Local Pairings: Heirloom Treasures

Friday, April 18, 2008

Heirloom Treasures

I recently discovered Rancho Gordo. These colorful heirloom treasures take beans to a whole new level. I tried them first at Restaurant ZuZu in downtown Napa. A savory concoction of sausage and lima beans that left me hankering for more.

I went online and found that I could buy beans to my heart’s content directly from Ranch Gordo. I’ve now discovered a new world of beans with fabulous names like Red Nightfall Bean and Good Mother Stallard Beans. Rancho Gordo also sells herbs, spices and a great chile powder. And if you are confused about what to do once you have a bag of their dried beans in your hand, they have great instructions and recipes on their web site. Check them out online at www.ranchogordo.com.

Written by Linzi

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About Us

At Local Pairings, we feel that there are many pleasures in life that must be savored and enjoyed, like a good glass of wine, delicious food prepared from fresh, local produce, and sharing the flavors of life with loved ones and good friends. Both born and raised in the Napa Valley we are never far from the amazing food, wine and experiences that Northern California has to offer. With Karen’s hospitality and food background and Linzi’s marketing and wine background, we decided to write about our food and wine adventures around the Bay Area. The result…Local Pairings.

Emily Buller is our resident chef here at Local Pairings. Her experience in fine cuisine began years ago when she worked at a local St. Helena restaurant and found her calling to be a chef. After graduating from the Culinary Institute in Hyde Park, New York, Emily returned to her hometown to get her advanced certification in Pastries from The Culinary Institute at Greystone. From there, Emily worked at Napa Grill, Pinot Blanc, Martini House, and the acclaimed San Francisco restaurant, La Folie. Since then, she has started her own Napa Valley catering company and has become well known for the exquisite, high-end dining experience she provides. Many of the recipes that you will find at Local Pairings are provided by Emily and she is always ready to answer any question Karen and Linzi may have about wine and food pairing.