Now More Than Ever Support Local and Shop Small

As this pandemic thing unfolded, and the real estate market activity about as busy as its ever been, I found myself, like many others, seeking more efficient ways of getting through my week. I found that supporting our local businesses was not only beneficial for obvious reasons, but it also helped save me time and made my days more efficiently run….silver lining!!! Below are some changes I made that may help you as well:

1. Grocery shopping – I used to go to larger grocery stores in the past with occasional visits to our local markets but now the tables are turned. I now shop almost exclusively at Stehly Farms in Kensington (with an occasional visit to Windmill Farms) as there are never crowds, food is always fresh, and I can get in and out quickly without waiting in a line. Plus, I don’t mind paying a little bit more to do my part in supporting out local markets.

2. Gift shopping – I bought so many gifts from our local businesses, both home based and brick and mortar! Books about zero waste from Talmadge’s own pioneering Zero Waste Family, James Harker and Fredrika Syren….to Sugar Mama Caramels from our local Nancy Flint, gifts from Zen Sanctuary, Bench and Earthwell in Kensington, and of course gift cards from our favorite local restaurants! Now that the holidays are over, don’t forget about these vendors for birthdays, anniversaries, or any day that merits a little gift giving!

3. Eating “out” – We have so many amazing restaurants in the immediate vicinity that we never get tired of ordering out! My family LOVES the Haven’s cauliflower crust pizza (so crunchy and doesn’t leave you feeling super full!), Ponce’s enchiladas and tortilla soup, Tanuki has some of my favorite ginger soup and delicious sushi rolls, Papalecco is a favorite spot for a little afternoon “pick me up” espresso and gelato, Cucina Sorella had THE BEST seasonal salad with stone fruit and burrata, and Bleu Boheme ALWAYS hits the spot with their truffle fries and their most delicious French twist on a hamburger with their “croque garçon”. We even discovered a new family favorite this year on El Cajon Blvd called Addis, an Ethiopian restaurant that has plenty of vegetarian and meat options and is consistently delicious!

There are lots more that our area has to offer…I wish I could write about them all! For a list of other local restaurants and businesses/services in Kensington and Talmadge where you can find anything from legal services, financial advising, catering, graphic arts, web page design and of course, real estate services, please visit www.kentalbiz.org and go to the member directory. I hope you enjoy shopping locally and supporting our small businesses!