North Bay’s Good Food Award Winners 2016

Sonoma County and North Bay producers among the winners of the 2016 Good Food Awards, honoring artisan food and drink makers.

Dan Lehrer of Little Apple Treats makes caramels in Santa Rosa. His company is located in Sebastopol
Dan Lehrer of Little Apple Treats makes caramels in Santa Rosa. His company is located in Sebastopol

Last week, the winners of the Good Food Awards were announced, with several producers from the North Bay. The competition honors small-scale artisans “ leading the way towards a tasty, authentic and responsible food system”, according to the organizers. This year, there were nearly 2,000 entries, with 242 taking home the awards. 

One of our favorites is Little Apple Treats, awarded for their Rose and Cocoa nib caramels this year. BiteClub visited Dan and Joanne Lehrer as they wrapped their artisan caramels in a shared commercial kitchen in Santa Rosa. Using a 1906 wrapping machine they’ve affectionately named Virgil (who can be very temperamental), Dan and Joanne are part of a new food movement based on simple, honest, handmade food we can all celebrate. (Stay tuned for more on Virgil and Little Apple).

Here are the winners from the North Bay…

Charcuterie
Black Pig Meat Co.
, Coppa, California
Fork in the Road Foods, Uncured Black Forest Ham, Fairfield
Real Good Fish, Smoked Carmel Canyon Black Cod, Moss Landing, Ca

Cheese
Bellwether Farms, Whole Milk Ricotta, California
Cowgirl Creamery, Red Hawk, California
Tomales Farmstead Creamery, Teleeka, California

Coffee
Equator Coffees & Teas
, Panama Finca Sophia Gesha, California

Confections
Little Apple Treats, Rose and Cocoa nib Caramels, California

Olive Oil
The Olive Press, Sevillano Extra Virgin Olive Oil, California

Pickles
Wild West Ferments, Seasonal Sauerkraut, California
Wine Forest, Pickled Sea Beans, California

Congratulations to the 2016 Good Food Awards Winners and their food communities for leading the way towards a tasty, authentic and responsible food system. Chosen from 1,927 entrants, these 242 companies are creating vibrant, delicious, sustainable local food economies.

BEER

Almanac Beer Co., Farmer’s Reserve Citrus & Golden Gate Gose, California
Bluejacket Brewery, Whiskey Barrel-Aged Double Mexican Radio, District of Columbia
Eel River Brewing Company, California Blonde Ale, California
Fort Point Beer Company, Manzanita, California
Fullsteam Brewery, Brandy Barrel-Aged First Frost, North Carolina
Jester King Brewery, Bière de Blanc du Bois & Reposé, Texas
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, Maracaibo Especial, Michigan
Lakefront Brewery, Inc., Growing Power Organic Farmhouse Pale Ale, Wisconsin
Ninkasi Brewing Company, Dawn of the Red India Pale Ale, Oregon
Pike Brewing Company, Pike Wood Aged Kilt Lifter, Washington
Port City Brewing Company, Optimal Wit, Virginia
Rising Tide Brewing Company, Daymark, Maine
Rogue Ales & Spirits, Rogue Farms Fresh Roast, California
Rolling Meadows Brewery, Barrel Aged Abe’s Ale, Illinois

CHARCUTERIE

Avalanche Cheese Company, Pork and Goat Finocchiona, Colorado
Black Pig Meat Co., Coppa, California
Blackberry Farm, Salume Toscano & Finocchiona Salume, Tennessee
Cure Cooking, Dry-cured Aged Country Bacon, Nebraska
Dickson’s Farmstand Meats, Parisian Ham, New York
Fork in the Road Foods, Uncured Black Forest Ham, California
Island Trollers, Troll Caught Albacore with Jalepeno & Troll Caught Albacore with Habanero, Washington
JACüTERIE, Saucisson Provençal & Finocchiona, New York
JM Stock Provisions, JM Stock Tasso Ham, Virginia
La Quercia, Speck Americano, Iowa
Nduja Artisans, Finocchiona, Illinois
Olympia Provisions, Rigani Loukaniko, Oregon
Real Good Fish, Smoked Carmel Canyon Black Cod, California
Red Table Meat Co., The Royal & Big Chet’s & Coppa, Minnesota
Regalis Foods, Columbia River Smoked Steelhead Trout Roe, New York
Wooden Spoons, Pork Rillettes, California

CHEESE

Ancient Heritage Dairy, Isabella, Oregon
Avalanche Cheese Company, Hand Bandaged Cheddar, Colorado
Bellwether Farms, Whole Milk Ricotta, California
Blackberry Farm, Singing Brook, Tennessee
Cowgirl Creamery, Red Hawk, California
Cricket Creek Farm, Maggie’s Round, Massachusetts
Farms for City Kids, Tarentaise & Ashbrook, Vermont
Firefly Farms, Cabra LaMancha, Maryland
Goat Lady Dairy, Lindale & Providence, North Carolina
Goldin Artisan Goat Cheese, Chaumine, Oregon
Jacobs and Brichford Farmstead Cheese, Adair , Indiana
Jacobs Creamery, Bloomy, Washington
James Ranch Artisan Cheese, Belford, Colorado
Milton Creamery, Prairie Breeze, Iowa
Pennyroyal Farm, Reserve Boont Corners, California
Prodigal Farm, Field of Creams, North Carolina
Rogue Creamery, Flora Nelle & Rogue River Blue, Oregon
Tomales Farmstead Creamery, Teleeka, California

CHOCOLATE

Brasstown Chocolate, Ecuador 75%, North Carolina
Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate, 70% Bolivia, Alto Beni, California
Escazu Artisan Chocolates, 70% Piura Blanco, Peru, North Carolina
Fruition Chocolate, Bolivian Wild Harvest 74%, New York
Just Good Chocolate, Madagascar 70%, Michigan
Lonohana Estate Chocolate, Kanahiku 70% Dark, Hawaii
Nathan Miller Chocolate, Gingerbread Bar, Pennsylvania 
Patric Chocolate, Triple Ginger & Browned Butter Bar & Red Coconut Curry,Missouri
Ritual Chocolate, Mid Mountain Blend & Belize 75%, Utah
Rogue Chocolatier, Jamaica & Tranquilidad, Massachusetts

CIDER

AeppelTreow Winery, Barn Swallow, Wisconsin
Argus Cidery, Malus Cuvée, Texas
Art + Science, Wild Perry, Oregon
Big B’s Hard Cider, Pear Supply & Orchard Original, Colorado
Eden Ice Cider Company, Brandy Barrel Heirloom Blend & Sparkling Semi-Dry,Vermont
Ela Cider Company, Stone Silo, Wisconsin
Eve’s Cidery, Albee Hill 2014, New York
Finnriver Farm & Cidery, Firebarrel, Washington
Shacksbury, Lost and Found, Vermont
Snowdrift Cider Co., Cornice, Washington

COFFEE

Abundancia Coffee, Kenya AA Blue Mt, Oregon
Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, Panama Esmeralda Estate, Lino Lot Natural,California
Commonwealth Coffee, Kenya Nyeri Gachatha Lot #160 AA, Colorado
Equator Coffees & Teas, Panama Finca Sophia Gesha, California
Evans Brothers Coffee, Kenya Gatundu Karinga AB, Idaho
JBC Coffee Roasters, Finca La Mula Panama Geisha, Wisconsin
Joe Coffee Company, Ethiopia Guji Yabitu Koba, New York
Kickapoo Coffee Roasters, Organic Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Idido Cooperative,Wisconsin
Klatch Coffee, Kenya Karatu, California
Mudhouse Coffee Roasters, Finca La Mula CAC Reserve Geisha, Virginia
NEAT Coffee, Kenya Gachatha, Connecticut
Oak Cliff Coffee Roasters, Panama Carmen Geisha, Texas
Olympia Coffee Roasting Company, Ethiopia Adame Garbota, Washington
Onyx Coffee Lab, Colombian Granja la Esperanza Margaritas Natural, Arkansas
Ruby Coffee Roasters, Ethiopia Guji Uraga, Wisconsin
Spyhouse Coffee Roasting Co., Suke Quto – Ethiopia, Minnesota
Square One Coffee, Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Adado, Pennsylvania

CONFECTIONS

American Spoon, Chocolate Fudge Sauce, Michigan
Batch PDX, Batch Bar & Twicks Bar, Oregon
Bees & Beans, Honey Bar Reserve, Oregon
Bixby & Co., Nutty For You, Maine
Black Dinah Chocolatiers, Maine Mint Truffle, Maine
Fat Toad Farm, Fat Toad Farm Original Goat’s Milk Caramel Sauce, Vermont
JJ’s Sweets Cocomels, Palm Sugar Cocomel, Colorado
Little Apple Treats, Rose and Cocoa nib Caramels, California
McCrea’s Candies, Black Lava Sea Salt Caramels, Massachusetts
Neo Cocoa, Toffee Nib Brittle, California
Nosh This, Lavender Crack, California
Sapore della Vita, Caramel Sauce & Torrone & Totally Fudged-Chocolate Fudge Sauce, Florida
Serendipity Confections, Chocolate Covered Butter Caramels with Fleur de Sel,Wyoming

HONEY

Bee Girl, Bee Girl Honey, Oregon
Bee Local, Bee Local Sauvie Honey, Oregon
Bee Squared Apiaries, Rose Honey, Colorado
Bees’ Needs, Fabulous Fall, New York
Bloom Honey, Orange Blossom, California
Gold Star Honeybees, Gold Star Honey, Maine
Hani Honey Company, Raw Creamed Wildflower Honey, Florida
Mikolich Family Honey, Sage and Wild Buckwheat, California
MtnHoney, Comb Honey Chunk, Georgia
Posto Bello Apiaries, Honey, Maine
Sequim Bee Farm, Honey, Washington
Simmons Family Honey , Saw Palmetto Honey, Georgia
Two Million Blooms, Raw Honey, Illinois
UrbanBeeSF, Tree Blossom Honey Quince & Tree Blossom Honey Nopa, California

OILS

Apollo Olive Oil, Sierra & Mistral, California
Berkeley Olive Grove 1913, California Mission Blood Orange, California
Calivirgin, Calivirgin Jalapeno-Garlic Olive Oil, California
Coppal House Farm, Sunflower Oil, New Hampshire
Hummingbird Wholesale, Organic Pumpkin Seed Oil, Oregon
La Nogalera Walnut Oil, La Nogalera Walnut Oil, California
La Tourangelle, Gourmande Roasted Hazelnut Oil, California
MoonShadow Grove, Ascolano, California
Oliver Oil Co., Oliver Farm Green Peanut Oil, Georgia
The Olive Press, Sevillano Extra Virgin Olive Oil, California
Wei Kitchen, Organic Shallot Oil, Washington

PANTRY

Blackberry Farm, Reserve Pecan Sorghum Butter, Tennessee
Brooklyn Delhi, Tomato Achaar, New York
Decadence Gourmet, Colorado-Style Southern Chow Chow, Colorado
Happy Quail Farms, Farm Style Relish, California
Hoskins Berry Farm, Blackberry Vinegar, Oregon
Labrosse Farm, Heirloom Tomato Sweet and Spicy Jam, Michigan
Langdon Wood Maple Syrup, Langdon Wood 1814 Barrel-Aged Hot Sauce,District of Columbia
Lindera Farms, Lindera Farms Honey Vinegar, Virginia
Mimi’s Confitures, Radicchio Jam, California
NW Elixirs Hot Sauce Co., NW Elixirs #3 Hott Smoke & NW Elixirs #2 Verde Hott,Oregon
One Culture Foods, Sweet Savory Spicy, New York
Pogue Mahone Pickles, Premium Dill Pickle Mustard, Texas
SALSAOLOGY, Ancho Chile and Tamarind Sauce, California
Spicemode, Vindaloo Cooking Sauce, Illinois
Spoiled Rotten Vinegar, Blackstrap Vinegar, California
Sweet Farm Sauerkraut, Cultured Mustard, Maryland
Turtle Rock Farm, Garlic Scape Relish, Maine

PICKLES

American Spoon + The Brinery, Ramp Kimchi, Michigan
Atwater’s, Pickled Hakurei Turnips, Maryland
Blackberry Farm, Ramp Kraut, Tennessee
Blue Bus Cultured Foods, Shakedown Beet & Kraut-chi & Cortido, Washington
Choi’s Kimchi Co., White Napa Kimchi & Napa Kimchi, Oregon
Farmer’s Daughter, Ramp and Mustard Seed Kraut & Ruby Kraut & Hot Chili Okra Pickles, North Carolina
Hosta Hill, GochuCurry Kraut, Massachusetts
Mama O’s Premium Kimchi, Mama O’s Premium Baby Bok Choy Kimchi, New York
Marcia’s Munchies, Cherry Pops & Little Hotties, Michigan
Pernicious Pickling Co., Pickled Red Beets: Fashionably Dill, California
Real Pickles, Organic Garlic Dill Pickles, Massachusetts
Republic of Jam, Pickled Peaches, Oregon
Taste Elevated, Sweet and Tangy Mustard Seeds, Texas
Two Chicks Farm, Dill Pickles, North Carolina
Wild West Ferments, Seasonal Sauerkraut, California
Wine Forest, Pickled Sea Beans, California

PRESERVES

American Spoon, Wild Thimbleberry Jam & Wild Elderberry Jelly, Michigan
Amour Spreads, Black Currant Blackberry Jam, Utah
Black Radish Creamery, Outback Cherry, Ohio
Crosstown Sweets, Apricot and Vanilla Jam, New York
Farmer’s Daughter, Bourbon’d Figs, North Carolina
Girl Meets Dirt, Shiro Plum with Mint Spoon Preserves, Washington
Green Jam Man, Strawberry Blood Orange Jam, Vermont
Happy Girl Kitchen Co., Raspberry Lemon Jam, California
Josephine’s Feast!, Hand Foraged Wild Beach Plum Preserves, New York
Kelly’s Jelly, Kelly’s Habanero Pepper Jelly, Oregon
Modern Gingham Preserves, Raspberry Violet, Colorado
Mt. Hope Farms, Premium Spiced Marionberry Fruit Spread, Oregon
The Good Stuff, Best Plum Jam, California

SPIRITS

Bear & Eagle Products, 1.0.1 Ultra Premium Vodka, California
Catoctin Creek Distilling Company, Roundstone Rye, Virginia
Christina Maser, Raspberry Shrub, Pennsylvania
Elixir, Iris, Oregon
Far North Spirits, Gustaf Navy Strength Gin, Minnesota
Five By Five Tonics, Barrel-Aged Vanilla Bitters, California`
Kansas City Canning Co., Apple Caraway Shrub, Missouri
Mad River Distillers, Malvados, Vermont
Marble Distilling Co., Moonlight Expresso, Colorado
Port Morris Distillery, Pitorro Shine, New York
Rare Botanical Bitters, Magnolia Syrup, Illinois
Richland Distilling Company, Single Estate Old Georgia Rum, Georgia
Salute!, Dragoncello, South Carolina
Venus Spirits, Gin Blend No. 2, California