Are You That Woman

Inday's Filipino Restaurant the chickens didn't cross the road

Rating:  Star*Star*Star*Star*Star*

Well, the chickens weren't crossing the road but strolling along the sidewalk. This sighting was enough for me to drive around the block and come to screeching halt in front of Inday's! And so glad I did.

Wife and husband team - Inday and John - are a delight. Fortunately, it was early on a Sunday morning and I was at my quiz-master best. I got all the inside information on this 6-day a week, family operation before ordering two organic eggs over medium, rice with garlic (very traditional) and longanisa (spicy sausage). I was one happy girl.

Oh, yes, add a slab of John's Grandma's coffeecake - made with fresh mango. Fresh from the oven and still warm. Didn't have room to try a piece of John's "Big Ass Chocolate-chip cookie" sitting in a pan on the counter. No time or room for a mango shake or Inday's homemade lumpia - sigh. Next visit.

Working on a Sunday (me) I wanted to stay and spend the morning just enjoying the ambiance of this little red shack and its flock of chickens. They serve breakfast and lunch six days a week (closed Monday) and a prix fixe Kamayan-style dinner where tables are draped with banana leaves and you eat with your hands - reservations are required. 

Ninety miles from Sacramento, I will definitely be back! My Subaru knows the way.

If my Subaru can't get me there, 
that's a good reason not to go!

 

 

 

 

2018 Mono Lake calendar essay: Turning the Tide

This essay, written by Vern Gersh, appears in the 2018 Mono Lake Calendar.

“Never give up for that is the time and place that the tide will turn.” —Harriet Beecher Stowe

Forty years ago, in the Eastern Sierra, the tide was running. Like all tides it ran in one direction. Its flow must have seemed inexorable as the waters of life were sucked away.

Shakespeare referred to living in “the tide of times.” The tide that has been running strongest in my life is the stream of change. When I was born in 1955 there were half as many humans on the planet. Nothing human-made orbited the earth. There were fewer than 600 pizza parlors in the entire United States. The majority of Americans shared their phone line with a neighbor. You would dial that phone and were tethered to it with a cord. There was one Mexican restaurant in the city of half a million Americans where I was born.

Forty years ago, when the Mono Lake Committee was born in “the tide of times,” the world was divided by an Iron Curtain with half of Europe in the thrall of the Soviet Union. There was no space shuttle, no cell phones, and computers occupied full rooms. Google was not a verb, email and “text” were unknown concepts. Terms like ecology, environment, and climate change were learned in college, if at all. There were more than twice as many vertebrate animals in the wild. Even now we are still too ignorant to know how many species have been driven to extinction in those forty years.

In the flow of the tide, there are organisms. A benthos hangs on, buried or clinging to whatever it can. A plankton can swim within the tide but, ultimately it must go along with the flow. And then there are the nektons.

Nektons can swim against the tide. They have the strength, vigor, and determination to overcome the phenomena brought about by titanic forces beyond their control.

People have changed the face of an entire planet. Our strength, vigor, determination, and intelligence have harnessed titanic forces. The tide we have set in motion has too often been careless of the consequences.

The political and societal forces in my lifetime have ebbed and flowed. Our commitment to the world we leave to future generations has washed to and fro but worldwide the tide seems to be running out.

Even here, in the United States of America, political forces seem to have turned. A nation, whose scientific prowess has led the world, seems hesitant to lead.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, “The lowest ebb is the turning of the tide.”

Like the benthos we can cling, hunker down, and hope for better days. Like the plankton, we can paddle within the current. Forty years ago, a dedicated few on the shore of Mono Lake formed a committee and stemmed a tide at that place and time.

The great Nordic king Canute had his throne placed on the shore of the ocean. Resting on his throne, in a monarch’s voice he commanded the tide to turn. It did not.

Forty years ago a few nektons changed things. They did what Canute could not. If we join together no power or earthly king can stop us.

Vern Gersh is a former guide and naturalist, now retired. A lover of birds and plants, Vern is leaving his heart in the Mono Basin for the next adventure, retirement on the Colorado Plateau.

 

Long live Mono Lake! Official California Watchable Wildlife viewing site.

Another Beautiful Foggy Day

A decade gone by on this wonderful Sonoma memory

Oh, joy! It's another beautifully foggy day! Even more exciting, getting into my Subaru and driving during the height of the morning commute. I am positively giddy.

The fog is thick. I mean really thick! We live in the city and when fog is at street level you know it's bad out in the open spaces. But I am not concerned. I am one of the few sane drivers who actually slows down in this pea soup weather and keeps a real distance between my Subaru and other auto projectiles.

As expected, out on the freeway, people are whizzing...jetting...zooming at rates that simply can't be defined by simply saying they are speeding or driving too fast. In this stuff, whatever it is they are doing is simply insane! Staying in the right-hand  lane, I let anyone who wants to pass me go right ahead. I won't exceed the posted speed and, imagine, I'm actually driving a little under the legal limit.

The fog is heavy until just past Davis and then. as if some unseen force had wiped the haze from your eyes, it's suddenly clear blue and sunshine. I'm still enjoying my blissful cruise along the interstate; heading for one of my favorite destinations—Sonoma! The anticipation is almost heart-stopping.

Speaking of stopping, suddenly traffic comes to a near stop—a crawl—as we approach the exit to Sonoma. I have no idea what's happening since I've never been at this junction, I-80 and Hwy. 12,  so early (8:00am) before. Are all these cars heading up valley (that would be Napa) or is this some shortcut I don't know about? We creep along, but I don't mind. It gives me time to almost enjoy the scenery because now the fog has returned. Newly greened hillsides and rural landscapes are visible through the ghostly mist. Soon the terraced vineyards appear. Stripped bare for winter their vines twist above the velvety rows of cover crops.

Suddenly, just out of the corner of my eye a vision flapping, descending—the fancily form of a great blue heron comes floating out of the fog to a graceful, one-legged perch atop a grape stake. I am awestruck and wonder if any of my other road-mates observed this marvel. Just then I see, an overturned big rig has spilled a load of sand onto Hwy. 12. OMG! This is the reason for the  rush-hour crawl. It appears no one is hurt and cars are easing by and (of course) quickly back to pedal to the metal. Personally, I am thankful for this momentary lag in my morning drive. 

I leave all the traffic behind me as I head towards beautiful Sonoma and the yet to be discovered, Relais du Soleil  a rustic country ranch B&B tucked away in the hidden wilds of Sonoma County. I have no idea the wonders that await me.  The visions of a landscape that seem almost forgotten by time and a rutted and narrow road. My Subaru and I live for just the sort of thing.

If my Subaru can't get me there, 
that's a good reason not to go!

International Sportsmen's Expositions: Great outdoor adventures for everyone

International Sportsmen’s Expositions are more than you imagined

Each year in early December, the television commercial would appear. A trumpeting elk buck and images of people rushing off to that annual rite of passage known as the International Sportsmen’s Expo, Sacramento.  With a very heavy lean towards fishing and hunting pursuits, informed regulars know it as the “hook and bullet” show. Clearly popular, the Cal Expo parking lots are packed each of four days.  My curiosity got the best of me and thought I should take the plunge. I have a passion for California and outdoor recreation, but had resisted joining the throngs. I don’t hunt. And while I’ve enjoyed a few fly-fishing excursions including Montana’s Big Horn River, I am hardly the avid angler. In 2013, I was an ISE virgin. One show and I was (pardon the pun) hooked!

The energy at the show is palpable. Vast exhibit halls and numerous outdoor displays house more than 600 vendors, seminars and demos. I suggest you come well-rested, wear comfortable shoes and bring a goodies backpack and your outdoor adventure spirit. I am not squeamish, but am aware there’s plenty of taxidermy and maneuver around some of those exhibitors.  My love for the outdoors is more than sated by the wealth of hiking, biking, kayaking, off-roading, camping, boating and (yes) even cooking and food suppliers. Remember, the show is H-U-G-E! Despite the Expo map and exhibitor listings, it can be challenging locating certain vendors or displays. Wandering the aisles and buildings is half the fun, but a plan of attack is highly recommended.

Representatives from my favorite California destinations attend the Sacramento show.  A devotee of the Eastern Sierra, I customarily make a beeline to Mono County Tourism and, in 2018, I look forward to time with the Bishop Visitors Bureau. The gateway to Yosemite National Park, Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau is no stranger to outdoor recreation. At the California Delta Chambers and Visitors Bureau booth, I’m reminded that many extraordinary adventures are in my own backyard. These folks know all the hidden gems. Lots of people vacation in the same place and never venture anywhere else. The ISE provides new perspectives for birding, photography and wilderness outings. Even for this seasoned traveler, there’s plenty to learn and vendors are eager to answer any and all questions.

This year Todd Jostes, National Academy of Outdoor Survival, will conduct multiple mini-clinics from the Expo's new Wilderness Camp.  Learn true life-saving skills including how to build a primitive fire and emergency shelters. In the Adventure Theater, Saturday, January 20, 2018, don't miss the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) seminar about the Lands Pass program, which has been expanded to more CDFW properties as a way for all visitors to contribute to the management of the places we enjoy and appreciate. This is important information for the birding and nature tourism community. On Lands Pass properties, each visitor who is 16 years of age or older is required to carry a daily (one day) or annual Lands Pass while on the property. 

I look forward to meeting Santa Cruz-based Tepui Tents. Large enough for singles, twosomes or more, their rooftop car tents are designed to fit on the roof racks of trucks and cars including my Subaru. There are limited retail locations to actually see and touch Tepui Tents, so ISE is a rare opportunity to compare and contrast. With your daily driver as your adventure mobile, you can park these tents anywhere.  Another newcomer, Stealth Bikes is also on my list of must-sees. These ultra cool eco-friendly, electric bikes are not only  good for that morning commute, but also an off-road experience.

I first met Nan’s Gourmet at the San Francisco Fancy Food Show. Now an ISE star, samples of olive oils and vinegars and grilling sauces are deliciously displayed for everyone who loves to cook including the hunting and fishing foodies.  At ISE you’ll find everything from salsa and olives to jerky, hot sauce and even dog treats!

Yes, it's true. At the International Sportsmen’s Exposition, I’ll run out of time before I run out of fun. My favorite Costa sunglasses is an ISE regular. I’ll drool over dozens of Hobie kayaks and recreational vehicles. I’ll be tempted to plan another Alaska or maybe a houseboat vacation. The possibilities are endless.  

Check the schedules, arrive early, and stay all day!

A freelance writer, I have been exploring and telling California travel stories for more than 27 years. I am the Outreach Coordinator for California Watchable Wildlife and a member of the Outdoor Writers Association of California, Bay Area Travel Writers, and California Roundtable on Recreation, Parks & Tourism. Follow me!

If my Subaru can't get me there, 
that's a good reason not to go!

Placer County Mountain Mandarins are better than gold

Sacramento is the gateway to farm-fresh diversions. Less than 50 miles away, in its quiet, rural communities, Placer County offers winter tours and baskets brimming with edible and seasonal delights. Heralding the arrival of mandarin season, the annual celebration of these diminutive citrus gems takes place along Placer County farm trails and at farmers’ markets and festivals.

Agriculture was Placer County’s second Gold Rush. By 1856, nearly 6,000 Placer County acres were under cultivation. In the early 1900s, Newcastle was the fruit-shipping capital of the world. The diverse landscape —– valleys, Gold Country foothills, majestic Sierra Nevada — supports a wide range of crops, including world-famous mandarins.

In 1994, Placer County growers decided they needed a marketing arm for promoting agriculture and started Placer Grown. That same year, Joanne Neft, along with the Newcastle Business Association, founded the Mountain Mandarin Festival. That first year, six mandarin orchard farmers participated and saw close to 1,500 attendees. Today, there are 60 mandarin growers in Placer County, and 17 orchards are represented at the festival, which now attracts more than 25,000 visitors a year who delight in this succulent fruit, available only from November through January.

The Satsuma mandarin is the signature citrus crop for Placer County; these mountain mandarins are well-known within California and beyond. Satsumas are distinctive as a result of the terroir where they are grown. Warm days and cool nights translate into more intense flavors and sugars than mandarins grown in the valley or in warmer locations.

“If you buy Placer County Owari Satsuma mandarins, you’re buying from the farmer,” says Rich Colwell, owner of Thundering Herd Ranch in Penryn. “We only pick when fruit is ripe. It’s sweet and more flavorful.”

Cuties and Halos, the tiny mandarins that are sold widely in grocery stores, are grown on large-scale farms throughout the San Joaquin Valley. They are clementine, tango, or Murcott mandarins, but they are not Satsumas. Available November through April, those fruits are efficiently harvested at mature green, so may not have full coloration or the same rich flavors as locally produced mandarins. They are stored in large packinghouses, often for long periods of time, and may be treated with ethylene gas to increase their orange color.

“Placer County farmers pick fully ripened fruit according to color and feel,” says Cindy Fake, director at University of California Cooperative Extension for Placer/Nevada counties. “It’s not treated with ethylene, and it’s stored in ambient temperature conditions. We don’t grow enough for large-scale commercial markets. Generally, I would say our fruit is going to a very premium market and at premium prices.”

Placer County mandarins are available at local farmers’ and specialty markets. On weekends in December, follow the mandarin trail during Mountain Mandarin Orchard Days to mandarin oils, sauces, honey, juices, cookies, cakes, spreads, and, of course, hand-picked and tree-ripened fruit. Enjoy arts and crafts, farm animals, and even a visit with Santa. Combine this local excursion with farm stays, bed and breakfasts, and vacation rentals, and you have a delicious night or weekend ahead of you.

It's never too late to plan. The 25th Annual Mountain Mandarin Festival, Nov. 16-18, 2018, marks the official beginning of the Placer County mandarin season. Enjoy frequent entertainment, food, arts and crafts, Best Mandarin Contest, and more.

Gold Country Fairgrounds
1273 High Street, Auburn (Parking and entry available at 209 Fairgate Road)

Courtesy of Joanne Neft, co-author, Placer County Real Food From Farmers Markets: Recipes & Menus for Every Week of the Year:  Spiced Mandarins with Pomegranate & Kiwi

2 cups sugar

3 cups water

2 cinnamon sticks, each about 4 inches long

14 whole cloves

½ cup fresh ginger, peeled, thinly sliced

8 green cardamom seeds

6 whole star anise

12 Satsuma mandarins

1 to 2 kiwis, peeled, thinly sliced

½ cup pomegranate seeds

Dissolve sugar in water and bring to boil. Add cinnamon, cloves, ginger, cardamom, and anise. Simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover pan, and let steep 15 minutes. Using sieve, strain spices and discard. Chill syrup in covered pan several hours. Cut peel from mandarins, being sure to remove pith. Slice mandarins in ⅜-inch rounds, then place in large serving bowl. Cover with syrup and refrigerate 2 hours. Serve in small dessert bowls; top with kiwi and pomegranate seeds. Serves 8.

 The Dish on Placer County

Originally published in edible Sacramento

 

If my Subaru can't get me there, that's a good reason not to go!