![Grower Christine Gemperle, shown in her almond grove in Ceres, has experimented with new irrigation systems and almond breeds to cope with her dry, salty land. (Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/082621_droughtag_aw_sized_07.jpeg?1631829555)
Torture Orchard
Can science transform California crops to cope with drought?
The search is on to help California farmers find less-thirsty tree crops. But will the experiments come through in time as droughts intensify?
![Bartender Kyle Kaylor pours a glass of wine for a patron at Ro Sham Beaux, a bar at the forefront of the Capital Region’s natural wine scene. (Photos by Fred Greaves)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/0921_dept_taste_fredgreaves_lead.jpg?1631730025)
A Natural Selection
New Sacramento wine bars highlight the Capital Region’s natural winemakers
Small, iconoclastic wineries, vineyards and bars may be set to impact the California wine scene in the same way the microbrewery boom challenged “Big Beer.”
![The walls of Giusti's Place were covered with autographed photos from the likes of Ronald Reagan, Jay Leno and Mickey Mantle, plus 1,500 baseball caps hanging from the ceiling. (Photos by Steve Martarano)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/6-august_11_2021giustis_place-6.jpg?1631288343)
Remembering a Century of History at Giusti’s Place
On Sept. 9, the much-beloved Delta restaurant Giusti’s Place burned to the ground, taking a century’s worth of memories with it.
Sponsored
![Pictured: executive chef Billy Ngo with commercial lender Tom Harris, branch manager Suzi Lewis and commercial lender Michael Stevens](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/oak_valley_0921_1500x795.jpg?1630618109)
The Premier Banking Experience for Every Client
Oak Valley Community Bank
In early 2020, Billy Ngo and Peter Kwong, business partners in Kru, Fish Face and Kodaiko restaurants, found themselves in a position like many other small business owners.
![After 19 years outside Winters, the Center for Land-Based Learning moved to a larger home in Woodland. (Photo by Fred Greaves, courtesy of the Center for Land-Based Learning)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/0821_blog_statuscheck.jpg?1630338851)
Status Check: Finding an Agricultural Coworking Space
After 19 years in Winters, the Center for Land-Based Learning welcomes farmers to a larger home in Woodland.
![Kal and Yulia Morsey founded their water buffalo farm eight years ago and have since grown the herd from eight animals to nearly 400. (Photos courtesy of Morsey’s Farm)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/0821_blog_waterbuffalo_lead.jpeg?1629485861)
How Asian Water Buffaloes Got to Sacramento County
One of the only water buffalo dairies in the United States is
Morsey’s Farm in Wilton, which makes Italian-style cheese and
gelato.
![Owners Albert and Gloria Kutternig of Konditorei Austrian Pastry Café in Davis hold a fruit tart in the cafe’s patio area. (Photos by Charles Vincent McDonald)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/lead_3.jpg?1628610854)
Neighborhood Favorite: Konditorei Austrian Pastry Café
How a ballerina and a baker built a Viennese pastry shop in Davis
Anyone who has visited the coffee houses of Vienna will see the
resemblance between those venerable institutions and Konditorei
Austrian Pastry Café in Davis.
![Ed Arnold, owner and distiller at California Distilled Spirits in Auburn, is one of a
a handful of local entrepreneurs who have brought housemade whiskeys to market. (Photos by Debbie Cunningham)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/0821_dept_taste_debbiecunningham_embed1.jpg?1628536217)
These Craft Distilleries Are Bringing Housemade Whiskeys to the Capital Region
The Capital Region craft distillery scene is starting to catch up with the rest of the country.
![City Kitchen Sacramento is one of many meal prep businesses that saw a spike in business during the pandemic as more people ate at home. (Photo courtesy of Erica Cervantez)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/0721_dept_taste_courtesyofericacervantez_lead.jpg?1627409049)
Meal Prep Entrepreneurs Saw Big Growth — and Challenges — During the Pandemic
While nearly every other niche of the food industry lost its footing in the pandemic, one had the potential to thrive: meal delivery services.
![From left, a mango and strawberry fruit cup, a mixed gaspacho, and a mangonada at Gaspachos in south Sacramento, shown with the three chile powders that customers can choose from. (Photos courtesy of Gaspachos)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/0721_blog_neighborhoodfavorite_lead.jpg?1626986906)
Neighborhood Favorite: Gaspachos
Four siblings bring a Michoacan specialty to Franklin Boulevard
Gaspachos in south Sacramento does not serve gazpacho, the
Spanish chilled tomato soup. Here and in Morelia, Michoacan,
gaspacho is something else entirely.