Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by the fires in our region.

 

We, too, were in danger with the fire on Peavine on Aug. 7. It was less than a mile away and directly behind our house. For hours, we nervously watched as planes swooped over our house and dumped fire retardant and water on the flames. We held our breath as the wind, thankfully, blew away from our house, up the hill. The hardworking firefighters had a handle on this fire relatively quickly. We were extremely lucky.

 

We know that hasn’t been the case for residents close to the Bug, Fred, and Stallion fires. Crews have been battling those horrible blazes for days. Locals have had to evacuate themselves and their animals and, sadly, some have lost their homes and pets.

 

We are thankful that the fires are edging toward full containment. And we have immense gratitude toward the first responders who have worked tirelessly to keep us safe.

 

In times like these we need to come together and support one another. We are here for all of those effected by this tragedy, and so is our local food-and-drink community.

Catch up on the latest news from our local food-and-drink scene.

 

Sharon Hamer Donaldson unscrewed the lid of a jar containing her sourdough starter and held it gently near my nose for me to smell. “It’s potent,” I said as I leafed through her cookbook, The Sourdough Cook in Buckaroo Country, inside a café in Reno on a spring afternoon.

 

We know we need to drink it, but with so many flavorful hydration options out there, water can seem so … boring. However, our bodies are comprised of about 60 percent water. Proper hydration makes every part of us function correctly, from lubricating joints to digesting food. A report from The Mayo Clinic states that we need anywhere between 11.5 and 15.5 cups of water daily, which includes water derived from foods and other beverages, and that severe dehydration can result in health problems, including kidney failure and seizures.

 

Truckee residents Tray and Janai Shock had been experimenting with making hot sauce in their kitchen for more than 10 years before they decided to take the plunge and start their own small-batch business, Truckee Hot Sauce Co., in May 2024.

Looking for something to do this week? Here are a few local happenings to consider.