January Small Bites: Sip Some Soup. Crispy Fried Salmon Bellies. Farmers Convergence. Sneak Peek Sparkles.

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Serving up a Cup o’ Cozy

February 4th is the annual Sip Some Soup event at the Willits Community Center. This soup contest draws professional chefs and novices alike in a challenge to make the best soup of the land! Entrants serve up samples of an endless variety of soups. In years past I have seen Wild Mushroom, Thai Ginger Curry, Roasted Squash with lime gremolata, Chilled Melon Soup, Crab Chowder and Tomato with grilled cheese croutons! Competition is fierce as the chefs vie for the coveted Best Soup Trophy Tureen. Prizes are also awarded for best-decorated table and “Cooks Choice”. You can tell the regulars because they bring empty muffin tins to hold all their soupy samples.

Emandal Farm bakes up all the fresh bread you can eat to compliment your soup. Pair your chicken noodle with Lemon Rosemary Focaccia. Or perhaps your beef and barley would go well with a soft braided challah. Emandal’s jarred preserves are on hand to push you over the top. All proceeds from the event go to Our Daily Bread which provides meals to people in need.

5:30- 7:30pm, $15 per person or $25 per couple.

Crispy Fried Salmon Bellies
– from Princess Seafood

Our very favorite recipe. So simple and so delicious. The salmon bellies are rich and fatty—like a super healthy version of bacon!

Rinse and dry the salmon bellies
Squeeze lemon juice and add salt and pepper
Roll bellies in flour
Heat a heavy pan up on med high with 2 Tablespoons each of avocado oil and butter
When a drop of water sizzles in the oil, add the bellies
Fry on each side until light golden brown
Cool on paper towels

Serve with a fresh aioli dipping sauce (mayo, lemon juice, garlic and hot sauce to taste).

Salmon available now at your local Mendocino County farmers market or contact Captain Heather for straight off the boat sales. They sell a small amount of salmon belly at each market for 9.95/lb and you get the bellies packed separately when you buy a whole fish. Learn more about the rockstars at Princess Seafood in the Winter issue of Word of Mouth, out now.

Keep in mind this Valentine's Day ~ locally produced sparkling wines

Feelings about Valentine's Day vary, to say the least. But no matter how you feel about the holiday, it's a great excuse to take advantage of our region's array of quality sparkling wines. Noteworthy bubbles are coming from Signal Ridge, Roederer and Scharffenberger. The popularity of sparkling wines has only grown over the past year.

We're taking a look at one of the area's respected producers of sparkling wine in the Spring issue of Word of Mouth (out March 1st). Cesar Toxqui (pronounced toe-ski) has been working in the wine business since he was sixteen and now makes his own wine, sold through his Hopland tasting room. Cesar's newest creation is Hugh Oliver, a sparkling Blanc de Noir. Handcrafted winemaking is a family affair at Cesar Toxqui, so it's natural that this wine is named for Cesar’s son. It's an effervescent blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier that dances on the tongue with berry and vanilla flavors. The rosy hue looks stunning in the glass—perfect for special occasions and everyday moment-savoring.

Keep in touch with local food in Mendocino County with Word of Mouth magazine. Delivered with the seasons, each issue is packed with stories of the best places to eat and drink in Mendocino County. Great for visitors and locals alike.

Word of Mouth Magazine: Growing Community through Food

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Word of Mouth Magazine
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Willits, CA 95490

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Spring Issue comes out March 1st!

You can look forward to learning about Fortunate Farm in Caspar, the vegetarian restaurant on the campus of the City of 10,000 Buddhas, Cesar Toxqui's family-centric wines from Hopland, the delicious surprises of Japanese street food, reflections on what it takes to be a B Corp by Thanksgiving Coffee, advice on how to catch a swarm for would-be-bee keepers, and more. Grab a copy at one of our locations and get a jump on Spring!

Farmers Unite!

Once a year farmers from all over Northern California gather to share stories, skills and camaraderie at the historic Ridgewood Ranch just south of Willits. Food producers, supporters, restaurant buyers and local food enthusiasts will share a lively day of educational talks, networking, and a hearty ranch-made hyper local lunch. Much of the ingredients come from Ridgewood Ranch, the Ecology Action Garden and the Grange School of Adaptive Agriculture, which call the ranch home. A modest ticket price welcomes you to experience Northern California’s local food first hand.

$15: Tuesday, February 28th. North Coast Farmers Convergence

Hidden Gem: Mosswood Market Empanadas

Do not pass through sleepy downtown Boonville without stopping for Empanadas at Mosswood Market. These handmade pastries will warm your heart with flavors like Bacon or Zucchini-Potato with goat cheese. Pilar and her staff will make you a top-notch latte to accompany your empanada indulgence. Sit outside on their patio and watch the world go by or duck into Farmhouse Mercantile next door to find that perfect gift you've been looking for.

Mosswood Market 14111 Hwy 128, Boonville, CA.