Natali Carrera - 3/30

10 things you didn’t know about H&M, Fashion Fair’s newest retail store

September 12, 2018 by Natali Carrera Leave a Comment

This Thursday, Sept. 13, Fashion Fair Mall will welcome clothing retailer H&M to its family of stores. This will be Fresno’s second H&M location—the first opened in River Park in 2014.

H&M is still a relatively new retailer to the area, so I thought it would be fun to learn a bit more about the store. In my research, I learned not only about their exciting grand opening plans, but also how much the chain of stores cares not just about fashion, but also sustainability and resource conservation.

H&M is known around the world for affordable, stylish clothing

10 Fun Facts About H&M

1. H&M stores are known around the world for offering affordable and sustainable ready-to-wear fashion clothing in a wide range of styles and sizes.

2. The H stands for Hennes, which is Swedish for “hers” as well as the name of a women’s clothing store founded in Sweden in 1947 by Erling Persson. Later, Persson purchased the building and inventory of a hunting store called Mauritz Widforss. After the acquisition, Perrson decided to begin selling men’s clothing as well as women’s, so he renamed his store Hennes & Mauritz, which later was shortened to H&M.

3. H&M prides itself in treating employees well and providing career paths. In 2017, the store earned the ranking of #1 Employer in the fashion industry by Forbes.

4. Every single U.S. H&M store is powered by renewable energy, including all 78 California locations.

5. H&M cares about sustainability and the impact the fashion and textile industry has on landfills. The chain of stores was the first in the world to launch an across-the-board textile recycling program. Shoppers can bring bags of no longer needed clothing or textiles, in any condition, to their local H&M store and they will be recycled responsibly.

6. In 2017 alone, H&M stopped more than 2.5 million pounds of unwanted clothing and textiles from being added to U.S. landfills.

7. The new 22,000 square foot Fashion Fair H&M location will be located at 559 E. Shaw Ave. next to the Disney store, between Macy’s for Men and JC Penney.

8. The Fashion Fair H&M store will carry clothing for men, women, children, and infants, plus offer a separate “store-in-store” accessories selection.

9. To celebrate the new store, customers at the H&M at Fashion Fair can line up before noon on opening day for a chance to win an H&M Fashion Pass valued up to $500, while supplies last, in addition to other surprise offers for the whole family.

10. Customers who participate in the clothing and textile recycling program by bringing unwanted items on opening day will have a chance to win gift cards from $50–$500 in value.

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So, will you be recycling and shopping this Thursday, Sept 13, at H&M in Fashion Fair, and possibly winning prizes? I hope so! Have fun and good luck!

Tower’s new Bocca Taqueria satisfies your cravings for flavorful tacos

September 5, 2018 by Natali Carrera Leave a Comment

Living in the Taco Capital, Fresnans are lucky to have tacos available on numerous street corners throughout the city. Sometimes, however, you want to go out for tacos and have a place to sit and relax while you eat, as well as a wide variety of meat and filling options to choose from—like those you enjoy from your favorite taco truck.

Bocca Taqueria, a newly opened Tower District restaurant, satisfies both of those needs!

Bocca Taqueria is located on E. Olive in the Tower District

Menu options are plentiful

Bocca Taqueria is located at 568 E. Olive Avenue in the former Castillo’s location. Their menu offers a whopping 16 different meat choices for taco lovers to enjoy. From popular favorites like asada and al pastor, to less common, specialty choices like suadero (aka “rose meat,” a flavorful cut of beef neck) and cachete (beef cheek), there are options for all.

Bocca offers waited service in two dining areas with updated, modern décor. The environment is casual and family friendly.

Bocca offers a variety of meats for taco lovers to enjoy (pictured clockwise from top: asada, saudero, al pastor)

Bocca’s interior is updated and inviting

Bocca’s taco selfie wall is ‘Gram-worthy on purpose

Menu highlights

My husband and I recently visited Bocca for the first time, and really enjoyed the food and experience. Here are some of the highlights from our visit:

Salsa Flights for $3.99. You can try six different types of super flavorful and fresh, house-made salsa. On the day we went, we were served pineapple habanero, fresh red tomato, crushed peanut, molcajete, green tomatillo, and pumpkin seed salsa. Every single one of them was good; however, I enjoyed the molcajete best and my husband loved the peanut salsa. Chip refills were provided at no additional cost.

Bocca’s salsa flight and chips

Mulitas, a cross between a street taco and a cheese quesadilla. These tasty, melty stacks of deliciousness are available with al pastor (pork), chuleta (pork chop), bistec (steak), ribeye, arrachera (skirt steak) or pollo (chicken). I had an arrachera mulita and have been craving another since the moment I finished eating it.

My skirt steak mulita (on the left)

Choriqueso, another hybrid dish, is a hearty appetizer featuring melted cheese and crumbled chorizo, and is served with corn or flour tortillas.
Pricing. All menu prices are fairly reasonable, especially given the quality and selection of ingredients. Depending on how hungry you are, you’ll likely want to piece together 2-4 items to create a full meal, but at $2.75-$4 a pop, the total cost is very inline with, if not slightly below, most casual, sit-down restaurants.

Bocca’s current menu

Where to find Bocca Taqueria

Though it’s been open just over a month, Bocca has already garnered a solid 4-star average on Yelp and 4.4 star average on Facebook. Reviewers point out how much they enjoyed the multitude of salsa and meat choices, and how good the asada and ribeye are.

If you’re looking for some tasty tacos in a pleasant, sit-down atmosphere and friendly customer service, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with Bocca Taqueria. I recommend putting them on your “to try” list and visiting soon!

Bocca Taqueria

568 E. Olive Ave.
Fresno, CA 93728
(559) 374-5100

Hours: Closed Sun and Mon. Open Tues-Sat 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Find them on Facebook here

Learn about the Central Valley Red Cross, their work, and how you can help

August 29, 2018 by Natali Carrera Leave a Comment

With all of the fires occurring in California this summer, as well as in the Pacific Northwest, the Red Cross is a name we frequently see in the news consistently providing help to those in their time of greatest need.

As you may know, the Central Valley is home to its own very active Red Cross chapter. I wanted to take some time to learn more about what its staff and volunteers are doing to help others, plus find out how we, as fellow Valley residents, can be of assistance to their work. I spoke with Taylor Poisall, Volunteer Recruitment Specialist at the American Red Cross Central Valley, to learn more.

FresYes: Can you tell me a bit about your position with the local Red Cross, and what drew you to the work?

Taylor Poisall: I am the Volunteer Recruitment Specialist, which means I have the incredible opportunity to speak with our community members about how they can volunteer with the Red Cross throughout the Central Valley. I originally started as a volunteer during my senior year of college, and thankfully found a role in the Red Cross.

Working with volunteers is a truly enjoyable experience, and they continue to inspire me. It is incredible work that our volunteers do, whether it be helping communities prepare for emergencies, assisting people affected by disasters, connecting families or simply lending a helping hand to members of the community. Every day is different and exciting and our volunteers make it very enjoyable.

The Red Cross sends Disaster Relief teams to help after a disaster on average 64,000 times per year

FY: What type of work is our local Red Cross most involved in?

TP: Our Disaster Services team is extremely busy in the Central Valley. Our Disaster Action Team responds to almost one home fire a day to support victims of household fires. To combat this, the Red Cross has a “Sound the Alarm” campaign where volunteers and partners canvass high-risk neighborhoods to install free smoke alarms, replace batteries in existing alarms, and help families create escape plans. Residents looking to take part in our free smoke alarm program can call our chapter office and make an appointment to have free smoke alarms installed.

Our Service to Armed Forces volunteers work with the VA Hospital to provide support to veterans and participate in Reconnection Workshops with active duty members and their families.

Lastly, we are always training for ongoing disaster seasons. We deployed trained disaster volunteers to several wildfire responses this summer, and we are preparing for the upcoming hurricane season.

The work of the Red Cross is carried out largely by teams of trained volunteers. Read on to learn how you can help!

FY: Are there elements of the work our local Red Cross does that you were surprised to learn of, that you didn’t know about prior to your work with the organization?

TP: Before I started, I knew that Red Cross taught Health and Safety classes and that they were there in big disasters I saw on the news.

After working with the Red Cross for three years, I am constantly encouraged by what our volunteers can do. Almost every day in Fresno County, Disaster Action Team members are waking up in the middle of the night to go support victims of home fires. Nationwide, Red Cross volunteers respond to over 64,000 natural disasters a year, and most of them are home fires.

FY: What are the greatest needs currently for the Central Valley Red Cross, and how can Fresnans help?

TP: Volunteer at the American Red Cross of Central California to make an impact today! People can volunteer at our office working on administrative projects big and small, teach education classes to prepared students and community groups, train to be on a disaster team, work with our VA and other veteran groups—the list goes on.

You can also help people affected by disasters big and small, like wildfires and countless other crises, by making a donation to support Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to, and help people recover from disasters. Click, call, or text to give: visit redcross.org, call 1-800 RED CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

FY: I know there are events coming up that support the Red Cross. Tell me what’s ahead on the calendar.

TP: Local Red Cross of Central Valley volunteers are excited to support A Taste of River Park 2018, a volunteer favorite. You can join us on Sept. 8 from 6-10 p.m. for a 21+ event in the River Park shopping center. This 9th annual event consists of food, wine, fashion, and lots of fun. Located throughout the event will also be two bars, various vendors, wine sampling, and of course food tasting! Guests will receive one taste from each winery and restaurant. The American Red Cross Central Valley is the proud beneficiary of this year’s event. A portion of the proceeds will support disaster relief. To purchase tickets, you can visit atasteofriverpark.com.

Additionally, you can join us this fall as the American Red Cross of Central California introduces Shelter of Hope, a major regional fundraising campaign to raise funds and awareness to support disaster relief by simulating the experience of staying in a Red Cross shelter. The Shelter of Hope will be in Fresno on Oct. 19 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. at River Park. There will be plenty of events for the entire family. For more information, visit redcross.org/hope.

FY: Anything else you’d like FresYes readers to know??

Whether it’s a wildfire, a call for help after a devastating home fire, a call from a service member or military family in need, the Red Cross is there. All Red Cross assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money. The Red Cross delivers help to whoever needs it regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation or citizenship status. The Red Cross is a charity, not a government agency, and people who have disaster-caused needs do not need to be American citizens to access Red Cross services.

If you have an interest in volunteering or learning more about our programs, you can contact me at taylor.poisall2@redcross.org or visit redcross.org/centralvalley to learn more!

The Revue celebrates one-year anniversary with new mural

August 22, 2018 by Natali Carrera Leave a Comment

Locally owned and operated coffee house, The Revue, located at 620 E. Olive in the heart of Fresno’s Tower District, will be celebrating its one-year anniversary this Saturday, Aug. 25, with a special celebration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

I caught up with one of their awesome owners, Bryan Feil, to learn more about the event and what’s new at Revue. A lot has changed in just a year!

FresYes: Tell us what you love about your location and about having been a part of the Tower community for the last year.

The Revue: We honestly just love engaging and connecting with our community through coffee and delicious products. Having the ability to offer products that are locally sourced and thoughtfully prepared is what gets us excited.

When you opened, you offered something no other local coffeehouse could—Ampersand ice cream! Since then, you’ve added new and unique offerings to your menu. Tell us about what’s new.

We have seasonal menu changes which bring about great excitement, from our soda offerings to house-made syrups or the crowd favorite, our Horchatte (a cinnamon-infused horchata-inspired latte). It’s been fun to keep people fueled with products that are unique to the Central Valley.

It seems like your back room has been hopping with cool, community events lately! Tell us a little about that.

Our desire to connect the community through beverages is exciting but, just as much, are the events that bring everyone together. We do Vendor Fairs every two months which showcase craft makers from around the valley.

We have partnered with Tower Yoga to do a Sunday Yoga Reads session and incredible weekly yoga events that bring health and connectivity together. We also offer kombucha workshops, coffee cuppings, open mic nights (every Monday night), and other regular music events.

It’s also been an event space community members can rent for their own events, which is another neat community engagement opportunity for us.

Cozy interior invites you to pull up a seat

The Revue’s back room is home to yoga, music, and more!

You guys recently commissioned an awesome mural for the side of your building, can you tell us more about it?

It was created by two incredible artists, Quinn Bowman and Julia Woli Scott, who have really pulled out all the stops to put together this 90-foot, five panel mural that is incredible, beautiful, and unique. We are doing a celebration of this on Aug. 25 as well.

What else would you like readers to know about your upcoming event or The Revue in general?

Come on the 25th ready to celebrate our community and great beverages, and enjoy a unique, one-time opportunity to enjoy a “steal the glass” nitro float drink. We are so thankful for our city and the Tower for allowing us to serve this year, and hope to continue bringing our best daily. If you haven’t had the opportunity to come down, please come and visit with us and the community this Saturday, it will be fun!

Come see The Revue’s wall mural at their anniversary party this weekend!

Basilwood Farm now offering tasty bites, cheese-making classes and more!

August 8, 2018 by Natali Carrera Leave a Comment

Basilwood Farm, located just above Fresno in the hills of Prather, CA, is a family-owned and -operated goat farm known for its nourishing skincare products. This fantastic farm is no stranger to FresYes readers—we’ve happily introduced you to it previously. However, with so many new things happening, I felt it was time we circled back to Basilwood!

I spoke with owner Jill Spruance about all the exciting new experiences, products, and people involved with Basilwood’s continued expansion. Read on!

Basilwood Farm is family owned and operated.

FresYes: Basilwood Farm has expanded to offer so many new experiences for customers and guests! Can you tell me a bit about what’s new?

Jill Spruance: The latest “new thing” in Basilwood is the introduction of Kenzie’s Kitchen! Are we crazy?!? YES! We went through the process of becoming a cottage kitchen this year so that we could offer goodies to customers who wanted to linger out at the farm tables while doing some goat gazing. So Jannine Fitzgerald, (formerly of Firehouse Cookies), came on board as our very own Basilwood baker! Jannine joined the team in stride as though she had been here since day one, and we are blessed by her every single day… Oh, and the kitchen smells ahhhhmazing!

Your body care product list also continues to grow. What products are your bestsellers, and what are your newest favorites? Is there anything you’re working on you’d like people to look forward to?

Our goat’s milk soap was our first product and continues to be our bestseller. We have added quite a few products to our line-up since we began. A couple of my current favorites are All-Natural Deodorant and Palm Balm. Palm Balm is so new that it’s not even online yet. As far as new things, keep your eyes open as we approach the fall (wink, wink).

This goat’s milk deodorant is a newer product of Basilwood

Basilwood Farm has made a name for itself with exceptional skincare products made from goat’s milk

The upcoming cheese class really caught my interest. What should people know about it?

Our “Cheese, Please!” Workshop is probably one of the most popular events here in Basilwood! It is a three-hour demo workshop where Shelby (the cheese chick) shows you how you can make chevre, mozzarella, and ricotta cheeses from goat’s milk while guests enjoy cheese-y snacks, good conversation, a tour of the farm and soap room, meet-n-greet with the goats, and shopping at The Farm Store. A lot of people don’t realize they can either sign up online OR they can book their own private class if they have a group of eight or more. We have hosted bachelorette parties, family get-togethers, team-building events and work retreats. Every single group brings its own flair and personality to the mix, and we enjoy getting to make new friends.

Your farm is located up and away from the stress of the city, yet currently, so many wildfires are burning. Has your farm or activities been affected?

Every fire season has us on alert up here in the foothills. The current fires are located far enough away from us so as to not pose an imminent threat, but the smoke has definitely kept us inside far more than normal.

So, I have to ask, at the risk of creating a stir: do you have a favorite goat?

Every single one of our goats is a favorite in a different sort of way. Each one’s personality is very distinct. If I had to pick a favorite, though, it would have to be Jasmine. We almost lost her last year due to a very difficult delivery, but the sound of her babies’ chatter kept her going. I was sure on several occasions that she was gone, but she just kept springing back to make sure she was there for those kids. She is by far the most attentive and nurturing of all of the girls, and also keeps her herd in line. She’s a GREAT mom. Even if one of the goats is getting a little too pushy with me, she will get between us and head butt the offender. She’s awesome!

Try to say no to this cute little goat! I dare you.

That’s amazing! Anything else you’d like FresYes readers to know about Basilwood Farm?

We think we have the most incredible customer/friends and local community on the planet! Our Fall Bash is coming up Saturday, Sept. 1, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.. Our fall soaps will be back with a few new ones in the mix! If you haven’t been up to the farm yet, that would be a great time to visit.

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Basilwood Farm is located at 15759 Morgan Canyon Road in Prather, CA, and can be reached by phone at (559) 332-3276. The farm is open to the public on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and by appointment for private classes and field trips.

For more information about products and upcoming events, please visit the Basilwood Farm website, or give them a follow on Facebook and/or Instagram.

Hey. Come visit me at Basilwood Farm. You know you want to!

All images used with permission, and property of Mariano Friginal Photography.

5 things to learn in Fresno this August

August 1, 2018 by Natali Carrera Leave a Comment

Fresno event planners, artisans, and educators are continually working hard to provide awesome new opportunities for fellow Fresnans to gain new skills, meet new people, and create something special.

Periodically, as new opportunities hit calendars, I will roundup some of the most exciting, new class and workshops available and share them with you here.

Check out my August class highlights below, and let me know in the comments what you try—I’d love to hear about your experiences!

1. Learn to repair your own clothing along with the art of sewing

The Holistic Cultural and Education Wellness Center is a Fresno-based non-profit that offers free community classes year-round. Their new Mending class will begin this evening, Wednesday, Aug. 1 at 6 p.m., and take place on the first Wednesday of each month going forward. Participants will learn to mend, create, modify, and upcycle apparel. The Holistic Center is located at 4867 E. Kings Canyon Road. Please call (559) 255-8395 to reserve your space in the class.

2. Help youth prepare for adulthood and successful job-hunting

Exceptional Parents Unlimited (EPU) will be hosting a special event where junior high and high school students can learn how to prepare for future job interviews through hands-on activities and games while parents participate in a workshop, “My Kiddo is Growing Up, Now What?” This event will provide specific guidance for youth and young adults on dressing for success for both job interviews and work. To sign up or get more information, contact EPU at (559) 229-2000, extension 527 or email trainings@epuchildren.org.

3. Check out Mars and ask an astronomer your questions

Central Valley Astronomers offer Fresnans a very cool hands-on learning opportunity once a month when they set up telescopes and answer questions about the great beyond in River Park. The next River Park Astronomy Viewing event will take place Aug. 18 beginning at 6:30 p.m. Currently, Mars is closer to Earth than usual, which makes for an exceptional viewing experience. This experience is free and family-friendly. For more information and a list of all dates, visit the event page on Facebook here.

4. Learn Linux so you can control lasers

And other cool things! According to Root Access Hackerspace, “Linux is an operating system like Windows or MacOS, but it’s free and has endless ways to customize it. We use Linux in our hackerspace to control lasers, lights, 3D printers, and even arcades.” Root Access, which is located at 1476 N. Van Ness, will be offering an introduction to Linux and plenty of flash drives for those who’d like to give it a try tonight, Aug. 1, from 6-8 p.m. Root Access offers numerous tech and maker-based courses each month. To view their full schedule, check out of their Facebook event page here.

5. Learn a new type of dance

La Reve Dance Academy is a locally owned school of dance offering a wide variety of dance styles, including Jazz, Hip-Hop, Lyrical, Ballet, Contemporary, Modern, Mom & Me, and more. Try any class for free by simply signing up online for a free trial class. La Reve is located on Bullard and First at 5721 N. First Ave. Sign up for a free trial class here.

FresYes People to Know: Chef Shayna Telesmanic

July 27, 2018 by Natali Carrera Leave a Comment

If you love cooking and have lived in the Fresno area for a while, the name Shayna Telesmanic may ring a bell, and rightfully so. Shayna is the owner and director of Fresno’s Young Chefs Academy, where she has been teaching children and families how to cook through weekly classes, workshops, field trips, and community events since 2010. In that time, she has also established herself as “Chef Shayna,” a cooking authority in the Central Valley with a weekly segment on Fresno’s ABC30 and appearances on KSEE 24 and FOX 26.

I wanted to take the opportunity to better introduce you, our dear readers, to Chef Shayna, as she has so much knowledge and passion for food to share!

Meet Chef Shayna Telesmanic!

FresYes: I’ve seen you on the news doing cooking demonstrations and have heard of the Young Chefs Academy via friends and social media. How did you first get interested in cooking, and at what point did you realize it was meant to be your career?

Chef Shayna: I was exposed to the food world from a very early age. I grew up watching my Italian family in the kitchen. My grandfather was a chef and my uncle was a chef in an Italian restaurant that my mom owned and ran. I spent a lot of time there growing up. My family also spent a lot of time traveling abroad, so I was exposed to a wide variety of food from different cultures at a very early age as well.

Living alone in college, I began experimenting with food prep unsupervised for the first time. I also spent time abroad both in Italy and Thailand, and took cooking courses there.

Out of college, I pursued a career in fashion as a buyer but soon decided to change paths to seek a career that made a bigger impact. I have always been passionate about food and working with children. I saw (and still see) a big need to educate kids about where food comes from and how to prepare it, and to encourage them to try new foods and flavors.

Ultimately, I want to take the fear and mystery out of the food prep process and bring families together around the table. While I have spent most of the past eight years teaching kids, I do offer adult classes and workshops as well. I especially love helping and inspiring busy parents to prepare healthy meals for their families.

FY: What are your favorite types of dishes to make?

CS: Healthy yet delicious meals that look and taste more complex than they actually are to create, because we eat with our eyes first. I especially love putting together beautiful presentations of finger foods and light bites for gatherings and get togethers.

I tend to prepare a lot of Mediterranean food. I first started experimenting with cooking on my own in college because I wanted to learn how to make vegetables and healthy food taste good. That is still my goal.

FY: What other chefs or home cooks have had the biggest impact on you and how you think about food and cooking?

CS: I get a lot of inspiration from my family, time spent both in Italy and Croatia watching relatives spend hours on food prep and how much time, thought, and effort goes into creating a meal. From sourcing fresh goods daily at the local market to time spent in the kitchen prepping a dish with love, I’ve always found the process so romantic and magical.

The European way of celebrating food and mealtime and the way it brings people together on a level playing field is fascinating to me. They really know how to enjoy life, connect with others, and eat good food. I also grew up in the South, and the same holds true there.

FY: I know you’re passionate about helping others learn to cook. For those who are intimidated by cooking but looking to get started, what would you recommend do?

CS: Take classes with me at Young Chefs Academy. While we are primarily a cooking school for kiddos, I do offer adult classes for those that are “young at heart.” For the past five years I have been teaching meal prep workshops geared towards stocking your freezer with healthy food that can be prepared in the slow cooker. I am working to adapt that to include pressure cooker classes. I also offer private adult classes and have plans to expand my meal prep and cooking class offerings this fall.

If you can’t join me, start with learning knife skills. If you know how to properly sharpen and use a knife and master the basic cuts, that is a great foundation.

Knife skills come in handy so often in the kitchen, including when preparing fresh vegetables for roasting, like this tray Chef Shayna prepared

FY: Your new book, Food for You, is geared toward helping tweens and teens get involved in cooking and making good food choices for themselves and their bodies. A book on this topic, specifically targeting this age range, seems really unique! What made you decide to write for this audience?

CS: Food and food choices can be very confusing to both kids and adults. Being a teenager is an especially confusing time. My goal in writing the book is to create a simple and straightforward resource with information that is critically important to the health and well-being of this age group.

There is nothing revolutionary or controversial in this book, it is simply an aggregate of the information and best practices out there. It is not a revolutionary new diet or fad because I don’t think that is what the world needs right now. It is just important information, simply stated, in a fun and engaging manner to help teens navigate this time of their lives with some guidance on food and tips for creating a healthy relationship with food.

Chef Shayna shows copies of her new book, “Food for You”

FY: Where can we pick up a copy of your book and connect with you to learn more about cooking?

CS: The book is for sale at Amazon.com and Barnes & Nobles, and copies are available at Young Chefs Academy. I am planning a book launch party and book signing on Friday, Aug. 24. Everyone is welcome to attend. We will have hands-on cooking demos, free food, and fun!

FY: Anything else you’d like FresYes readers to know?

CS: I truly love being a part of the Fresno community. I have had the pleasure to call Fresno home for 10 years now. I love seeing and being part of the positive growth. We have a thriving and growing food community with so much potential. After all, so much of the world’s food supply is grown in the Valley—I want to continue to showcase this for the world to see.

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Readers can find more information at www.ChefShayna.com as well as register for meal prep and adult classes. Chef Shayna loves to connect with the community on Instagram and Facebook and she shares “recipes for living your best life” with weekly recipes/food tips, inspirational thoughts for other entrepreneurs, community events, tips for navigating motherhood, and travel ideas.

For kids’ cooking classes at Young Chefs Academy, you can find more information at www.YoungChefsAcademy.com/Fresno and on Instagram or call (559) 433-6698.

(All images courtesy and property of Chef Shayna Telesmanic)

Tower District’s Hi-Top launches line of branded coffee

July 19, 2018 by Natali Carrera Leave a Comment

This month, Hi-Top Coffee in the Tower District officially began selling its own line of coffee featuring beans from Colombia, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Peru—roasted right here in Fresno. According to Hi-Top’s owners, “The coffee beans have been picked, processed, and shipped from around the world during optimal times, as the seasonality of the product is taken into thoughtful consideration, and the beans are roasted for peak freshness and flavor.”

[Read my post on Hi-Top’s grand opening here.]

Aaron Bagato, co-founder, presents new, locally roasted Hi-Top coffee for purchase

Hi-Top Coffee’s roasting procedures “highlight the complexity of each region, for optimal natural sweetness.” These coffees will be especially intriguing to coffee connoisseurs, as the flavors will expand beyond typical roast varieties like light, medium, and dark, offering more nuances in flavor. However, they will also aim to be approachable and enjoyable for all coffee drinkers.

Each Hi-Top Coffee package presents tasting notes

“The way in which we roast the beans is for optimal enjoyment, and the result is coffee that is juicy, bright, and exciting,” says Aaron Bagato, co-owner at Hi-Top Coffee. Just eight months after opening Hi-Top, the team, including Bagato and co-owners Spencer and Karsyn Suvanto, began the local roasting process behind the scenes, and are now proud to bring the final product to market.

Familiar artwork on packaging

Hi-Top Coffee is packaged in compostable bags, and the familiar artwork on the packaging (like that seen adorning the walls of the Hi-Top shop) was designed by local artist Quinn Bowman with help from shop employee Lexie Fabbian.

Hi-Top Coffee is now available for purchase

“This is an important milestone for me personally, as well as for everyone in our shop,” says Bagato, whose work experience includes several specialty coffee establishments both locally and abroad. “This is something we’ve been working towards for a while, and it’s fun for us to be bringing our take on the current coffee scene to the Central Valley.”

The roasted beans are sold in 10 oz bags and range in price from $13 to $17. The coffee can be purchased in the shop at 1306 N. Wishon Ave. in the Tower District, or online. Wholesale purchases are also available. For more information, visit www.hi-topcoffee.com.

All images courtesy Hi-Top Coffee