Comments on: Apple picking, pumpkin patching, & the joys of the cider doughnut

By: Kristina

Kristina — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 01:00:57 +0000

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I grew up in NY in the Hudson Valley and just moved to SF three months ago. The moment October hit so came my gnawing hankering for cider doughnuts. Now I know where I am going this weekend. Thank you for all this wonderful information! I cannot wait to bite into the beauty of a warm cider doughnut!

By: Nicole

Nicole — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 04:33:03 +0000

Stephanie, I went online to see if I could find cider doughnuts in, or near Petaluma, and this article popped up. I laughed outloud when you mentioned Apple Hill, as this is where I experiened my first cider doughnut last autumn. I have been waiting for this time of year to savor another one….but didn’t want to make the drive with the kids this year. Thanks for the tips on this area, especially about the Pumpkin Patches. I will definitely visit Spring Hill Cheese in search of those temting, tasty morsels. (By the way, your writing is hilarious!)

By: Stephanie Rosenbaum

Stephanie Rosenbaum — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:32:46 +0000

Thanks for the comments! I agree, Kim, West Coast apple cider never quite has the same deep tang of the NJ/New England cider–it’s always a little too thin and sweet. And Caroline, so glad you enjoyed the pumpkin patch! It was a great find and all the kids there seemed to be having an excellent time. Another fun place in the area is the Ardenwood Farm in Fremont. It’s a historic farm/ranch dating back to the late 1800s–they have farm animals, a blacksmith forge, docents in costume explaining what life was like when the farm was in full swing back then. I think there’s also a farm stand and pumpkin patch, too. It’s part of the E Bay Parks & Rec.

By: Caroline

Caroline — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:46:38 +0000

After reading your post, we made the drive to Spring Hill Cheese Company’s pumpkin & potato patch yesterday and had a great time! We dug up nearly 7 pounds of potatoes (you’re right; once you start finding those treasures in the ground, it’s hard to stop)! We picked our own pumpkins from the patch (pumpkins still attached to the vines in the field) too. Thanks for the great tip!

By: Kim

Kim — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:35:25 +0000

I too grew up in Central Jersey. We had a cider mill in the village near where I grew up and I sure miss it. It’s pretty hard to get fresh (unpasteurized) cider in CA, and somehow it never tastes the same – too sweet, not musty enough. I think it was the winesap apples that made that particular flavor I’m pining for.