In my first year of law school, my property professor held a review session on a reading day, and she brought us snacks as a peace offering for that extra morning of class. That was the first time I had Gravenstein apple juice from Berkeley Bowl. Since then, I’ve made a special trip over to the East Bay each year to pick up a gallon or two of autumn-in-a-jug.
Pumpkins seem to be the internet darling when it comes to autumn treats, but my favorite has always been apples. Every November that I can remember, my dad drove to Payson, Utah to buy an entire trailer-full of apples to take back to Idaho. That drive home – with hundreds of apples in tow – is a cherished family ritual, a ceremony of fall. It signals the transition from the harvest of summer’s bounty to the preparations for winter’s holiday season.
I think that’s why I make the effort to get to Berkeley Bowl every year: it is a way for me to continue the tradition even though I am away from my family. This year, we shared our Gravenstein apple juice over a weekend dinner with friends, and we made caramel cider syrup for our Sunday brunch. Today, I drink it in the perfect stillness of a golden October morning, and reflect on autumns past.
britt
p.s. blah blah, I’m always so serious now. Whatever. Go to Berkeley Bowl - it is food paradise. And buy this juice. Tell me all about it.
You should come up here sometime. I work on Gravenstein HWY, totally surrounded by apple orchards. ;)
ReplyDeleteomg. As if we need another reason to come see you guys. Every time we talk about my family, Chris is like, "We should go see Jake and Melissa again..."
DeleteYou just inspired me to grab another glass of the Gravenstein apple juice currently sitting my fridge. It was made just a few miles down the road in Sebastopol, where Jake works. Yum.
ReplyDeleteYeah... we'll be there very very soon
Deletecaramel cider cyrup?? that sounds amazing.
ReplyDeleteand i may just have to make the long trek (4 miles!) to berkeley bowl for some of that apple juice.
Adeline - it was so good. The flavor was super concentrated. I'm pretty sure if I had boiled it 20 minutes more it would have turned into actual caramel.
DeleteIt is tasty juice. Thanks for introducing me.
ReplyDeleteAn apple a day...
ReplyDeleteWhat's worse than biting into an apple and finding a worm?
ReplyDeleteChris will do the math on the answer...a 1/2 a worm
thanks Dad... I usually let Chris do all the heavy lifting when it comes to fractions
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