Free Range – Provisions & Eats

Free Range has become on of my favorite Downtown Petaluma Stores to shop. I have purchased many items there from candles to jewelry mostly for myself! I have also picked up a few gifts for others, but I always find something I can’t live without. I have not tried any of the food yet, but after reading the previous reviews I certainly will. The owner couldn’t be nicer! If you want a unique shopping experience with reasonably priced and unique items go to Free Range, you won’t be sorry.

If you’re looking for great unique gifts, this is your place!
I love this store. I’ve purchased many birthday, holiday, and just because gifts here. There was this beautiful necklace I bought for my partner’s sister… who on the scale of difficulty to shop for is a level 10. She loved it; it was a simple necklace that she wore every day. I call this a major win.

You can see/​taste/​feel the heart that goes into this very special place. One of my fav spots in petaluma for gifts, lunch and home goods. I cannot wait for their upcoming events!

Very cute store, love the jewelry and household items she carries.
Most importantly, I just tasted her tuna salad and it is by far the best salad in Petaluma. No sandwiches for sale today but I will be back to try more of her cooking. Also looking forward to the peanut butter cookie she kindly gave me. I’ll be going back soon!

This is the cutest place! They have housewares and jewelry and a tiny fridge tucked in the corner by the cash register. In this little fridge and the freshest, most inventive and delicious salads I have ever had.
Yesterday I went in to get lunch and walked out with a tuna salad. Baby arugula, mint, scallions, olives, sesame seeds and non mayo tuna. Amazing! But please don’t start going here and get my salad before I do! The owner only makes about 4 of each thing and they sell out way too quickly.

I love this store. Shopping local is a big deal to me. I was able to do a lot of my holiday shopping here as the items available not only change weekly but are unique. There are gifts for men, woman and children (and myself). Being able to grab a bite, (she has a pea and parmesean secret ingredient sandwich that is to die for) makes it nice to shop, eat sitting outside at the picnic table to relax.
Suzanne, the owner, will sit to get to know you when she is not too busy. That is local shopping, getting to know our local owners.
Lastly, Suzanne did somthing most small business owners wouldn’t dare do. She took time off after the holidays to rejuvenate and enjoy her family. I was impressed, knowing how difficult it is to start a new business, that I did the same. It has worked wonders for me. Suzanne is a model to follow for all of us that dare to do greatly!

Suzanne is the genius behind Free Range and she puts her heart and soul into every creation. No cookie cutter shop turning out the same limited thing everyday. You have to drop in and see what’s cooking. It’s always fresh and inspiring. And then she’ll give you a sample of something new for your opinion. I tried her salad and crostini at Taste of Petaluma and it was great. Going back for more soon. She’s what makes petaluma unique

What exactly is this place? I still don’t know. But, the grab and go lunch was so fantastic, I will definitely go back. I had a delightful sandwich with prosciutto, pea/​fava bean purée, walnuts, arugula and more goodies! It was delicious but most importantly, it seemed like it was crafted with a lot of thought and care. I will go back to try some of the other items soon!

This place is full of surprises — not only is it a retail shop with beautiful treasures for the home and perfect gifts (I got my mom a candle and my sis a bracelet) it’s also got the best salads in town. Each day they offer fresh and ready to-​go salads, sandwiches and desserts using seasonal ingredients. The menu is not extensive, but everything is delicious. There are tables out front or you can borrow a blanket and enjoy a picnic across the street on the Historical Museum’s lawn. This is the Sonoma County lifestyle at it’s best!

FOOD! FRPE finally has food. …and what wonderful food it is!
I saw a few people sitting out front at their new picnic table and figured I give them a look. They had a few tasting samplers on the counter and one of them really struck my fancy. It was the strangest lemon bar I have ever had and possibly one of the best. It wasn’t yellow and was filled with nuts and coconut and other stuff but it was incredible so I bought one to bring home. I also tried their chorizo/​spinach eggie pie (quiche) and it was absolutely fabulous. I have never seen choriso in eggie pie but boy is it a great idea. That might be the best eggie pie I have ever had and I will definitely being going back for me.

It is little wonder that Free Range is listed first in the SF Chronicle/​Gate article, «Six Places to Visit in Downtown Petaluma.»
Free Range is a labor of love of Suzanne the proprietor, which shows in every detail, and I mean, every detail — from every thoughtful object for sale and how the items are displayed — to every ingredient in every salad, sandwich, juice combo, or cookie.
I recently moved to Petaluma from SF and my second week here happily coincided with the full-​time opening of the food offerings at Free Range. I first went because much of my kitchen stuff was packed away, and then because I was too tired to make such perfectly balanced salads, and then because, well, I was addicted. I had left kitchen things like an old bottles of vinegar and ragged pot holders in the rubbish, so was delighted to be able to also replace them so easily & perfectly.
The first time I wondered in there, on the heels of an increasingly jealous out-​of-​town friend, Suzanne’s son was giving out free samples. Since then, I have found that lucky, regular patrons of Free Range often get to sample her recipes-​in-​the-​making for free, the latest creation being a smashed sweet pea sandwich. I have had sweet pea filled ravioli before, but this is so much better. Truly inspired.
This past Sat was The Butter & Eggs Parade. Suzanne thoughtfully had bales of hay in front of her store covered in handmade throws so that her patrons could have extra seating to watch the parade in addition to her usual picnic table. (And shame on those who ignored the signs and sat there without purchasing a thing!) Sunday was the Antique Fair, which I dropped by on my way out of town, and noticed that she was inside getting ready to open on her normal day off, sweeping, as part of having antiques for sale out front. If that were me, I would have been catatonic by the end of such a long, hard week and would have taken the next few days off. But come Monday morning, as I sat in my car at an intersection on the edge of town, who should I see likely coming back from her usual Monday farm run for fresh veggies, but Susanne. Like I said, this store is a labor of love!

Popped in for some holiday shopping – love it!
Not really an eatery quite yet, things are still evolving, but I look forward to when they have more stuff to grab and eat, but for now, there are lots of treats for foodies (glassware, cutlery, salt, wooden bowls…) and beautiful jewelry and textiles, all with a local touch and a sense of whimsy.
More! More!

Gotta come in for a bite.