IKE’S QUARTER CAFE
Ike’s tree-covered patio with brightly colored flowers is one of the finest outdoor dining spots in the foothills. Ike’s specializes in Creole food, using fresh, organic ingredients.
401 Commercial St., Nevada City
530-265-6138 IkesQuarterCafe.com

KANE’S FAMILY RESTAURANT
The attractive outdoor patio at Kane’s is a big lure. There are market umbrellas, and the elegant surroundings include brick, wrought iron and palm plantings.
120 E. Main St., Grass Valley
530-273-8111 KanesRestaurant.net

MARIA’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT
An outdoor patio includes cowhide chairs, a fountain and pink flowering plants. The surroundings let you escape South of the Border, where you can eat Maria’s authentic Mexican food and sip a Margarita.
226 East Main St., Grass Valley
530-274-2040, MariasGrassValley.com

MATTEO’S PUBLIC
Matteo’s Public has a large brick patio in the heart of the historic district. There’s live music, ranging from Bluegrass to Brazilian jazz, Thursday-Sunday. The beer and wine pub, featuring upscale comfort food, is family friendly.
300 Commercial St., Nevada City
530-265-0782 MatteosPublic.com

MONKEY CAT
The Palapa bar at Monkey Cat is one of the foothills’ best outdoor patios for dining and cocktails, with a South Seas décor. Monkey Cat’s patio is Wi-Fi accessible and dog friendly.
805 Lincoln Way, Auburn
530-888-8492 MonkeyCat.com

SUMMER THYME’S BAKERY & DELI
Summer Thymes has a patio out back that lets you bask in the sun while enjoying its made-to-order breakfasts and piled-high sandwiches. Entrees are made from scratch, using fresh (often local and organic) ingredients. It also is dog friendly.
421 Colfax Ave., Grass Valley
530-273-2904 SummerThymes.com

TOFANELLI’S GOLD COUNTRY BISTRO
Tofanelli’s handsome outdoor patio is a popular spot in the historic downtown. A stainless steel, slow-cook smoker is cranked up to offer barbeque ribs, chicken, tri-tip steak or pulled pork.
302 W. Main St., Grass Valley
530-272-1468 Tofanellis.com

Painting of Ike’s patio by Roseanne Burke

The Welsh composer’s piece, which premiered at London’s Royal Albert Hall 12 years ago, seeks to bridge the many perspectives of war while acknowledging the hope for peace in our lifetime.

“The Armed Man is an emotionally stirring major work that takes us through the horrors of war and brings us to the hope that together we can ‘ring in peace,’” says InConcert’s board president and chorister Keith Porter.

Conducted by Music Director Ken Hardin, the 70-voice Sierra Master Chorale is one of the region’s most talented choruses. Established in 2008 and now associated with InConcert Sierra, the group regularly performs to sold-out audiences. Its holiday concerts are a tradition.

“I have wanted to perform this work since 2001 when Hasel Carter (local singer) first brought it to me,” says Hardin, Music Director. In addition to the chorale being well prepared, Hardin has put together an orchestra that he says “is going to be out-of-this-world.”

The choir is excited too, with members explaining the performance is like singing in a soundtrack for an epic movie.

Hardin is including his “secret weapon,” organist Isabelle Demers from Montreal. Demers performed at a sold-out recital for InConcert Sierra two years ago.

Most recently, Demers debuted as a solo artist at Davies Hall in San Francisco and Disney Hall in Los Angeles to standing ovations. “She’s one of the very top organists in the country,” says Hardin.

A video is here. A sound clip is here: Benedictus

For more information and tickets go to InConcertSierra.org.

The California Agriculture License Plate will support future generations of farmers and ranchers through agricultural education, career awareness, career training and youth leadership programs. Proceeds generated through plate renewal fees will be awarded to agricultural education groups to support youth education and enrichment. It is anticipated that the first funding for educational programs will become available in July 2013.

CDFA is still working the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to incorporate the license plate into official order forms and online registration – these should become available before the end of this year. Updates will be posted to the CalAgPlate facebook and twitter accounts.

If you would like to join the agriculture community and order a license plate today, applications are being accepted and processed through the DMV. Simply complete the order form, print “CAL AG PLATE” at the top of the document, and follow payment and mailing instructions.

The Cal Agriculture License Plate is a great achievement for the agricultural community. Special thanks to all those individuals who made this initiative a success.

–Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary

Image: Alaska Airlines

We welcome your visits for complimentary wine tasting and sales, picnicking and tours!
~ Groups are easily accommodated. Bring your friends with you for a delightful trip to our family farm and artisan winery.
~ Taste delicious award-winning wine in our tasting room overlooking a native woodland of oaks, madrones and pines.
~ Enjoy paintings by local artists.
~ Picnic on the tasting room patio (the wisteria will soon be in bloom) or under the Grandfather Oak amidst trees and flowers with vineyard views, enjoying the lovely, quiet ambiance of our rural setting, while you sip wine and eat your picnic meal.
~ Tour the winery and vineyards.
~ Buy wine that has been cellared in the best way, in the climate controlled Double Oak Winery.

Driving to our beautiful Sierra ridge top is a pleasure in itself. We are located 15 highway miles north of Nevada City, a beautiful country drive, one of the last open roads left in California.

For more information about visiting Double Oak and for directions & map: www.doubleoakwinery.com
Please don’t use a GPS, unless you wish to get a good story

To Taste & Enjoy Double Oak Wines in Nevada City or Grass Valley ~

Tasting Rooms:
151 Union Square in Grass Valley is a tasting room, which features Double Oak and three other local wineries.

Restaurants:
Nevada City: visit Matteo’s Public, Ike’s Quarter Café, & Friar Tucks
Grass Valley: visit Alta Sierra CC & Jim E’s Club 141

When you can’t come to Double Oak, you can buy Double Oak fine wine at the following venues:
Nevada City: Bonanza Market, Nevada City Marketplace, Rainbow Market, SPD
Grass Valley: Briarpatch, Raley’s, Save Mart, SPD, 151 Union Square

—Double Oaks Vineyards & Winery

With a six-decade career and 200 plus albums, this iconic Texan is the creative genius behind the historic recordings of Crazy, Red Headed Stranger and Stardust.

Willie Nelson has earned every conceivable award as a musician and amassed reputable credentials as an author, actor and activist. 

In 2010 he released Willie Nelson’s Country Music, produced by award winning T Bone Burnett and it received a Grammy Nomination for Best Americana Album.

In 2011 Willie’s album releases included, Here We Go Again: Celebrating the Genius of Ray Charles, a 12 tune cycle about the ups and downs of love with Wynton Marsalis and Norah Jones as well as Remember Me Vol. 1, his hand-picked 14 song collection of country music’s most definitive songs.

The rest of the announcement is here.

It would be Nelson’s first appearance in the Sierra Foothills, an up-and-coming venue for big-time country music talent.

“I should have details soon for public release,” said a member of Nelson’s staff, declining to elaborate.

Nelson would be a natural for a performance sponsored by The Center for the Arts in Grass Valley this summer, such as the annual benefit concert for the Bear Yuba Land Trust. The Nevada County Fairgrounds would be a good venue.

The Center has been booking big-name talent such as Kris Kristofferson (who has a home in Truckee and is a personal friend of Nelson’s).

Nelson’s son, Lukas Nelson and “The Promise of the Real,” is coming to The Center for the Arts on June 7.

Nelson performs in California now and then. He has a show at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga, in Santa Clara County, on Sept. 13 — a repeat venue.

Nelson is widely recognized as an American icon. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1993, and he received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1998.

We’re big fans of Willie Nelson. We’ve seen him perform in Saratoga, at the Mountain Winery, as well as San Rafael.

Sierra FoodWineArt is a free quarterly magazine distributed throughout the Sierra, the foothills, Sacramento, Reno, Butte, Sutter and Yuba counties.

The magazine’s website is promoted on SacBee.com and some of its articles are republished in the Bee’s print edition.

Tess’ has been in continual operation since 1931, when original owner Tess Hawkins had a gift and card shop. The store has relocated on Mill Street three times, each time to a bigger location.

This expansion, under owner Steve Rosenthal, is going to be the most exciting of all. Besides the kitchen gadgetry ranging from gourmet to just plain useful— there’s going to be a “resident chef” to help with menu planning and cooking, and eventually, a cooking school and commercial kitchen. The new Tess’ also will showcase locally made products.

Some of the region’s best wine-tasting rooms are in the same block, providing a convenient opportunity for wine and food pairings, along with regular cooking demonstrations at Tess’.

Tess’ new store will open in late April in the heart of downtown. Once a JC Penny building, it is an historic and striking three-story structure. The store will occupy more than 6,200 sq. ft., compared with 2,740 sq. ft. at the previous location.

New products will include: more gourmet foods, spices, bulk olive oil and vinegar; an expanded BBQ section with wood chunks, rubs, cookware and accessories. They also will offer more tabletop serving items, such as platters, dishes, bowls and more; more electronics, including Kitchen Aid toasters and blenders, Hurom slow juicers, and VitaClay ceramic rice cookers, to name a few.

There will be barware from Reidel and,” as Steve jokes, “believe it or not, more gadgets.” Tess’ expanded store will feature a Coffee Café, where you can come in and try out a new coffee maker, get a free cup of coffee, pull up a chair and relax. The store’s new resident chef and cooking teacher is Roberta Des Bouillons, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in New York City.

There will be a grand opening April 21, with raffle prizes, food tastings, product demonstrations and sale items. A “support local” event on April 28 will feature local vendors, local cookbook authors and artisans.

Tess’ Kitchen Store
115 Mill Street, Grass Valley
530-273-6997, TessKitchenStore.com

Photo credit: Rachel Rosenthal

Truckee boomed as a railroad town and winter sports destination. The Squaw Valley Winter Olympics in 1960 established it as a major resort destination.

Now, Truckee is working to solidify its reputation as a top-notch recreation destination. The town has retained its historic charm, with first-class restaurants, wine bars, galleries, shops and hotels.

It just completed nearly $3 million in improvements on and around Commercial Row, making the historic town more pedestrian friendly. Here’s a rundown of what else is new:

FOOD
Truckee restaurants are embracing the hottest food trends for 2012. Among them are fresh food, ethnic and gluten-free. Truckee even has a talented “You Tube Chef,” a new trend. Some highlights:

Fresh, regional produce comes to the Sierra mountain town almost daily, thanks to Bob Habeger at Produce Plus, a longtime local supplier. His motto: “supply restaurant chefs with seasonal, specialty and, whenever possible, local and organic produce.” In winter Habeger offers restaurateurs a direct link to Yolo County farmers, who often pick the day of
delivery.

“Produce Bob’s” Truckee customers run the gamut: Best Pies; Burger Me; Cottonwood; Dragonfly; Jax; Moody’s Bistro, Bar & Beats; Pacific Crest Grill; Pianeta Ristorante; Wagon Train; and Stella Restaurant at the Cedar House Sport Hotel, among others.

One of Truckee’s rising stars is Chef Jacob Burton of Stella. Besides creating exquisite cuisine, Burton launched Stella Culinary, an online culinary school. The website (StellaCulinary.com) includes in-depth video, such as cooking techniques, also making him a renowned “You Tube” chef.

WINE
Truckee has well-stocked, affordable wine shops and wine bars. Avec Wine + Food at “The Rock” complex off Broadway Rd. is the newest. Owners Chris Cooke and Rose Levinson have created a gathering spot with an unpretentious, contemporary feel.

Small plates of rustic comfort cuisine pair well with a wide selection of wines by the glass. Cheeses, homemade pastries (including gluten-free) and specialty grocery products round out the offerings.

Avec’s wine shop runs the gamut—wines from California, Oregon and Washington to Europe, South Africa, Australia and South America.

Other wine shops include The Pour House in downtown. Truckee also has its own winery—Truckee River Winery.

ART
Truckee is home to a burgeoning arts scene, centered largely along Commercial Row. New galleries are opening or expanding, showcasing local artwork. Here are some examples:

Art Obsessions is a new gallery with a vast collection of internationally known artists’ works, as well as the works of up-and-coming artists.

Another new gallery is Artisans Market Place, a co-op consisting of original work from 16 local artists. It is situated behind a beautiful courtyard with a warming fire pit.

Carmel Gallery showcases the work of Elizabeth and Olof Carmel, who specialize in expressive landscapes.

The Tahoe City resident grew up in Slovenia where she spent a lot of time with her grandparents in the foothills of the Alps. Her fond memories of drying chamomile, rosehips, berries and mountain herbs as a child play a big role in her life.

Alenka’s premium organic, loose-leaf teas include Tahoe Blue, Tahoe Green and Tahoe Local (with organic yerba mate to invigorate the body and mind, and a touch of spearmint and lemon peel), among others.

They are sold throughout Truckee (Cooking Gallery, for example); Tahoe City (Tahoe House, New Moon Natural Foods and others); Whole Foods Market in Reno and Sacramento; and online.

Vrecek will share a brief history of tea and a wide selection of her brewed blends on February 9 from 6-8 p.m. at The Cedar House Sport Hotel in Truckee.

877-73-BEST-T, TahoeTeas.com