, the CSUF Farm Market is always worth a visit.
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Thanks so much for your advice! I am going to take your suggestions and make baskets with several local goodies. I can't wait to check out the Biscotti House.
I've given FSU wine, but since I am not a wine drinker, I am not familiar with its quality. What do you think of it?
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Several years ago a group of us did some serious sampling of the CSUF wines, mainly the 1999 and 2001 releases, iirc. Around that time they'd received a gold medal for their Barbera which was a bargain at around $8/btl. I also made a trip from Fresno to Sacto to get a couple of cases of Primativo, since Dan Corti had snagged all that was available. We tried some of their more expensive (@ $15 at the time) cab and chard, which we thought was decent. Sorry to say I haven't kept up with them, seems like the prices started to climb at the same time I started becoming more interested in expanding my palate. Haven't tried it myself, but have pals that claim the Tailgate Red is pretty good for the price.
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I didn't attend but there was a tasting at the university yesterday evening. They unveiled the new Solare, described as similar to an eiswein. An article in Friday's paper mentioned that they also were pouring the latest release of their Syrah and also a Tempranillo, iirc, both around $15 per bottle.
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Hey PB-
As you may recall, my tastes in wine run more towards Essencia and Boone's Farm. So, I appreciate any and all recommendations from local wineries. :0)
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