Best Saturday Morning Breakfast in Healdsburg
July 2, 2008 · Print This Article · Written by Jennifer
I’m researching an article on Mateo Granados for this magazine. Last Saturday, I walk around the Healdburg Farmer’s Market to find his stand and to see if he’s there. He is. He’s sweet. He greets me with bisoux. He says, “Come in…stay awhile. Meet my customers.”
I wander back meet the people who are eating at his stand. There’s two women already sitting down. I introduce myself and ask them what they’ve ordered: Huevos Rancheros and a Squash Blossom Omelette.
I ask them if they are local residents or if they are just visiting. One lady is visiting–the other has just relocated here from Florida.
I ask why they’ve decided to eat at Mateo’s Farmer’s Market stand. And the lady who’s relocated says, “Oh. I tasted his tamales at the Farmer’s Market on Tuesday. They’re just wonderful. I was just hoping he’d be here today.”
I tell them that Mateo is actually a pedigree chef with credentials from high-end restaurants such as Masa’s in San Francisco and Healdsburg’s Dry Creek Kitchen. And she nods her head and says: “I can tell.”
Later, after they leave, three more people sit down. I introduce myself again and I ask them if they are residents or visitors. The fellow tells me they’re from Hopland. His wife shops the farmer’s market’s for her catering business but this is the first time he’s come round. His wife arrives and tells me that Mateo’s stand is THE BEST PLACE for breakfast in Healdsburg on Saturdays.
I ask her to explain why. She says, “He doesn’t have a restaurant (yet) and he’s only at the Farmer’s Markets. He’s only HERE on Saturdays.” She also tells me that Mateo arrives at the markets, sets up his stand and shops the market for his menu.
Then he makes his menu from what’s available.
How can you get any fresher than that? Directly from the farmer to your plate. His food is alive in your mouth.
I will have to try this out next time I am there. Thanks for letting me know about this treasure.