For Vikki Mitchell and her husband Pat, coffee is more than a daily habit—it’s a way to build community. As the owners of The Human Bean Central California, they’ve turned their love of coffee and community into a thriving network of locally focused drive-thru coffee shops across the Central Valley and Central Coast.
Sure, I call myself “a vegetarian who appreciates a good steak,” but there are times I want to say, “Go Fish.” I admit there are times I’ve had strange seafood-dining experiences, including a plate of little more than bones, a few bits of flesh, and a head. This time around, The Great Food Search has found some tasty offerings to share.
I’ve lived in Fresno County since 1980 (plus three years at Fresno State). I’ve been to a lot of restaurants, and I’ve been to some restaurants lots. I’m going to share a few of my go-to places where I ought to earn frequent-flyer discounts.
What do you do when the news of the world is getting you down? Go to a movie? Log into social media and vent your frustrations? Eat ice cream by the pint? Well, movies can be expensive (especially when you add popcorn), ranting online isn’t going to do much for your blood pressure, and consuming large quantities of sweets ... we’re not even going to go there. It’s time to put down your phone, close the refrigerator door, and get outside for some fresh air and sunshine.
“Who is Jesus?” For over 2,000 years, this question has echoed through time, challenging scholars, leaders, and everyday people alike. In the 1960s, it took center stage as young Americans wrestled with its meaning—a curiosity that inspired John-Michael Tebelak and Stephen Schwartz to create Godspell in 1971.
As we tiptoe into March and spring, the next holiday on my calendar is St. Patrick’s Day, when everyone gets a chance to be temporarily Irish. What delectable fare should the Great Food Search seek to celebrate the Emerald Isle? How about corned beef?
The Valley does theatre like no other agriculture-centric region. 2024 saw a bumper crop of productions. Here are a few highlights that I saw.
Oh, the places The Great Food Search went in 2024! From Bakersfield to Shaver Lake, we ate our way through the Valley and up into the mountains. Here are some of the highlights of our journey.
It’s almost Thanksgiving, and that means...Bring on the Turkey! The Great Food Search traveled the countryside, even exploring a supermarket freezer section, to find turkey meals to review . . . and gobble-gobble-gobble!
It’s October! Halloween! Autumn leaves! Pumpkin Spice!
OK . . . Not everyone likes Pumpkin Spice, but I’m a pumpkin partisan. I crave pumpkin treats, and The Great Food Search has gathered a garland of goodies!
