Home on the (free) range
Free Range – Provisions & Eats emerges from its winter slumber this Friday, March 20th, the same day as the Spring Equinox. Spring gives Free Range a chance to be born anew, with rejuvenated flavors and a refreshed line of artisan products.
Each fall, shop owner Suzanne Alexandre shutters her boutique shop, located between Acre Coffee and B Street Mercantile on 4th Street in downtown Petaluma. She spends the winter months discovering new farms and artisan producers, as well as reconnecting with old favorites around her hometown of Petaluma. Alexandre takes what she learned during the previous season and combines that with the knowledge she gains on her winter scouting trips, in an effort to improve and innovate her products.
Born in San Francisco, but raised around the globe, Alexandre became familiar with local and seasonal ingredients at a young age. Her father was born in Berlin, Germany of Russian ancestry and her mother was Peruvian, so Alexandre was multicultural before it was a popular catch phrase. For part of her childhood, her family lived in Spain, where her father tried his hand in a charter boat business. Alexandre was assigned to cooking duties but not surprising, the 11 year old hated being at sea. She remembers being the “best moorer” because as soon as anyone spotted land Alexandre was on deck and ready to tie up. Once docked, the inquisitive youth would eagerly sprint off to the neighborhood market to not only buy provisions but to learn about unfamiliar ingredients and exotic dishes. “I always paid attention when other people would cook,” says Alexandre. “I would asked lots of questions and then try to emulate those dishes back on the boat.” She would later learn about French cooking from frequent visits to a five-star restaurant owned by a family friend on the Spanish island of Mallorca.
As an adult in the Bay Area, Alexandre became involved in community event planning around San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. But it was her return to the North Bay that awoke fond memories of the fresh ingredients of her childhood. While volunteering at the Sonoma-Marin Fair, Alexandre was asked to put on a “farm to table” exhibit, before that term became synonymous with the Petaluma food culture. While reaching out to regional farmers Alexandre rediscovered her appreciation for cooking with local and seasonal ingredients that she had gained as a child in Spain. From this experience the idea to open her own shop was born. “It’s been a goal of mine to illustrate the relationship with the farmer in a meaningful way,” says Alexandre, “and Free Range gives me that opportunity.” But it wasn’t until after spending time as executive director of Farm Trails, working with the Sonoma-Marin and Sonoma County Fairs, and promoting other agriculturally focused events, such as the first Freestone Fermentation Festival, that Alexandre finally set her sights on the space that would eventually become Free Range – Provisions & Eats.
Free Range – Provisions & Eats opened softly in Fall 2013, with the grand opening in Spring 2014. Offering an authentic taste of Northern California, Alexandre indoctrinates and educates locals and visitors alike on how to get the most out of our community, while also helping to sustain it. “Integrity and love define the work of small-batch producers whose commitment to quality over quantity makes some of the best foods in America,” says Alexandre. “Free Range sources foods from within 100 miles of Sonoma County and stocks the shelves with the most delicious preserves, cheeses, condiments and sweets. Together we’re helping build a healthy and sustainable food system that preserves our natural resources while supporting a community where farmers, ranchers and food artisans can continue to thrive.”
Even the decor at Free Range has a story of its own, and relates to the community around us. Petaluma artist Kate Blakeslee created the rural mural that embellishes the back wall and helps to illustrate the vibrancy of our California landscape. We can expect to see a new mural by Blakeslee for the upcoming season. The walls of the tiny shop are adorned with reclaimed redwood from the renowned Fujita family home, a family with deep roots in our chicken farming past. After standing abandoned for many years, Alexandre and her husband bought and renovated the Fujita residence on the south side of Petaluma. It is fitting that Free Range’s decor has a connection to Petaluma’s history and culture because a view of our historic Carnegie Library fills Free Range’s front window. The Petaluma Museum currently resides in the Carnegie building and hosts exhibits, dinners, and events that highlight the current agricultural reemergence and pay homage to our farming heritage. With an appreciative smile, Alexandre proclaims, “I have the best view in town.” Free Range loans blankets to those who wish to find a sunny picnic spot on the museum’s lawn and allows patrons to take the slow food movement to a higher level. This communal aura extends to the style of seating offered at Free Range. Instead of separate café tables, the sidewalk in front of Free Range hosts a picnic table, where friends and strangers alike can enjoy freshly prepared meals.
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