by Tanya Henry
As my son would say, Cake Art is the most legit place for party supplies. They are also pretty legit for gingerbread-house-making! Kids and adults can decorate their own holiday gingerbread houses at Cake Art Supplies on Saturday, Dec. 20 from 10:30am-12pm and from 2-3:30pm. The class includes a large pre-assembled, freshly baked gingerbread house, royal icing, assorted candies and decorations and instruction. This class fills up every year—so call soon to reserve your spot at the table. The cost is $50. Cake Art Supplies, 1512 Fifth Ave., San Rafael. 415/456-7773.HANUKKAH AT THE MART Hanukkah is here! Head on down to the Marin Country Mart in Larkspur December 16-23 from 3:30-5:30pm and enjoy complimentary latkes from Wise Sons Deli. Klezmer music will also be on the menu.
CHEFS & CRAFTS Further west, the Bolinas Community Center is having its Bolinas & Beyond Holiday Craft Fair. There will be bakers, chefs and craftspeople offering up their wares on Dec. 20 & 21 from 11am-6pm. International cuisine served from the Community Center’s kitchen will include Claire Heart’s Thai food on Saturday, and Sunday will feature Mirta Guzman’s Mexican cooking. For more information, visit www.bocenter.org.
TOP RAMEN IN SAN RAFAEL Soup weather! Ramen arrives in San Rafael! I accidentally left this off my roundup last week, but if you haven’t checked out Uchiwa Ramen on B Street in San Rafael—now is the time. After testing out their concept at the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center as a pop-up, the owners officially opened the doors of their sleek, wood-beamed-ceilinged ramen shop in September. My son, who is a ramen aficionado, fully approves of their shoyu broth, complete with pork and egg. They also have the popular ramune sodas (kids love the marbles) and a nice list of appetizers, along with a handful of different ramen possibilities, including tonkotsu and miso broth options of course! Marin finally has ramen—our trips to the city with the sole purpose of eating ramen will thankfully decrease now that Uchiwa is here! Uchiwa Ramen, 821 B Street, San Rafael, 415/524-2727.
SEND A GIFT OF THE SEA If you are in splurge mode, here is a gift idea that this foodie would love to receive: Send a box of briny bivalves harvested from the waters of Tomales Bay to your favorite food-lover! Boxes of Sweetwaters from Hog Island Oyster Company can now be shipped directly to lucky recipients’ homes—nationwide. There are only two shipping dates available (12/23 and 12/30) to ensure that the time-sensitive gift will arrive for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Let the slurping begin! www.hogislandoysters.com.
THINKIN’ ABOUT TRUFFLES Thinking about the New Year yet? Here is a good reason to save some dates on your new 2015 calendar! The 5th annual Napa Truffle Festival is slated for January 16-19, and offers up the opportunity to taste, smell and discover the prized fungi in many shapes and forms. This popular event brings out talented chefs who prepare their favorite fungi in a multitude of delicious ways. www.napatrufflefestival.com.
Share your hunger pains with Tanya at [email protected].
