News / gift ideas

We're now proudly carrying Chickpea Magazine in the shop! It's a beautifully designed vegan print quarterly inspired by the hipsterfood – a popular blog started by Cara and Bob (pictured below) who post all kinds of expertly photographed vegan eats and recipes for their foodie followers.

Chickpea showcases a their favorite things in the vegan world at the moment, whether a personal story, a new book, a great recipe, or photographs that capture the essence of the season at hand. The magazine supports a whole-foods, plant-based way of life, but offers recipes that anyone can try.

We have the summer issue in the shop currently, and we can attest that it's a goodie. The features include fresh fruit desserts, a trip to the berry patch, a vegan travel guide to the south, a summer skin survival guide, refreshing chilled soups, and a tribute to the farmer's market.

And, of course, we'll have the Fall Issue in the shop this October. Some of the features include: make your own hard apple cider, fair trade vanilla, jam-making, dating omnivores, DIY candle holders, an ode to oats, and a Portland, OR city guide. We can't wait to check it out – it's sure to be chalk full of autumnal inspiration. 

With all of the amazing press and accolades that Blue Chair has gotten recently, it's sometimes hard to believe that their kitchen is right here in Oakland. Rachel Saunders, their head jammer, is a visionary with a penchant for creating seasonally inspired artisan marmalades and jams in tiny batches in traditional French copper jam kettles.

She loves to share her know-how with the local community, and you'll often spot her or another one the of Blue Chair staff out at farmers markets peddling preserves, as well as The Blue Chair Jam Cookbook. With figs, tomatoes, apples, grapes, stone fruits coming into season in September and October, you can bet she's going to have a busy Fall. Here's a Q&A with Rachel:

We hear you studied jam-making for 10 years before you launched Blue Chair. What was the research process like?
It was an extremely arduous process of trial and error. I spent all my free time pursuing jam and fruit, and had many days of despair and torment. Mastering the art of jam making is not for the faint of heart!! When people taste my jams today, they cannot imagine what it took to get where I am; I make it look easy now. I am a true believer in the 10,000-hours theory of mastery. And 10,000 hours is just the beginning!!

Do you really still make all of the jams by hand? What are some of your most exciting creations? Yes; all of our jams are completely handmade. Every flavor is exciting! We just cooked a nectoplum jam – a rare hybrid fruit of white nectarine and plum. We also just did a tomato and Adriatic fig jam.

It's pretty cool that you host jam-making classes. What's coming up in the schedule? I absolutely love to teach, because I love people and I love the chance to share some of what I know. My next classes are a Jam 101 class at Ramekins in Sonoma on September 6 and a Flavor Construction class at our kitchen in Oakland on September 8. Information about both is on our website. In mid-September, I go to Seattle to teach for several days at the Pantry at Delancey.

It seems like you guys are always out at the local farmer's markets. Where can we catch you here in the East Bay? Grand Lake on Saturdays from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. and Temescal on Sundays from 9 a.m. -1 p.m.

How can locals support you and stay in touch? The best way to follow us is on Facebook or Twitter; our name is bluechairfruit. You can also join our mailing list on our website for news about classes and new flavors!  

Of course, you can always find a selection of Rachel's latest creations for Blue Chair at Marion and Rose's Worksop! 

This 4th of July we're going to be imbibing in style, mmmkay? We just got in our Cuppow lids, which turns mason jars into stylish travel mugs, and we even have a selection of blue mason jars just ready for gussying up.

We love that Cuppows are made in America (Somerville, MA to be exact) and with recyclable, BPA-free plastic. Check out the handy dandy infographic below to see how these puppies work. We've got 'em in regular and wide-mouth sizes.



Thanks to local jeweler Sharon Zimmerman for tipping us off to the fact that they exist.

By the way, we're going to be closed on July 3rd and 4th, so you may want to get your Cuppows (in our online shop or in the store) sooner rather than later. Have a Happy America Day!

CUPPOW!fromPaper FortressonVimeo.

Father's Day is fast approaching, and it's time to start thinking about what to get your "computer hacker, bike fix-it guy, story teller, wood chopper, trash man, tent setter-upper, jedi ninja," aka, your Dad. (thanks, Sugarcube Press for the choice words). Lucky for you, we've got a whole slew of gentlemanly items here in the shop that will ensure your Pop gets a thoughtful gift this year. Come visit us and we'll show you the goods! Or have something shipped directly to your Dad by ordering it in our online shop.

Father's Day cards from Rifle Paper and Sugarcube Press.

Field Notes by Draplin Design Co., for those random manly jottings.

A classic comb print by Rifle Paper.

Ceramic flasks by Oakland artist Peter St.Lawrence.

Happy Father's Day poster by Horwinski Printing Co. Made in Oakland!

iPad and laptop sleeves by Willow & Company, constructed from 3mm German Merino Wool and leather.

Atticus Caramels by Helliemae's with Colorado whiskey, bourbon barrel smoked salt, and cane syrup.

The Peg and Awl Key Latch, made of reclaimed leather and hardware from WWII gunslings, and finished with a brass button stud.

The Mason Shaker, for the cocktailing dad.

The Marlowe Lunchbag by Peg & Awl – a reusable waxed canvas paperbag with a little pocket for a handwritten message.

A collection of stories on the modern complexities of fatherhood by authors, writers, musicians, and others, from the the award-winning magazine, Rad Dad.

And real, old fashioned horseshoes, for good luck.

Your dad is one lucky guy.