The Bite Goes On - Radio Misfits

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The Bite Goes On – Missy Lely, BEE-WELL FARMS Nov 22, 2019

Show notes

What started as a college assignment, “Missy’s Organic Farm Stand” came full circle when she graduated and felt unsure about what career path she should take. It has not been an easy path as Missy and her husband Austin are learning about being farmers the hard way, yet they are not stopping and are more enthused about farming than ever. The 2017 fires destroyed their main farm just a year after they established their own. After regrouping and rebuilding they are “all all-in,” said Melissa. “All of this will go forward and be even stronger than before.”

[EP55]

Bee-Well Farms, LLC is a diversified farm in Sonoma County. Husband and wife team, Austin and Melissa Lely, began the farm in 2015, with the mission to produce and sell a range of wholesome products for the local community, while using a holistic management approach to enhance the land and farm ecosystem.

Currently on the farm, they are raising cattle and honeybees, and have 3 acres in seasonal vegetable crop and flower production.

You can find Bee-Well products locally at the Sonoma Valley Certified Farmers Market.
To learn more about Beewell Farms – visit www.bee-wellfarms.com

The Bite Goes On – The Fire Rant with Gratitude Nov 15, 2019

Show notes

This was a difficult show to record as it reflected the aftermath of the October 2019 fires (not quite contained at the time of this recording) and the frustrations of the media projecting Sonoma as being completely on fire. Scenes from the 2017 fires were shown on tv with disregard about how it affects small businesses and towns that are driven by hospitality. The headlines were brutal and confusing as Sonoma and Sonoma County can be synonymous even though Sonoma County. Sonoma County is 1,500 square miles/2.414 square kilometers, more than 50 miles/80 kilometers of coastline along the Pacific Ocean and the San Pablo Bay. Three rivers – Russian, Petaluma, and Gualala and One lake – Lake Sonoma. Sonoma County has a population of over 475,000 people. The county has more than 425 wineries, 53 regional parks, 20 coastal beaches and it is very hard for visitors to comprehend the landscape from afar.

We also discuss the potential new normal of our electric company powering the electric down whenever they think that there is a potential danger to our areas. We all want to be safe from fire and we have to respect the authorities and the people who have trained to keep us safe. It has been a couple difficult weeks and we are grateful that a minimal amount of lives were lost and that many of our friends in upper Sonoma County are safe. We are all in this together, but we won’t survive if guests don’t visit and are fearful that either wine country is destroyed, and we are not available for business.

If you are listening forgive Brian and I for ranting, we are truly grateful that it wasn’t worse. If you are still listening – please plan a trip – you can visit ALL of Sonoma County – you will be welcomed warmly and if not – buy Sonoma County wine – that helps too!

To learn more about the fires click here: https://response.ca.gov/
To donate: https://ncg.org/news/kincade-fire-how-help
To find out about volunteer opportunities: https://www.sonomafamilymeal.org/ https://www.corazonhealdsburg.org/ https://www.sonomacf.org/

The Bite Goes On – Jim Denevan Nov 08, 2019

Show notes

At the tail end of his heavy event schedule this year, we were so fortunate to meet and converse with Jim Denevan, founder of Outstanding in the Field (OITF). He rolled up to the studio in his shiny red, white & silver 1953 Flexible bus to talk about his 20 years of OITF, his art and life on the road. We dive into the crazy logistics, the spot that the table is placed on unique settings, the vision of the farmers and incredible guest chefs that all make up OITF. In numbers, OITF has fed their guests in 18 countries and all 50 states. In 2019, the 20 year anniversary of OITF, they fed over 20,000 guests on the 112 event roster. Sondra and the girl & the fig team will be/was honored to be the guest chefs for a 460 guest OITF event on Stinson Beach ( November 9, 2019). It was an incredible opportunity to talk with Jim prior to their event to get some perspective about the inner workings of an event of this scale on the sand.

[EP53]

For more information about Outstanding in the Field, visit www.outstandinginthefield.com and on Instagram @out_inthefield for some beautiful eye candy and on Twitter @Out_intheField To see some of Jim’s large scale art, visit his personal Instagram account @jimdenevan

The Bite Goes On – Terri & Mark Stark Nov 01, 2019

Show notes

On this week’s episode we follow the path of Terri and Mark Stark, owners of 6 (and one on the way) well loved and delicious Sonoma County restaurants. We discover how they met, who does what, how they work together and make their marriage work. We spend some time talking about Willi’s Wine Bar, how it was lost in the fire and how the team’s love and loyalty brought it back to life.

Somewhere in the middle, the conversation goes down the rabbit hole a tad regarding the frustrating politics, regulations, minimum wage … around the restaurant business. We do, however, finish it off with a bit of laughter, insights and takeaways.

Their restaurants include – in order of open date; Willi’s Winebar, Willi’s Seafood & Raw Bar, Healdsburg, Monti’s, Stark’s Steak & Seafood, Bravas Bar de Tapas, Bird & Bottle, reopening of WIlli’s Winebar in a new location, Grossman’s Delicatessen & Bar coming in early 2020.

www.starkrestaurants.com

The Bite Goes On – Dave Ehreth, Sonoma Brinery Oct 25, 2019

Show notes

If you hear us crunching on this episode, it’s because we are chomping on the FRESHEST, crunchiest pickles you can possibly eat. Lucky for us, Dave Ehreth from Sonoma Brinery left his role in tech and decided to turn his pickle hobby into a thriving business. You can feel his love for his craft through his enthusiasm and for sure when you taste his products. With over 10 products, in over 3000 stores including Trader Joe’s he has certainly captured the pickle market. He talks all things pickles, probiotics, bacteria and the difference between types of pickles! Sondra’s friends from Boston, Ellen and John sit in and engage Dave with their thoughts and questions. [EP51]

www.sonomabrinery.com
@sonomabrinery on Instagram

The Bite Goes On – Gibson Thomas Oct 18, 2019

Show notes

Former lawyer, past leader of the Marin Slow Food chapter has created a beloved, tactile, useful quarterly magazine for Marin & Wine Country (CA). This is the magazine that covers many extraordinary farmers, ranchers, cheese-makers and other food artisans, and amazing chefs and discerning consumers who appreciate and support them. In this episode, we talk to Gibson about how she started this Edible, what it is like to run a magazine and how she juggles it all. She knows just about EVERYONE in food in the area and is committed to supporting their efforts. Edible is a free magazine, supported by advertising and there is a map on the website to see where to find them. You can also purchase a subscription to be mailed to you.

To see online content for Marin & Wine Country
On instagram: @ediblemarinwc

Visit www.ediblecommunities.com to find the magazine in your area and read great articles.
On instagram: @edible.communities

The Bite Goes On – Kitchen Table Advisors Oct 11, 2019

Show notes

EP49: So excited to have the opportunity to have a lively conversation with Director Pei-Yee Woo and Sonoma, Napa, Marin Director Paige Phinney to talk about their incredible commitment to work with small farms in Northern California. Kitchen Table Advisors is a Bay Area nonprofit fueling the growth and long-term viability of sustainable small farms. The farmers that Kitchen Table Advisors select for their program are dedicated to building their farms into viable businesses and finding their own path towards making a living farming the land. Kitchen Table Advisors offers a three year program to farmers that have worked in their farms for at least 3 seasons, are comfortable on the production side of things but need assistance in charting out realistic financial and strategic goals for their sustainable future.

“We cultivate rich relationships with farmers who share our values of sustainability, integrity, and respect for the land and its inhabitants. And we stand alongside them to celebrate their personal and professional successes.”

www.kitchentableadvisors.org
On Instagram, Twitter & Facebook

To get tickets for their annual fundraiser on 10/18 – limited tickets available – visit – www.grazeandgive.org

The Bite Goes On – Renee Rebell Oct 04, 2019

Show notes

EP48: Inspired by a similar idea she saw in Chicago, Renee ReBell launched her Original Food Tour business in 2014 seguing from her years in the wine and hospitality experience. Her tour has been named as the “Best Foodie Tour” in the USA by US News and World Reports. Renee’s 3 hour walking tour is an upclose and personal look at Sonoma (along with 4 other Wine Country towns) through food and wine. Her small group tour stops at a minimum of 3 restaurants and a wine tasting room as well as a stop at Sonoma’s historic barracks and an olive oil tasting.

www.gourmetfoodandwinetours.com

The Bite Goes On – Christian Cartano Sep 27, 2019

Show notes

EP47: Prior Bite guest, Patti Britton (Episode 31) suggested that we should hear Farmer Christian Cartano’s story on our podcast. We are so glad that we did, as Christian arrived with an enormous lug of beautiful heirloom tomatoes for us.

As a longtime vegetarian, Chris’ journey from Ohio to Northern California convinced him that his participation of growing and sharing food and being involved in the’real’ farm to table movement was going to be life changing. Christian got his start farming by growing thousands of tomato plants for Gotts restaurant (“an amazing process to learn”). He has been a committed farmer with a long interest in gardening and ecology, concerned with the future of organic farming and soil health. At present he is the farmer at Little Paradise Farm in Sonoma, a small private 30 acre organic farm that was created to sell local restaurants organic produce and some small batch hand-crafted tomato products including a delicious bloody mary mix. Brian and I truly appreciated Christian’s passion for farming and his vast knowledge of his craft.

www.littleparadisefarm.com
Also on Facebook

The Bite Goes On – Eileen Gordon, Barnraiser Sep 20, 2019

Show notes

EP46: We were in for a real treat sitting down and recording with Founder, Eileen Gordon of Barnraiser. Not only did she entertain us with passionate stories, she also brought a few samples for us to taste.

What is Barnraiser?

Starting as a crowdfunding space for small batch food and farmers, it is becoming the largest independent source to discover and shop small production foods from all over the workd or as Eileen describes as an “Etsy of food”. You know this is true when you take a look at the website https://www.barnraiser.us/ and start salivating as you discover new foods you never knew existed. On the website you have the ability to search, discover through categories, browse and shop. On this online gathering place, you can like, share on social or by email. As we become more concerned and educated about where our food comes from and how it is farmed, produced and raised, this is a surefire way to get to know the makers.

Find Barnraiser on Instagram @barnraiser.us & on Facebook: @BarnRaiserUS

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