During the 1980s, a lot of my friends would spend their vacations in New York. They loved the big city life, especially after San Francisco, which although romantic and sophisticated is also pretty small, which means you run into the same people wherever you go. I thought it sounded like...

This recipe comes from our neighbors here in Napa, Stevie and Josiah of Bay Grape Wine, a specialty wine shop that makes wine fun without being inane or insulting your intelligence. They are proud Bean Club members and we appreciate them sharing this recipe with us. 1 pound uncooked Marcella beans (can also...

From the book Snacks for Dinner by Lukas Volger. Copyright © 2022 by Lukas Volger. Published by Harper Wave, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. Reprinted by permission. From Lukas' notes: These warm, creamy beans cloaked in smoky, savory olive oil are a quick centerpiece “dip” for a snacky meal. They...

It’s not a bean soup or a sauerkraut soup. It’s its own thing and I can’t wait to make this again. There are many versions of this and if you aren’t using good heirloom beans, like our Royal Coronas, I would add some sausages or a ham hock. I’m not trying to be funny, but the flavor just won’t be there unless you use good heirloom beans. Similarly, if you don’t have homemade sauerkraut on hand, use a trusted brand.

1 cup uncooked Rancho Gordo Marcella beans, picked over and rinsed1 tablespoon plus ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil (divided use)2 garlic cloves, minced1 sprig of fresh rosemary2 tablespoons salted butter1 onion, thinly sliced2 large carrots, peeled and diced2 celery stalks, diced1 russet potato, peeled and diced½ pound green beans, trimmed...

  1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for drizzling1 garlic clove, minced1 large carrot, peeled and chopped1 small bunch Tuscan kale, leaves stripped from the stems and sliced into thin ribbons1½ cups cooked Rancho Gordo Yellow Eye beans in their broth1 sprig fresh rosemary4–6 cups vegetable brothGrated lemon zestRed pepper...

Angelo Garro has been a part of the Bay Area food scene for years. His Omnivore Salt company has been making the world more delicious, and if you get a chance to meet him, you are in for a treat. He's one of our favorite people, and we're happy he...

This is our favorite kind of salad: crunchy, creamy, and substantial. We've been enjoying Andy Baraghani's book, The Cook You Want to Be (Lorena Jones Books, 2022). There are countless new ideas and jumping-off points if you're an adventurous cook. His Crunchy Celery Salad has shades of the old Waldorf...

This is our go-to recipe for ribollita, shared with us by Peter Miller, author of Lunch at the Shop: The Art and Practice of the Midday Meal and How to Wash the Dishes. He also runs a famous bookstore in Seattle dedicated to architecture and design. Peter tells us, “Learn...

2 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 of an onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced Salt and freshly ground pepper 1/2 bunch broccoli rabe (about 1/2 pound), trimmed and coarsely chopped 1 cup cooked Rancho Gordo heirloom white beans, such as Alubia Blanca or Marcella, with bean broth 2 eggs 1 tablespoon white vinegar Serves...

4 cups wild arugula 2 cups drained cooked Rancho Gordo white beans, such as Ayocote Blanco, Cassoulet or Royal Corona beans 1 teaspoon Rancho Gordo Oregano Indio Olive oil Rancho Gordo Pineapple Vinegar (or other mild vinegar) Salt and freshly ground black pepper ½ cup pumpkin seeds, toasted Serve 2 to...

This hearty stew, based on a recipe by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, is comfort in a bowl. You can use any root vegetables you have on hand. When we tried out the recipe in the Rancho Gordo test kitchen, someone remarked that a scoop of cooked wild rice would also be a...