The Sacramento Food Co-op is hosting a Kids and Teens Summer Cooking Camp beginning next week, Monday, July 11 through Friday, July 15, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. Kids and teens ages 9 to 15 are welcome to attend. There will be an additional Kids and Teens Summer Cooking Camp from Aug. 1 through Aug. 5.

Students will learn to prepare meals using fresh ingredients and menu items will focus on global cuisine. Essential skills, techniques and working as a team will also be employed.

Each day teachers will also discuss ways to incorporate a healthy lifestyle outside of the kitchen, including ways to make fitness fun and dance activities led by local experts.

Here is the week’s menu:

Monday: Island Style
Menu: crunchy macadamia nut crusted fish; coconut rice and red beans; Hawaiian coleslaw,and banana lumpia
Fitness Break: Hula Dancing with Pat Toyama of the Ohana Dance Group 

Tuesday: Asian Flavors
Menu: sticky chicken; slurpable soba noodles; wok stirfried veggies, and grilled pineapple skewers
Fitness Break: Yoga with Jenna Maggard from ArtBeast

Wednesday: Brazilian Feast 
Menu: chicken and potato empanadas; grilled ginger-orange shrimp skewers over yellow rice with fresh fruit salsa; tropical fruit smoothies, and coconut macaroons
Fitness Break: Capoeira with Patrick Hilligan from Move! Studio

Thursday: All-American Barbecue
Menu: build your own turkey burger; grilled corn on the cob; red, white and blue potato salad, and homemade peach ice cream
Fitness Break: Hip Hop with Step One Dance and Fitness

Friday: Italian Favorites
Menu: grilled pesto pizzas with shredded chicken and roasted veggies; potato gnocchi with fresh tomato sauce; chocolate-dipped almond biscotti; strawberry gelato, and Italian raspberry sparkling coolers.
Parents are invited to join us for our graduation ceremony.

Classes will take place at the Co-op’s Community Learning Center and Cooking School. The cost is $235 for Co-op owners and $285 for community members.

Now You’re Cooking — Elaine Corn, Hands-Off Cooking — Ann Martin Rolke, Peach Farmer’s Daughter —- Brenda Nakamoto, Hunt, Gather, Cook — Hank Shaw, Downtown Seasonal Recipes from Two of Sonoma Wine Country Restaurants — Susan and Jeff Mall just some of the featured cookbooks at the Cookbook Sale and Swap, Saturday June 25, 10 am to 3 pm, Café Bernardo Midtown.

Admit it.  You have cookbooks you haven’t read sitting on bookshelves, stacked alongside the bed, residing in boxes in the basement, and the addiction is so strong you’re compelled to buy more. But, you have a rule.  No more books unless you get rid of the books you’ve got.

What to do about it? Join FoodTalk@Cafe Bernardo Saturday,

Stop by from 10 am to 11:00 and join the conversation with authors Elaine Corn, Ann Rolke Kate Washington, and Jeff and Susan Mall, as they talk about the pleasures of the table, the ins and outs of food writing, and sign their books.

The Swap begins at 11:00. Bring up to five gently used cookbooks, food memoir, food essays, or food-related novels you’re ready to pass on.  Talk someone else into swapping with you.  It’s that simple.

Can’t part with any of your books? Choose from an incredible collection of new, used, rare and vintage cookbooks, food essays, memoir, gardening and travel books and magazines supplied by the Friends of the Sacramento Public Library Book Den and ArtWorks in the Kitchen and at much better then used bookstore prices.

There is a $15 required donation to MatrixArts (payable by cash or by check). In exchange you get a $15 certificate to use at the ArtWorks book sale table or at future FoodTalk events, plus drinks and snacks.  Have a lot more than five books you want to get rid of?  Donate them to us. Proceeds benefit the Sacramento Public Library and Soil Born Farms.

FoodTalk is sponsored by MatrixArts, a 501(c)3 arts organization that bridges the visual, performing, literary and culinary arts. Café Bernardo is located at 2726 Capitol Avenue in Midtown Sacramento.  Metered parking is on the street or you can park in the garage next door for $5.

For more information contact: foodtalk@me.com or foodtalksacramento.com or call Maryellen Burns at 916-768-6077.

Farm Fresh to You invites the community to their Capay Organic Farm, Saturday, July 9th, from 3:30 to 11:00 p.m., for the 4^th Annual Capay Tomato Festival.

At the festive summer celebration visitors will enjoy heirloom and cherry tomato tasting, live music and dancing, delicious food, local wine and beer, a relaxing stroll about the farm, tractor tram rides and more.

Enjoy tacos and tri-tip sandwiches made using fresh farm produce, corn cob fixings and homemade, gourmet popsicles.  Capay Valley Vineyard wines will be available for purchase by both glass and bottle.  Beverages and beer are also available.

During the event, a photographer will be scouting your picnics looking for the best picnic for the Best Guest Picnic Contest. Winners will be announced in the farm’s newsletter and will receive three complementary deliveries of Farm Fresh to You Home Produce Delivery.

Guests have the option to camp in the fruit orchard on the farm. Reserve a camp site in the peach, fig and mandarin orchards. $35 advanced campsite reservations (by July 5) and $40 day-of-event campsite reservations. There are restrooms and sinks available.

Author Trudy Scott will be reading from and discussing her book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” at the Avid Reader in Davis on Saturday, June 25 at 7:30 p.m. and in the Sacramento store on Sunday, June 26 at 2 p.m.

“What we eat, what we don’t eat, and what time we eat are so important for ending anxiety!” Scott stated. In “The Antianxiety Food Solution” readers will find: 

·         Solutions for social phobia and shyness

·         End stress and being overwhelmed

·         Sleep well and improve mood

·         End sugar/carb cravings

· No more worry, fear, anxiety & panic attacks

 

In “The Antianxiety Food Solution,” readers will find four unique antianxiety diets designed to help people address nutritional deficiencies that may be at the root of their anxiety and enjoy the many foods that foster increased emotional balance. The easy-to-use guide helps people choose the best plan and incorporates effective anxiety-busting foods and nutrients. Free yourself from anxiety and enjoy an improved overall mood, better sleep, fewer cravings, and optimal health -- the natural way!

Trudy Scott is a Food Mood Expert and Nutritionist, speaker and author of “The Antianxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood & End Cravings,” (New Harbinger). Trudy has a nutrition practice in Northern California, with a focus on Food, Mood and Women’s Health. Trudy lectures extensively, both at live events and via teleseminar. She is President of the National Association of Nutrition Professionals and is a member of Alliance for Addiction Solutions, Anxiety Disorders Association of America and National Alliance on Mental Health.

Trudy publishes an electronic newsletter entitled “Food, Mood and Gal Stuff,” available at www.everywomanover29.com and www.antianxietyfoodsolution.com. Trudy’s goal for all her clients: “You can be your healthiest, look your best and feel on-top-of-the-world emotionally!”

The Avid Reader is located at 617 Second Street in Davis and 1600 Broadway in Sacramento.

Support the arts and stuff your pie hole, literally, each first Tuesday of the month at Luna’s Café & Juice Bar, 1414 16^th St., Sacramento, at Brother Dan’s Pie Party.

Various artists present their art work each month to the audience, who dine on slices of pie from New Roma Bakery at Luna’s Café. Proceeds from the pie sales go to the artists of the evening.

Artist mediums vary widely and have featured an actor, author, cartoonist, painter, spoken-word artist and videographer.

The monthly Pie Party is the brainchild of musician Dan Palmer. According to BrotherDanPalmer.com, Dan is, “best classified as an upbeat, observant singing songwriter specializing in Modern Americana music. He has a repertoire of over 1,000 cover songs from virtually all genres, and has played in virtually every venue imaginable. Brother Dan's main focus now is his original music, and he draws from his extensive experience to craft well-written songs that have universal appeal.”

Luna’s Café, meanwhile, serves “the freshest juices and licuados in town, nothing frozen or concentrated,” and is known as the one of the area’s “original café galleries.”

Breakfast is served Monday through Saturday. The Cafe features music and entertainment Wednesday through Saturday evenings, with dinner served starting at 5 p.m.

The menu also includes sandwiches, salads, fresh-ground coffee, mochas and other espresso drinks. A nice selection of beer and wine is also offered. Enjoy it all in the comfortable atmosphere of Luna's, one of this area's original cafe galleries.

Visit www.lunascafe.com or www.brotherdanpalmer.com for more information.

Can’t get enough of Selland’s Market Café? You’re in luck! The Café is now open Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Try a wood oven breakfast pizza, such as “Keira’s,” prosciutto, fresh mozzarella and farm-fresh egg or “The Farmhouse,” with potato, linguica, caramelized onions, parmesan and farm-fresh egg.

Choose from a selection of breakfast entrees including a poached farm-fresh egg on top of pork carnitas, potatoes and pork jus; breakfast casserole with prosciutto, fontina cheese, parmesan cheese and herbs; the daily egg scramble or Selland’s baked French toast casserole and maple syrup.

The restaurant will also be serving an assortment of grilled breakfast sandwiches including prosciutto, melted fresh mozzarella and a farm-fresh egg on toasted Levian; peppered bacon, cheddar and a farm-fresh egg on toasted Levain or farmers market tomato, melted fresh mozzarella and basil on toasted Levian with the option of adding prosciutto.

A range of sides are also served, including John’s fried potatoes and onions with rosemary; roasted tomatoes; linguica; Italian style sausage; peppered bacon; farmers market fresh fruit salad and farmers market sliced avocado with sea salt and young olive oil.

Quiche is freshly made in the bakery each morning and guests may enjoy bacon and cheddar quiche or a spinach and mushroom quiche.

Selland’s Market Café is located at 5340 H St. in Sacramento. Call (916) 736-3333 for more information.

Mark your calendar for the 11^th Annual Marysville Peach Festival, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, July 15 and 16 in Downtown Marysville. Visitors will enjoy food, entertainment, arts, crafts, vendors and more at this popular celebration which draws around 30,000 visitors annually.

“Celebrate with us as we pay homage to the sweetest fruit on earth, a community that has its roots in agriculture and a downtown that thrives with values and excitement. The Marysville Peach Festival is one of the lowest-cost events in California maintaining quality vendors and huge crowds!” states MarysvillePeachFest.com.

The festival is free and there are no fees for parking. The event is open from 4 to 11 p.m. Friday, July 15 and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday on D Street, between First and Sixth Streets, in Downtown Marysville.

Besides many choices of peach-related foods and other food vendors, there will also be amusement rides and live entertainment including The Chris Gardner Band on Friday and Tijuana Taxi on Saturday, both beginning at 9 p.m.

Other activities include the Marysville Peach Fest 5K Run/Walk, Peaches and Pancakes Breakfast, the Azzurri Peach Classic Soccer Festival and The Peach Fuzz Comedy Festival.

Sponsors for the event include: Marysville Business Improvement District; Yuba County; Norths Uniforms & More; Sierra Central Credit Union; Teichert and River Valley Community Bank.

Visit www.marysvillepeachfest.com for more information. Interested vendors may contact Shannon Jacobsen at (530) 749-3954.

The Old Sugar Mill in Clarksburg will host The Wine, Cheese & Bread Faire from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 30 and 31. The event is billed as “The Ultimate Gourmet Wine and Food Shopping Experience,” and invites visitors to shop for a perfect picnic lunch and bottle of wine, and then enjoy the beautiful outdoor patio area and delta breeze.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door and include a commemorative wine glass, a cool bag for cheese and food item purchases, attendance in live interactive cheese making and education seminars as well as local chef cooking demonstrations. Participants will also have the opportunity to taste wines at all seven wineries, sample cheese, bread and other fare, and enjoy live music, with two bands each day.

The Historic Old Sugar Mill is home to a unique community of six California wineries and their signature wines: Todd Taylor Wines, Three Wine Company, The Solomon Wine Company, Heringer Estates, Clarksburg Wine Company, and Carvalho Family Wines. The Old Sugar Mill is located in the Clarksburg AVA (American Viticulture Area), an area where vineyards share the same cool breezes from the San Francisco Bay that shape the growing seasons in the vineyards of Napa and Sonoma.

The wineries at the Old Sugar Mill are a bridge to the rich agricultural heritage of the region, whose vineyards are staking their claim alongside the great wine growing regions of the world.

The Old Sugar Mill is located 15 minutes south of Downtown Sacramento, at 35265 Willow Ave. Clarksburg 95612. Visit oldsugarmill.com for tickets and more information.

Slow Food Sacramento presents the third annual Common Table: Urban Ag Fest Saturday, June 18.

This year’s Urban Ag Fest begins with an optional reception at4 p.m. featuring Urban Farming 101: Grow Your Own Groceries. Guests will enjoy wine and fresh, ultra-local appetizers as you eat, sip, and learn with the experts.

·         Learn the healthy pleasures of backyard chickens from Paul Towers of CLUCK

·         Consider the wonders of beekeeping from Aaron O’Callaghan of Sacramento Beekeepers Association with his beehive and honey extractor

·         Learn how to introduce edibles into your landscape from Brian Kesler of California Victory Garden

·         Find out how easy it is to install raised vegetable beds in your backyard from Rafael Aguilera of Sacramento Yard Farmer

·         Learn how to share and swap what you grow from Kara Thomson of Oak Park Crop Swap

·         Learn to preserve what you grow from Rachel Davis of Sacramento Food Preservers

The dinner begins at 6 p.m. It will be a white tablecloth affair catered dinner by Plates Café & Catering. Chef Stuart Edgecombe and Bobbin Mulvaney, of Mulvaney’s B&L, have teamed up to create a menu full of sunshine and America’s best summer food traditions.

Keynote speaker Spring Warren will regale diners with lessons learned by an amateur urban farmer, which she captures skillfully in “The Quarter-Acre Farm: How I Kept the Patio, Lost the Lawn and Fed My Family for a Year.”

This annual fundraiser aims to promote urban agriculture in Sacramento and benefits a partner in Slow Food’s effort to bring good, clean, fair food to all. This year’s beneficiary is Plates Café and Catering, a project of St. John’s Shelter for Women and Children.

Plates trains formerly homeless women to cook and cater and helps place its graduates in related employment. Slow Food Sacramento is raising money for a garden at Plates that will provide fresh vegetables to the Café and Shelter and will teach related gardening skills.

The evening also includes a live auction with the opportunity to bid on food, cooking, and dining related items. Bring the experts to your home, visit them at their homes, ride along on a restaurant review, enjoy the generosity and skill of the best of Sacramento’s finest good food enthusiasts.

Spomsors include: Dreyer Babich Buccola Wood LLP; Jacobsen & McElroy PC; Kenyon Yeates LLP; Kershaw, Cutter, Ratinoff LLP; and Mulvaney’s B&L.

Visit http://3rdurbanagfest.eventbrite.com/ to purchase tickets.

Wine and cheese tasting is always popular, but honey tasting is now all the buzz. Visit Sacramento Beekeeping Supplies, 2110 X St. in Sacramento, to sample around a dozen different types of local, fresh honey on a given day.

Sip on several varieties of raw honey (orange blossom, star thistle, sage and dark amber), including local wildflower (often used to combat allergy symptoms), honey in the comb, creamed honey and more.

Honey is said to be a great immunity system builder and is a natural remedy for many infirmities including sore throats, sleeplessness, arthritis pain – even hangovers. Honey can also be used as a natural first aid remedy for wounds, burns and cuts since its antiseptic properties helps to keep external ailments free from infection. Furthermore, honey possesses carcinogen-preventing and anti-tumor components, helping to fight the possibility of cancer.

While you’re there, peruse the plethora of beekeeping supplies, from a beginner’s kit to extractors, candles and soap making supplies, health foods, creams, lotions and cosmetic items.

Sacramento Beekeeping Supplies is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Call (916) 451-2337 or visit sacramentobeekeeping.com for more information.