eating adventures Archives - until suburbia!

Ride the Tilden Park Merry-Go-Round

August 19, 2026Silvia

Up in Tilden Regional Park is a hidden gem – one of the few working antique merry-go-rounds in the United States. Built in 1911 by the Herschell-Spillman Company of Tonawanda, New York, the handcrafted wood animals still enthrall kids and adults alike. Before it settled in 1949 at this location, one of the previous stops was Griffith Park in Los Angeles.

A single ride is $4, but they also offer party packages. A branch of Fenton’s Ice Cream is connected to the building and offers not only desserts but some diner classics.

Find the Tilden Park merry-go-round at Central Park Dr, Berkeley, CA 94708.

Regular hours are, weather permitting, Friday – Sunday: 11 – 5:30 pm and from June 15th – August 14th open daily, 12 pm – 5:30 pm. Check their website for more information.

Counter at the 'ammatka cafe at Lawrence Hall

Dine on Native American Food with a View

August 10, 2026Silvia

The Lawrence Hall of Science is bustling with kids during the summer camp classes. We came here to have lunch with a view at the ‘ammatka, an Ohlone cuisine inspired cafe. Since we weren’t here for the exhibits, we found ourselves taking a quick walk downstairs to the cafeteria.

The menu is quite unusual with duck sandwiches and an Ohlone salad. But fear not, there are also the usual kid-friendly items such as grilled cheese and chicken nuggets.

The view overlooking Berkeley is also spectacular. It was easy to grab a table next to the window.

‘Ammatka means “the dining hall” in Chochenyo, the first language spoken in the East Bay.

Their opening hours are Wednesday to Sunday from 11 am – 3 pm. It is part of UC Berkeley’s ‘ottoy Initiative, whose mission is to foster an understanding of Ohlone culture and its people.

A person taking a picture of the flower fields and a sign saying: Pick Your Own Bouquet today

Pick Some Flowers, Park Winters, Winter, CA

March 27, 2026Silvia

If you only plan on picking your next bouquet at the flower farm in Park Winters, you are missing out. They also have an amazing brunch where everything can be made vegetarian. Wandering around the beautiful estate, before and afterwards, is required.

Even with events going on, you can visit the gift shop near the estate. You may walk away with some olive oil, soap, or a cute greeting card.

Picking flowers on most Saturdays or Sundays can be a relaxing way to spend your weekend. You can just ‘walk-in’, but they recommend that you reserve a spot online. Take the kids, but make sure they are supervised at all times. Kids under 12 are not allowed to handle the shears. Please leave your dog at home. Each bouquet costs $38, not the most frugal experience, but an extraordinary one. Get inspired by nature, relax, and let your creativity bloom.

Not a fan of fresh flowers? No problem! The flower farm also offers to create a bouquet of dried flowers. Want to learn something? Sure, just book one of their workshops, like wreath making. Or book one of their garden tours and learn what’s in bloom.

Park Winters is located at 27850 County Road 26, Winters, CA. The flower picking experience is offered Saturdays and Sundays from 9am – 1pm.

Visit the Pedrick Produce, Dixon

November 7, 2025Silvia

Last week I talked about seeing the Minions going south on I-80 from Sacramento near Dixon. And we are in Dixon, again! You might notice signs advertising fresh produce around Dixon. These signs will lead you to Pedrick Produce. For over 30 years, Pedrick Produce has served the community with fresh, locally grown produce.

Huge bins greet you – pumpkins and other seasonal items – with great prices before you even set a foot into the store. Their selection of dried fruits and nuts is incredible. In fact, this is a great stop if you have out-of-towners looking for something Californian to bring back home. Their website has a coming soon label on their seasonal gift boxes. But of course, you can put an assortment of pistachios and dried fruits together yourself. To spice it all up, you might want to add different hot sauces from the Wall of Flame.

Pedrick Produce is open 7 days a week, year-round, from 7 am to 7 pm. It is located at 6850 Sievers Rd, Dixon, CA, right off the I-80 exit.

Relax at Soul Food Farm, Vacaville

October 3, 2025Silvia

With a name like Soul Food Farm, it was no surprise that our first encounter following the signs to the farmstand was a group of watercolor painters. There is definitely a heart and soul present here. This place offers opportunities for people searching for relaxation and nature.

We strolled over to the farmstand, which is so instagrammable, you wonder where your big white hat is. But in all honesty, they offer wonderful produce, delicious little cakes, homemade jam, ACME bread, and so much more. The owner told us that her main business has now become olive oil.

As we indulged in the little berry pie in the dreamy setting in the olive grove, we connected with nature.

There is an attention to detail that shows in every corner of the little farmstand. For example, a vase with rose hips and a mannequin wearing dried flowers show off the attentiveness. As we were leaving, a family with young kids got out of their car. You could tell that the kids were excited to be there. Maybe on their way to pet some sheep?

I am amazed at their local partnerships and their commitment to issues such as community land use and workers’ rights. Alexis Koefoed, one of the owners, is the president of the Pleasants Valley Agriculture Association (PVAA).

I highly recommend stopping by Soul Food Farm! They are located at 6046 Pleasants Valley Road, Vacaville, CA. The farmstand is open April – December; Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 9 am to 5 pm. By the way, the watercolor group is there every Friday.

A door painted in brown with Kollar Chocolate written on it

Indulge in Chocolate, Kollar Chocolates, Yountville

August 29, 2025Silvia

The smell of rich chocolate greets you at Kollar Chocolates, a small artisan chocolatier in the heart of Yountville. Located at the V Marketplace, a historic winery, now an upscale place for fine dining and wine. The award-winning pralines are works of art crafted with ethically sourced ingredients. Kollar dove into the chocolatier artistry in Europe, and his research paid off. He was named one of the Top Ten Chocolatiers in North America by Dessert Professional Magazine.

On our visit, we were given a red wine truffle to sample and enjoyed an affogato. Both were excellent!

Given the current temperatures, chocolate seems a hard sell. But the descriptions from Chocolate By the Bay made my mouth water and I definitely regret not trying more of these artful bonbons – especially the chopped truffle, a concoction created after winning the 2020 Food Network’s Chopped: “It’s a white chocolate ganache flavored with miso paste and cayenne in a dark chocolate shell.” Sounds salty, lightly spicy, surrounded by chocolate. What could go wrong?

Kollar Chocolates is located in Yountville’s V Marketplace on 6525 Washington Street in Yountville. It is open every day from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm.

Where do you indulge in chocolates?

Produce offered at the FarmStand in Yountville

Shop at the FarmStand, Yountville

August 22, 2025August 22, 2025Silvia

Last week, I was talking about the Yountville Art Walk. While we checked out the art, we also wanted to stop by the FarmStand. The FarmStand Garden is advertised on the town of Yountville’s website as a “thriving, community-powered space growing fresh, seasonal produce in the heart of town.” What we didn’t realize was that this was so much more than a place to buy fresh produce.

In the back of the Yountville Commons, a former Elementary school that now awaits a community space overhaul, we found the Coop. The Coop is a café with inviting yellow and green seats in the shade. Additionally, it serves as a collaboration of the 4G gardening club’s FarmStand and the Hoopes Winery owner’s cafe. The 4G gardening club stands for Grow, Garden, Glean, and Give. You can find the FarmStand next to the Coop. Shop for locally grown produce, support sustainability, and find community.

The Coop offers a changing menu, drinks, and a welcoming space to hang out. This is a fantastic place to meet old and new friends! And if you are a Yountville resident or worker, you’ll receive a discount! They are a flagship for sustainability and community building. A definite stop if you are in Yountville!

The Coop and the FarmStand are located at 6554 Yount Street. Opening hours for the Coop are Tuesdays to Thursdays 10 am to 5 pm, Fridays to Sundays 9 am to 6 pm.

A bench that looks like a stick of butter under the MAC sign

Experience the MAC, St Helena

July 17, 2025Silvia

Riding through Napa Valley with my husband we were talking about how much of Napa feels like chasing experiences. For example, the wine train is a luxurious experience on a vintage train ride featuring elegantly curated menus. The price tag starts at $225 and can easily go for $600 a person for an experience.

You may already know that I am trying to find more frugal savoir-faire for you in this blog. But I’m also a foodie; sometimes these worlds collide. No, I did not ride on the wine train. When you rarely drink alcohol, you don’t have a problem skipping offerings centered around wine. However, I learned about an exhibit featuring Julia Child at the MAC (The Napa Valley Museum of Art & Culture) in St Helena. The $25 entrance fee per person made me pause. I paid it, I enjoyed it, but my husband decided to wait outside. If you can’t share your experience with others, is it worth it?

I did not grow up watching Julia Child, but I read her book My Life in France, and I saw the movie Julie & Julia. The exhibit starts by introducing Julia’s upbringing and then her work for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II. While in Kandy, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) she met her husband, Paul Child, who also worked for the OSS.

Although Child was not the first TV cook, she was the first to win an Emmy for an educational program. I really enjoyed seeing a set up of the TV kitchen with an old-style monstrous camera as my highlight. It becomes clear in this exhibit that Child was an icon, beloved and admired by her colleagues. Through the black and white photographs of Paul Child, you can see the love the couple had for each other.

Additional Information

To round off your experience, the café at Under Study, next door to the MAC, offers a three-course prix fixe menu inspired by Julia Child for $38.

On Saturday, 7/20/25 at 11 am, you can meet John Donohue at the MAC. Donohue is a cartoon artist who has famously drawn restaurants in Paris, London, and New York. Some of his drawings can be viewed at the MAC gift shop for free! The event on Saturday is also free.

Julia Child: A Recipe for Life is on display at the MAC until March 8, 2026. The MAC is located at 607 St Helena Hwy, St Helena, CA. It is open seven days a week from 10 am to 5 pm. Admission is $25 for adults, $15 for 5 – 17 year olds, free for children under 5.

Taste Point Reyes Cheese, Point Reyes Station

June 27, 2025Silvia

Point Reyes blue cheese is my go-to blue cheese. It was a real treat to see where the cheese comes from – the pastures and the cows.

The road towards the market is winding and narrow. You may need to pull over to let the ongoing traffic pass. On our way back, a cow was blocking traffic. But after we took her picture, she gracefully moved away.

The cheese tasting was in the little market. Note: The signage was a bit confusing – all we saw was a ‘No Access’ sign. We wandered around a bit before finding the stairs to the entrance. But the gift shop was lovely. With a warm welcome, we were educated about the cheeses and enjoyed all of them! The fennel blue cheese was my favorite!

For our picnic, we picked out a soft, ripe cheese and a passion fruit jam.

Make sure to check out the patio and the garden. All comes with a healthy portion of country air!

Point Reyes Cheese marketplace is open for free cheese tastings Mondays through Saturdays from 11 am – 3:30 pm. It is located at 14700 Highway 1, Point Reyes Station.

They celebrate their 25th year anniversary this year with a special tasting ($55 per person ) on June 13th, July 18th, August 15th, September 26th, 2025.

What is your favorite cheese?

I did not receive any compensation for this post.

If you are more into goat cheese I highly recommend Hartley’s Farm in Pescadero.

Learn to Shuck Oysters, Hog Island Oyster Company

June 6, 2025Silvia

I usually recommend some frugal adventures. But as a special treat, we visited the Hog Island Oyster Company in Marshall, CA, near Tomales Bay, and learned everything about how to farm oysters.

This is a true gem if you like oysters. They taught us about different oysters and how they manage them. One fun or rather interesting experience was holding a sea cucumber. Not as firm as a cucumber and it moves like a snail!

The grand finale is a lesson in how to shuck oysters. You take the oyster, hold it in a towel, and pry the shucking knife into the end of the oyster. With not too much force, you twist and turn as if you are holding a key and the oyster is your lock.

The other two couples in our group were celebrating birthdays. With a price tag of $48 per person, it is truly a special occasion activity.

Hog Island Oyster Company is located 20215 Shoreline Highway in Marshall, CA. The Classic Farm Tours are offered on Fridays through Sundays at 9:30 a.m. Online registrations are required.

To round out your experience, you can have lunch at Tony’s Seafood restaurant and enjoy fresh seafood. We tried the fried oyster lettuce wrap and it was delish!

Hog Island Oyster Company, in the SF Ferry Building Marketplace, is the San Francisco oyster bar, full-service bar, restaurant, and retail outlet for this Tomales Bay oyster farm.

I am not affiliated with the Hog Island Oyster Company or Tony’s Seafood restaurant.