Holiday Food & Drink

turkey dinner

Holiday Meat & Seafood

If you choose to make meat part of your farm-fresh holidays, you have a lot of choices! Turkeys are in high demand so order as soon as possible.

Bodega Bay Oyster Company: Looking for something different for your holiday table? How about local oysters? Choose from several sizes and varieties of oysters, as well as sardines, scallops, mignonettes, and other condiments. 12830 Valley Ford Road, Petaluma. Open daily.

Bud's Custom Meats: Stocked with a huge array of local meats, including prime rib roast, buffalo rib roast, wild boar rack, Fresh Willie Bird and Rosa turkeys, signature smoked turkey, Tur-Duc-Hen, venison, lamb, goat, and more. Order in advance by calling (707) 795-8402 or visit the store. 7750 Petaluma Hill Road Penngrove.

Heritage Turkey Project: Now in its 16th year, this joint project of Slow Food Russian River, 4H, and the Thode Family includes 16 youth growing over 200 heritage breed turkeys for your Thanksgiving table. Order your turkey online now as they sell out quickly. All turkeys are organically grown, and fresh never frozen. Sales go back to their youth farmers.

Liberty Ducks: Select from a menu of farm-raised duck product, including whole duck, duck breasts, duck legs, sausage, and more.  Order online for shipping.

Panizzera Meat Co.: Holiday offerings include their special dry-aged prime ribs, aged in their Himalayan salt dry age room. Or choose from other locally grown, pastured beef, pork, poultry, and sausages for your holiday table. Available at two locations: the kiosk at Andy's Market (1691 Gravenstein Hwy North, Sebastopol) and the retail location at 3905 Main Street, Occidental. Call to preorder.

Stemple Creek Ranch: Order from a range of 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef cuts, include rib roast, tenderloin, steak, and lots more for your holiday feasts. They ship throughout the country, making it easy to enjoy wherever you celebrate your holidays!

Tara Firma Farms: Thanksgiving wouldn't be the same without  pastured-raised, organically fed, broad-breasted turkeys that were grown right at Tara Firma! Choose from two sizes, and order soon, as they sell out quickly. Order online for farm pickup only.

Victorian Farmstead Meat Company: Choose from an amazing range of local pastured meats, including turkey, prime rib, leg of lamb, smoked ham, and more. Order online or pick up from the shop at Community Market in Sebastopol. or from several other locations. Delivery and shipping available. 6762 Sebastopol Ave. #100, Sebastopol.

Grains, Beans & More Dried Goods

To find fresh produce for your holidays meals, visit our Holiday Farm Stands section. Here is a listing of local pantry items and dried goods that you can order or buy direct from the farm.

Belden Barns: The Beldens don't just grow wine grapes at their Sonoma Mountain estate! They have partnered with farmers Jenny and Vince Trotter to grow a glorious range of vegetables, fruit, and grains on the farm. Shop online for farmstead goods including several varieties of dried beans, peas, popcorn, polenta, and flour, all grown and processed on site! Online ordering only.

Preston Farm & Winery: At the farm store, in addition to seasonal fruits and vegetables, you can find bulk olive oil, grains, and polenta grown on site. 9282 W. Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg. Daily 11 am to 4 pm.

Tierra Vegetables: With a wide array or rare multicolored heirloom corn for popping and culinary uses, farm-grown salsas, hot sauces, dried beans and chiles, masa, and other pantry items, you will be assemble a gift basket any foodie will love. And of course, they have a lot of seasonal produce for your holiday meals. 651 Airport Blvd., Santa Rosa. Open Thurs. 10 am to 6 pm, Fri. 9 am to 5 pm, Sat. 10 am to 5 pm, and Sun. 10 am to 4 pm.

Holiday Recipe Ideas

Cookbook author and columnist Michele Anna Jordan is a champion of Sonoma County-grown and made ingredients. She shares some of her favorite holiday recipes in her regular Press Democrat columns, which we will list during the season:

Farm-to-Holiday Table Dining

Need a bite to eat in between holiday shopping? Looking to dine out on Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's Eve? Or want to hire a caterer for a holiday party? Check out these great Farm Trails restaurants!

Estero Cafe: 14550 Highway 1, Valley Ford; 707-876-3333. Open daily. Online ordering available.

Fork Roadhouse: 9890 Bodega Highway, Sebastopol.  Open Tues-Sun. 9am to 2 pm. Contact for catering.

the girl & the fig: 110 West Spain St., Sonoma. Open daily. RSVP for holiday dining. Online ordering available.

Handline: 935 Gravenstein Hwy. South, Sebastopol. Open daily. Online ordering available.

Hazel: 3782 Bohemian Highway, Occidental; 707-874-3003.  Wednesday-Sunday 5 to 8 pm

Nick's Cove: 23240 Highway 1, Marshall; 415-663-1033. RSVP for holiday dining.

Ramen Gaijin: 6948 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol.  Open daily. Online ordering available.

Union Hotel Occidental: 3731 Bohemian Highway, Occidental; 707-874-3555. Open Fri.-Sun. Contact for holiday parties and more.

Local Artisan Cheeses

Bohemian Creamery: Unique goat, sheep, cow, and water buffalo milk cheeses. 7380 Occidental Road, Sebastopol. Open Fridays to Sundays 10 am to 5pm. Also does tours by appointment.

Cowgirl Creamery: Available in many local stores or at the Point Reyes Creamery Barn Shop, 80 4th St., Point Reyes Station. Open Wednesdays to Sundays. Preorder, pickup, and online ordering also available.

Freestone Artisan Cheese: Wide selection of area cheese, plus wine and more. 380 Bohemian Highway, Freestone. Open Thursdays to Mondays, 10 am to 5 pm.

Tomales Farmstead Creamery: Range of goat and sheep's milk cheeses from Toluma Farms. No farm store, but you can find the cheeses at many local markets, as well as by ordering from Daily Driver SF and Piezzi Provisions.

Valley Ford Cheese & Creamery: Range of their local cow's milk cheese, plus pastries, sandwiches, and more. Kitchen open on weekends. Holidays cheese boards available to custom order. 14390 Valley Road Road, Valley Ford. Open Wednesdays to Sundays. Online ordering available.

Vella Cheese: Wide selection available at the store or by online ordering. 315 Second St. East, Sonoma. Open Mondays to Saturdays 10 am to 5 pm.

Wm. Cofield Cheesemakers: Sells its own British-style cheese plus other artisan cheese. 6780 McKinley St., #110, The Barlow, Sebastopol. Open Fridays to Sundays. Online ordering also available.

Breads & Desserts

Mom's Apple Pie: Lots of fruit pies for the holidays, including apple, apricot, wild blueberry, and more. 4550 Gravenstein Hwy. N. Sebastopol. Open daily 10 am to 6 pm. Online ordering available.

Nightingale Breads: Wide range of holiday goodies, including panettone, gingerbread, cranberry walnut thyme loaf, potato rosemary rolls, baguettes, and more. Challah available every Friday. Preorder online. 6665 Front Street, Forestville. Open Wednesdays to Sundays.

Hanukkah Specials

Here are some local ways to celebrate the Festival of Lights! And check out this great latke recipe from Michele Anna Jordan in the Press Democrat.

Be sure to visit your local farmers' markets and farm stands for potatoes, carrots, and other great ingredients for Hanukkah!

For apple sauce: North Coast Organic: Choose from several organic, Kosher apple sauce varieties made locally at Manzana Products in Graton. To buy online or find a nearby store that carries the product, click here. And check out their latkes recipe here.

Lala's Jam Bar & Urban Farmstand also has Hanukkah apple butter plus Hanukkah needlepoint hand towels.

Find brisket at Bud's Custom Meats, Panizzera Meat Co., Stemple Creek Ranch (online), Victorian Farmstead Meats.

Nightingale Breads: In addition to their wide range of holiday goodies, including gingerbread, cranberry walnut thyme loaf, potato rosemary rolls, baguettes, and more, this Forestville bakery has challah available every Friday. Order online. 6665 Front Street, Forestville. Open Wednesdays to Sundays.

Festive Holiday Drinks

You'll find no shortage of festive drinks for the holidays. From locally grown and made apple juice and organic eggnog to a range of fine wines, spirits, beer, and cider, there's something for everyone this season.

Coffee, Tea & Eggnog

Straus Family Creamery:  Straus Organic Eggnog has only five organic ingredients: premium organic milk and cream, sugar, egg yolks, and a tasty touch of nutmeg. A delicious holiday treat! Find their eggnog at independent stores and retailer chains throughout the area. Find a store location by clicking here.

Taylor Lane Organic Coffee: Warm up with espresso and tea drinks and small bites, or purchase coffee beans, tea blends, and gifts on site or online. 6790 McKinley St., The Barlow, Sebastopol. Open Mondays to Saturdays. Online ordering available.

North Coast Hot Mulled Cider

Enjoy this recipe compliments of North Coast Organic!
  • 1 (64 oz) bottle North Coast organic apple juice or cider
  • 3 whole cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
  • 2 whole allspice berries
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • peel from 1/2 orange
  • 1 (1-inch finger) freshly sliced ginger
  • 2 whole star anise
  • Optional garnish: 8 cinnamon sticks, 8 star anise, sliced apple
Combine all ingredient in a pot and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Strain and label into 8 glasses, adding garnish if desired.

Wine, Beer, Cider & Spirits

These locally grown and made libations make wonderful pairings with your holiday feasts! Bonus: All offer online ordering and shipping, and many have clubs and gift collections!  Must be 21 or over to purchase or consume. Enjoy responsibly!