Catch-as-catch-can

Eastside Road, August 12, 2013—

WHAT'S PRETTIER than fruit? Especially dead ripe fruit from your own trees…

But first, that title. We were on the road today: breakfast at Gayle's Bakery in Capitola, where the butter croissant was tender and, well, buttery, and the coffee really quite good.

Then to Swanton Berry Farm for a meeting of the Bakers Dozen, Lindsey's professional (and, yes, a few amateurs, in the best sense of the word) organization, for a very informative and fascinating talk by the farm manager, Bear. Swanton is an inspiring business, enlightened and ethical, and I came away with renewed respect for them.

We stopped, hungry, in Petaluma, where Happy Hour treated us to deviled eggs, arancini, meatballs, and salmon cakes, with a glass of decent white for me.

Then supper at home: sliced tomatoes, broad beans and zucchini, and Joe's marvelous raisin walnut rye bread from Gayle's, with a glass of rosé or two.

Tomorrow we fast.
• Gayle's Bakery, 504 Bay Avenue, Capitola; (831) 462-1200
• Swanton Berry Farm, 25 Swanton Road, Davenport; (831) 469-8804
• Social Club Restaurant and Bar, 132 Keller Street, Petaluma; (707) 238-0158