Our Community

Here at Lodestar Farms we are always looking for ways to enhance our cooking (and eating!) experiences. As we travel around sharing our olive oil we always keep an eye open for out-of-the-way places and gourmet specialty products that are unique to a region.

Most specialty food farmers, chefs and entrepreneurs who have developed a special taste have great success stories about how they started their businesses. In our travels, we’ve discovered some great family farms, restaurants and gourmet companies to "swap stories" with. We admire every newfound friend we discover for their dedication, tradition and passion for culinary excellence and gourmet food.

Sign up for our Seasonal E-Newsletter for further details on these locations and new discoveries. We always enjoy discovering new family farms (especially if we can order a taste of their farm), please drop us any leads you may have.

Family Farms

Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company - Point Reyes Station, CA

If "Farmstead" means from the farm, then Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese means the best blue cheese we have ever tasted. Meet the cows at this link.

The James Ranch Gourmet Lamb - Penn Valley, CA

Sure Alice Waters, owner of Chez Panisse, orders her lamb from this ranch but you can too. Penn Valley is located about 45 miles south of our farm.

Lundberg Family Rice Farm - Oroville, CA

Since 1937 this family has been the gourmet leader in producing brown rice and specialty rice products. Lodestar Farms neighbor 12 miles to the west.

Restaurants

Red Tavern - Chico, CA

The biggest thing missing from Chef Craig Thomas' restaurant is a walk in freezer. It's also the best thing about it. Farm fresh food helps make dinner here one romantic night. Former owner of Citron in Oakland, CA we're glad he made the move to Chico 5 years ago.

Cooking Schools

California Culinary Academy - San Francisco, CA

A true San Francisco experience means food. Our dream vacation in San Francisco, a room at the St. Francis on Union Square and weekend cooking classes from this renowned culinary academy. We always enjoy teaching a California Olive Oil class at the CCA and then discovering new restaurants.

Cook Street School Of Fine Cooking - Denver, CO

Classic foods.

San Francisco French Bread Company - San Francisco, CA

Before there was a Golden Gate Bridge there was Parisian Sourdough Bread. This is the bakery that made San Francisco sourdough famous. Now you can order for fresh Friday deliveries anywhere in the USA.

Slow Foods USA

An international movement that highlights and promotes the use of culturally significant foods lost in modern agricultural trends. Discover what food used to taste like.

Wine

Rombauer Vineyards - St. Helena, CA

Ok, we’ve never personally met the Rombauer family but just find their vineyards and tasting room the most enjoyable farm atmosphere in the Napa Valley. Great wine…great staff to learn about wines from.

Grey Fox Vineyards - Oroville, CA

Our neighbor 2 miles on the east hillside. Nothing is better than having a great local wine you can confidently share in any setting. Visit their tasting room and you will meet a winemaker.

Rosebowl Florist & Wine Shop - San Francisco, CA

Best florist in San Francisco with the coolest delivery trucks. Also the first store in San Francisco to notice a small family olive oil farm in Oroville. Deidra has a great wine tasting bar which highlights those small family wineries in California.

Food Media

Gastronomica - The Journal of Food and Culture

In their own words, "No nutritional guidelines. No lifestyle articles. No filler." Food is art.