Day Trip to Placerville
Although it's only 45 minutes away, the only time I ever seem to go to Placerville is on my way through to Tahoe or Apple Hill. And I rarely stop, unless I'm starving, since the options from the highway don't look that inspiring. But I recently journeyed out to Somerset in the foothills to visit a goat farm and then took the backroads into Placerville afterwards. The walk down Main Street on a sunny Saturday was a culinary extravaganza!
I first hit the farmer's market, held in an empty parking lot at Main St. and Locust Ave. Across the street is another lot, where you can park for free for two hours. The market wasn't large, but it had a lot of prepared foods, including baked goods from Sweetie Pies down the street, and a selection of cheeses from the nearby Dedrick's Cheese store. I bought some fresh flowers, a loaf of asiago-garlic bread, and a tomato red ceramic mug, plus some green and purple beans for a salad. I've heard of Dedrick's before, so I asked where the store was located, which was conveniently just west on Main.
Since I haven't been further into downtown than just off the highway in quite a while, I didn't realize how many great stores there were in just a few blocks. The Gold Rush-era buildings are chock full of delicious finds and "stuff stores," as my friend calls them. I'd like to take a look at some of the bookstores, but I was concentrating on food that day. (Unfortunately, I didn't do as good a job at taking photos, but I was on a mission, with a baby in tow!)
Starting at Dedrick's, here's what I found:
- Dedrick's Cheese (#312 Main): a little store with lots of choices; many cheeses from France, but a few local ones from Cypress Grove; locally made tarts and pastries; a great selection of olives and pickles; some crackers and other picnic fare. They didn't have drinks or bread, but are apparently looking for a new bread supplier.
- Courtyard Café (just behind Dedrick's): There you can get drinks, salads, sandwiches and eat in the cafe or in the courtyard; that day there was live jazz, which occurs every other Sat. from 1 to 4 until Oct. 18. I think this is an off Sat. coming up, but get there well before 1, as the tables fill up quickly.
- Winterhill (#321): artisanally crafted olive oils
- The Wine Smith (#346): wines and microbrews by the glass, with tasting events. Check out their site for more info.
- Dirty Dawgs (although this might be "Dougs" since I can't read my notes!) (#374): a casual restaurant specializing in hot dogs and sausages; you could choose your dog by length (6 to 10 inches); they also have pretzels and sandwiches
- Tomei's (#384): a more upscale restaurant; the menu in the window reads, "Our food is fancy, our attitudes are not, your pants don't have to be." (hmmm...) Interesting listings on the menu included housemade merguez sausage patties with chickpea-mint aioli and mango-glazed pork tenderloin with watermelon salad
- Powell's Steamer Co. and Oyster Bar (#425): clams and oysters
- New Old Town Bakery (#442): not open when I was there, but a sign said they had new owners for what has been a bakery location before
- Candy Strike Old Tyme Candy and More (#492): by this time I needed cold water and, okay, maybe a piece of chocolate. This candy store has more than 100 kinds of taffy, although they don't make it. They do make their own fudge, and the maple-pecan version I tried was like silk. You can also get unusual packaged candies like Goo Goo Supremes and Mountain bars.
- Sweetie Pies (#577): serves breakfast until 1 from an old house with a shaded patio. You can also get lunch and baked goods to go. See their Web site.
- Cozmic Café (#594): natural foods,local wines, and organic espresso in the old Placerville Soda Works building; right next to the parking lot that's free for 2 hours; they also hold yoga classes and live music events
Pretty neat, huh? And I didn't even look into the Hangtown Grill, home of the famous Hangtown Fry breakfast. That's at #423. You can get lots more information from the Placerville Downtown Association site, where you can search by type of business and see lots of photos. I'd like to go back for a real meal or two one of these days, and maybe check out some music while I'm there. It's so close--I really should go more often. And it's cooler than Sac!
Comments
How about Z Pies? I like their selection of pot pies. And you can buy them frozen to take home to bake. They've got Thai, Southwestern, etc. Then you have to have dinner at the Sequoia. This old Victorian is even haunted. Still more places for you to check out.
Posted by: Catherine | August 16, 2008 6:32 AM
the bakery on main street in placerville is now open. great bread, cookies and pastries.
Posted by: kathleen gramsgibbs | August 16, 2008 7:11 AM
Did you visit La Clarine farm?
[from Ann: Yep--that's the one! Lots of friendly goats who make delicious milk for the cheese.]
Posted by: aaron mount | August 16, 2008 9:23 PM