By Katy Budge May, 2024, did not bring good news for our Central Coast food industry. J&R Meats was going to close by the end of the month unless a buyer could be found. On May 31, the doors closed. The full-service business had served the area in various iterations since about 2004. And by full-service, I mean FULL-service — everything from butchering animals, to … Continue reading Local Meats Available Again!
By Katy Budge (a version of this article originally appeared in the Winter 2023 issue of Edible San Luis Obispo) Success in the restaurant business has never been easy. Monetary concerns such as food costs, rents, and razor-slim profit margins were always tough. Post-pandemic, those issues have worsened. However, it’s the human element of the business that’s proving particularly tough to stitch back together. Fielding … Continue reading The Face (and Hands) of the Workforce
By Katy Budge I sang that song a lot as a kid, but it wasn’t until this year that I’d ever tasted a mulberry! (Of course, I’ve never seen a monkey with socks on chasing a weasel, but that’s neither here nor there.) Due to their very short shelf life of only a few days, mulberries aren’t a common sight on most grocery shelves. I … Continue reading Have You Ever Mulled Over Mulberries?
By Katy Budge Beer, Beer, Beer To say that Bend is a beer-centric town is an understatement! Most are concentrated in the downtown area (such as Bend Brewing and the original location of Deschutes), but it seems that every neighborhood has its own lineup of taps. Among our favs on the Eastside were Sunriver Brewing, 10 Barrel Brewing, and the tiny Van Henion tucked off … Continue reading Forks in the Road: To Bend and Beyond!
By Katy Budge Well, I’ll start with a disclaimer. This trip through Northern California also included a stop in Ashland, Oregon, but the point of that was to visit family, so I didn’t do due diligence with documenting my every morsel. Guess I’ll have to go back and rectify that at a later date! I’m not always in the mood for a swap meet situation, … Continue reading Forks in the Road: A Quick Spring Jaunt to Northern California
By Katy Budge With citrus season in full swing, keep your eyes peeled for Buddha’s Hands! They’re pretty easy to spot. Just look for something with knobby, bright yellow “fingers” that indeed resemble a Buddha’s hand. Or something that seems more at home in a Guillermo Del Toro film or Hieronymus Bosch painting than at your local farmers’ market. Like other citrons, these members of … Continue reading Make Things Zesty with a Buddha’s Hand
Eating local on the road is easy with a little advance planning. Continue reading Forks in the Road: Seek Out Local, Even Traveling Coast-to-Coast!
By Katy Budge I think we can all agree that the phrase “May we live in interesting times” can be permanently retired, yes? The past 15 months have been one for the books, and I’m ready to turn the page. That said, I was able to do some memorable “COVID camping” trips. And, as always, did my level best to support local food establishments – … Continue reading Forks in the Road: Wildfires + COVID Camping
Volume 1, Issue 2“Cooking Ex-Libris” is a CasaFestiva.com series exploring new recipes from my own cookbooks. Enjoy! By Katy Budge It’s hard not to love any book that begins with the Oscar Wilde quote, “I can resist everything but temptation.” So begins the foreword of the eponymously named (and self-published) Gumbo Shop: Traditional and Contemporary Creole Cuisine: A New Orleans Restaurant Cookbook by Richard Stewart. … Continue reading Cooking Ex-Libris: Gumbo Shop
As per a friend’s suggestion, I’ve compiled a list of SLO County food producers with links to their websites. I have also indicated other places they might be available, such as farmers markets and retail locations. When – not if – you think of someone I’ve missed, or you have questions, email me at katy@casafestiva.com. Hoping to update the list frequently, especially in these bizarre … Continue reading Buy Local!
