Are you a last minute shopper?  Here are a few suggestions on some gift ideas for someone in Nevada City, or someone who’d like to visit the area.  If you can’t make it to the last Victorian Christmas today, here are a few suggestions, or stop by any number of the downtown merchants.

First up, why not buy a weekend away package?  Buy an Outside Inn gift certificate (we’re more then happy to email you the gift certificate, if you can’t stop by in person).  For the lucky recipient, why not throw in a gift certificate to a dinner out and a wine tasting in downtown Nevada City?  (We’ll throw in the directions to the river, for free).

Do you have a coffee addict in your house?  Stop by the Outside Inn … Read More »

The ultimate Nevada City giveaway… I’ve decided that I’ve had so much fun on the blog this year, that why not end the year by going big.  We live in the an amazing community and I have thoroughly enjoyed sharing a slice of our world, so I wanted to give one big huge thanks to all the folks who I’ve promoted, plugged, photographed and gotten to know over the last year.  My basket started with a few left over goodies from previous giveaways and took on a life of its own…  It’s now turned into the ultimate Nevada City weekend.  I’ve got photos of all the goodies in the baskets below, but here’s a breakdown of what’s included.

One night stay at the Outside Inn
$30 gift certificate to Ike’s Quarter Cafe
$40 gift certificate to South Pine Cafe
$20 … Read More »

Congratulations Roseanne Burke for her winning entries for our Nevada City photo contest, click here to read about her local greeting cards.  Roseanne has won a copy of David McKay’s book Yuba Seasons.  To see all the other fabulous entries, click here.

Ike’s Quarter Cafe in spring time.

Broad Street, Nevada City

Hungry?  Head to Ike’s Quarter Cafe in downtown Nevada City.  Serving New Orleans style food made with local and organic ingredients.  When I stopped by the other week for a fabulous outdoor lunch the Farm Fresh board included shout outs to: Dinner Bell Farm, Riverhill Farm, Mooney Flat, Backbraken Acres, First Rain Farm and Grinding Stone Meadows.  Local and sustainable ranchers were James Ranch and Niman Ranch, plus flour and grains from Grass Valley Grains.  Open Wednesday-Mondays for breakfast and lunch and dinner on Fridays and Saturday, check out their menu online, I’m sure you’ll be hungry by the time you finish checking out the specials.

© 2012 InnSide Nevada City

There are a lot of dining options in Nevada City, so here’s a quick recap on some of the best options  in downtown Nevada City.  Below are a few photos, but here’s a link to the Flickr album with even more photos, don’t look if you’re hungry.

New Moon Cafe
Northridge Restaurant
Pete’s Pizza
Friar Tuck’s
Lefty’s Grill
Matteo’s Public
Elevensies Crepes
Nevada City Classic Cafe
Ike’s Quarter Cafe
Broad Street Bistro
Cirino’s
South Pine Cafe
Las Katarinas

Grass Valley Grains is a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) for grains.  Reed Hamilton’s one man farming operation mills wheat, oats, rye, barley, dry beans, and flour corn.  His monthly pick-ups could include any flour, cornmeal, polenta, ground oatmeal, cracked grain, or baking mixes. His products can be found in a number of local restaurants, including Ike’s Quarter Cafe, New Moon Cafe and Flour Garden Bakery.

Ike loves Grass Valley Grains because “everything is fresh.”  They use a number of products in their restaurant, but Ike says his favorite is probably “the cornmeal.”  He loves the flavor and the variety of the yellow, red, white and blue cornmeal.  Peter at New Moon’s personal choice is the white polenta.

The Outside Inn product test crew decided to try out the muffin mix and they were a huge hit in our household.  Sign up for your monthly … Read More »

There are a lot of great places in Nevada City to eat, I’ve already blogged about South Pine Cafe and Ike’s, but this morning while out for an early breakfast out we stopped in at Nevada City Classic Cafe on Broad Street.  I tried some of Geneieve’s crepes, sauteed onions, red bell pepper, mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach and topped with hollandaise sauce.  The restaurant has been in operation since the 1950’s and feels like your quaint small town diner, complete with a counter and stools.  Open 7 days a week for breakfast and lunch stop by and let them know the Outside Inn sent you by, you’ll be glad you went.