Today I went grocery shopping and, in anticipation of May's "Eat Local" challenge, did some sniffing around. What I found is that I can buy local creme fraiche, butter, milk, yogurt, cheese and eggs at my local market, so cross dairy off the list. I can also buy chicken from Petaluma, but the beef is all from Kansas. Though the nice butcher man assured me that the beef was very high quality, I wrinkled my nose at him and kept moving. (Well, actually I bought some, but it's still April. Next week I'll wrinkle my nose at him.)
I thought I was all set with my Niman Ranch bacon until Mr. Food Musings made an offhand comment about how he thought they bought animals from all over the country, and further investigation proved him right. Some of the cows come from California (though the steaks are certainly not labeled by point of origin) but all the piggies are raised in the mid-West. Drat! That's okay, it just means I'll need to plan ahead and travel down to the Ferry Building for Marin Sun Farms 100% grass-fed beef and Prather Ranch bacon.
There's also some local ice cream -- very important to you-know-who -- but I haven't investigated it thoroughly and cannot remember the name. (I want to say it's Marianne's from Santa Cruz but I'm not sure. Double drat!)
As I learn more about what's readily available at other local markets, I'll share the news so that those of you who're also making the eat local pledge don't have to.
p.s. Burma Superstar's tea leaf salad and nan pia dok still send me to the moon! Mr. FM and I dropped in after his acupuncture appointment today and licked our lips all the way home.
If you're interested in local meat, what about Aidell's sausage?
Posted by: Karen H. | April 24, 2006 at 10:06 AM
Excellent suggestion! And they're in my local grocery store, too.
Posted by: Catherine | April 25, 2006 at 08:50 AM
You could always do Mitchell's or Joe's ice cream, as well as Double Rainbow.
Posted by: Becca | April 30, 2006 at 06:12 PM