Main Street Placerville has welcomed another delicious dining destination: The Market on Main. This cozy spot offers handheld eats, canned and bottled beverages (alcohol included), and even gifts and groceries. After a stroll through Historic Placerville, my better half and I stopped in for a pick-me-up. I gravitated toward their special: lamb & beef gyro. A sturdy yet soft pita was smeared with a perfect serving of house-made tzatziki sauce (not too overwhelming) and loaded with warm meat, the market's fresh Greek slaw (lightly seasoned tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onions), feta, and crisp lettuce. On the other side of the table, my husband enjoyed his mushroom empanada stuffed with seasonal, local mushrooms, shallots, parmesan, and crème fraîche.

It was piping hot and wrapped in a crispy, perfectly golden crust. But we didn’t stop there. Between us sat pretzel dog bites, akin to the classic—and always crowd-pleasing—pigs in a blanket. It was a race to the finish to see who could eat more, especially when dipped in the accompanying beer cheese. (Are there two better words than beer and cheese? No.) We ended up splitting them 50/50, but I’ll get him next time. The menu at The Market on Main is small but mighty, and there’s a lot of heart put into each dish. They offer a variety of empanadas and “dogs” (Polish, hot, and corn) with a picturesque patio to boot.

Artisan markets with made-to-order provisions are always worth a visit—if not for the food, then for the specialty, locally crafted wares. Here are a few of our favorites.

The Auburn Bodega
937 Lincoln Way, Auburn, 530-820-3210, theauburnbodega.com
While grabbing some seasonal produce and organic groceries, don’t forget to head to the deli for a sandwich, salad, or daily special—all made in-house!

Ikeda’s California Country Market
13500 Lincoln Way, Auburn, 530-885-4243, ikedas.com
Owned by the Ikeda family, you’ll find a grocery store, deli, and baked goods, plus farm-fresh produce, a casual diner, and even apparel at this Auburn mainstay.

 

MoJoes
2330 Pleasant Grove, Roseville, 916-742-4729, mojoesroseville.com
For a little bit of everything, head to Mojoe’s, a neighborhood café meets creamery meets market that shares a patio with Kitchen747.

Newcastle Produce
9230 Cypress Street, Newcastle, 916-663-2016, newcastleproduce.com
Open seven days a week, this grocery store prides themselves on local, quality produce and delicious deli takeout.

 

Santa Maria Taqueria
175 Placerville Drive, Suite A, Placerville, 530-295-8121
Pick up lovingly made Mexican fare, such as pozole verde or chicharrones, alongside baked goods and groceries at this authentic market.

 

Placerville Food Co-Op
535 Placerville Drive, Placerville, 530-621-3663, placervillefood.coop
Located in the heart of Apple Hill and wine country, you’ll find everything you need at this community-owned store, from fruits and veggies to custom-made sandwiches and more!