Carla and Linda's Walking Food Tours (Both Vista and Oceanside Tours Available)

Boy did I have a fun afternoon on my first ever walking food tour! I recently went on the maiden voyage of Carla and Linda's Walking Food Tours NEW Vista tour with a group of wonderful food-loving people. We started our tour at Starbucks in the village where we all assembled and introduced ourselves. Our first stop was Belching Beaver Brewery Tavern & Grill, where after a brief walk we enjoyed crispy plantains topped with pit-roasted mojo pork and dressed with cilantro, citrus sauce and me so honey cream. Next visit was Flying Pig Pub & Kitchen for house-made pasta with veggies, sausage, micro greens and a carrot reduction sauce. Next we looped around to When Pigs Fly BBQ for a smoked rib with slaw. We finished our tour by walking back to Little Cakes Cupcake Kitchen to indulge in our choice of cupcake. I selected chocolate peanut butter and it was divine. 

All along the tour we were blessed to be able to chat with the chefs and owners/operators and find out more about them, their food and restaurants. While on the walking portion of the tour Linda told us great little facts about different pieces of art and businesses along the way. One of the fun things about these tours is that ahead of time we have no idea what we will be served. We just show up and enjoy!

I highly recommend this experience and you might want to know that they have an established Oceanside tour as well. I definitely plan to do this again in the future. Find out more at www.shoesandchews.com

More on Artisan Shop Lotus Moon Market- New to Downtown, Historic Vista

I thought I would introduce you to the talented and delightful Sophia, owner of Lotus Moon Market that just moved to 347 Main St in downtown, historic Vista, and help you get to know her and her mission.

Tell me about yourself Sophia: I grew up Navy and was raised in a small town an hour west of Seattle. I went to college at the Art Institute of Phoenix, worked full time as a Graphic Designer, and finally moved to Vista in 2015!

How and when did you get started with Lotus Moon Market? I started off making crystal jewelry (Sup Goods) as a part time gig while I worked full time; I did street fairs and local markets throughout Phoenix and carried it over when I moved to California. I was a vendor at local street fairs and even did a few in Temecula. Along the way I've met so many talented artisans that I thought it would be nice to have a shop dedicated to makers (for those who have missed the markets).

At the end of January 2018, the company I was working for closed and laid everyone off. That's when I decided to make Lotus Moon Market come to life! It's funny because the universe really works in mysterious ways! I had this makers market shop in the back of my head for probably over a year before I actually made it happen. I even had my logo and name drawn out already!

What is your goal for the store and what are your future plans?

90% of the shop is handmade. I work with a lot of local artisans (around the US) and work with global artisans as well. The global artisans are all fair trade meaning they get a fair wage for their creations living in underdeveloped environments so that they are able to sustain jobs feed their families and communities. That's really important to me. My goal is to help small businesses and artisans by showcasing their hand made creations.

The future of Lotus Moon Market has so much potential, especially in this new amazing location. I really want to really bring in the community. I eventually want to host workshops to learn how to make macrame, jewelry, essential oil rollers, etc. I'd like to host events like plant swaps, maybe have a farmers market type thing a couple times a month. So many possibilities! 

Why Vista and what do you love about the city?

I chose a location in Vista because I live here! I also think there is a need for a handmade focused shop here. I've seen similar stores in the coastal cities, but nothing in Vista (or not to my knowledge) I have been a vendor of the Vista Vintage Makers Market multiple times (now Artifact), Vista Night Out, Winter fest, and Alley Art Festivals so I know there is a market here. There is so much talent and art in Vista and I am thrilled to be located here.

More about San Diego Botanic Garden (Encinitas)

Can we talk for a moment or two about one of my favorite places in San Diego County, San Diego Botanic Garden?  Did you know that they were recently named one of the top 10 gardens worth traveling for in North America?  WOW! You might want to know that they have been around since the 1940's. It's a 37-acre "botanic wonderland" that features zonal plantings from all over the world, beautiful waterfalls, rotating sculpture gardens and a special Children's Garden with plans to build an educational center.  No doubt plants cultivated at the very beginning are still thriving. Did you know that some of these plants have lives that will outlive the average human, and then some?  It's truly amazing that this garden grows and develops with the decades that pass. Almost every time you visit, something will be new and different. For the last 24 years, Julian Duval has been at the helm serving as president and CEO. Julian has done tremendous, great work but is now retiring and passing the baton to Ari Novi.The two will work together through the transition.

San Diego Botanic Garden hosts a plethora of fun, festive and educational events throughout the year and you will be happy to know that if you are a San Diego County resident, you get free entry to the park every first Tuesday of the month. There is a small parking fee, but it is waived if you have four or more in your car.

Regular pricing is $18 for adults, $12 for seniors and active military and $10 for kids 3-18.  The garden is opening 9-5 daily except for Christmas.

Cooking Classes with Treehouse Kitchen in Encinitas

 Treehouse Kitchen, Encinitas, CA

There is a new place in town to brush up on your culinary skills in North County. Its called Treehouse Kitchen and it's a beautiful, intimate studio in a residential neighborhood of Encinitas.  Skilled chefs are brought in to teach a variety of classes from making sweet/savory hand pies (I took this class), to making jams, krauts and pickling, Thai and French cuisine, pizza, grilling, sourdough bread, date night pizza night and more.  More classes are being added all the time and they are open to suggestions on classes that the community would be interested in.  The hosts are Stan and Mary, a great couple that work in tandem to help facilitate the guest chef of the day and keep things rolling behind the scenes. When we were short on plums for our sweet hand pies, Stan ran out to the garden to grab more. Handy, right?

In the class I took, we all jumped in and participated in prep work, and then we enjoyed the fruits of our labor.  We were sent home with detailed recipes and how to's so we could recreate the deliciousness at home.

If you would like to take a class outside of a commercial store or strip mall, not be pressured by sales, and support local, small business, this is your ticket!  Grab a group of friends or schedule a date night and see what Treehouse Kitchen is about. If you like to cook or would just like to learn something more specialized, I promise you will love these classes and the venue and walk away with new knowledge and skills in the kitchen.  You will probably have made some nice new friends as well. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience today and would highly recommend this business to all of you.  

Reverse 911 for Emergency Alerts

Emergency alerts may save your life or the life of someone you love. Many don’t know that cell phone numbers aren’t automatically enrolled in the emergency alert system that most know as “reverse 911.”  You must register cell phones on this site (for San Diego County). http://www.readysandiego.org/alertsandiego/.

 

Hopefully watching the devastating fires of late and some of the most unfortunate outcomes, this will serve as incentive to get registered. If you live in another county, research your local alert system. Thank you Janine, former firefighter for the tip.

Chuao Chocolatier Joy Factory Tours in Carlsbad

Did you know that Chuao Chocolatier offers tours of their Joy Factory in Carlsbad on select Fridays at 11AM and 12:30PM as well as select Wednesdays at 4PM?  The cost is $15 per person and is designed for those 10 years of age and up. Be sure to make your reservation early as these tours fill up quickly and are limited in size.  While there, take advantage and get some shopping done in their chocolate boutique which is open Monday through Thursday 11AM to 3PM and Friday from 10:30AM to 3PM.

North County Yard Greetings to Celebrate Your Event or Share Your News

This is the perfect time of year for you to use this cool and inventive new business run by one of our own, Lindy O! Please take a moment to check out her custom yard greeting business and think about if you might have an upcoming opportunity to use her services. She's got you covered for a festive way to celebrate anniversaries, birthdays, proms, new babies, GRADUATIONS, weddings and so much more! Also, consider following her on Facebook at North County Yard Greetings.  For website, click here.