Hanford Insider
Welcome the Hanford Insider, I’m your host Rob Bentley. I’m a lifelong resident of Hanford and I’m very involved in the local history scene and podcasting so I decided to start this show as a resource to Hanford area residents for covering issues, promoting events, sports, and reflecting on some local history.
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Hanford Insider
Hanford Insider: Foodie Update, City Council Meeting, Sierra Pacific wins Valley Championship
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Join us for a delicious journey through the valley's evolving food scene, where new restaurants and food trucks are reshaping the culinary landscape. We dive into the heart of our community and explore the stories behind the flavors that make Hanford unique. In this episode, we chat with food enthusiast Jordan Burrow, who shares exciting news about the latest food trends and dining establishments to hit the area.
Our conversation delves into the vibrant culture surrounding local food, where community thrives, and good food brings everyone together. From scrumptious food truck offerings at the Thursday Night Market to the impressive range of new restaurants opening their doors, we've got all the details covered. Get ready to uncover hidden gems and share in the culinary discoveries that reflect our rich agricultural heritage.
As we explore the local foodie scene, we invite listeners to engage with us on the Central Valley Foodies Facebook group. Your insights and recommendations can help shine a light on the many wonderful dining options available in our town. Let's support our local businesses together while enjoying the delicious flavors that make Hanford a food lover's paradise. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review to stay updated on all the delicious insights that await!
You can find the Hanford Insider at www.hanfordinsider.com and on social media at @hanfordinsider
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On this episode of the Hanford Insider we have a Central Valley Foodies update from Jordan Borough. You'll get an update of Hanford news and the community calendar. Then I'll be back later with your sports report.
Speaker 2:This is the Hanford Insider Podcast, where we dive into what makes our community tick, from local stories and gyms to conversations with people shaping our neighborhood. We're here to celebrate, explore and connect. I'm your host, rob Bentley. Whether you're new to Hanford or a longtime local, this is your source for everything happening in our town, from events and news to unique conversations with people who make Hanford such a unique community. I hope you enjoyed the format. Let's take a look at this week's community news.
Speaker 2:The Hanford City Council will meet on Tuesday, march 4th. Some of the things on the agenda for the study session at 4 o'clock include a review of block grant funds, an update regarding CalPERS funds and the first look at a new city social media policy. This has been a hot-button issue, as many citizens believe that they should be able to comment on Facebook, instagram and other social media posts. I can see both sides. You want transparency, but the keyboard warriors could misuse the privilege. Who would moderate the comments? Like I said, this will all be discussed on Tuesday. Some of the items on the 7 o'clock regular meeting include funding the Hanford Civic Auditorium's Century of Memories celebration. In June, the council also received the final report from Hanford Winter Wonderland. In next week's episode I'll have a recap of this week's city council meeting.
Speaker 2:In other news, residents in northwest Hanford near the corner of 12th and Fargo were sad to see the walnut orchard come down last week. The field is being cleared for a new subdivision being built by San Joaquin Valley Homes. The City of Hanford has announced a mattress recycling program. Residents can drop off their old mattresses at the City Corporation Yard located at 900 South 10th Avenue out by the fairgrounds. Mondays through Fridays and every third Saturday of the month from 7 30 am to 12 pm. For more specific information, visit the city website at hanfordgov. Here's some things coming up on our community calendar. Ghost of a Chance is now showing at the Temple Theater in Hanford. This Kings Players production runs for the next three weekends. For tickets and information visit kingsplayersorg. The bands from Hanford High, hanford West and Sierra Pacific are presenting a concert at the Hanford High Presentation Center at 6 pm on Monday March 3rd. The history of Kings County agriculture display at the Carnegie Museum of Kings County is now open. Here's what curator Michael Simas had to say about the display at Thursday night's opening VIP reception.
Speaker 3:We concentrated on part one about Tulare Lake. Tulare Lake is that mystery body of water that sometimes appears south of here and we wanted to discuss the lake and how it has an impact on Kings County agriculture, even through today. So you'll see different exhibits in there regarding the lake. We were also very fortunate. Through the generous donation of the photographs from Wilma Holt and her family, we were able to provide photographic evidence of some of the earliest farming that happened in the Tulare Lake bottom with Amr von Glahn and William F Turner, and you'll be able to see those pictures inside. We were also able to find through the photo albums pictures of all five of the dredges that were used on Tulare Lake to build and maintain the levees that are out there. At first we were a little nervous about what we were going to try to accomplish, but once again the community has come forward with some great artifacts, great pictures, and we are trying to do the best we can to display that so that you can enjoy it for the next few months.
Speaker 2:The museum is located at 109 East 8th Street and is open Fridays, saturdays and Sundays from 1 pm to 5 pm. Visit carnegiemuseumofkingscountyorg for more information. The Main Street Hanford Beer Tasting Event Everybody's Irish in Downtown Hanford will be held on Friday, march 14th at 6 pm. Tickets are on sale now at mainstreethanfordcom. The King Symphony Orchestra is presenting their annual Young Artist Spring Concert on Sunday, march 16th at 4 pm in the Hanford Fox Theater. For tickets and information, visit kingssymphonyorg.
Speaker 2:If you have an event coming up and you'd like some help getting the word out, let's work together. Send your information to hanfordinsider at gmailcom. Be sure to subscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a complete calendar of events. It's the most comprehensive community calendar available. Well, it's great to welcome back to the show Jordan Burrow from Central Valley Foodies. How you doing, jordan? Doing good. How are you doing Jordan Doing good? How are you doing Rob? Thanks for having me on Doing fantastic Thanks. You know we visited last I checked it it was December 10th in 2023, and a lot has happened on the foodie scene since then and we have new places that have opened up. But before we get into talking about specific restaurants and stuff, let's talk a little bit about the central valley's foodies facebook page and, uh, what you have on there and what people can expect to see yeah, so the central valley foodies facebook group is a community-based facebook group focusing all about the local food scene in central valley.
Speaker 4:Used to be originally just a small group, just about Kings County food scene, and basically I took over the page and wanted to expand it open to everything Central Valley food, so primarily focusing on small food businesses, small farms, central Valley food education, anything food related, education, anything food related. And that's the place really, you know you can go on there and write reviews on local small mom-and-pop restaurants you go to and then also find out information about, like food events and local things going on in your area.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the Facebook page is called Central Valley Foodies and you'll see lots of pictures of different dishes that people have posted and, like you said, reviews and recommendations for places that maybe you haven't heard of, so let's talk about. Actually, it's kind of funny. You're at the planning mill in Visalia, I'm here in Hanford at home, but tell us a little bit about some of the action going around in the local area.
Speaker 4:Yeah, yeah, so I just recently relocated to Visalia and Visalia has they're actually closing up recently after I think like 20 years that was now. So that's some major things going on. So who's to fill in their space? That's a new question mark. Where are their employees going to go? You know lots of people are talking about that. So there's that Corby's was just announced today. I don't know if you saw that Corby's was just announced today. I don't know if you saw that Corby's Rock and Roll it's like a bar and grill type place has concerts and stuff like that, featuring, like you know, nostalgic rock side bands, stuff like that. They're going to be closing up. Sounds like they're going to be putting out Irish up there, so serving Irish food and beers and stuff like that, and beers and stuff like that.
Speaker 2:Those are two things that come off the top of my head. Yeah, specifically here in Hanford there's been talks of different places opening up. The only thing really firm that we know is that the city was able to sell the courthouse building to a developer who is going to spend about $10 million to renovate the courthouse downtown and Barrel House Brewing is actually going to open up renovate the courthouse downtown and Barrel House Brewing is actually going to open up upstairs in the courthouse building. We're still about a year or more away from that, but they've had some unique partnerships with, for instance, Harris Ranch in Bakersfield. They actually had a place there. So I'm sure, as more places open, that'll encourage other restaurants and brew pubs to open.
Speaker 2:Also wanted to talk about food trucks, because that seems to be a popular topic and I know here in Hanford we had quite a selection of them at the Hanford Winter Wonderland and the Thursday Night Marketplace in Hanford that starts in May also has a really great selection of food trucks. How about elsewhere in the Valley? What are some great food trucks that stand out to you?
Speaker 4:Man, there's a lot. There's a lot of good food trucks, I think the top of my head I really like you know I've been on kind of a little health kick recently, but I really liked that Acai Bowl. They have a location downtown Hanford, off what is it Not Main Street, but that is urban and Lacey right there. Yeah, I love that spot. Um, it's good, it's fine to get something healthy. Uh, it's family friendly, and then they have a truck that they take certain places and they take to like the farmer's market, um, thursday night market Hanford, and so I really like to support them when I get a chance.
Speaker 4:Um, other food trucks kind of things. I really like Taco San Marcos out here in Visalia. That's a really solid spot. They have a lot of options because they do the Bedia Tacos, which is basically like a shredded beef I think it's traditionally goat but it's a shredded beef taco and then it's got cheese, like in between the tortillas, something like that a grill. It's really good. They also have good options for people like different diets. They have like a, they have like a keto versions and, um, they just have a wide variety of of options on their menu. It's all like really fresh and family-owned and small here in stitch relics yeah, so here locally, um, I mentioned the uh, the thursday night marketplace.
Speaker 2:I really like the barbecue queen at thursday night marketplace. Uh, I'm a barbecue guy. I, I love, I love that stuff. And, uh, mega texas barbecue in fresno is just outstanding and they're receiving rave reviews all over the social media and stuff. You got to check out their social media pages. They've got quite the dishes on display. There's also, I like, a Golden Lumpia Warrior that they serve great Filipino food and then a new one that just opened up recently and they're kind of getting out there in the community is the Eldest Mobile Bistro. That is a local food truck and they've been doing some great stuff.
Speaker 2:I'm also a big fan of Chef Grey if I had mentioned that before, but I'm a big fan of Chef Grey. I found them at the Carnegie Museum of Kings County car show back in June and wherever they show up, I try to hit them up. A couple of places here locally in Hanford or maybe in Kingsburg that I have really enjoyed is, of course, cheyenne's Steakhouse in Kingsburg is outstanding, and then I also like the new remodeled DeChico's restaurant that they have in downtown Kingsburg. They moved downtown onto Draper Street and they have a really nice place there. Dechico's does so yeah, there's a lot of good stuff going on here in the area Not only food trucks, but mom and pop places. How about breakfast places? The Green Valley Cafe in Hanford is just like I would go there every day if I could.
Speaker 4:I have a few favorite spots, central Valley for breakfast, and that's one of them Green Valley Cafe. I really love the Overland Cafe, christy and the girls who work back there. It's just stick to your ribs, old school food, you can't go wrong. The portions are huge. It's like going to Grandma's house for breakfast. You always know what you're going to get. You're always going to be satisfied. Price is good, even with today's economy, I mean for what you give. So I really like those spots.
Speaker 4:And then in Visalia I really like there's a little place called Butter Milk and I think that they're I believe they're a family. I believe they're related to the Beecham Biscuits out in Pismo. Pismo is a similar business. So they they do like um, you know breakfast biscuits business. Gravy is kind of what they're known for. But they also do like breakfast tacos, breakfast burritos and some other things. But that's a really cool spot. And uh, there's a couple other little hidden gems out here and I saw your mama caves. I think it's out kind of um, I'd be like in an industrial kind of area. Really good, you know breakfast food small.
Speaker 2:Yeah, there's so many places and you have to look. My wife and I had the chance to travel to Cambria in the fall and we tried out a place called the Hidden Kitchen in Cambria and it's like you say. It's just one of those places that's tucked away, doesn't get much publicity or anything like that, but it was delicious and it was a great atmosphere. So, jordan and I would love to hear your suggestions as to places. You can leave comments on the Central Valley Foodies Facebook page or you can stop by the Hanford Insider Facebook page and make comments below the podcast post on what restaurants you particularly enjoy. We'd love and I'm sure Jordan would love to hear more about those so he can get the word out about those places. Word out about those places. If I didn't mention your restaurant, if you have a restaurant or a food truck in town, I apologize but uh, we try to get to as many as we can. But again, leave your information in the comments on either page and, uh, we'll try to help you get the word out there.
Speaker 4:Definitely. And yeah, check out the Facebook group. Um, it's kind of like where the the heart of everything goes on. For for that page, the Instagram, I'm really active on because I like that platform. So I use Instagram a lot to share about local restaurants 559, food information, farm events. Yeah, there's a lot going on. You just got to look forward and keep your eyes open.
Speaker 2:That's great. Hey, Jordan, thank you for joining me again and I can't wait to meet up with you again, maybe when we get some new restaurants opening up in the area. Yeah, sounds great. All right, Jordan. Thank you so much, All right.
Speaker 4:Thank you.
Speaker 2:After my interview with Jordan, I did a little more research and I found some interesting fun facts that maybe you've heard about or maybe you haven't. Maybe you've heard about it or maybe you haven't. I understand that, after several delays, the Don Pancho Mexican Bar and Grill is slated to open soon in the Hanford Mall and the Old Que Pasa spot at the west entrance to the mall. I also saw on Instagram that Off the Vine Sandwich Shop will be opening a full-scale restaurant and bar in the old Fatty Albert space on 7th Street, just east of Dowdy Street. I encourage you to follow Off the Vine on social media for some construction updates and some great pictures of the food that they offer.
Speaker 2:I'm a big fan of Off the Vine, so I'm excited about this new adventure. I also reported a few months ago that the space that was formerly occupied by Artworks and then later the Works on 6th Street, between Irwin and Dowdy Street, is also being remodeled for a new brew pub in downtown Hanford. Now, if we could only get some good news from Superior Dairy huh. As I said, at any point, a new owner wants to come forward and share their good news with us. Please contact me. I'd love to help you get the word out and end all of this speculation. Now let's go to Eric for this week's exciting high school sports news.
Speaker 3:And now it's time for Hanford Insider Sports with Eric Bentley.
Speaker 1:We start with the Sierra Pacific girls basketball team as they headed up to Ceylon Arena Friday to take on Menache with a Central Section D2 title on the line. It was a back-and-forth game early on before Sierra Pacific went on a 9-0 run thanks to a pair of Lila Love threes and an Asia Jackson three-pointer to take a 16-8 lead in the first quarter. Both teams traded baskets in the second quarter, with the Golden Bears leading 26-19 at halftime, but Minacci would cut into the Sierra Pacific lead in the third. However, seven points from Niang Ayun helped the Golden Bears cling to their lead 38-37, heading into the fourth quarter. The Marauders' push continued in the fourth quarter as they tied the game late at 42 apiece. A Niang Iyuan bucket put the Golden Bears up by two and after a Menache free throw, Asia Jackson hit a dagger three with under a minute to go to put Sierra Pacific up by four. A few Riley Rue free throws iced the game and the Golden Bears celebrated a 50-43 victory. In his first season at the helm, coach Victor Chavarin the game and the Golden Bears celebrated a 50-43 victory In his first season at the helm. Coach Victor Chavarin Jr and the Golden Bears are Central Section Division2 champions and will head to the CIF State playoffs as a two-seed in Division 2, facing off with 15-seed Grant High from Sacramento in round one on Tuesday at 7 pm.
Speaker 1:And we've got our first baseball and softball scores of the season. We'll start with baseball, where Hanford West picked up a pair of wins, taking down Minnerets 4-0 and Mount Whitney 4-3 to start their year 2-0. Sierra Pacific and Hanford High split their two games last week, with the Golden Bears taking down Sanger 7-1 and falling to Madera 10-1. The Bullpups lost 11-2 to Kerman before bouncing back with a 1-0 win over Liberty. In softball, Hanford West was the only team in action last week and they got off to a 2-0 start, beating Dinuba 14-3 before edging out Tulare Western four to three. Sierra Pacific opens their season Tuesday versus Dos Palos, and Hanford High will take on Madera South in their season opener on Monday. As always, we like to cover as many local sports as possible, so if you have a score report or a story idea, make sure to email hanfordinsider at gmailcom. I'm Eric Bentley and this has been your Hanford Insider Sports Report.
Speaker 2:That's all the time we have for this week's show. If you enjoy the podcast and you'd like to show your support, you can go to buymeacoffeecom slash hanfordinsider to make a donation. If you'd like to join the Hanford Insider email list, stop by my website at hanfordinsidercom to sign up for updates. You'll also get an exclusive copy of my newsletter in your inbox each week. I also need your help getting the word out about the show by liking and sharing on social media or telling a friend For more information about this show. You can find this podcast on Facebook, instagram, threads X and YouTube at Hanford Insider. If you have a show idea, be sure to email me at hanfordinsider at gmailcom and I'll look into it. Thanks for listening. Have a great week.
