Lots of Flavor, Minimal Investment & Local Business Support!

I've probably mentioned at some point recently that work has been draining me to the core. Don't worry, I didn't send you an invite to my Pity Party, but I am trying to make excuses for my lack of cooking/recipes-related posts. I've actually cooked some new things like this Grilled Chicken Bruschetta from Gina's Skinny Recipes, and I made some of my own modifications to it as well (and took the time to photograph as I went), but I just haven't had the energy to type any more or look at a computer screen for a minute longer once I'm home from work.

I promise I'll share some original and modified recipes soon, but for this post I am, instead, going to focus on some easy Food Finds that I have been turning to on the nights when I don't quite feel up to firing up the oven.

Farm Star Pizza!

The Boy and I LOVE Farm Star so much. We love it partly because it's just down the road, but mostly because it is delicious! Their pizzas are affordable and just the right size for 2-3 people. Plus, they use locally grown, organic ingredients. You can truly tell that the ingredients are fresh and the crust is not too thick, but not too thin at the same time. I would recommend Farm Star to anyone looking to try something new in the Pizza genre and they even have Gluten Free crust options. Our personal faves are the Nanny Goat and Mr. Green Jeans. Check out their Menu!

To go along with the Farm Star theme, the Red Tavern is having a deal where they give any Happy Hour patrons from 5pm-7pm a free slice of Farm Star Pizza with the purchase of one drink. Pretty awesome! Take a look at their Wine List for planning your pairing in advance. I especially appreciate that they are offering New Clairvaux Winery's Tempranillo (and by the glass!) for some more local representation.

Since everything is so easily connecting, I have to end this post by advising any locals to visit New Clairvaux Winery! It's a short drive from Chico to Vina (about 25-30 minutes maximum) and it's a great feeling of "getting away" without actually leaving the area. The winery offers tours of the grounds, which are gorgeous, and also has a tasting room where you can sample your choice or Red, White, or Both and pay a minimal $5. They also offer some hospitable cheese and crackers on the house! The only thing that would be better is if you could purchase a bottle and picnic there, but a few bad folks ruined it for the masses, so they do not allow picnic-ing at this time. It's never a bad idea to pick up some of their very reasonably priced wine to take home for a relaxing evening. I always enjoy my visits there and the staff is incredibly friendly. If you're interested in visiting New Clairvaux, take a look at their "Visit Us" Page.

There are a ton of other great places in the Chico area, but I realize not all readers live in Butte County. I would advise to look around your town for some family-owned businesses using fresh, locally-grown ingredients and give them a try! Yelp and Urban Spoon are great resources for reviews on restaurants and other establishments if you're on the fence. If nothing else, take some inspiration and make some of these fabulous meals for yourself. I am definitely looking into making some fresh (and even healthier) versions of my fave Farm Star pizzas!