Category Archives: New Products

A Visit to Pasta Supply Co.

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Veal triangoli with tomato sauce from Pasta Supply Co. to enjoy at home.
Veal triangoli with tomato sauce from Pasta Supply Co. to enjoy at home.

The second you step inside the Pasta Supply Co. on Clement Street in San Francisco, your eyes are drawn to the expansive refrigerator case displaying all manner of pasta sauces and fresh pastas in every shape imaginable.

Now, this is where I would normally show you a photo or two of that mouthwatering display. However, when your husband neglects to feed the meter with enough coins and parks four blocks from the shop while a meter maid is seen circling about, you simply don’t have time for that. So, j ust take my word: Anyone who loves pasta will feel like they’re in Wonderland here.

The Pasta Supply Co. is the brainchild of Anthony Strong, who’s been a chef at the forefront. When the pandemic hit, he was one of the first to convert his then-Prairie restaurant into a veritable grocery store to supply shelter-in-place folks with gourmet products to enjoy at home, and even toilet paper when that basic was in short supply.

The pasta cooks up at home in just a few minutes.
The pasta cooks up at home in just a few minutes.

With restaurants still facing challenges because of higher prices for ingredients, plus the difficulties in hiring staff, Strong made the genius move to open a place that’s half dine-in restaurant and half retail shop. While the dine-in portion is open only for dinner, the retail shop is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, providing for sales opportunities for far more hours.

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A Visit to the New Il Mercato de Che Fico

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La Mortazza fociaccia sandwich, sold by the pound, at Il Mercato de Che Fico.
La Mortazza fociaccia sandwich, sold by the pound, at Il Mercato de Che Fico.

If you’re a fan of the food at Che Fico in Menlo Park and San Francisco, you’ll be glad to know you can now easily tote some of those same specialty Italian dishes home to enjoy.

That’s thanks to the new Il Mercato de Che Fico by owners Chef David Nayfeld and Matt Brewer, that opened last month across the way from Che Fico Parco in Menlo Park’s Springline mixed-use development.

Chef Chris Timm, who oversees the market, was kind enough to show me around and let me sample some of the goods on a recent afternoon.

Chef Chris Timm.
Chef Chris Timm.
The entrance on El Camino Real.
The entrance on El Camino Real.

The gourmet market’s entrance is right on El Camino Real, so it’s easy to access, especially if you snag street parking or opt for the development’s underground garage that’s patrolled by a robot sentry no less.

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Dipping Into New Hodo Dips

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New Hodo Zesty Lemon Dip that I slathered on an Everything bagel.
New Hodo Zesty Lemon Dip that I slathered on an everything bagel.

Dip into new organic, plant-based, dairy-free, gluten-free, and nut-free dips made by everyone’s favorite organic tofu maker, Oakland’s Hodo.

Yup, no surprise, the new dips are made of soybeans and soy milk, plus flavorings. If you’ve ever whizzed soft or silken tofu in a blender to make salad dressings or your own dips, you get the drift.

I had a chance to try samples of the three new dips: Zesty Lemon Dip, Chili Crisp Dip, and Sambal Sweet Chili Dip.

Store the dips in your refrigerator.
Store the dips in your refrigerator.

The dips look a little like hummus, with a slightly thick, semi-smooth texture.

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Craveble — A New Food Delivery Service

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Lobster roll from Oakland's Sea Breeze on the Dock delivered to my door via Craveble.
Lobster roll from Oakland’s Sea Breeze on the Dock delivered to my door via Craveble.

If you’re a regular user of food delivery services, you’ll be glad to know that there’s a new one in town: Craveble.

It actually launched 2 1/2 years ago in Sacramento to deliver premade restaurant dishes to consumers. But slowly but surely, it has expanded its geographic reach to now include six other Western states besides California. They are: Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

It was established by Darren McAdams, who also founded past food delivery concepts Foodjets and FoodToYou.

My delivery box.
My delivery box.

What sets Craveble apart is the fact that you can mix and match dishes from its local partner restaurants to bundle together in one order. In the Bay Area, that means you can assemble one delivery from 10 different restaurants.

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An Addictive Taste of the Middle East In Ronda’s Muhammara

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Ronda's Fine Foods muhammara turns simple roasted veggies into something far more special tasting.
Ronda’s Fine Foods muhammara turns simple roasted veggies into something far more special tasting.

It’s nutty, tangy, savory, and fruity with tomato and pomegranate — and you’ll want to dollop it on most everything.

Made with ground walnuts for a chunky-textured sauce, muhammara is vegan, too.

Now, Ronda’s Fine Foods of Petaluma has debuted a shelf-stable version that comes in glass jars.

The company was founded by Ronda Brittian of Petaluma, a former trauma nurse who developed a passion for cooking from her grandparents, one set of Mexican heritage and the other hailing from the South.

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