The East Bay has another fine, family run market and it's name is Farmer Joe's. The name gives a nod to it's owner Joe Tam and helps in identifying itself as a place to buy farm fresh organic produce. My favorite aspect of this market is the bulk foods department where I stop from time to time for my occasional purchase. Living in San Francisco precludes me from becoming a regular customer, but if they ever decide to expand their small 2 store empire I'm all for a new location across the bay. We could use more family run operations in San Francisco.
First and foremost this store is known for it's produce department that was meticulously arranged on the times I visited the market. The variety was broad but not expansive and it was a delight to see quite a few varieties of tomatoes, beyond Roma, Beefsteak, and Cherry. That's a big plus in my opinion. The bakery aisle had old bay area favorites like Grace Baking Company and Semi Freddi so the quality was evident even with a cursory look, and the condiment section was a good size.
What attracted me the most, and what I will go back for are the bulk spices at good prices and the olive oils and balsamic vinegars at equally good prices. The variety was quite large for a store of this size and the oils came from several countries including Australia, as well as from California. I don't think I have ever seen Australian olive oils anywhere else. The best part is the fact that they sell small bottles, so you could easily buy several varietals and blends for taste comparisons. This is a great resource for anyone contemplating a "Tasting Party". Balsamic vinegars come in various fruit flavors that inspire ways to vary your salads from one meal to the next, and of course, the fruit flavors inspire the addition of dried fruits. They would make fine flavor elements in sauces for poultry too. I've included some of these balsamics in recipes for home made cranberry sauce and other fruit preserves. This section of the store is absolutely inspirational when you evaluate your options.
A broad selection does not end with the olive oils and vinegars, just look at this wall of eggs. It implys the importance of this single ingredient, so much so that I feel the need to purchase more eggs on a regular basis. A friend is always talking abut how good the fish is at Farmer Joe's and after looking at the case, I believe him. Every piece looked off-the-boat fresh and glistened like pebbles on a rocky shoreline.
A broad selection does not end with the olive oils and vinegars, just look at this wall of eggs. It implys the importance of this single ingredient, so much so that I feel the need to purchase more eggs on a regular basis. A friend is always talking abut how good the fish is at Farmer Joe's and after looking at the case, I believe him. Every piece looked off-the-boat fresh and glistened like pebbles on a rocky shoreline.
