Fresh farmstead cheese from purebred Nubian Goats.

Got a hankering for something tastier than the mass-produced brick of cheddar on your grocer’s shelf? Try fresh goat cheese, gelato, or quark, a sour cream substitute, courtesy of Crow’s Dairy in Buckeye, Ariz.

Wendell and Rhonda Crow’s purebred Nubians produce the area’s only farmstead cheese, which means that their products are made entirely from milk produced by Crow’s goats. The animal’s diets are soy-and corn-free at the behest of customers, as well as being GMO feed free. The dairy’s products are sold at local farmer’s market and served at high-end restaurants throughout Phoenix.

Crow’s is sold at various markets in the Phoenix area, and they accept phone and mail orders, with a minimum order of $100.

Look for Lustables daily at EcoSalon. 100% gorgeous green finds, and never sponsored. Submit your favorite to tips@ecosalon.com

Image: Crow’s Dairy

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The long awaited artisan food marketplace at 331 Cortland in San Francisco’s Bernal Heights neighborhood opened quietly about a month ago. I finally had the chance to enjoy some of the vendor’s wares during a small open house celebration.

As discussed here before, 331 Cortland is a completely original business model. One that is rooted in the neighborhood and intended to be an incubator for small, talented food producers by giving them a chance to enter the market legally in a real store front, but without the risk (and cash outlay) of a stand alone shop.

The market also provides neighborhood residents with a unique selection of high quality, healthy foods available for pick-up. On both accounts, it looks like a winner.

The tiny railroad car shaped storefront is warm, bright, and welcoming with vendors situated on either side of a narrow walkway behind counters and refrigerated displays. The feeling is at once old fashioned and modern. Each vendor’s nook has its own look, feel, signage, and personality. It’s a loveable mishmash with an unplanned, old-timey sort of feeling.

The food, however, is thoroughly modern, healthy, and entirely unexpected. You won’t find the usual tasteless grocery store prepared pasta salads, or ho hum sandwiches, or really anything you’ve ever seen before. It’s like inventive street food invited indoors, with every vendor offering a unique selling proposition.

Wholesome Bakery and Sour Flour

Wholesome Bakery is an all vegan bakery that uses only the healthiest ingredients possible. In addition to being diary and egg free, all the baked goods are wheat free, soy free, yeast free, and the only sweetener used is raw organic agave syrup. (These goodies aren’t deliciousness free, however). On Thursdays and Saturdays you’ll find Sour Flour Bread, small-scale, wild fermented sourdough bread.

Ichi Lucky Cat Deli

Ichi specializes in sushi and other Japanese treats with a special eye to sustainability and inventive vegan options.

Bernal Cutlery

Bernal Cutlery will sharpen your knives by hand, the proper way. “˜Nuff said.

Della Terra Organics Produce

Here you’ll find an attractively arranged array of fresh, seasonal, organic produce to take home for dinner tonight. It feels very European. You’ll also find pestos and other condiments made with the fresh produce.

Dezy’s Drinks

Put down that Coca Cola. At Dezy’s Drinks you’ll enjoy healthier and much tastier handmade drinks from local produce and herbs. Dezy also makes granola.

Paulie’s Pickling

Paulie’s serves pickles and a whole lot more. Like fab sandwiches with pickles, slaw, and fun condiments made from some of their special pickles or brines.

El Porteño Empanadas

I discovered El Porteño Empanadas at last year’s Eat Real Festival. They are the best ever, hands down! Don’t forget the Alfajores de Dulce de Leche.

Images courtesy of Kelly Kozak

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Whether a San Francisco resident, or a visitor to the area, the Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market is not to be missed. It’s open three days a week, but Saturday is the best day to check it out. The weekend market is much larger, extending around the back of the Ferry Building, and includes not only organic produce, but food vendors, great gift options and music. I can’t believe I only just discovered this gem!

With spring in full swing, the number of booths has expanded. Cherries are the latest addition and strawberries and fava beans are still going strong. Normally, I would not recommend tomatoes this early in the season, but I dared to try a couple from Bruins Farms and was very surprised at how good they were. Apparently, they have an ingenious hothouse method, and while these tomatoes are not cheap, I had no regrets. Marin Sun Farms had a large tent set up for those looking for sustainable meats. We also saw some early white peaches, and plenty of spring onions, garlic, and asparagus.

Depending on when you arrive (the market is open from 8am to 2pm), you have numerous breakfast or lunch options. Get your coffee from Blue Bottle Coffee and enjoy it with a fresh pastry from Della Fattoria or the Noe Valley Bakery and Bread Company. Perhaps you’re in the mood for something savory? I highly recommend the tamales from Primavera – some of the best I’ve ever had. They also have chilequiles (my friend’s favorite) and tacos that look amazing. Other options include roasted chicken, breakfast at Rose’s Café or vegetarian Asian inspired options from Alive.

The market has a wide array of potential gifts to take home and share with friends and family. When I first walked into the market, someone handed me a taste of almond brittle. I normally don’t like brittle, but this stuff is ridiculously tasty and extremely difficult to stop eating. Buy extra to share, and you will make friends quickly. Other fun items of the gift variety include marmalades and jams, local olive oils and balsamic vinegars, specialty herbed salts from Allstar Organics in Marin, and pickles and sauerkraut from the Happy Girl Kitchen, to name a few.

On our way out, we enjoyed the bluegrass fiddle fading in the background as we bumped into a local poet writing poetry on the spot for interested takers. He had his typewriter set up and was deeply engaged in conversation in preparation for his next poem. It seems at the Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market, there’s a little something for everyone.

Main Image: yehwan

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