Whether you’re planning a day of apple picking, wine tasting or gold panning, tasty noshes are a critical component. Fortunately, there are plenty of riches on Placerville’s culinary scene, where chic cafes and farm-to-fork bistros sit side by side. Here are just a few possibilities to get you started, from an eclectic new sandwich shop to a truffle boutique, a whole grains bakery and more.
Timmy’s Brown Bag
A trio of new foodie destinations joined Placerville’s Main Street offerings earlier this year, offering up some extremely tempting fare, including sandwiches ($9.50) that only a crazed culinary genius could dream up. BLTs may be standard fare, but at Timmy’s take-out shop, the classic pairs Tang-dusted bacon with heirloom tomatoes in vividly neon green and yellow hues. (Warning: Eat this in the car and you will wind up with psychedelic pants.) The corned beef comes topped with gouda, pickled blueberry slaw and — incredibly — blueberry boba bubbles. And an asparagus, speck and lemon chevre sandwich is topped with greens tossed in cantaloupe vinaigrette.
Don’t miss: Timmy’s ridiculously delicious (and extremely messy) Tex-Mex Sloppy Joe, a giant brioche roll filled with Texas chili, crunchy Fritos, queso, a jalapeno-carrot escabeche slaw and Hatch green chile aioli. We paired it with a Pellegrino soda, but there are plans afoot to add a small beer joint soon.
Details: Timmy’s is open for lunch Monday-Saturday at 451 Main St., Placerville; http://timmysbrownbag.com. Technically, it’s a take-out spot, but there are a few seats at the sandwich counter and tables outside.
Delloree’s Confections
Timmy’s sandwiches are made to order and they’re a tad complicated, so while you wait, step across the way to this chocolate boutique to contemplate dessert. Delloree Vosper has been making chocolate since 1990, but this Hangtown confectionary is just a few months old. We’re invoking the “it doesn’t count, if you’re just looking” law of calorie-counting, followed almost immediately by the “who cares about calories when chocolate is involved?” clause.
(Plus, we figured the new Native Grains Health Food Bakery next door might balance the sweet indulgences here. Everything from the bakery’s pull-apart rye monkey bread to the whole grain waffles is made from organic red and white wheatberries, grown locally and milled in Woodland.)
Don’t miss: Vosper’s truffles are decidedly decadent, but we were charmed by the chocolate-dipped gummy bears and graham crackers. You will be, too.
Details: The chocolate shop is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday-Monday, at 451 Main St., Placerville; www.delloreesconfections.com. The bakery is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends; www.nativegrainsonline.com.
Cozmic Cafe
Who knew that soda water was a thing during the Gold Rush? The water supplies were iffy, and the creeks churned to mud by gold mining. So when John Pearson built his Placerville Soda Works — the stone building backs onto an old mine shaft, all the better for keeping things ice cold — it was a very big deal.
These days, the Soda Works houses the crunchy Cozmic Cafe, a quirky little coffeehouse that serves up organic, sustainably raised food, fair trade coffee, microbrews, righteous rice bowls and some of the best breakfasts around. Also, live music upstairs. Plus open-mic fests and social and environmental movie nights.
The dish: All the breakfasts are tempting, but the one you want is the Cozmic Scramble ($9.95), three eggs scrambled with a riot of fresh produce — spinach, tomatoes, red onions — and cheese, topped with salsa, avocado and fresh cilantro. There are almost more veggies than eggs.
Details: Open Tuesday through Sunday for breakfast, lunch and dinner at 594 Main St., Placerville; ourcoz.com.
Heyday Café
This popular Placerville lunch and dinner spot gives a nod to the heyday of the Gold Rush, complete with the original brick walls of the 1850s-era building. It’s a fitting backdrop for the casual, local ingredient-driven menu, where artisanal pizza plays a starring role.
Don’t miss: Even if it’s 100 degrees outside, you’ll want to order the rich, velvety, sherry-infused lobster bisque (cup $5, bowl $8). Pair it with a grilled wild coho salmon salad ($14) with cucumber, feta, mushrooms and avocado, tossed with a housemade basil-lime dressing.
Prefer pizza? Heyday’s spicy Hawaiian (small $15, large $23) is the opposite of cloying. Here, jalapeno heat balances the sweet pineapple and salty Black Forest ham. Also terrific: The smoky artichoke and bacon pie (small $17, large $25). Wash it down with craft beer on draft or local wines by the glass.
Details: Open for lunch daily and dinner Tuesday-Sunday at 325 Main St., Placerville; www.heydaycafe.com.
Cafe Mahjaic
This historic red brick building in Lotus, a mile from historic Coloma, began its life as an 1855 general store. Since then, it has housed a post office, smithy and a barber shop. Today, it’s a restaurant and three-room inn, run by Gina and John Metropulos, with original hardwood floors, wood beams, high ceilings and an emphasis on locally sourced, organic food.
Don’t miss: Greek and other global influences are apparent in dishes such as a flambéed kasseri cheese, lightly crispy on the outside, gooey soft inside and perfect for spreading on housemade bread, Asian-inspired avocado salad ($9) with a miso vinaigrette, and decadent, spicy chocolate chipotle prawns ($23). A four-course, prix fixe menu ($32) lets you sample dishes such as a Niman Ranch pork schnitzel and light-as-air spaetzle, napped in a citrusy beurre blanc, and a flourless chocolate torte with caramel sauce.
Details: Open for dinner Wednesday-Sunday at 1006 Lotus Road, Lotus; www.cafemahjaic.com.
