A is for Apples
Some people call October sweater weather, but it’s apple season around here. Whether you prefer yours plucked straight from a branch or baked into a yummy treat, now's the time to sink your teeth into fall’s favorite fruit. We hand-picked a few of the best local dishes with apples as the star of the show. Let’s dig in!
Chop & Chutney
Ready to fancy up your apples? Head to The Independent in Placerville and order the Pork Chop—a hearty 12-ounce piece of pork from Lan-Roc Farms that’s all things savory and juicy (thanks to an hours-long molasses brine). But what really puts this dinner entrée over the top is the accompanying apple and shallot chutney. Put a generous spoonful over your chop for the perfect punch of spice and sweetness to complement the richness of the pork. 629 Main Street, Placerville 530-344-7645, independentplacerville.com
Apple Amore
Do you know what’s better than pineapple on pizza? Apples on pizza. Seriously, if you’re skeptical of the fruit-on-pizza lifestyle, the Campania Pizza from Il Pizzaiolo will convert you. This Neapolitan-style pie features bacon, red onions, fresh mozzarella, EVOO, parmesan, and—of course—apples. All that deliciousness comes on a thin, bubbly crust made in an authentic wood-fired oven. Buon appetito! 3640 Taylor Road, Loomis, 916-672-6556, ilpizzaiololoomis.com
Ready to fancy up your apples? Head to The Independent in Placerville and order the Pork Chop—a hearty 12-ounce piece of pork from Lan-Roc Farms that’s all things savory and juicy (thanks to an hours-long molasses brine). But what really puts this dinner entrée over the top is the accompanying apple and shallot chutney. Put a generous spoonful over your chop for the perfect punch of spice and sweetness to complement the richness of the pork. 629 Main Street, Placerville 530-344-7645, independentplacerville.com
Pork Chop
Apple Amore
Do you know what’s better than pineapple on pizza? Apples on pizza. Seriously, if you’re skeptical of the fruit-on-pizza lifestyle, the Campania Pizza from Il Pizzaiolo will convert you. This Neapolitan-style pie features bacon, red onions, fresh mozzarella, EVOO, parmesan, and—of course—apples. All that deliciousness comes on a thin, bubbly crust made in an authentic wood-fired oven. Buon appetito! 3640 Taylor Road, Loomis, 916-672-6556, ilpizzaiololoomis.com
Campania Pizza
Oh, Crepe, That’s Good!
Craving crepes and apples? Feed two birds with one seed by chowing down on the Caramel Apple Crepe, available at both Julian’s Patisserie & Café in Folsom and Pastry Nouveau in Roseville. Picture it: A delicate, French-style crepe wrapped around the culinary quartet that is apples, butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Served with freshly whipped cream and ooey-gooey caramel sauce, no matter what time of day you dig in, you’ll be saying bonjour to deliciousness. 6610 Folsom-Auburn Road, Suite 7, Folsom, 916-936-4735; 1490 Eureka Road, Suite 170, Roseville, 916-474-5475, julianscafe.com
Craving crepes and apples? Feed two birds with one seed by chowing down on the Caramel Apple Crepe, available at both Julian’s Patisserie & Café in Folsom and Pastry Nouveau in Roseville. Picture it: A delicate, French-style crepe wrapped around the culinary quartet that is apples, butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Served with freshly whipped cream and ooey-gooey caramel sauce, no matter what time of day you dig in, you’ll be saying bonjour to deliciousness. 6610 Folsom-Auburn Road, Suite 7, Folsom, 916-936-4735; 1490 Eureka Road, Suite 170, Roseville, 916-474-5475, julianscafe.com
Caramel Apple Crepe
An Ap-peel-ing Breakfast
If your idea of a perfect morning meal is a savory sandwich, then Bloom Coffee & Tea is where you need to be. Start your day off with The Dutchman—freshly baked focaccia piled high with applewood smoked bacon, smoked turkey, arugula, green apples, Havarti, and sun-dried tomato aioli that’s pressed into a warm, toasty bite of goodness. The apple gives it just the right amount of crunch and brightness to complement the sub’s smoky, salty flavors. 1485 Eureka Road, Suite 100, Roseville, 916-773-2332, bloomcoffee.com
An Apple (Salad) a Day Keeps the Doctor Away
Every apple-themed adventure should include a delectable seasonal salad from Pizzeria Classico. But don’t worry, this isn’t a boring salad you scarf down while waiting for your pie. The Caramelized Apple Salad features buttery sweet apple slices, walnuts, and blue cheese on a bed of mixed greens drizzled with zingy raspberry vinaigrette. The sweetness of the baked fruit plays with the tanginess of the blue cheese for a can’t-skip starter. 702 Sutter Street, Suite A, Folsom, 916-351-1430, pizzeriaclassico.com
If your idea of a perfect morning meal is a savory sandwich, then Bloom Coffee & Tea is where you need to be. Start your day off with The Dutchman—freshly baked focaccia piled high with applewood smoked bacon, smoked turkey, arugula, green apples, Havarti, and sun-dried tomato aioli that’s pressed into a warm, toasty bite of goodness. The apple gives it just the right amount of crunch and brightness to complement the sub’s smoky, salty flavors. 1485 Eureka Road, Suite 100, Roseville, 916-773-2332, bloomcoffee.com
The Dutchman
An Apple (Salad) a Day Keeps the Doctor Away
Every apple-themed adventure should include a delectable seasonal salad from Pizzeria Classico. But don’t worry, this isn’t a boring salad you scarf down while waiting for your pie. The Caramelized Apple Salad features buttery sweet apple slices, walnuts, and blue cheese on a bed of mixed greens drizzled with zingy raspberry vinaigrette. The sweetness of the baked fruit plays with the tanginess of the blue cheese for a can’t-skip starter. 702 Sutter Street, Suite A, Folsom, 916-351-1430, pizzeriaclassico.com
Caramelized Apple Salad
The Apple (Pie) of Our Eye
No countdown of the best apple dishes would be complete without the all-American classic: apple pie. Today, we must give it up to the orchard-to-fork Dutch Apple Pie from Ikeda’s in Auburn. Stop by for a slice, and remember to order it a la mode; cool vanilla ice cream, warm apples, and buttery crumble are a match made in dessert heaven! 13500 Lincoln Way, Auburn, 530-885-4243, ikedas.com
Sundae Fun Day
You didn’t think we’d close this list without mentioning Apple Hill, right? Although locals know there are hundreds of tasty treats to enjoy at the aptly named mecca of autumnal eats and activities, this time, Apple Ridge Farms takes the cake—or should we say the Sundae? Forget any other ice cream sundae you’ve had and save room for a heaping bowl of vanilla ice cream that comes inclusive of a freshly baked apple cider donut, peanuts, whipped cream, and homemade caramel sauce. The best part? You get to enjoy the decadent dish while soaking in the scenic orchard views. 1800 Larsen Drive, Camino, 530-647-0613, appleridgefarms.com
No countdown of the best apple dishes would be complete without the all-American classic: apple pie. Today, we must give it up to the orchard-to-fork Dutch Apple Pie from Ikeda’s in Auburn. Stop by for a slice, and remember to order it a la mode; cool vanilla ice cream, warm apples, and buttery crumble are a match made in dessert heaven! 13500 Lincoln Way, Auburn, 530-885-4243, ikedas.com
Dutch Apple Pie
Sundae Fun Day
You didn’t think we’d close this list without mentioning Apple Hill, right? Although locals know there are hundreds of tasty treats to enjoy at the aptly named mecca of autumnal eats and activities, this time, Apple Ridge Farms takes the cake—or should we say the Sundae? Forget any other ice cream sundae you’ve had and save room for a heaping bowl of vanilla ice cream that comes inclusive of a freshly baked apple cider donut, peanuts, whipped cream, and homemade caramel sauce. The best part? You get to enjoy the decadent dish while soaking in the scenic orchard views. 1800 Larsen Drive, Camino, 530-647-0613, appleridgefarms.com
The Strudel is Real
During October, beer and brats steal the spotlight during Oktoberfest celebrations, but if you ask us, we want to say, “prost!” to a slice of Apple Strudel from Bakerie & Latte Chateau Arme. If you’ve never had apple strudel before, prepare yourself for an authentic Austrian delicacy made of tart Granny Smith apples bathed in cinnamon and sugar that are then baked in a thin, flaky crust. Order it for breakfast, lunch, or just because! 2222 Francisco Drive, Suite 500, El Dorado Hills, 916-939-0834
During October, beer and brats steal the spotlight during Oktoberfest celebrations, but if you ask us, we want to say, “prost!” to a slice of Apple Strudel from Bakerie & Latte Chateau Arme. If you’ve never had apple strudel before, prepare yourself for an authentic Austrian delicacy made of tart Granny Smith apples bathed in cinnamon and sugar that are then baked in a thin, flaky crust. Order it for breakfast, lunch, or just because! 2222 Francisco Drive, Suite 500, El Dorado Hills, 916-939-0834
Apple Strudel
A Toast to French Toast
Who said you can't have dessert for breakfast? If you're looking for something sweet to start your day, CrepeTown Café has just the thing for you. Their Apple-Stuffed French Toast features a generous serving of apple chunks bathed in buttery, cinnamon-spice goodness and baked to the ooey-gooey perfection of an apple pie. Then, they sandwich the filling between two thick-cut slices of battered brioche toast. Of course, French toast wouldn't be French toast without a snowfall of powdered sugar, autumnal syrup, and whipped cream. 4064 Mother Lode Drive, Shingle Springs, 530- 677-5993, crepetowncafe.com
Who said you can't have dessert for breakfast? If you're looking for something sweet to start your day, CrepeTown Café has just the thing for you. Their Apple-Stuffed French Toast features a generous serving of apple chunks bathed in buttery, cinnamon-spice goodness and baked to the ooey-gooey perfection of an apple pie. Then, they sandwich the filling between two thick-cut slices of battered brioche toast. Of course, French toast wouldn't be French toast without a snowfall of powdered sugar, autumnal syrup, and whipped cream. 4064 Mother Lode Drive, Shingle Springs, 530- 677-5993, crepetowncafe.com
Apple-Stuffed French Toast
Let’s Get Apple Sauced
Summers are for seltzers, but fall is cider’s time to shine. If you’re looking for a boozy way to consume your daily dose of apples, sip a Cider Flight at Ponderosa Cider Co. in Auburn. They have a wide selection featuring fruity and funky mixes that are sure to quench anyone’s thirst. Feeling something sweet? Try the Imperial Strawberry for a co-fermented blend of apples and strawberries that tastes fresh off the farm. Want something classic? The Duchess is a dry, lightly spiced cider that's 100% apples and 100% delicious. Cheers! 102 Gum Lane, Unit B, Auburn, 530-401-0128, ponderosacider.com
Summers are for seltzers, but fall is cider’s time to shine. If you’re looking for a boozy way to consume your daily dose of apples, sip a Cider Flight at Ponderosa Cider Co. in Auburn. They have a wide selection featuring fruity and funky mixes that are sure to quench anyone’s thirst. Feeling something sweet? Try the Imperial Strawberry for a co-fermented blend of apples and strawberries that tastes fresh off the farm. Want something classic? The Duchess is a dry, lightly spiced cider that's 100% apples and 100% delicious. Cheers! 102 Gum Lane, Unit B, Auburn, 530-401-0128, ponderosacider.com
Cider Flight
by Pauline Arroyo
The Independent, Julian’s Patisserie & Café photos by Taylor Allred ©stylemediagroup. Bloom Coffee & Tea photo by Wesley Scott. Apple Hill photo by Tracie @picturehappyphotos. Pizzeria Classico photo by Matt Litteral at Gemini Media Studios. Other photos courtesy of their respective companies or organizations.