My mom and I discovered this shop around the corner from The Peasant & The Pear in Danville when we…read morewere waiting for our takeout order. Come to think of it, it makes sense to have a store that offers balsamic vinegar and olive oil tastings in quaint downtown. The walls are lined with so many different flavors you can read about and sample. We stayed in the balsamic vinegar corner where there were all types of fruit flavors and had signs offering recommendations of how to use it (on salads, fruit, cocktails, even ice cream). We didn't wander to the olive oil section, but I definitely will next time. They have the following price breakdown for bottle size: Small: $8 Medium: $14 Large: $21 They also have tinier bottle sizes and gift bags which would be fun to give/receive. I believe the owner rang us up and she sealed our bottle for us to preserve freshness (it was just corked when purchased). She said to come back with the empty bottle for $1 off!

What a lovely shop! A friend of mine told me about a "vinegar tasting" store and was like, "Why…read morewould I want to taste vinegar." But now I totally get it! The shop ladies were so super friendly and kind. They said we could try any of the balsamic vinegar flavors mixed with sparking water if we wanted to. (But I thought these were only for salads? So wrong of me!) They have a glass jug with the sample flavor of the day already mixed with water. That was the first one I tried: Cranberry Pear. Ooh!!! It was so delicious. Not what I thought it would be. It tasted like a soda without all the sugars. It was actually quite refreshing and delightful. I asked what their top 3 flavors were: - Cranberry Pear - Peach - Sicilian Lemon I decided to try Peach. She added sparking water to it. Omg! That was even more delicious. I'm pretty sure any of these flavors will be a hit. Different flavored vinegars and olive oils adorned the walls! Each flavor has a sign with its name, what they are best used for, and what they are best paired with. I wish I could try them all but I can save that for another visit. They also sell pastas, tea towels, little bowls, and other cute things to go with their products. Also found out that Maison Benoit uses their products at their bakery. Love local businesses supporting each other!

I love coming to the farmer's market in WC. It's improved in the last year. It's great that they…read morehave it all year long (except heavy rainy days). Cancellations are usually online. Last Sunday, I finally took some pictures of some of the items I bought. The vendors are super nice. Lots of samples too. It does get crowded. But a nice ambiance with live music.

Parking can be a bit tricky here. But there is a parking garage not too far from this farmers…read moremarket. Plenty of produce vendors, not too many baked goods, flower vendor is always there, not too many food trucks or hot food options. Ultimately a quant market to grab produce, eggs and maybe a bouquet of flowers.

My wife and I stopped by Amphora Nueva after grabbing lunch at The Station nearby to replenish our…read moredwindling supply of aged dark balsamic. Like most artisanal olive oil and vinegar stores, this one allowed for sampling of nearly all their products. There are so many interesting oil blends and flavored balsamic vinegars, I would encourage you to take your time to try out anything that piques your curiosity before making a purchase. We ultimately picked up a bottle of their 25 year old aged, Denissimo balsamic. This balsamic had a wonderful sweetness to it and was beautifully viscous. I can't wait to drizzle this on top of a tomato burrata appetizer when summer comes around, or on some vanilla ice cream. Another balsamic I really enjoyed trying out -- that would also go lovely with vanilla ice cream, was the espresso flavored balsamic. I would definitely recommend checking out Amphora Nueva for all our olive oil and balsamic needs.

We first tried their product at a party--just a splash over sparkling water--and it was delicious…read more From that moment, we were hooked. Now it's in regular rotation at our house as we work our way through all the new flavors in the store. BB

TL:DR - wow!! Just…read morego and revel in its full glory. You will gain weight but it's okay! Mini beignets are a must-try. Pro tip: they will reheat for you. Gelato - outstanding stracciatella

I'm a big fan of gelato. I would say that Tifa Chocolate & Gelato had really good, solid gelato and…read moreit's definitely worth a trip. It's one of the best Gelato places in the Bay Area, from my experience. The gelato is flavorful. I had the fig marscapone and highly recommend it. The stracciatella was pretty plain and certainly didn't stand up to stracciatella we had in Europe. The dark chocolate was decent. I thought that the pepper cherry (I think that was the name of the flavor) was above average and surprised me by how strong of a cherry flavor it had. It more like maraschino cherry than tart cherry juice in my opinion. The place had good indoor seating and obviously it's a great location in Walnut Creek.

I have had positive experiences every time I place orders with WS…read more I recently ordered personalized gingerbread houses for 5-6 ppl. They arrived in perfect condition. Pic below was one that I ordered for myself. I also ordered gingerbread cookie kits for my grown kids bc they made this a tradition. One kit had a slice in corner and I called customer service and they replaced it immediately. Amazing customer service and I love all their products.

Terrible customer service here. 100% agree with all the one star reviews here. Went here to…read morepurchase placemats for a table that seat 6. They only had 4 on the floor so I approached a male employee to check the back, he said they didn't have any. I asked if they sold it online to which I got a curt 'yes'. He didn't even offer to check online or asked if I needed help placing an order. And before I could ask a follow up question, he started helping a white couple behind me. How rude! So I approached a female employee for help, who was all smiles while helping another white couple before me. As soon as I approached, that smile went away. I asked if she could check for me if the placemats I wanted were sold online...to which she curtly replied "YOU can look up the sku number". My money of a brown girl like me is as good as the white folks' in this town! Avoid this branch if you don't want to be treated badly by employees who secretly wear those white robes

Just a few minutes from home, but it feels like a whole escape…read more A place where the wine is smooth, the olive oil is rich, and the atmosphere feels like summer memories waiting to happen. From family-friendly events to country line dancing nights under the stars, there's always something that brings people together here. And when the holidays roll around, it turns into something even more special -- Christmas magic for the whole family Grateful to have a little gem like this so close by.

What a great unexpected location. Was driving around lost on Alhambra Valley.... started in…read moreMartinez went to Biones and after an unexpected stop at the Balestrieri farm ended up in Lafayette. This is a great farm experience! They have semi-rustic event space, some goats, corn husk spots, tables with covering and a beautiful covered barn area. Also a separate area to showcase and serve their different offerings. Wines (red & white)...I had the cab and thought it was a decent full flavor. They also have honey, fresh eggs, a few veggies & olive oil. I think the sun had me off my game because I left without trying the olive oil (usually my favorite)! Did purchase the honey and it's a nice smooth flavor. Last but not last was the WONDERFUL house manager. I didn't get her name, she was running around helping everyone, she is a warm,nurturing professional that felt like a breath of fresh air. She was juggling task for sure, but the patrons loved her it had a family atmosphere. I can't wait to meander in the hills again and visit this farm another day in the future. Great idea.. solid event space. Thank you, Sharine

UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP. They are currently working on turning this little store around from the…read moreprevious (dated) produce store to a new source for all sorts of niche grocery products including my favorite dressings I buy at the farmers market. This will be a great addition to the neighborhood.

Bummer the new owners removed the hand-painted murals to cover the windows with AI slop…read more New market is less local, less produce, lots of stuff purchased at Grocery Outlet and resold here for twice the price, it seems. Also amazing is how prices change. Picked up a bottle of whit wine we were told was $12.99. He said he had a cold one in the fridge, grabbed it, and quickly tried to remove the $9.99 tag. Must have been disappointing for him when it scanned in at $10 even. Regardless, it is clean and convenient.

We love Sepay Groves olive oil! Our go-to oil has been the Frantoio but we have discovered other…read moreoils that have a more earthy taste and are higher in polypheonols so we have been buying those as well. Their flavored vinegar is also fantastic. My favorites are the raspberry and black cherry. I'm glad this place is nearby because it's difficult to find good quality OO outside of Italy.

I visited to get another bottle of the: Sepay Groves…read moreFrantoio EVOO which is cold-pressed olives with a high poly- a bit peppery, grassy and (to me) a tad bitter. I use as a finishing oil drizzled on roast vegetables or for pasta dishes. Frantoio olive oil also has known health benefits! A great antioxidant, reduce inflammation, help with lowering cholesterol and for heart health due to high polyphenols. I'm all for it...a daily tablespoon or two will do ya! If you're a bit more adventurous you can go with the other high polyphenol EVOO of Spanish olives called Hojiblanca. Plenty of options of vinegars and olive oils to sample before you buy. Bought the 18yr old aged balsamic which elevates any dressing and your friend's will comment "how come mine doesn't taste like yours" (evil laugh!) ...quality ingredients make a difference! Staff helpful and will provide ideas for pairings with food and educate on the wonderful selection of products. Store shelves were not fully stocked (when I visited in Jan) but you can ask and a bottle will be filled in the back. Plenty of street parking and towards the end of First Street. Make it a destination for waterfront hike, shopping and eating! Support small business