When the hubster and I need to get away and turn off the world – or more realistically just step away from the cell phones and the Internet – we drive 45 minutes southeast of Sacramento to the town of Murphys.
This little California gem is nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and here, life moves at the pace of wine. The small, six-block downtown strip is home to many small wineries whose doors are open for tasting. All the shops are run by locals – you will find no chain stores or restaurants here! We enjoyed the day by walking down the strip where we took our time to rummage through the used bookstore, chat up the local antique sales person, hunt down some culinary treats, and taste the local wines.
We never forget to eat (of course) and my favorite place in Murphys to settle in for a relaxed dinner is at Alchemy Market.
Specializing in creating classically American dishes with a global twist, Alchemy captures the relaxing essence of Murphys by offering a menu that combines simple ingredients in some surprising ways. I recommend you try some of their must-haves: the fried calamari with a spiced aioli and hints of salt and jalapeño or the seasoned and smoky sweet potato fries that are the best I have ever had.
For entrées we tried something a little different with a seared ahi tuna salad that featured some spanakopita. Being Greek, I tend to be overly critical of anything attempting to be Greek food at restaurants, but these little pockets of cheese, phyllo and spinach made me so happy. We also tried the unique scallop and shrimp cakes with local veggies and pilaf.
One of the charming things about Alchemy is it focuses on keeping things local – an insider clued us in that Alchemy does not charge you a corkage fee if you bring in a local bottle of wine to enjoy with dinner. The attached market is also a great resource for picking up a couple of yummy gourmet cheeses, local produce or components for a picnic.
You won’t regret making Murphys a destination for your next weekend adventure, and don’t pass up the opportunity to visit Alchemy Market while you are visiting. You will find that the slower pace of life can be contagious!
Alchemy Market
191 Main Street
Murphys, CA 95247
(209)728-0700
Angela Vine says
Can’t wait to try it!