San Francisco Chronicle – California Wins Big At Good Food Awards

The Good Food Awards’ 10th annual celebration of American food and beverage artisans convened Friday night at San Francisco’s Herbst Theater. Among the 219 winners, nearly a quarter were from California.

The Bay Area was well-represented, with over two dozen winners across 17 categories, including cheese, snacks, fish, beer and spirits.

Some winners are familiar names, such as Berkeley’s Fra’Mani Handcrafted Foods, which won for its Salame Toscano; Point Reyes Farmstead, whose Toma cheese received an honor; and the Bayview’s Jamnation, whose Seville orange marmalade dazzled judges for the second year in a row. But a few, including Sebastopol’s Goat Rock Cider Company and Preserve Farm Kitchens, took home awards for the first time.

The winners were chosen during a massive blind tasting in September with 1,835 entries and 252 judges. As usual, the victorious products couldn’t just be delicious but also had to meet the Good Food Awards’ criteria for sustainability and social responsibility.

San Franciscans wanting to sample some of the winning products can attend the Good Food Awards Marketplace, which takes place Sunday, Jan. 19, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fort Mason Center, 2 Marina Blvd., San Francisco. Tickets cost $5-$20.

A lineup of brews from Almanac Beer Co. The Alameda brewery took home an award for its Apricot Sournova.

Photo: Almanac Beer Co.

Good Food Awards 2020 Winners (Northern California winners in bold)

BEER

Allagash Brewing Company, Crosspath, Maine

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Crowds arrive early on opening day of the Golden Gate International Exposition. Feb. 18, 1939.

Almanac Beer Co., Apricot Sournova, California

Cleophus Quealy Beer Company, Frambozenbier, California

Fullsteam Brewery, Farm’s Edge: Barrel-Aged Ava, North Carolina

Lakefront Brewing, Beerling Barleywine, Wisconsin

Little Beast Brewing, Golden Stone and Bes – Tart Wheat Ale, Oregon

Pagosa Brewing & Grill, Cool Cucumber Wheat, Colorado

Perennial Artisan Ales, Giant Steps: Blend 2, Missouri

Port City Brewing Company, Optimal Wit and Rivershed Ale, Virginia

Reuben’s Brews, Hazealicious IPA, Washington

Speakeasy Ales & Lagers, Bootleggers Black Lager, California

Vista Brewing, Stonewall Belgian Lambic-Style Ale with Texas Peaches, Texas

CHARCUTERIE

Beltex Meats, Pate Forestier, Utah

Blackberry Farm, Sobrasada, Tennessee

Brooklyn Cured, Lamb Prosciutto, New York

Casella’s Salumi, Casella’s Prosciutto Speciale, New York

Farmer’s Daughter, Baleron Polski, West Virginia

Fra’Mani Handcrafted Foods, Salame Toscano, California

Incontro Cured, Salami de Bue and Salame Sicilia, California

Pine Street Market, Sweetheart Ham, Georgia

Olympia Provisions, Rosette de Oregon and Chorizo Rioja, Oregon

S. Wallace Edwards & Sons, Edwards Virginia Smokehouse Surryano Ham, Virginia

Smoking Goose Meatery, Whey Fed Dodge City Salami and Duck Prosciutto, Indiana

Underground Meats, Calabrian 3 Ways Salami, Wisconsin

Volpi Foods, Heritage Prosciutto, Missouri

CHEESE

Blackberry Farm, Brebis and Hawkins Haze, Tennessee

Briar Rose Creamery, Maia, Oregon

Capriole, Sofia, Indiana

Cascadia Creamery, Sleeping Beauty, Washington

Cherry Grove Farm, Havilah, New Jersey

Daniel’s Artisan, Bonneville, Washington

Green Dirt Farm, Fresh – Plain, Missouri

Idyll Farms, Mont Idyll, Michigan

My Artisano Cheeses, Ervie Cheese, Ohio

Laura Chenel, Crottin, California

Nettle Meadow Farm, Kunik, New York

Pennyroyal Farm, Reserve Boont Corners, California

Point Reyes Farmstead, Toma, California

Sierra Nevada Cheese Company, Bella Capra Raw Milk Monterrey Jacques, California

Sweet Grass Dairy, Thomasville Tomme and Asher Blue, Georgia

The Grey Barn and Farm, Prufrock, Massachusetts

Working Cows Dairy, Rinske’s Farmstead Cheese, Alabama

The reserve version of Pennyroyal Farm’s Boont Corners cheese won a Good Food Awards honor.

Photo: Craig Lee / Special to The Chronicle 2013

CHOCOLATE

Askinosie Chocolate, Dark Chocolate + Red Raspberry CollaBARation Bar, Missouri

Bakery Nouveau, PISA Haiti and The Bitter Nag, Washington

Castronovo Chocolate, Tumaco, Colombia Dark Milk 60%, Florida

Chequessett Chocolate, White Lemon Thyme Bar, Massachusetts

Coolabah Chocolate Co., Matilda, Florida

Creo Chocolate, Caramelized Milk Chocolate, Oregon

Cultura Chocolate, 70% Whiskey and Nibs, Colorado

Escazú Chocolates, 70% Single Origin Trincheras, Venezuela, North Carolina

Fruition Chocolate Works, Spring Salted Dark Milk 56%, New York

Goodnow Farms Chocolate, Special Reserve with Las Palomas Coffee, Massachusetts

Patric Chocolate, 67% Piura Peru and 67% Madagascar, Missouri

Stone Grindz Chocolate, Coconut Milk Latte 55%, Arizona

White Label Chocolate, 58% Brown Butter Milk, California

Waialua Estate Chocolate, Hawaiian Milk Chocolate, Hawaii

CIDER

Albemarle CiderWorks, Harrison, Virginia

Big B’s Hard Cider, Harry Masters Jersey, Colorado

Champlain Orchards, Redfield – Estate Series and Honeycrisp, Vermont

Goat Rock Cider Company, Rosé Cider, California

Gowan’s Heirloom Cider, Macintosh Applewine Cider and Gravenstein Cider, California

Gypsy Circus Cider Company, PuppetMaster: Whiskey Barrel Vaudevillian, Tennessee

Hemly Cider, Sloughhouse Jalapeno Pear Cider, California

Liberty Ciderworks, English Style IV, Washington

Madrone Cider, The Reserve Blend, Washington

Stormalong Cider, Light of the Sun, Massachusetts

Stem Ciders, New Hampshire Heritage, Colorado

Urban Tree Hard Cider, Habanero Haze, Georgia

Virtue Cider, Michigan Cherry and The Mitten, Michigan

WildCraft Cider Works, Pisgah Heritage, Oregon

COFFEE

1000 Faces Coffee, Luis Ordoñez, Georgia

Backyard Beans Coffee Co., Ethiopia Basa, Pennsylvania

Barrington Coffee Roasting Company, Gera, Massachusetts

Beanstock Coffee Roasters, Ethiopian Shakiso Kayon Mountain Organic, Massachusetts

Bonlife Coffee Roasters, Kiambu Muiri, Tennessee

Caffe Ladro, Guatemala Juan Alva Tello, Washington

Case Coffee Roasters, Ethiopia Dimtu, Oregon

Coffea Roasterie, Ethiopia Dimtu Tero, South Dakota

Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea, Kossa Kebena, Ohio

H+S Coffee Roasters, Kenya Chwele, Wyoming

JBC Coffee Roasters, Janson Geisha Lot #109, Wisconsin

Kickapoo Coffee, Kenya Mbeguka, Wisconsin

Klatch Coffee, Colombia Finca La Maria Geisha Natural, California

Linea, Guatemala El Injerto Reserve, California

Loma Coffee, Ethiopia Shantawene Village – Anaerobic Process, Oregon

Mudhouse Coffee Roasters, Moras Negras, Mi Finquita Coffee Farm, Virginia

Oak Cliff Coffee Roasters, Carmen Geisha, Texas

Penstock Coffee, Taaroo Mill, Ethiopia, New Jersey

PUSH X PULL, Ethiopia Sidama Shantawene Anaerobic Process, Oregon

Red Rooster Coffee Roaster, Ethiopia Nansebo Worka, Virginia

Speckled Ax Wood Roasted Coffee, Ethiopia Jabicho, Maine

Spyhouse Coffee Roasting Co, Juan Domingo / Guatemala, Minnesota

Steady State Roasting, La Pradera Mokka, California

Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters, Mario Alarcon, Colorado

Vibrant Coffee Roasters, Ethiopia Ardi Organic – Washed, Pennsylvania

Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates’ Eureka Lemon Bonbon won in the confections category.

Photo: Peter DaSilva / Special to The Chronicle 2017

CONFECTIONS

Batch PDX, Hazelnut Coffee Crunch, Oregon

Dean’s Sweets, Maine Sea Salt Caramel Sauce, Maine

Eat Chic Chocolates, Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Butter Cups, New York

FARM Chocolate, Orange Walnut Toffee, California

Fat Toad Farm, Cinnamon Goat’s Milk Caramel, Vermont

Fera’wyn’s Artisan Chocolates, Limoncello and Caramel Macchiato, North Carolina

French Broad Chocolates, Cinnamon Cashew Caramel, North Carolina

Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates, Eureka Lemon Bonbon, California

Gotham Chocolates, Hazelnut Praline Crunch, New York

How Sweet It Is, Rosemary Pecan Brittle Bites, Oregon

JEM Organics, Cinnamon Maca Almond Butter, Oregon

Madison Chocolate Company, Passion Fruit Caramel, Wisconsin

Mount Mansfield Maple Products, Organic Coffee Infused Vermont Maple Cream, Vermont

NeoCocoa, Black Sesame Seed Toffee Brittle, California

Patric Chocolate, Browned Butter Bar, Missouri

Sapore della Vita, Orange Cardamom Spice Bar, Florida

The Modern Candy Company, Raspberry Pate de Fruit, Wisconsin

Vermont Amber Candy Company, Pumpkin Seed Chipotle Toffee, Vermont

Videri Chocolate Factory, Orange Basil Ganache, North Carolina

ELIXIRS

ALDI, VitaLife Organic Ginger Awakening Kombucha, Illinois

Big Easy Bucha, Bayou Berry Kombucha, Louisiana

Element Shrub, Ginger Lime Shrub, Virginia

J.T. Copper, Golden Turmeric Syrup, Virginia

KMN Enterprises, K Bloody Mary Mix, New York

Little Apple Treats, Strawberry + Pink Peppercorn Shrub, California

Mountain Rose Herbs, Passion Chocolate Elixir, Oregon

Napili Fresh Local Organic Farm, Gut Shots, Hawaii

Owl’s Brew, Cocktail Mixer: Wicked Margarita, New York

Preserve Farm Kitchens, Gravenstein Apple Syrup, California

Quince and Apple, Tiki Pineapple Simple Syrup and Tart Cherry Grenadine, Wisconsin

Reverend Al’s Bona Fide Potents, Strawberry Peppercorn Shrub, Washington

Shrub Farm, Ginger & Hawaiian Chili Shrub, Washington

Woodward Extract Co., Cardamom Extract, New York

FISH

Acme Smoked Fish Corp, Blue Hill Bay Sockeye Salmon, New York

Lummi Island Wild Co-Op, Wild Smoked Sockeye and Wild Pink Salmon Ikura, Washington

OneForNeptune, White Fish Jerky, New Mexico

Patagonia Provisions, Wild Sockeye Salmon – Lemon Pepper, California

St. Jude Tuna, Dill Canned Albacore, Washington

Tsar Nicoulai Caviar, Sturgeon Pate, Sweet ‘n’ Hot Smoked Sturgeon, California

GRAINS

Bluebird Grain Farms, Organic Einka & Lentil Blend, Washington

Community Grains, Identity Preserved Organic Spaghetti Pasta, California

Delta Blues Rice, Long Grain White Rice and Long Grain Brown Rice, Mississippi

Geechie Boy Mill, Jimmy Red Grits and Sea Island Red Peas, South Carolina

Hayden Flour Mills, Polenta, Cracked Oats and White Sonora Wheat Berries, Arizona

Maine Grains, Organic Corn Polenta and Organic Pearled Farro, Maine

Pacific Northwest Farmers Cooperative, Pardina Brown Lentils, Pedrosillano Garbanzo

Beans and Madeline French Green Lentils, Idaho

Pleasant Grove Farms, Organic Soft White Wheat Berries, California

Semolina Artisanal Pasta, Organic Strozzapreti, Organic Rigatoni, California

Vermont Tortilla Company, Organic Stone Ground Corn Tortillas, Vermont

Bags of house-roasted coffee at Linea Caffe in San Francisco. The roaster is a 2020 Good Food Awards winner.

Photo: John Storey / Special to The Chronicle 2014

HONEY

Akaka Falls Farm, White Kiawe Honey, Hawaii

21 Degrees Estate Cacao, Kahalu’u Gold, Hawaii

Bee Squared Apiaries, Whiskey Barrel Aged Honey, Colorado

Bees’ Needs, Black Locust and Blackberry Honey, New York

Beverly Bees, Wildflower Honey, Massachusetts

Island Honey Bee, Tropical Raw Honey, Guam

Jacobsen Co., Sauvie Island Honey, Oregon

MtnHoney, Sourwood Comb Honey, Georgia

Posto Bello, Autumnal Wildflower Honey, Maine

Sequim Bee Farm, Snowberry Rose, Dungeness Fields Spun Honey, Washington

To Bee Young Apiaries, Wild Flower Urbana, California

True Gold Honey, Pozo Wildflower Honey, California

Williams Honey Farm, Southall Farm’s Wildflower Honey, Tennessee

PANTRY

Bourbon Barrel Foods, Imperial Double Fermented Soy Sauce and Bourbon Barrel Aged Sorghum, Kentucky

California Fish Sauce, Koji Fish Sauce, California

Dagger and Arrow, Diablo Verde, South Dakota

Finding Home Farms, Rye Barrel Aged Maple Syrup, New York

Forward Roots, Kimchi Chili Oil, New York

JEM Organics, Coffee Cashew Almond Butter, Oregon

HOSAco, The Standard Fermented Hot Sauce, Washington

Love Hard, Jojo’s Sriracha – OG, Colorado

Mimi’s Confitures, Beet Chutney, California

Old Brooklyn Cheese Company, Pepped Up Mustard, Ohio

Pappy & Company, Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel Aged Pure Maple Syrup, Kentucky

Sambar Kitchen, Channa Masala, Pennsylvania

So Good Food, Sweet Black Garlic Miso Mayo, California

Sugar Bob’s Finest Kind, Smoked Maple Sriracha, Vermont

The Cottage, Black Garlic “All Hail” Caesar, South Carolina

The PB Love Company, Cinnamon Almond Butter, Colorado

PICKLES

Atlantic Sea Farms, Sea-Chi, Maine

Blue Bus Cultured Foods, Local Cortido, Washington

Hobby Farmer Canning Co., Zesty Beets, Minnesota

Monkeypod Jam, Pickled Hoio – Hawaiian Fern and Pickled Ulu, Hawaii

Napili Fresh Local Organic Farm, Pineapple, Ginger, Turmeric Sauerkraut, Hawaii

OlyKraut, Organic Eastern European Sauerkraut and Organic Smoke & Kale Sauerkraut, Washington

Oregon Brineworks, Sauerkraut, Oregon

Real Pickles, Organic Beet Kvass and Organic Nettle Kraut, Massachusetts

Salt and Savour, Apple Ginger Sauerkraut, California

Southport Grocery & Café, Backyard Relish and Bread & Butter Cauliflower, Illinois

The Cottage, Pickled West Indian Gherkin, South Carolina

The Juice Hive, Watermelon Rind Kimchi and Shiso, Sweet Potato and Asian Sour Leaf Kimchi, South Carolina

Wise Goat Organics, Super Green Kraut, California

PRESERVES

Akaka Falls Farm, Hawaiian Mango Habanero Preserve, Hawaii

Alchemist’s Jam, Raspberry Cardamom Rosehip, Oregon

Blossom Meadow Farm, Red Raspberry Jam and Strawberry Jam, New York

Fiddlehead Farm, Strawberry & Honeysuckle Jelly, North Carolina

Gus & Grey, Teacher’s Pet (Organic Apple Butter), Michigan

Jamnation, A Crockwork Orange, California

Mrs. Ruth’s Jams, Belgian Chocolate Strawberry Jam, North Carolina

Mt. Hope Farms, Aronia Haskap Fruit Spread, Oregon

Roots Kitchen and Cannery, Sour Plum and Sage, Montana

Saba Jam, Aprium Jam, Colorado

The Xocolate Bar, Cacao Fruit Jam, California

V Smiley Preserves, Raspberry Redcurrant Geranium Honey Jam, Vermont

Josh Harris and Carol LeValley own of Marin County’s Rustic Bakery, which won for its flatbread bites.

Photo: Dan Evans

SNACKS

ALDI, Simply Nature White Cheddar Popcorn, Illinois

Byrdfood, Savory Oat & Seed Clusters Smokey Chipotle Flavor, New York

ImmuneSchein, Ginger Turmeric Scrolleez, New York

Isadore Nut Company, Zesty Lemon Rosemary Roast Nut Mix, Minnesota

La Saison, Olive Oil Roasted Almonds, California

Nana Joes Granola, Paleo Sunrise Series: Cranberry, Almond Butter & Pecan, California

Oh My Organic Food, Oh-Mazing Granola Snack, Caribbean Delight, District of Columbia

On Tap Kitchen, Original Salted Pretzels, Colorado

Rustic Bakery, Everything Spice Flatbread Bites, California

Small Batch Organics, Cherry Vanilla Bean Granola, Vermont

The Accidental Baker, Red Pepper Firecracker and Sea Salt Flatbread Crackers, North Carolina

The Lentil House Gourmet Snacks, Rosemary and Sea Salt Gourmet Fried Lentils, Florida

SPIRITS

Apologue Spirited Liqueurs, Saffron Liqueur, Illinois

Cutwater Spirits, Three Sheets Cask Strength Rum, California

Falcon Spirits Distillery, Raspberry Liqueur and Aperitivo Aplomado, California

JAZ Spirits, Verstovia Spruce Tip Vodka and Cold Tree Gin, Oregon

Leopold Bros., Leopold’s Summer Gin, Colorado

Letherbee Distillers, Original Label Gin, Illinois

Salute!, Vicario Amore Mio Aperitivo, South Carolina

SILO Distillery, Vodka, Vermont

Spirit Works Distillery, Sloe Gin, California

Stonecutter Spirits, Heritage Cask Whiskey, Vermont

Top of the Hill Distillery, Organic Carolina Straight Wheat Whiskey, North Carolina

Treaty Oak Distilling, Ghost Hill Bourbon, Texas