An Out of County Experience

Morning in Ukiah. We are glad to have our leftover eggplant, pears, and cider from home. After heating the leftovers in the microwave we have a fine local breakfast. I should note that we keep our care stocked with a few travel items, from our stainless steel insulated travel mugs to a kit with a tiny cutting board, knife, utensils, cloth napkins and corkscrew. We also have a bag with tea bags, paper plates and misc. napkins, chopsticks and such. Many has been the time when, while unexpected, these things proved invaluble.

Business done we took a brief side trip to Upper Lake to try to connect with an old friend. We passed vinyards and lots of walnut orchards on the way. We also passed a buffalo ranch and stopped and got some buffalo to have later in the month. Now, that's an unexpected local product.

In Upper Lake we had a locally roasted latte and visited a fruit stand and small natural foods store in the hope of finding some local walnuts. There were lovely fruit (more pears!) and vegetables and even local honey and goat cheeses at the fruit stand, but no walnuts. The store folks noted it was very difficult for them even to get local produce regularly.

On the way home we we're starved by the time we got to Willits. The restaurant I suspected would have local ingredients in their food, The Purple Thistle, was closed so we went to Adell's which is good and feels like there is a possibility of them knowing where their food comes from - but this is not the case. Same problem as I have had elsewhere. Again I choose something that COULD be all local - a grilled zuchinni, pepper, onion and goat cheese panini sandwich. WOW! That was good. I will have to try making that one at home.

We finally pull in rather late. It is dark and we are bushed by the time we get the car unloaded and things put away. We have a quick dinner of the last Casa Lindra burrito, pears, and lots of steamed crookneck squash. Water on the side. Nice to be home where we know our food.