Local Flavor

Petaluma’s artisan food producers capture the taste of this place.

What to get the person who has everything? Delicious, local, scratchmade food and drink, of course. Petaluma is bursting with artisan food makers. The best part: You can pop in at many producers’ places of work to meet them in person and take their products home. Here are a few favorites that are open to visit.

GIN: GRIFFO DISTILLERY

What goes into Griffo’s gold medal-winning Scott Street gin? The light, crisp twist on a traditional English gin is infused with nine local botanicals, including coriander, grains of paradise, and wild-grown juniper, and then refined via one single run through “Betty,” Mike and Jenny Griffo’s towering copper still. The couple’s Petaluma distillery and tasting room offers samples of the distillery’s whole line of spirits.

CHEESE: MARIN FRENCH CHEESE CO.

Not only can you sample brie, camembert, petite crème, and other buttery artisanal, soft-ripened selections from this historic cheese maker, but you can also grab a baguette, a bottle of wine, and make a picnic of it at the creamery’s lakeside property, located in the rural outskirts of town.

OLIVE OIL: MCEVOY RANCH

Just minutes from downtown, McEvoy Ranch is a 550-acre oasis with rolling hills covered in Tuscan olive trees set amid ponds, vineyards, and native wildlife. Apart from taking in the scenic surroundings (be sure to book a tour), a visit must include a stop at the tasting room packed with olive oil skin care products, candles, home goods, culinary items, and, of course, tastings of McEvoy wine and organic extra virgin olive oil.

JAM: LALA’S JAM BAR AND URBAN FARMSTAND

File this under “only in Petaluma.” A Today Show favorite, LALA’s Jam Bar does indeed offer tastings of its homemade marmalades, jams, and jellies. Inside the downtown shop, you’ll also find a nicely curated selection of goods from area artisans, plus weekly jam-making classes.

HONEY: LAVENDER BEE FARM

That’s some happy buzzing you’ll hear from busy bees zigzagging through the more than 5,000 lavender plants dotting the grounds of Lavender Bee Farm. It’s the reason for the unique floral notes so prevalent in its signature line of honey. Plus, the purple pastoral property is just a gorgeous spot to visit. Call ahead for reservations.

BEEF JERKY: ANGELO’S MEATS

Angelo Ibleto has been supplying Sonoma County with his house-cured meats and homemade sauces for the last several decades, but he is perhaps known best for his grass-fed beef jerky. The self-proclaimed “king of jerky” knows his meats, winning awards for his tri-tip, bacon, sausage, and more. Pick up a pack of jerky or any of Angelo’s sauces, salsas, and spice rubs at the Old Adobe Road location. –Ethan Fletcher •

Marin French Cheese Co.

The country’s oldest cheese company has been handcrafting soft-ripened cheeses since 1865. Visit the cheese shop for California-crafted brie and camembert and anything else you’d need to enjoy a picnic on the scenic grounds. Open daily; check the website for hours.

marinfrenchcheese.com

G @marinfrenchcheesecompany | e @marinfrenchcheese

LALA’s Jam Bar and Urban Farmstand

Stop by Sonoma County’s only jam store for small-batch artisan jams made with low sugar and no artificial ingredients. LALA’s carries “Made in Sonoma County” food products and unique gift items. Sign up to take LALA’s Jam Making 101 class, held every Sunday.

lalasjams.com

G @petalumajams | e @lesliegoodrich