Free Live Music on the Patio

3rd Anniversary Celebration

Saturday, June 20, 2009, 1 – 4pm
3424 Fruitvale Avenue Oakland California 94602
FREE FOOD ~ LIVE MUSIC ~ FREE RAFFLE
Raffle starts at 4pm. You must be present to win, and no purchase is necessary.

Diana and Joe would like to thank the wonderful community and their employees for another great year at Farmer Joe’s

‘Tis the Season

Fresh Local Dungeness Crab $5.99/lb at Farmer Joe’s. Yes. Yum. The cure for the overstuffed too much turkey blues. Some nice crab out of our bay. Get it while it lasts.

The 2008 GREAT Pumpkin Contest Winners

First Prize of $50 goes to Daniel who guessed 361 pounds. That was the exact weight of Farmer Joe’s great pumpkin this year. Second prize goes to Sarah who guessed 365 pounds, third prize goes to Heid who guessed 355 pounds. Please drop by the store to collect your prize winnings and congratulations!

Shaan for All and All for Shaan

I popped in the open door of Shaan Indian Cuisine Restaurant on Fruitvale Avenue near Farmer Joe’s this week. The owner was there and said barring any imminent disasters or paperwork mishaps, he plans to open this week. The interior is gorgeous. I know I speak for the neighborhood when I say, “We can’t wait for naan.”

Turkey Time

Farmer Joe’s is currently taking holiday turkey orders for delicious natural free-range and organic turkeys. These birds are large breasted, local birds that have never been frozen. They are fed natural grains and are hormone free. You can pre-order three kinds of free-range turkeys: Diestel, Willie Birds, or Mary’s, and two kinds of organic turkeys: Heidi’s Hens and Heirloom.

Please check with the meat department at either Farmer Joe’s stores for specifics on ordering and pricing per pound. Shop at Joe’s for the best turkey deals for your best holiday meal.

Wild Silver Brite Salmon SPECIAL

Farmer Joe’s is having a Customer Appreciation Special starting TODAY on their Alaskan Wild Silver Brite Salmon. Customers can get the fish whole or halved for $3.88/lb. or fillets at $5.99/lb. at both stores. Customers can buy any quantity of the fillets. Prices are secured through a special deal with the fishermen, and the Customer Appreciation Special will run until supplies are exhausted. Diana and Joe would like to tell the community, “This is our special way of saying thanks to our customers for their friendship and loyalty.”

Oktoberfest in Oakland’s Dimond District

October 4, 2008, 11am until 6pm

Come and join us on MacArthur Boulevard at Fruitvale Avenue for our first annual Oktoberfest. We’re going to celebrate with beer gardens, German food and dance, history tours, food booths, local artisans, a kid’s carnival area, a Green Living and Wellness Expo area and so much more! Don’t miss this extraordinary event. For those interested in making it all happen, we are still looking for volunteers. Please contact Helen Wyman via email or Oakland Event’s web site. For more info on the Dimond District’s Oktoberfest, follow the link.

Nama Sushi

NAMA IS OPEN!!! The sushi restaurant is located next to Farmer Joe’s at 3400 Fruitvale Avenue in Oakland’s Dimond District. The grand opening is tomorrow, but the place was packed tonight with neighbors and sushi aficionados at the pre-opening. We sat at a back table, waiting impatiently with our chopsticks for our Dragon, Dream Gina, and House Special rolls. They were DIVINE! Delicious. Superb. Okay, maybe I am going on a bit, but they were wonderfully tasty. Before we finished eating, a line formed out the door. I can see the place becoming a big draw. I can also see a lot of the neighbors inside. I can also see myself eating a lot more of that Dream Gina roll. For more information, roll yourself on over to Monte’s blog.

Laurel Street Festival

Saturday, August 9, 2008 1 – 6 pm
MacArthur Boulevard between 35th and 38th Avenue

Dimond Picnic

Summer, summer, summertime in the Dimond with the Dimond Picnic, where else but in Dimond Park THIS SUNDAY, July 27, 10am – 3pm. The festivities start at 10am sharp with Dennis Evanosky leading his historic tour of the district. This tour is truly amazing. Last year, Dennis presented old black and white photos, discussed such topics as our former beer gardens and turn-around cable cars. Don’t be late and don’t miss it this year. When the tour ends, the food begins. Our food sponsors are our wonderful Farmer Joe’s, Two Star Market, and Peet’s Coffee. It is a picnic with delicious delights for everyone. Dimond Merchants’ Association is sponsoring a raffle, and entertainment abounds. Crafts and games. BELLY DANCING. Need I say more? Woman’s Will is staging a new twist on a classic. Lion’s Pool is sponsoring a free swim. Come one. Come all. For Food. For Fun.

Estancia Grass-Fed Beef Tasting

Mark your calendars for Saturday, July 12, 1 – 5 pm. Estancia is grilling their grass-fed beef at Farmer Joe’s Marketplace for a free public tasting. Estancia Beef has an exceptional taste, and for good reasons. Their cattle are 100% grass fed, and free range, wandering the pampas, eating lush grasses, never enclosed in fences or feedlots. Estancia beef is naturally exercised and naturally fed. No hormones or growth promoting antibiotics are ever added. For more information visit the Estancia Beef web site, and feel free to speak to their representatives on Saturday at Joe’s. Hope to see you there!

Anniversary Celebration

Let the good times roll. Farmer Joe’s Marketplace is having a repeat performance of their anniversary celebration. It’s their second year, and Farmer Joe’s is inviting the whole neighborhood, their friends, loyal customers, and employees to a free barbeque with live music and a free raffle. Please come join Farmer Joe’s in their celebration as they thank the community and their employees. I got a sneak peak at some of the raffle prizes today. In all honesty I can’t say what is the grand prize. On Saturday, Joe’s will be raffling off a bicycle, an MP3 player, a set of golf clubs, Joe’s gift certificates, and an All-in-One – a printer, copier, scanner. WOW! I also heard some whispering about a 5 star wine tour. Remember, all raffle tickets are FREE. The raffles start at 5pm, and you must be present to win. Don’t miss out on the food and fun this Saturday at Joe’s Marketplace.

Where: Farmer Joe’s Marketplace at 3426 Fruitvale Avenue
When: Saturday, June 21, 2008, 2 – 5pm

Baby Bananas

I’m in love with the baby bananas. They’re small, and they’re sweeter than their full sized counterparts. Every morning I mix up one packet of Kashi Apple Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal with one cut baby banana and two sliced Medjool Dates. This healthy and good tasting breakfast keeps my motor running hunger free until lunchtime.

Thai Basil Chicken Mango Sausage

Sadly, I have no picture. I bought the Farmer Joe’s Thai Basil Chicken Mango Sausage ($5.99/pound) last night at the big store, right before closing, along with a quarter pound of edamame salad. The sausage fried up quick and delicious, filling my kitchen with a savory aroma. I ate it before I could get the camera out of its bag. It was a beautiful picture too – the sausage, scattered edamame with slices of carrot, a cut orange tomato, olives from Joe’s bar and a few slices of sweet Gorgonzola cheese (COW/ITALIA) from the cheese bunker.  

CaKe

I think of myself as a bit of a cake connoisseur, mainly because there’s nothing I like better than cake. I spend a good deal of my waking hours thinking about cake, what is the best cake, and where I can get it. Needless to say, I am possessed by the beautiful cakes in Farmer Joe’s bakery section. Every time I shop, I spend time staring at them, reviewing the taste sensations of ones I have eaten and determining my next purchase.

Today, I treated myself to Douce France’s Opera Cake. I am going to give you the best advice you will probably receive all year. Drop what you are doing. Go straight to Farmer Joe’s. Give the clerk the $2.99 plus tax for this cake. Do it now. This is an unbelievable dessert.

The Opera Cake is pictured second from the left, but the picture hardly does it justice. The taste is incredible, very French pastry, not too rich. This dessert, with its exquisite, light and airy mix of delicious chocolate and not-too-sweet cake, knocked me out. It is an elegant dish with coffee, after a pasta dinner, or perhaps you will do what I did. Get a Joe’s roasted chicken, some Asiago from the deli, and top a wonderful meal with a perfect ending.

Decadence

The recipe is Farmer Joe’s Chocolate Marble Ice Cream topped by Scharffen Berger Cacao Nibs. I love this combination. The Scharffen Berger Cacao nibs are the perfect compliment to the Chocolate Marble. Gotta satisfy my sweet tooth. Speaking of which, I found a new array of beautiful cakes in the bakery section of Farmer Joe’s. I haven’t tried them yet, but I hear them calling my name. Right now, my sweet tooth has a quart of ice cream and cacao nibs keeping it happy.

Cocktail Grapefruit

Do you like grapefruit, but don’t like the bite? Try Cocktail Grapefruit. This fruit is extra sweet, juicy, and unique. It’s not actually a grapefruit at all, but a cross between a Frua Mandarin orange and a Pummelo. The flavor is similar to a grapefruit’s but much sweeter and less acidic. For a special drink, try the Cocktail Grapefruit Cocktail, fresh squeezed Cocktail Grapefruit juice, over ice with a shot of vodka. Of course, I think I just negated all the healthy aspects of the fruit, but what the heck. It sure is tasty. Cocktail grapefruits are on sale at Joe’s, while they last, 69¢ each.

Pom Juice

Pomegranate juice is definitely the “it” drink in health circles. It’s no wonder. Not only is the pom, higher in antioxidants than its cousin the blueberry, but recent scientific studies suggest the pomegranate may be helpful in fighting certain types of cancer. Preliminary tests also show the beautiful fruit may boost that old heart muscle and help it with the day to day business of providing cardiac blood flow.

I’m all over the pom juice at Farmer Joe’s. I buy the 32-ounce freshly squeezed mini jug for $7.99. You can find it in the iced bar to the right as you walk in the front door, past the flowers and veges. You know the place. It’s the same area you see me standing with the sample Joe’s tortilla chips and big load of freshly made guacamole stuffed in my mouth. I love that fresh bar. Everything in the ice is made daily. 

Dimond Winter Festival

Saturday, December 8, 2007, 10:00am – 3:00pm
Fruitvale Presbyterian Church

Ice Cream

I scream. You scream. We all scream for Farmer Joe’s ice cream. $4.19/quart. Right now, I’m stuck on the seasonal flavor, pumpkin. Yum! The strawberry and peppermint are flying off the shelves too. There are 13 delicious flavors in all at a great price.

7th Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner

Join us this Sunday, November 18, 2007, for the 7th annual community Thanksgiving dinner. A scrumptious turkey dinner, with all the trimmings, will be served from 4:00 – 5:30pm at Fruitvale Presbyterian Church, located at 2735 MacArthur Boulevard, Oakland 94602. For more information, please call (510) 530-0915 or visit Fruitvale Presbyterian Church online. We’ll see ya there!

Green Bags

The ecology friendly Green Bags have arrived at Farmer Joe’s. They are for sale, $1.79 each plus tax with a 5 cent bag redemption each time you use your Green Bag at the check out after purchasing groceries. Get one, or two, or like me – three – while supplies last. I gave my Green Bag a strength test on its maiden purchase. I loaded one up with a half gallon of Horizon Organic Milk, a half gallon of Joe’s fresh squeezed orange juice and a one liter bottle of Agrumi Tangerine, all natural Italian soda. The Green Bag passed my test with flying colors. It is much easier to carry too. Go Green.

Seoul Kimchi

I was at the store today fulfilling my urge for some fresh broccolini when I ran into these ladies with free snacks. I’m all over the free snacks at Joe’s, so needless to say I ponied right up to their table. The ladies were stir frying Seoul Kimchi ($3.09/16 oz) and tofu. At first, I was taken aback. Tofu and I have not the best of friends. When I first left the South and crossed the Mason Dixon Line, I had never seen tofu. I bought a chunk, thinking it was white cake. I’ve never quite forgiven it for that deception, or perhaps showing me my ignorance. Anyway, I had to think twice about the kimchi and the tofu today, but it smelled so good I took the plunge. I was glad I did. The Seoul Kimchi is spicy delicious balanced out by the creamy smooth taste of the tofu. Fabulous! The recipe is too simple. Buy the Seoul Kimchi and let it ferment for an additional week to ten days in the refrig. Stir fry with a little olive oil in a frying pan and add in chunks of tofu. Viola. Scrumptious out-of-the-ordinary dinner for two for under $5.

The Beautiful Cakes

I took home a cheesecake number, second shelf down with the dark chocolate on top, leftmost in the case. It didn’t last the week. Two words – simply divine. The top shelf of the beautiful cakes’ case is filled with Tortabella cakes. I forget what the name of my cheesecake was. It was here and gone so quickly, I hardly knew it.

Crazy for Corn?

Brentwood Sweet Corn

Yellow and White
4 Ears/$1

For a tasty treat, try the roasted corn from the outside grill. Roasted ears are readily available after 4pm. Before 4pm, allow a roasting time of 30 minutes. You can stop and put in your order as you go in to shop. Pay the inside store cashier 75 cents/roasted ear when you pay for your groceries. Then snag your order of cooked corn as you leave. It’s that simply.

Delicious Bargain Berries

The (Non)Report

The health inspector came to Farmer Joe’s the day after the union scam, or should I call it, the sideshow. You remember the one – where UFCW local 5 claimed there was some tainted rotted spoiled whatevah in Farmer Joe’s grocery. As Ronald Browder, chief of the Alameda County Health Agency environmental protection division, said “We investigate all complaints, whether they are valid or not.” I forgot to post the inspection report because the union’s accusations were so obviously a lie and such a non-issue. Anyway, I’m finally remembering to post the report, if anyone’s still interested. The inspector found nothing at the little store and some stuff stored in boxes on the floor at the big store. The inspector said “Keep stack at least 6 inches off the floor. Correct by 5JUL07.” Done. No expired, moldy, out-of-date, zippity-do-da, dingle berries except in the UFCW’s minds. That union’s got quite an imagination. The next thing ya know, they’ll claim they invented Post-It notes.

99 Cent Pineapples (Medium Sweet)

Nougat

Love the word and love the candy. La Florentine Torrone. Product of Italy. The box states, “Almond Bon Bon Nougat Candy 18 Assorted Pieces.” Three flavors “ Lemon – Orange – Vanilla or to be more cosmopolitan, “Limone – Arancio – Vaniglia.” I wish I could say I speak Italian but the translations are on the tiny boxes that contain each nougat. I wanted to take a picture of all the boxes but I have eaten 4 since yesterday. Pretty much blows that photo op. Vaniglia is my favorite. The candy is not too sweet and has toasted almonds in them. The really good news is one serving is 3 bars, 134 calories and only 3.1 g Fat. They currently sell for $7.99 in the deli bakery section at Farmer Joe’s. The small nougat boxes come bundled together in one large flat box, pictured in the lower left hand corner of this photo (reduced). The main box is pretty enough to rip the lid at the perforation and send it off as a post card when you are done with the candies. At my rate, I estimate I will be mailing my postcard in 3 days or so.

Wooo Hooo Watermelons

I was at Joe’s today getting some roasted chicken for dinner and found WOOO HOOO watermelons for 9 cents/pound. Don’t know how long these beauties will last. I got one the size of an overblown basketball for $1.29 – seedless and sweet. It was so large I had to split it with my neighbors.