Giveaway Alert: Two lucky winners will receive one weekend pass each to Wellness Weekend, November 9-11, 2018. Sweepstakes to be held October 13-27, 2018.

WRITTEN BY ANNORA MCGARRY

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GRANLIBAKKEN LAKE TAHOE

It’s easy to get into a rut as we approach the winter season. Less sunlight, cooler temperatures, and a busy holiday season around the corner make it easy to relax your well-being goals. It may happen slowly — now you’re only going to the gym once per week, rather than the three times per week that you were maintaining earlier in the summer. You might be eating more, snacking in front of the TV long after the sun has gone down … but wait, it’s only 8 p.m.!

Don’t let this season get you down — use it as a time before the rush of the holidays to reset your wellness goals and connect with like-minded people. The seventh annual Lake Tahoe Wellness Weekend features three days of mindfulness in the Sierra Nevada, Nov. 9-11. Immerse yourself in an educational seminar, or grow in your practice with a movement workshop. Wellness Weekend features two tracks of classes, movement and lecture-based, creating a unique fusion that is designed to rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit.

It has become incredibly important to focus on the foods that you eat and to make sure that you are only putting good things into your body. Every year the United States Department of Agriculture releases a list of 12 fruits and vegetables, which have tested positive for numerous pesticides and herbicides. In this article, we will be taking a look at the dirty dozen and the fifteen cleanest foods that you should be eating. If your health is a priority for you, you should click here for more about the latest health news and trends.

WRITTEN BY SUZIE DUNDAS

While tourists and locals alike have been hiking, mountain biking, and hopefully getting one or two beach days in, the professionals who keep Tahoe’s food scene lively have been hard at work. This summer, we saw a variety of restaurant openings, including some rather creative grassroots options run by longtime Tahoe locals.

In Truckee, it's been an active summer for restaurant openings and expansions, and several new offerings away from the main downtown area are drawing attention, including Drink Coffee, Do Stuff and Truckee Brewing Co. on Pioneer Trail. DCDS is the new endeavor from retired pro snowboarder Nick Visconti, who developed a love for coffee while sampling Swiss cappuccinos, espressos, artisan coffees, and more on a ski trip to the Alps. He spent five years on roasting apprenticeships with various Pacific Northwest coffee roasters, determined to roast his own coffee in his hometown. Now, DCDS brews seven various light and dark offerings, as well as a decaf, and is open for visits every day from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Nick Visconti, owner of Drink Coffee, Do Stuff. Courtesy photo

STORY AND PHOTOS BY SUZIE DUNDAS 

Edible Reno-Tahoe readers know there’s no shortage of wine-centric destinations in Northern California. Napa, Sonoma, and the burgeoning wine areas of Placerville and Apple Hill are popular destinations for Reno and Tahoe oenophiles, but there’s an even closer, albeit occasional, destination for trying the latest rosé that’s all the rage or Beaujolais du jour: Squaw Valley.

WRITTEN BY CHRISTINA NELLEMANN 

PHOTOS BY JOLENE COOK 

You may love the local food movement, but not everyone has the time to visit or tour their favorite farms and ranches. During the month of September, many locally grown foods are coming to several Reno restaurants as well as a special event at West Street Market on Sept. 13 in Downtown Reno. But first, you can brush up on the Northern Nevada farmers by watching a few videos.

Avanzino Farms video from Meet Your Farmer

WRITTEN BY HEIDI BETHEL 

It’s hard to sum up the serenity and history of a place that’s been on the map since the 1800s in just 500-ish words. Owners John and Patty Brissenden acquired Sorensen’s Resort in Hope Valley in 1982 and have the same affliction when describing the place. 

PLEASE NOTE: This blog post features an event that has already passed.

COURTESY OF NEVADA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

From the business skill sets needed to be a modern farmer, to Nevada's newest, and perhaps most controversial, cash crop, the Nevada Economic Development Conference is offering a unique behind-the-scene's glimpse at our local agribusiness economy. 

Edible Communities is a media sponsor for the Agribusiness track for the fourth annual event presented by the Western Nevada Development District that will take place Aug-20-22 at the Atlantis Casino Resort & Spa in Reno, Nevada. Registration and information is available at www.nvedc.com.

The agribusiness sessions will let you meet some of the creative minds that are necessary to solve our growing need for sustainable and affordable food sources, a topic we addressed in this summer's edible Reno-Tahoe magazine.  

Longtime favorite market is rooted in community.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY TAMSIN EDWARDS

Flowers from Sierra Flower Farm in Carson Valley

The Downtown Carson City Farmers’ Market recently earned the distinguished honor of being selected for National Farmers Market Week by the Farmers Market Coalition, making this Carson gem one of only a handful of markets in the country to receive such an honor. The annual event, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, serves to bring national attention to the importance that these markets play in the food systems of communities, states, and the nation. Held between August 5 and 11, the primary aim of the week (and of the FMC overall), is to strengthen these markets for the benefit of farmers, communities, and consumers alike.

Benefits of baking with local honey.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY JENNIFER RACHEL BAUMER

A cup of tea with honey and lemon soothes a sore throat and can suppress coughing at night. Spread on minor cuts and burns, honey (though sticky) works as well as, and in some cases better than, antibiotics; according to a March 2018 report by CNN, honey can promote healing, as well as battling H. pylori, the bacteria that causes peptic ulcers, and because of an enzyme bees add to it, it can also battle staph infections. (Just ensure it’s free of contaminants and toast crumbs.) Some even claim honey may help prevent or battle cancer and prevent heart disease because it contains flavonoids and antioxidants.

But beyond its many health benefits, honey's also just plain delicious. The following recipes contain raw Hidden Valley Honey — local honey, available at Hiddenvalleyhoney.com or at Raley's stores.

WRITTEN BY CLAIRE CUDAHY

Zucchini, pattypan, cousa, zephyr, eight ball — these are just some of the delectable (and oddly named) summer squash you have to play around with in the kitchen this season.

This month, I caught up with three regional chefs to see how they are cooking up summer squash in their restaurants.

There are many varieties of summer squash to choose from at the farmers’ market.

Swap starch-heavy mashed potatoes for a lighter, caramelized zucchini purée, courtesy of chef Nicholas Hagman from Graeagle Meadows Restaurant. Try a bright and balanced pasta dish studded with squash, pecorino, and mint thanks to Calafuria’s chef Tim Magee. Or go full-on Southern with Homegrown Gastropub’s chef Sean P. Studds’ recipe for Fried Chicken Corn Bread Salad with Roasted Summer Squash.