We continue to hear and read all over the media that we should eat olive oil for all it’s health benefits.  Those magic Polyphenols, an antioxidant, are said to do magic things, including lowering your cholesterol and dare I say, slowing down the aging process.   So great, lets all eat lots of olive oil.   Now how do you choose which one?  

Sacramento has some really great restaurants. Although certainly no easy feat of human fortitude, what sets them apart isn’t as varied or complicated as one may think. The Chef’s must obviously be talented and dedicated to their craft every single day. They have to be able to hire and train their staff to execute their culinary vision. They must be creative, inspired and they have to know how to source and use the best ingredients they can get their hands on.

This past weekend we went to Petaluma and wandered around.  While there, we stopped by Spring Hill Cheese Company.  Initially I was surprised that the products were familiar as I hadn’t been there before, then I realized I had purchased them before at a farmers market in Sacramento!

As a chef and a food lover, I have a passion for artisan food products.  I want to spread the word so that these products garner enough support to stay in business, ensuring an ample supply for me, and so that others can enjoy them.  I started thinking about the term, artisan.  What does it mean and are we applying it correctly?  Here is what I learned.