Los Angeles Youth Network
Wood & Vine has an ongoing partnership with the Los Angeles Youth Network, a local non-profit organization that provides outreach, shelter, and educational support for abused and homeless adolescents. Our involvement includes hosting a group of kids from LAYN on a regular basis to teach them about cooking, nutrition, and restaurant management. We also participate in the LAYN internship program. All sales proceeds from one of our signature desserts are donated directly to the organization.
Purveyors
The farmers and purveyors are as important to us as the ingredients they provide. We have found that quality of product is often a representation of the philosophy and care taken by each and every person involved with its production. Finding and supporting this community of people is an elemental part of the food chain. The pride they take in their work in turn allows us to be proud of our product.
Thao Farms
Kong, the son of the founding farmer, helps run the markets so you can always find him there. The produce is predominantly Asian, but there are still a lot of Western gems to be found among his selections. Kong is so knowledgeable and is another that really enjoys gently educating his customers. We love visiting with him week to week.
“Jesus and Maria Elena Gama founded the farm outside of Bakersfield in 1989” –website
Chef Gavin is always greeted with a friendly smile whenever he finds a Gama Farms produce stand at whichever market he happens to be at. He says going there is like going to Target, he goes there for one thing and leaves with loads of others because their selection is so beautiful.
“Weiser Family Farms began in 1977 when Sid Weiser, a chemistry teacher and counselor at Garfield High School in East Los Angeles decided to pack up the family and follow his dream of working off the land.” –website
You can still see Grandpa Weiser at the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market on Saturdays.
This farm started in the late 1860’s by an Irish immigrant who was blown away by the size of the mustard plants growing on the Oxnard Plains. By the time the original farmer had lived his life, the McGrath family owned 700 acres. Now, Arturo runs the family farm and we see him on a weekly basis when he makes deliveries to Wood & Vine. This farm has some of the most beautiful peppery arugula we have ever had the good fortune to taste.
The bees live in the Angeles National Forest and are brought to almond orchards in February and orange tree orchards in April to help them bloom. This also produces different tasting honey at these times of year. We use their honeycombs on our cheese plate so it’s always exciting to see what the bees have been eating and how it pairs with the new cheese that we have in each week.
Finley Farms- Los Olivos, CA
Owners – Chris and Johanna Brown
Every time I come to this stand, there is a welcoming atmosphere and a case of squash ready for me. These guys are one of the smaller farms we deal with, and the reason why is because the owners are such a pleasure to see each week.
Owned by baker Barbara Monderine, an Italian American, who used to be in the music business until she could no longer ignore the call of the oven. Monderine was baking from home until the demand became too big. She expanded to Eagle Rock, then to Arcadia and finally to the location on Los Feliz that we know as The Village Bakery today. Everything is made fresh, in-house. These guys follow the same philosophy as Wood & Vine, get it from the market.
“Gleason Ranch offers local, conscientiously raised, grass-fed and pastured, antibiotic/hormone-free Lamb, Pork, Beef, Chicken and Turkey (we do a little goat and rabbit too).” -website
This is a sixth generation Ranch originally founded along the Sonoma Coast. This has always been a sustainable ranch and they practice “low-stress management, rotational management and hormone-free animal husbandry”. Everything that comes out of this ranch is just incredibly tasty because of the care they give when raising their animals. They also love to educate anyone that comes with questions.
Soledad Goat Farms is near and dear to Wood & Vine’s heart. We have been lucky enough to spend a day with Julian and Carol, the owners of this farm. While we were there meeting the 400 goats and each new dog that appeared every time you turned around, Holly was born. A baby goat and Wood & Vine’s official mascot. Soledad Goat Farms produces goat milk for some incredible cheeses and they are in the process of trying a few new creations. You can find them in the Mojave Desert.
This place opened about six months ago on a tiny little street off of Lake Ave. in Pasadena. The staff is incredibly friendly and knowledgeable about any cheese you want, even if they don’t have it in-house at the time. The best part of going in is being able to taste. We have had the pleasure of experiencing new cheeses to us, which only allows us to bring them to you. We really look forward to growing our cheese selection and education through these amazing cheese mongers.
Paso Prime raises their cows in the San Luis Obispo Valley and pride themselves on only having two cattle grazing per acre at any one time. This is about as free-range as you can get. One of the main reasons Chef Gavin chose this particular beef for Wood & Vine is because the flavor reminds him strongly of what he used get back home in England. “The flavor is so beefy and gamey; it’s the way beef should taste.” -Chef Gavin
We love local seafood. Carlsbad Aqua Farms has some of the tastiest mussels you can find in California. They have a nice, high salt content that just lends the flavors of sea to any dish. We look forward to trying more of their offerings as the seasons evolve. You can actually find these guys at most of the markets around town and they bring some tasty treats with them.
