Tasting in Calaveras County Part 3: Lunch in Murphys

Just a quick post on my last day in the Sierra Foothills. Only a few of my readers probably know that I worked in the gourmet store business in NYC throughout my college years, so I'm a sucker for a really good one when I travel. I Yelped Murphys, expecting nothing, and up came this gem. The Alchemy Market and Wine Bar is right as you drive in to town on Main Street.

The take out section is in the Market area, with lots of great salads, soups (we had great, spicy Bloody-Mary Gazpacho), dips, cheeses, and sandwiches. They make their own "rustic roll"s, which are actually not all that rustic, but absolutely wonderful. These wide, flat, soft rolls, are probably made from a buttermilk sponge and make wonderful sandwiches. Because Murphys is close to Diestel, they feature Diestel Smoked Turkey and their mild-but-smokey ham. I absolutely recommend stopping there for lunch, either in their lovely patio if you have the time, or eating at the cafe tables inside the market.

Within the market, there is also a wide selection of good local wines, some of which I didn't find anywhere else, like the Tanner Melange de Mer, 2004 (only 100 cases produced). Definitely worth a stop.

Comments

[farley]

Wait. You didn't go to Twisted Oak? Next time you must stop at one of the craziest wineries anywhere. And the wine is good, too.

[el jefe]

thanks Farley!