Farm to Fork Events Fall 2014

October

Art Farm Juried Exhibition Opening Reception, presented by Yolo Arts, Woodland (10/3/14)

This event will feature art submitted for the Art Harvest Fundraising Gala in November. Local artists and patrons will enjoy art displays and have the opportunity to discuss art with esteemed California painter and guest curator Greg Kondos at Gallery 625. (530) 406-4844, www.yoloarts.org.

Hoes Down Harvest Festival
Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/1wjtXwP

Hoes Down Harvest Festival, Full Belly Farm, Guinda (10/4/14)

Fresh food, activities, and live music will accompany you during this day-long agricultural celebration from 11am-11pm. Tickets are $20 online and $25 at the gate. 1 (800) 791-2110, www.hoesdown.org.

Open Farm Day, Capay Valley Grown, Capay Valley (10/5/14)

Visit Capay Valley farms, including Full Belly Farm and Manas Ranch, from 10am-4pm. Entry is free for all participating farms, which will host tastes, tours, and demonstrations throughout the day. (530) 787-3242, www.capayvalleygrown.net.

Master Milling Certificate Course, UC Davis Olive Center, Robert Mondavi Institute, Davis (10/9-12/14)

This four-day course taught by Pablo Canamasas, one of the world’s top olive oil experts, will teach you the basics of olive oil production. The course will be from October 9 – 12^th at the Silverado Vineyard Sensory Theater at the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science in Davis. (530) 752-5170, www.olivecenter.ucdavis.edu.

Capay Organic Farm
Photo Credit: www.capayorganic.com

Capay Organic/Farm Fresh to You Farm Tour, Capay Organic Farm, Capay (10/11/14)

Take a tractor tour, pick pumpkins, and enjoy hands-on activities at the celebrated Capay Organic Farm. Admission is $5 per person, children 12 and under are free! 1 (800) 796-6009, www.farmfreshtoyou.com.

Annual Mill-In, Yolo Wool Mill, Woodland (10/25/14)

Enjoy a mill tour, demonstrations, vendors and a barbeque and learn how wool is converted into the clothes you wear. Events start at 11am and the barbeque starts at 1pm. Admission is $5 for adults and the barbeque is $15. (530) 666-1473, www.yolowoolmill.com.

November

Art Farm: Yolo Art and Food Harvest, presented by Yolo Arts, Woodland (11/7/14)

Held at the Daily Democrat building in historic downtown Woodland, this fundraising gala will feature an art auction, a juried awards presentation for local artists, food, and live music. Proceeds from the Art Harvest will benefit the Art and Ag Project, the Yolo Land Trust, and the Yolo Farm to Fork Foundation. The event is from 6-8:30pm. (530) 406-4844, www.yoloarts.org.

December

50^th Annual Holiday Parade, Woodland (12/6/14)

The parade will take place on Main Street in historic downtown Woodland and will feature marching bands, tractors, horses, and floats from dozens of local organizations. (530) 662-7327, www.woodlandchamber.org.

Sushi Roundup

Despite the fact that well more than 5,000 miles of ocean separates California from Japan, it is very easy to find quality sushi in Yolo County. Most sushi restaurants are located in Davis, with budget-friendly all-you-can-eat buffets popular with the large student population. There are also more upscale sushi establishments that local residents frequent, as well as a number of restaurants in Woodland. A quick stroll through downtown Davis will make the large number and popularity of sushi restaurants quickly evident, with lines that often reach around the block for the more popular sushi buffets.

Davis

Fuji Sushi Boat and Buffet ~ $13 gets you a full lunch sushi buffet, with all-you-can-eat rolls that travel around the restaurant on sushi boats. Very popular with students due to the relatively cheap cost, but make sure to get there early because the wait line often travels around the block. This is likely the most popular sushi restaurant in Davis.

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/1t2w72p

213 G St; (530) 753-3888; www.fujisushiboat.com

Lunch: Mon Sun 11am-2pm

Dinner: Mon-Sun 5-9pm

Davis Sushi Buffet ~ Cost range is $14-$20, popular with the all-you-can-eat student crowd. Dishes are ordered through a waiter instead of off sushi boats. Not as popular as Fuji but it still can get crowded in the evenings.

707 2^nd St; (530) 297-1999; www.davissushibuffet.com

Lunch: Mon-Sun 10:30am-2:30pm

Dinner: Mon-Sun 4:30-9pm

Mikuni ~ Part of a Northern California chain, Mikuni is located in the popular Davis Common and caters more to the upscale crowd than to students. It is more expensive at $12-$30 per dish, but it is a sit-down restaurant rather than a buffet and serves traditional Japanese dishes in addition to sushi. Mikuni also has outdoor seating and a bar with happy hour.

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/1t2wkm4

500 1^st St, Suite 11; (530) 756-2111; www.mikunisushi.com

Lunch: Mon-Thu 11:30am-2pm, Fri-Sun 11:30am-4pm

Dinner: Mon-Thu 4:30-9:30pm, Fri-Sat 4-10pm, Sun 4-9pm

Zen Toro Japanese Bistro and Sushi Bar ~ This is the most popular sit-down Japanese restaurant in Davis, and with good reason. Like Mikuni, it attracts a more adult crowd. Prices range $12-$25 for dinner, but the portions are generous and the food quality excellent. Zen Toro has a quaint location in Mansion Square in the heart of downtown and boasts a stylish, modern interior. A reservation is recommended, especially for dinner on weekends.

132 E St, #1A; (530) 753-0154; www.zentorosushi.com

Lunch: Mon - Fri 11:30 am-2pm

Dinner: Mon - Thu 5:30-9pm, Fri-Sat 5:30-10pm

Jusco ~ This is a small family-owned restaurant in downtown that offers made-to-order sushi rolls and a large menu as well as a buffet. The price range is reasonable at about $11-$20. Jusco is low-key, has an unimposing façade and is rarely crowded, giving it an undiscovered feel.

228 G St; (530) 750-2869

Lunch 11am-3pm

Dinner 4:45-10pm

Moshi Moshi

A small establishment in South Davis, Moshi Moshi offers sushi and traditional Japanese dishes in the $12-$20 range. Its location outside of downtown means it is relatively quiet, but it’s popular with local residents on the weekends. Service is friendly and efficient and the food is generously portioned.

2120 Cowell Blvd; (530) 758-8889

Lunch: Mon - Fri 11am-4pm, Sat 2-3pm

Dinner: Mon - Thu 4-9pm, Fri 4-10pm, Sat 3-10pm

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/1wlB2xE

Sushi Unlimited ~ Like Mikuni, Sushi Unlimited is also part of a Northern California chain. It offers a large menu including sushi rolls, nigiri, and a variety of traditional Japanese dishes. Its location in North Davis well away from downtown makes this a very quiet restaurant that is almost never crowded. It offers dine-in and takeout options and is a sit-down restaurant, not a buffet.

620 W Covell Blvd # B; (530) 758-4560; www.sushiunlimited.net

Mon-Thu 11am-9:30pm

Fri-Sat 11am-10pm

Sun 11am-9pm

Enju ~ A new sushi restaurant in Davis, Enju offers a more traditional menu with a fusion influence in the $9-$18 range, making it popular with students. The service is excellent and the waiters friendly and attentive.

305 1^st St; (530) 746-2326

Sun-Thu 11am-9:30pm

Fri-Sat 11am-11:30pm

Oshio Café ~ Oshio is a small café located right next to the UC Davis campus, making it very popular with students. It offers a Japanese/Korean mix of dishes mostly less than $10 for the budget crowd.

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/1q7sQv0

207 3^rd St; (530) 750-5012

Mon-Sat 10:30am-9:30pm

Nami Sushi ~ Nami just opened and is located outside of downtown, making it less crowded than some of the other popular sushi restaurants. It offers a polished, traditionally decorated interior with a full menu, made-to-order sushi, and a bar. Lunch is $13 and dinner is $18 for all-you-can-eat sushi.

2880 5th St, Suite 105; (916) 999-1113

Lunch: Mon - Fri 11am-2:30pm, Sat - Sun 12-3pm

Dinner: Mon - Fri 4:30-9pm, Sat 5-9:30pm, Sun 5-9pm

Woodland

Jinju Sushi ~ A pleasant atmosphere and great quality food makes this a very popular restaurant. There is a bar and sit-down options, with friendly service and prompt food delivery. The price range is reasonable at $10-$20 per dish. This is one of the most highly praised sushi restaurants in Yolo County so make a reservation if you’re planning on going for dinner, especially on the weekend!

467 Pioneer Ave; (530) 666-7575; www.jinjusushi.com

Sun – Thu 11am – 9pm, Fri – Sat 11am – 10pm

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/1t2xBd7

Osaka Sushi ~ Osaka is located in historic downtown Woodland and offers sushi and traditional Japanese dinners in a sit-down setting instead of a buffet. The cost range is $10-$30, making it slightly more expensive than other options. It has locations in Sacramento as well.

608 Main St; (530) 668-6288; www.osakasushi.com

Lunch: Mon - Sat 11:30am-2pm

Dinner: Mon - Sat 5-9pm

The Woodland Tomato Festival

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/1oIb3Lc

In celebration of Yolo County’s longtime #1 cash crop, the 7^th Annual Woodland Tomato Festival will be hosting a variety of entertainment events on August 9th. The free-admission festival hosted by the Woodland Farmer’s Market will run from 9:00am to 2:00pm and feature live music all day and tomato-themed activities. Located on Main Street in historic downtown Woodland, visitors can enjoy the regularly scheduled Farmer’s Market as well as tomato tasting from local growers, a salsa tasting competition, a chef competition, face painting and game rentals for children, and over 60 vendor booths.

Starting at 9:30am, visitors will be able to participate in a salsa competition featuring a dozen local restaurants, including El Patio, Hecho en Mexico, and last year’s winner, Maria’s Cantina. At 11:00am, the “Iron Chef” inspired chef competition will commence, featuring guest judges and top local chefs vying for the top spot by cooking creative tomato dishes. Visitors can also indulge in local produce at the Woodland Farmer’s Market, held concurrently with the festival, as well as enjoy the leafy streets and businesses of downtown Woodland.

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/1per7F1

Live music and demonstrations will accompany the event, with the Dynamic Dancing Troup kicking off the entertainment at 9:00am. Next, the Putah Creek Crawdads will croon for the crowds, followed by Trick Roper James Barrera and an exciting demo from the Kuk Sool Won Martial Arts School. The Highway 16 Band and Kick N 60’s will round out the music entertainment for the day.

Situated in close proximity to Sacramento, Davis, Vacaville, and other local cities, the Woodland Tomato Festival is the perfect day trip for those looking for a Saturday of tomato-flavored fun. For more information, visit www.woodlandtomatofestival.com or call (530)666-2626.

Velocity Island Wakeboard Park Opens its Doors

If you are a dedicated wakeboarder searching for a place to ride, then look no further than the new Velocity Island Park in Woodland. One of only a few cable wakeboard parks in California, it opened on July 17^th at 755 N. East Street, where the old Dubach Park was just north of I-5.

The jumping-off point for riders

 The park features a full-size, five-tower cable park that pulls up to six riders clockwise around a nine-acre lake; it also has a smaller 3-acre lake that is designed for beginners.

Wakeboarding is a sport that traditionally involves a motorboat pulling a rider behind it, who uses the wake (or waves created by the boat) as a ramp to perform maneuvers.

Woodland’s new park, however, doesn’t use boats or even wakes. A state-of-the-art cable system pulls riders around the lake and allows them to use the park’s artificial features, like ramps and rails, to do tricks. It is essentially like a skate park on water. The cable system pulls riders at a speed of about 18 miles per hour; if you fall, you can easily swim back to shore for another round.

One of the park's many terrain features

A big advantage of using a cable system is that wakeboarders who do not have access to a boat can still ride. It is much cheaper and more convenient, with the potential for a diverse array of obstacles to practice on. It is also far more eco-friendly to use a cable system than a high-emission motorboat.

Rentals of wakeboards, helmets and life vests are available, but those with their own equipment can bring wake skateboards, water skis, kneeboards and more.

The Velocity Island Park is primarily a cable wakeboard park, but there are other activities for those who are not serious water athletes. Cabanas are available for rental by the hour or day, a perfect location for viewing friends or family zip by on the cable course. There is a 400-foot-long sand beach on which visitors can relax and sunbathe, as well as a volleyball area, a bar, and a pro shop.

Shaded viewing areas are incorporated into the park

The park also features open hours for stand-up paddling (SUP) in the morning before the cable course opens; SUP hours are 8-10am, then full operations run 11am to sunset, daily, year-round weather permitting. Passes are for two hours ($34), four hours ($44), all day ($54) or all season (three options, limited). Lessons, summer camps and professional competitions will be part of the routine as well.

Velocity Island is located in close proximity to historical downtown Woodland, which makes it easy for visitors to explore the city after a long day of water and sun. The park will surely bring in more tourism, especially considering Woodland’s Mediterranean climate, proximity to Sacramento, and large outdoor water sports community.

Cable wakeboarding is an international sport, with about a dozen parks in the country and more than 200 abroad. Velocity Island owners are confident that the park will draw athletes from all over the country and abroad for top wakeboarding events. The park is already part of a national round of point-scoring competitions that allow athletes to qualify for a national championship this fall. It has also secured a sponsorship agreement with the CWB Board Co., a popular wakeboard manufacturing company in the hopes of promoting the sport in Northern California. If the early hype is any indication, then Velocity Island will doubtless become a regional wakeboarding hub in the near future.

For more information, call (530) 723-6885 or visit www.velocityislandpark.com.

Street Kings

It was a blazing 100 degrees outside but that didn’t stop anyone. Hundreds of people showed up in the cordoned-off section of historic downtown Woodland for the city’s Food Truck Mania event in early July to relax and sample the colorful dishes offered. Local favorites BaconMania, Krush Burger, Green Papaya, and Wandering Boba, along with more than a half-dozen others vendors, lined First Street alongside some of Woodland’s finest historic buildings. Even in this small northern California town, it was quite obvious that the national food truck movement is alive and doing very well.  

The monthly event is one of many in the U.S. as the popularity of this new form of culinary presentation makes inroads into traditional restaurant dining. Increasing numbers of entrepreneurs are capitalizing on the benefits of mobile food, which are giving even fast food a run for its money.

Crowds at the Woodland Food Truck Mania

Food trucks have the option of choosing their location (most of the time, when not hampered by city regulations), allowing them to situate themselves in bustling areas with lots of foot traffic. They can park in or near special events, maximizing their chances of snagging hungry pedestrians. And they can serve more diverse demographics thanks to their mobility, including college students, office workers, and construction workers. These tactics seem to be working. According to the Food and Agriculture Administration of the United Nations, street food is eaten by almost 2.5 million people every day, a testament to its rising popularity.

Mobility is just part of the picture. Another payoff? Cheap start-up costs. It is no surprise that the modern food truck movement was born during the darkest years of the Great Recession. In 2008, the modern food truck movement was born when Roy Choi, a head chef working in upscale restaurants, opened the Kogi Korean BBQ food truck in Los Angeles. It was cheap to start and attracted similarly frugal diners, who wanted low-cost food of restaurant quality. Now a cultural icon, Kogi became the template for chefs who were laid off from their jobs during the recession. Without the funds necessary to open a traditional restaurant, they took to the streets in Choi’s footsteps, ending up across the country in mega-cities and small towns like Woodland.

The original modern food truck, Kogi Korean BBQ
Photo Credit: Cheapair

And flourish they have. At the Woodland Mania, a dozen vendors were present to offer their fill of fusion cuisine, a growing hallmark of trendy street food. Similar, and even bigger, food truck events are popping up across the country, with some seeing crowds in the thousands. One colossal festival in Tampa saw nearly 200 trucks feed 20,000 people. Previously limited to the coastal cities in which they originated, food truck events now exist all over the US, and people can’t seem to get enough of them. Indeed, from 2007 to 2012, the food truck industry grew by 8.4% and shows no signs of slowing.

The Woodland festival offers a quintessential reflection of the national trend. A carnival atmosphere pervaded the event, no doubt similar to the vibe cultivated by other food truck gatherings. People of all ages and from all walks of life were present, with seniors sitting at café tables and children playing in the blocked-off street. There was Dilly Dally the Clown, grinning for the youngsters and whipping out works of art with her collection of inflatable balloons. Across the way were the No Divas, providing live entertainment for the diners. And dominating the east end of the block was the star attraction: a row of a dozen food trucks, each with a line of people that would put a McDonald’s drive-thru to shame.

Dilly Dally the Clown

The offerings were diverse: unheard-of hamburger dishes, courtesy of Krush Burger; traditional Lao and Thai cuisine, provided by Green Papaya; everything and anything containing bacon, inspired by BaconMania; and desserts to die for, presented by The Sweet Spot, among others. It could have been the 4^th of July, and it nearly was, the event occurring only two days after Independence Day. It was food trucks putting their claim on the streets of America, and the crowds had to do nothing but enjoy the conclusion of their holiday weekend.

Delicious fare from Krush Burger

“We wanted to create a new event that would bring more people to downtown district,” says George Rowland, president of the Historic Woodland Downtown Business Association. “We felt that getting more people here—not only local residents but also visitors from around the region—would increase foot traffic in the stores and generally elevate Woodland’s profile.” The organizers got the City to agree to close off a block of First Street from Main Street, secured the trucks along with live music, and the party was on.

Woodland’s very first Mania event—on an overcast, drippy day this part March—featured just nine food trucks, but got regional TV coverage and drew more than 1,200 people, with visitors from Vacaville, Sacramento, Folsom and beyond. “The lines were pretty long, so we immediately made the decision to bring in more trucks, and that has paid off,” says Rowland. There has been a retail upside, too. Dora Martin, who owns Poppies gift shop in Woodland, definitely saw a benefit. “A woman from Vacaville told me she had seen the TV report and drove over to attend,” Martin says. “She bought some things from me that Sunday—and then she came back the next week and shopped some more.”

Customers in line for Krush Burger

Only time will tell what the future holds in store for the food truck boom. It is likely that more and more established restaurants will open food trucks as a side business. Already local favorites are going mobile, like Krush Burger at the Woodland Mania. They will continue to and increase use of social media to advertise their products and events, as well as seek out new destinations and organize more events.

However, the recent glut of food trucks has many worried about market saturation. Simply put, street food is becoming ubiquitous. This is a challenge that the modern food truck will have to solve, likely by finding ways to differentiate itself from the truck parked down the street. Many trucks are starting to offer after-hours service for private events like birthdays and weddings. Others cater to a particular clientele, such as office workers or college students. Many are heading in the direction of niche foods, like trucks devoted to vegan oreos or outlandish boba concoctions. What is certain is that no matter the challenge, the versatile food truck will find a creative solution. The worst-case scenario? It’s back to the streets, where it all began.