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Sierra Nut, Old Doc's endure in gourmet market
Published online on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009
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With all the talk this week about the closure of Bentley's Fresh Market, it's nice to have some good news: Sierra Nut House is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and Old Doc's Discount Liquor is marking its 30th year in business.
First, here's more information about Sierra's party: It takes place 5-9 p.m. today in the shop at Nees and Blackstone avenues in the Villaggio shopping center.
Expect to nibble and sip throughout the evening. Earlier this week, owner JoAnn Sorrenti planned to serve free samples of wines, espresso, pumpkin barley salad, brandied cranberry pecan dressing, chocolate truffles and more.
It's been a long road for Sierra Nut House, which started in -- you guessed it -- a house at Chestnut and Sierra avenues owned by Sorrenti's family. When the business started in October 1969, Sorrenti, then a teacher, thought it would end after the holidays.
But "no one else was distributing nuts," she says. So she quit her job to focus on the fledgling company. Sierra Nut House moved across the street to a bigger building. Then came a second location at Palm and Bullard avenues. About five years ago, Sorrenti moved the Palm and Bullard store to Villaggio.
Along the way, Sierra Nut House became known as a source of local gourmet goods. Some of tonight's dishes are its holiday offerings.
For more information, call (559) 432-4023.
* Old Doc's prefers to keep its 30th anniversary subdued. Instead of throwing a party, the owners will do what they always do: offer discounted prices on wines and liquor.
Like Sierra Nut House, Old Doc's has seen a lot of change. When the first store opened at Ashlan and Cedar avenues, it emphasized "cork-finished wines instead of jug wines," says co-owner Don Casperson. "We thought the future of wine was going to be in the varietals. Chardonnay and sauvignon blanc and now viognier and so forth."
Casperson and his partner, Lynn White, were right. A year after launching the first store, they opened the Old Doc's at Bullard and Marks avenues. About 10 years ago, they moved the Ashlan and Cedar store to Cedar and Nees avenues.
The Cedar and Nees shop rents temperature-controlled wine lockers to customers and holds wine tastings at least twice a month. On Wednesday, Old Doc's will serve Far Niente and Nickel & Nickel wines. Guests can taste about 8-10 wines with prawns, cheese and crackers, fresh fruit and more.
On Nov. 19, Old Doc's Thanksgiving tasting will help guests pair wines with turkey, ham and pumpkin pie.
Each tasting costs $20 and will take place at 7 p.m.
For more information, call (559) 224-3627 or (559) 435-3627.
The columnist can be reached at jobra@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6365. Read her blog at fresnobeehive.com/author/joan_obra.
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