Parkside Bakery & The Room in Stinson Beach {market}

The Parkside in Stinson Beach has been a favorite West Marin destination for years, for a weekend brunch in the sunny garden patio, a post hike dinner in the cozy dining room or just for a roadside morning coffee & pastry from the little kiosk window  - so last weekend I was thrilled to discover the latest addition at The Parkside: 

The Room, a bright, inviting and rustic space tucked between the patio and bakery. A well stocked marketplace during the day {selling those amazing Parkside Bakery pastries/breads, along with picnic provisions and a selection of local products}, the space turns into a cozy private dining room at night. And with a wood-fired oven & seating for twelve, The Room would make for the perfect venue for a dinner with friends ...

Market: Shed, a modern grange in Healdsburg

Shed in Healdsburg

On a recent rainy Saturday, on the way to Anderson Valley, we met our friends Grace, Scott & Tasman* at the new Shed in Healdsburg {* find T. below} ...

What a gorgeous space: a huge modern barn structure with recycled steel siding & all-glass facade opens to an open, airy space divided into three retail sections {cooking, farming & eating} sharing space with a coffee bar, cafe, fermentation bar, larder and grain mill.  The second level is a beautiful event space, a  bright hall opening to two observation decks with various seating areas and an open prep kitchen. Gorgeous tile details & amazing woodwork throughout.  From seasonal produce to European bee hives, from old-school cooking utensils to local wines, it's a new mercantile concept taking inspiration from the traditional agrarian grange, connecting local producers to the community and supporting sustainability.

Market : The Foundry in Minneapolis

I first spotted The Foundry long past their opening hours, on a neighborhood stroll through Minneapolis' Warehouse District {& dinner at The Bachelor Farmer} the other night. Peaking through the windows and spotting a cool interior and beautiful home wares, I just had to come back the next day ...

From a Knoll table stacked with golden ceramic plates to a rack of gorgeous Turkish blankets, from the cool background soundtrack to the packaging details, it's the perfect store to browse for the home, for your best friend's wedding - or just to pick up a set of red rimmed breakfast plates that make the perfect souvenir from a fun city trip {just wish it was less than a four hour flight away!} ... 

Market: Magpie & Rye in San Francisco

Magpie & Rye has been one of my favorite shops ever since they opened in San Francisco's NoPa neighborhood as part of the trio The Prairie Collective.

A tiny storefront with an evolving selection of wares, it's always a fun place to browse, pick up something new for home or kitchen and a perfect place for unique gift finds you won't see elsewhere:

a well curated selection of art & photography books, beautiful home & kitchen accessories, handmade jewelry along with an interesting mix of vintage finds. Here's a sneak peek at the current selection:

Polpo. A Venetian Cookbook {Of Sorts} & many familiar places

Polpo: A Venetian Cookbook {Of Sorts}, a gorgeous new find at Omnivore Books, is more travel journal than cookbook and brings back fond memories of a winter trip to Venice two years ago - including many familiar places and vistas.
Loved browsing the book's gorgeous photo spreads capturing everyday life along the hidden backstreets of Venice while reviving travel memories with a list of favorite bàccari spots in the back of the book ...

Just wish I could hop across the pond for an aperitivo at Polpo or Spuntino

- Negroni Sbagliato, Americano or Aperol Spritz, anyone?

Local treats and cool design at BLK Saturday Pop-Up Shop

A rainy day and fun browsing at BLK Saturday, a holiday pop-up shop featuring locally made treats and gift ideas curated by tablehopper  {running until December 22nd}:

Third annual Remodelista Holiday Market hosted by Heath Ceramics

A morning stop at Heath Ceramics' new San Francisco location for a quick macchiato and the third annual Remodelista Holiday Market. Some great local vendors and finds...

Places : a roadside stop in alexander valley: jimtown store and hawkes tasting room

the location.
jimtown store & hawkes tasting room
highway 128
jimtown, alexander valley, california

markets: spice station in silver lake

dinners with friends

Strolling along Sunset in Silver Lake on a sunny Saturday, I spotted Spice Station's chalk board and followed the signs into a tiny Moroccan inspired court yard. Unfortunately, they were out of fennel pollen, so that quest is still on ...

the location.
spice station, 3819 west sunset boulevard (between hyperion & lucile), los angeles, california

A roadside stop: Gospel Flat Farmstand in Bolinas (open 24 hours)

the location.
gospel flat farmstand, bolinas, california
the bounty.
fresh lettuces and produce for sunday supper

dinners with friends: an Italian mercato's produce bounty

the bounty.

san marzano tomotoes ... fennel ...radicchio ... piemonte figs ... apricots ... peaches ... pane siciliano  ... grissini ... veal chop ... prosciutto ... salumi ... parmigiano ... fontina ... olives ...vino bianco ... carpano antica

Mercato Italiano : Porta Palazzo in Torino

A random find while exploring Torino on a Saturday morning, the produce market on Piazza della Repubblica spreads across various city squares and is one of the largest produce markets in Europe. Open every day!

the location.

porta palazzo in piazzo della repubblica, torino, italy

Another market day : Markthalle in Zürich

While in Zürich, we stopped at the Markthalle im Viadukt, a new market and shop development under a classic train track. Local produce stands (loved the müsli bar!) and in- and outdoor dining ...

the location.

markthalle im viadukt, zürich, switzerland

Market day : London's Borough Market

On our last morning before leaving for the European mainland, a quick stop at London's renowned farmers' market set beneath the railroad viaducts and side streets around Southwark Cathedral ...

the location. 
Borough Market, 8 Southwark Street, London, England