There's a reason Paula is saved in my phone as the "Berkeley Bee Queen"... she's the best!…read more She clearly loves the bees so much and she is so knowledgable. I'm a furst time beekeeper this year and Paula has helped me get everything I need from boxes to the bees themselves. I wouldn't have the happy hive I now have in my backyard if it weren't for Paula's generosity!

(Long, but detailed) One day a swarm arrived and by night fall they had settled into the shrubs…read morealong the walkway to my front door. It is also very near the sidewalk that gets a lot of foot traffic from people walking to the park across the street. I knew this was a dangerous situation and came to Yelp looking for a beekeeper to take the bees away, What I was shown, however, were more pest control types who, while not harming the bees, would charge an arm and a leg. The next morning I posted on NextDoor and within a minute Paula messaged me offering her hive relocation services. She and a friend were there within the hour, settling the queen and her minions in the bee box (I don't know the technical term, sorry). She left the box for the day, giving all of the bees and scouts a chance to be reunited with their queen. When the sun went down she came and collected the box. In the morning, there were no bees floating around! Paula is an excellent communicator, letting me know the status every step of the way. Her team graciously answered my questions and were very polite and took great care in respecting my property. When Paula returned for the box, she did not disturb me or my family. She sent a text when all was said and done. Very, very easy and I feel assured that the bees are getting the best treatment. I was very impressed by the team's passion for the bees and the great care with which they were handled. It made me wish my children were small again so they could enjoy the adventure! In addition, Paula brought me a jar of her honey. A very special treat that I had to try right away. The honey has a distinctive and unique flavor that I have never tasted before. I wish I could put into words the flavors that hit my tongue, but suffice it to say it is much bolder than a typical, even locally harvested, honey. Of course, I had to check out Paula's website where I found other bee related products on offer. I had just the day before been looking for my healing balm that I usually get from Burt's Bees (green label). I have no idea where it went, but I needed some and purchased the calendula/lavender balm from Paula. She set it near my door when she came to collect the bees and sent me a text that it was there, saving me from having to get up and answer the door. I used the balm a couple of hours later. It is not as thick as Burt's Bees, which works better than having that solid balm to warm up and spread. I didn't need as much of Paula's balm as I usually use of the other, more solid balm. My skin is very touchy and the calendula/lavender blend is one I know that works without issue, so I am thankful to have found Paula and her quality bee related products!!

One of the best cups of cold brew I've ever had. My only frustration with this place was the fact…read morethat it didn't open until 9 AM. Thankfully they were open when it came time for my second caffeine fix of the day. The space is also absolutely gorgeous and they appear to host lots of educational / experiential events for coffee lovers. Highly recommend!

May 2026 Give this place a crown!…read more Very cool and unique coffee shop that roasts it's own coffee, has community events, and is welcoming! I was torn between the coffeeflights and their speciality drinks. Got their "Hey Mambo!" Which has housemade raspberry amaretto Italian soda with espresso and milk of your choice. It was definitely unique. It was well made an exactly like they said it was, but it just wasn't something I'd order again. Next time I'd get the coffee flight. Nice and kind service with clean seats and clean restrooms.

I highly recommend taking a sourdough class at Saffron Studio! Athena is incredibly knowledgeable…read moreand a wonderful teacher for all experience levels. I walked into the artistic scoring class with zero experience and left with an adorable (and delicious) Miffy bunny loaf! I also love that you get to take home something you've created at the end of class. Their weekly preorder loaves are fantastic as well, so many imaginative and delicious flavor combinations. Always a treat!

Had an amazing experience at the sourdough inclusion workshop with Athena. It was personalized with…read moreingredients to our own preference and we got to learn helpful tips and techniques. Had a lot of fun. Thanks Athena!

I cannot praise Nicole more for her amazing cheese making classes! Our company did an outing here…read moreto make Burrata, Mozzarella, and Goat Cheese and had a blast. Nicole makes sure to explain everything thoroughly, including the history of each cheese. Makes everything super interesting. We also included a grazing board and they were all so delicious. We were eating, making cheese, and having fun the entire time. Parking is a bit difficult so we just did ride share there. The place is a bit hard to find but it's a office room inside a parking gate. I am definitely go back with friends and family the next chance i get. I hope this place doesn't get too famous so Nicole still has time left for us! haha Thank you for everything Nicole!!

Nicole led a virtual Chevre-making class for my colleagues and I and it was a blast! Pretty awesome…read moreto be able to enjoy such a fun, informative and highly rewarding (we did get fresh cheese out of it after all) experience via Zoom. We were provided with our very own cheese-making kit ahead of the class (with immersion thermometer, cheesecloth and straining basket included) and super detailed instructions to replicate the recipe at home in just 10 minutes. Worth to note that the cheese culture packet that came with our kit was enough to culture an additional 3 quarts of milk beyond the one we prepped, too. Nicole was lovely - she answered all our questions, and gave us pro cheese seasoning/paring and gifting tips. Would highly recommend, especially for large-group/team bonding events. Looks like everyone will be getting fresh cheese this Christmas :-)

*********************** 770 ************************…read more I recently passed my Somm exam, so I'm eager to attend more wine tasting events, as well as networking with other wine lovers, and interact with winemakers, etc. I found Wine Institute of California via Tweeter, and I found the wonderful listing of all the upcoming wine events about California. I'm an old world wine girl at heart, but living in Northern California, I feel so lucky to have tasted some of the best wines that Napa and Sonoma have to offer; although Napa wines can get really pricey now, and it's time for me to ventrure to the rest of the States with many great appellation and terroirs. The California Wines Road Trip Tasting event was held at the Peninsula in Beverly Hills, isn't it the best location to taste wines or what? Celebrating California Wine Month September 2012, for only $60, you got to try so many great wines; tasty food, and include valet parking at the Peninsula. What's a steal for any wine lovers to attend. Through this event, I got to explore so many other wine regions in California often got overlook; but they are so good, affordable, and great value for every day drinks. I found ton of wines that I can refer to my customers, friends and family. Here is a just a few of my favorites of the day: LAKE COUNTY: - 2010 Rosa d'Oro Aglianio - Known as the Cabernet of Basilicata in Southern Italy, Aglianico is able to bridge the gap between Old and New World wine with Lake County matching its home terroir perfectly. Only 7 barrels were produced. - Six Sigma Ranch - 2008 Tempranillo was special, I love this grape from the Rioja region, always glad to see it here in the US. An elegant, full-bodied wine with charming black fruit aromas of sweet black cherries, blackberries and mission figs.Approachable now, will improve with age. I got meet the handsome winemaker Matt Hughes, really nice gentleman, can make some good wines! LODI - Michael David Winery - 2010 Petite Petit, A blend of 85% Petite Sirah and 15% Petit Verdot, fascinating combo, beautiful label - Offering a joyous explosion of color and fun, it is a substantial, dense, full-bodied, whopper style of wine loaded with pure black fruit and vanilla flavors that coat the palate. It reveals remarkable richness with a finish that is slightly dry and seems to linger and 1 good wine for only $18. SAN LUIS OBISPO - Zocker 2011 Gruner Veltliner Edna Valley Central Coast - As you can see my tasting by now, I tend to try different varietal that I rarely see in typical California wines. This wine was rich and round but with great acid structure, this wine is steely and has good minerality. It has a bit of an earthy characteristic, a note of white pepper, and flavors of ripe melon and fruit cocktail. It was so perfect a for a warm afternoon in Beverly Hills. My mom would love this wine for our Sunday brunch, and it's only $20. - Saucelito Canyon Vineyard 2011 Cote de Blanc - it was a very nice and refreshing wine. TEMECULA - South Coast Winery 2009 GVR 40% Viognier 33% Grenache Blanc 27% Roussanne Lemony, raspberry character of Grenache Blanc plays off of the sweet honeysuckle of the Viognier, while the delicate pear and citrus notes of the Roussanne give structure and a rich lusciousness to this one of a kind wine, winemaker note. I adored this wine. My mom would love it too and it's only $20. NAPA I wasn't planning to try any but this 1 wine so stand out with the price tag of $195, think of Bordeaux, Burgundy for this price, so I had to try it out. - Ovid 2009 Napa Valley, Kimberly Jones - Think of Napa Valley Cult Wine, only 300 cases made. Bordeaux style blend - Cabernet sauvignon with 30% cabernet franc, 8% merlot and 4% petit verdot - Dark ruby-red. Vibrant aromas of blackberry, minerals, dusty earth. Smooth claret-like, this bottle can hold for quite sometimes. Fascinating to see how some of these these Napa Valley cult wines can get really pricey, but I guess if you want to support US economy, this is 1 way to do it. SANTA CRUZ Mountains: - Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards - I always love their wines, local, a short drive to visit them. I got to meet the winemaker Mr. Bill Cooper and Doris Cooper, just simply nice folks. Of course, I will always support Santa Cruz Mountains wines. There was Pasa Robles, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Sonoma, California Sustainable Wine-growing Alliance at the event. Too many wines, so little time to taste everything in 1 evening. I also got to meet Communication Manager of Wine Institute Gladys Horiuchi. She's so nice, so supportive to get me in the last minute of the event. Follow them for special events in your area, I guarantee you would enjoy it as much as I did, see you at the next wine event @CalifWines_US

From the owner: Wine Institute is the voice for California wine representing 1,000 wineries and affiliated…read morebusinesses from the beautiful and diverse wine regions throughout the state. As the largest advocacy and public policy association for California wine, and the only group representing the industry at the state, federal and international levels, Wine Institute's Officers, Board of Directors and professional staff work to create an environment where the wine community can flourish and contribute in a positive fashion to our nation, state and local communities.

Sour Flour had a booth today at the Noe Valley Farmers Market, San Francisco. It's not a farmers…read moremarket normally on my radar, but I spied a TGTG order $4.99, and given their high rating I opted to buy a spot. The order was put together upon my arrival which was comprised of 6 bagels, a small loaf, and 3 baguette shaped breads. Great baked goods and an excuse to visit Noe Valley on a Sunny Day, it was a win win.

We had SUCH a great time at a private starter workshop with Sour Flour! Oozie, our baker, was super…read moreengaging and explained everything in a way that made it easy to understand. The class was hands-on, full of laughs, and honestly way more approachable than we expected. We left feeling totally ready to make our own bread at home, including with our own sourdough starter. Highly recommend it if you want to learn, have fun, and eat great bread!

I ordered 2 spice mixes from Brundo online and had them shipped to me. Unfortunately one of the…read moreglass jars broke in transit, but I was able to email their support team and they were quick to respond and help me out. They sent me a replacement jar which arrived intact and wrapped in an extra layer of bubble wrap. I'm really pleased with the customer service and am excited to use my new spice mixes. I'll definitely have to check out their location in person sometime too!

Customer service and food was amazing. It did take a while to get my appetizer to go. However,…read moreeverything is made to order and fresh so I understand. My daughter and I had veggie and beef sumbussas. I also purchased some authentic Ethiopian spices for a special recipe I wanted to try. They were a little pricey, but a fair amount was given.

What a fun way to spend a few hours! We purchased a Travelzoo deal to take the Ethiopian cooking…read moreclass which was located at a warehouse in Oakland. We had a full class of 12, and each pair was in charge of preparing and cooking a vegetarian or a meat dish. In the beginning of the class, our instructor discussed the various spices and we had the opportunity to try them. Afterwards, she assigned various tasks and dishes for each pair to do. Everyone made a different dish which provided variety. However, everyone used the alicha (yellow) spice so all the dishes were yellow. I wish we had the opportunity to use the red spice. The best part of the day was actually eating everything that we made. We also had the opportunity to drink honey wine. If you want to cook Ethiopian food at home, you can purchase the spices from Brundo.

Really enjoyable cooking class. Our class was small with only 4 people, but Adey says there are…read morenever usually more than 8, so she's super attentive. We had a groupon that covered the class, a few take-home spices, a cookbook, and we had plenty of leftovers to take home as well. Adey and her assistant Brandon were awesome (Brandon kept us topped up with honey wine)!! Really fun class if you already enjoy Ethiopian food, or if you, like my mom, enjoy learning different cultures through cuisine! It was nice to be able to buy the few extra ingredients necessary to replicate what we made in class. Bonus that they accept bank cards.

What beautiful views. It was a gorgeous day. It was a…read moremember event that my friend brought me. I enjoyed all their wines and they had some small pizzas to enjoy always very good. The people that were working there were very friendly.

We were here during the Strawberry Festival. Very family friendly environment. When I went into…read morethe pavilion there was wine-tasting, so I got to taste some of the wines produced by the SRJC college students. Their Syrah and Zinfandel were amazing. The Syrah was actually an award-winner and I ended up leaving with a bottle of it. The Gallo family sponsored the wine lab, which was pretty cool to see. We also signed up for their produce service, and receive a box weekly. I like the idea of buying local and having it come directly to my kitchen.

I've been buying my baking and pasta flour from Keith Giusto Bakery Supply/ for a while now and…read morelove having the opportunity to get quality ingredients so close to home. When I learned of an opportunity to attend a hand rolled pasta class at the Artisan Baking Center, I couldn't resist. I was not disappointed! The ABC combined an excellent learning environment with knowledgeable instructors and I enjoyed an incredible learning experience. The facilities were modern and efficient and I can't wait till they get their wood fired pizza ovens built! Craig Ponsford was the lead and he did a great job explaining every step of the process. Pablo Giet assisted and clearly knows his craft as well. Best of all, was the fact the class walked us through prepping an entire meal. While the focus was on hand rolled pasta, we made pasta and sampled three different sauces with what we made! The included wine was a bonus! I left with enough confidence, along with the pasta dough I made, to make my own meal the very next night! I can't wait to take another class at such an outstanding school!

June 16th Intermediate Sourdough Class with Michael Kalanty. Best class ever! This place and…read morepeople are phenomenal! imagine top tier master bakers/chefs and a top tier flour distributor opening up their professional kitchen, skills and materials to the home baker(me). A home bakers dream! There were 10 of us in this 6 hour class. Lots of hands on and questions answered. Michael is a brilliant teacher, able to communicate and teach complex concepts easily. Very friendly and approachable too. The class was very reasonably priced too. Thank you Central Milling for making this opportunity available to the home baker!!