The Ripe Choice Experience, "Have you ever experienced something so wonderful that you struggle to find the words to describe it?" Read both part 1 and part 2.
Ripe Choice Farm and Catering is a Blue Zones Project Participating Organization.
Chef Tammy Lipps
The Ripe Choice was created by Tammy Lipps, a professionally-trained chef with a passion for re-imagining the experience of food.
Our full-service catering boutique serves deliciously fresh food. Recipes include time-tested favorites as well as new flavor profiles created specifically for your event. We strive to transform fresh, farm grown and locally sourced ingredients into amazingly delicious food. The result is a very personal reflection of your palette, sophistication and regard for your guests.
In 2020, we found the perfect location to grow the business, relocating to Lake County to open The Ripe Choice Farm and Catering. The barn event space, organic field crops, orchard, and vineyard offer endless possibilities and fit perfectly with our sensibilities and desire to take The Ripe Choice to the next level. This drove our move Lake County.
When it comes to food, Chef Tammy's passion for one-on-one collaboration makes every event unique and instantly memorable. She's helped create everything from beautiful weddings, to high-impact events for the entertainment industry. Consider us for anything that involves food, including:
“I realized that cooking is my “new” passion nearly 20 years ago which lead to the creation of The Ripe Choice. My husband and I have always loved entertaining, and I have cooked my whole life—never thinking of it as a career. It was a light bulb moment for me when I realized that I already love doing this anyway … this is my direction.”
After all these years, Chef Tammy still loves her work. “I love working with food. It comes from somewhere in my soul. I find it therapeutic and peaceful to play and experiment with food. I treat each event as if it is my own party in my own home… it matters that much to me. Whether it is fancy and complicated or not, it all has to be good.”
The Ripe Choice is a member of the International Caterers Association, Better Business Bureau, and the local Chamber of Commerce. We are located in beautiful Lake County in the heart of Northern California’s wine country just north of the San Francisco Bay Area. We are a stone’s throw south of Clear Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake in California.
The Ripe Choice Farm borders on beautiful boutique vineyards, olive grove, small town living, peace and quiet in a casual let your hair down atmosphere. Surrounded by wonderful adventures in buying farm to table goodies; hiking; the lake; and all of our wonderful wineries. The air quality is said to be the best in California. Clear Lake is the largest natural lake in CA. Lots of opportunity for playing on the lake or check out lake events such as the 2nd largest bass fishing tournament in the country; Splashdown where people land their float planes on the lake for a huge party. Great farm to table restaurants.
Stay at our two person studio loft or park your camper for a few days
Enjoy a hearty farm to fork breakfast; romantic CHEF'S TABLE dinner; boxed lunch for the lake/winery; fresh veggies and fruit.
Chef Tammy is the owner and executive chef of The Ripe Choice Farm & Catering. She will gladly open the farm for you to host a family reunion, wedding, celebratory dinners. All California cuisine, fresh farm to table. Chef Tammy operated a very successful catering business in Manhattan Beach, CA for almost 20 years before expanding her offerings by purchasing this beautify Lake County farm.
Ask about the Chef’s Table next to the vineyard!
The remarkable studio space is a modern barn loft within a 100-yr old barn on a working vineyard, orchard and farm. It is a fully open studio plan offering comfortable seating area, dining table, king bed, Egyptian cotton linens and a 4×6 walk-in rain shower. All with views of the farm.
Meals are not included during your stay yet if interested in a hearty, seasonal farm to fork breakfast; a boxed lunch for your hike or picnic, while boating, or wine tasting; dinner delivered to the loft please contact the host regarding rates and availability. All meals require 24-48 hr notice.
Book through Airbnb Book through Vbro
Bring your camper or RV and spend a few nights on the farm, book your stay through Harvest Hosts. Enjoy the farm and some of Tammy's delicious cooking!
The Ripe Choice Farm and Catering delivers gourmet dinners within Lake County.
Chef Tammy Lipps is applying her 20 plus years of experience to provide locally sourced, delicious hot and fresh meals directly to your doorstep. Enjoy a fresh, flavorful and festive gourmet meal tonight!
Call (310) 962-4597 to place your order.
Here is what we are currently preparing:
Smashed potatoes w/fresh herbs and butter
'Sweet Ending' of the day
Serves 4 – $140
Requires 48 hours notice
w/chicken apple sausage, golden raisins, melted onions
in EVVO w/fried sage
Chef’s choice green salad
'Sweet Ending' of the day
Serves 4 – $130
w/turmeric and coconut milk served w/jasmine rice and warm naan
‘Sweet ending’ of the day
Serves 4 – $130
Kale-farro-seasonal vegetable salad and lemon zest
Sweet ending of the day
Serves 4 – $130
Roasted Salsa Verde Salmon
Vegetarian/Vegan
Hearty Kale ribbons and rainbow chard,
cinnamon roasted butternut squash,
lentils, roasted chickpeas, pom arils,
toasted walnuts, sunflower seeds,
w/balsamic-tahini vinaigrette
Serves 4 as an entree salad - $60
Vegan w/brown rice, greens,
shredded carrot, scallions, avocado
w/Avocado-lime vinaigrette
Serves 4 as an entree salad - $60
Serves 6 generously – $72
With fresh basil béchamel sauce
Serves 6 generously – $72
w/herbed biscuit topping
Serves 6 generously - $72
With salsa verde (green sauce)
Includes sour cream and
fresh cilantro-onion garnish
Serves 6 generously – $60
**Ingredients are seasonal and locally sourced from our farm or other local
farms whenever possible.
Call (310) 962-4597 to order.
All meals are prepared hot and fresh in our licensed commercial kitchen, with
contact free packaging and free delivery for orders of $120 or more.
Don't see what you are looking for? Custom orders are always welcome with
enough notice and based on space and ingredient availability.
Allow 48 hours for local ordering with delivery between 4 and 5pm or at time you prefer. Tax will be charged when order is taken. Orders are confirmed by phone ((310) 962-4597) with payment.
Feedback from recent deliveries:
The Ripe Choice boutique catering is California casual at its best: fresh flavors with depth and personality, beautifully served.
The Ripe Choice is a full-service boutique catering company that specializes in private parties, business events, weddings and special occasions. We collaborate with you to create events that reflect your personal taste and, of course, taste wonderful.
Eating and drinking brings your guests closer together. Our menus are designed to impress your guests with the little details that make a get-together instantly memorable. Whether you want buffet or seated service, we can make all arrangements according to your precise specifications, including handling all your rental and decoration needs.
Every menu is customized to your needs, theme and budget. Keep in mind while looking over our sample menus that we have both proven favorites and a passion for creating something completely unique especially for you.
Catering for your next special event
Our "barn" is ideal for a special group gathering or retreat evening
Catering for weddings, birthdays or any special occasion
We’d love to work with you. Call us at (310) 962-4597 or fill out the form below to let us know what you’re looking for and we’ll be in touch.
Please use this form to contact us regarding your event catering needs. This is not an order form. All Ripe Choice farmstay guest meals (Airbnb, Harvest Host, VRBO) must be arranged through your host booking site.
Vbro Guest
We had the chance to work with Chef Tammy and her team for my daughter's wedding at the Boatique Winery. Our daughter wanted her wedding to be something a little less traditional. So we decided to host it in the backyard yard of the Vintners home on the winery. Tammy put together an incredible farm-to-table menu sourced entirely from local farms. She prepared everything in the kitchen at the house, which was a real special touch and a challenging task for 130 people. The food and service were outstanding. The menu consisted of Moroccan rub lamb chops, chicken thighs and breast with lemon preserves, seasoning, olives and many more delights! Our guests could not stop talking about the food and service!
Chef Tammy and her team exceeded our expectations. Our daughter Courtney said she created a memory for life!
We would highly recommend working with Chef Tammy!
Sean & Peggy C
Harvest Host Guests
Tammy the owner was wonderful, we had a great place to park near the grapevines. We preordered a Charcuterie board for our arrival and breakfast for the next day. They were delicious! Forgot to take a picture of the charcuterie board ☹️ Breakfast was huge and we have leftovers for another breakfast.
Vbro Guest
The food was absolutely amazing! I definitely recommend adding breakfast and dinner to your stay. The farm itself is lovely and larger than i expected. My 2yo, dog, and I enjoyed walking the grounds and visiting the animals. Very nice, quiet area perfect for relaxing. Lots of activities nearby to occupy your time. Fantastic hosts and can't wait to visit again.
