A friend was doing the math. “Let’s see,” she mused. “There are 108 restaurants. We have seven days. That comes out to 15.4 restaurants a day. Between lunch and dinner, that means 7.7 restaurants …” She grinned. “I think we can do it.” While it may not actually be possible for one person to get to every single eatery participating {…}
Taupinière. Fat Bottomed Girl. Capricious, Lamb Chopper, and Délice de la Vallée. No, these aren’t names for French poodles. They’re certainly not teases (oh, you capricious fat bottomed girl!). Instead, they’re cheeses. Specifically Sonoma-made cheeses, in a rainbow of delightful flavors and fanciful names. And you can explore them in all their glory at the fifth annual Artisan Cheese Festival, {…}
Finally, the high-style gourmet food trucks that are all the rage in big cities have come to Sonoma. Two different entrepreneurs in Sebastopol and Santa Rosa have rolled out new mobile operations that raise the bar way past the typical roach coach. Put a Fork in it, it’s fun! Fork Catering of Sebastopol puts earth-friendly food sensibility on wheels, complete {…}
Ah, farm market season is open for business. Hunt down that bargain of fresh produce, artisan jams, jellies, and cheeses. Bump into old friends or meet new ones. Enjoy a gourmet meal at a fraction of the cost of a restaurant meal. What? Rewind. Yes, Sonoma County’s farm markets are on the foodie radar for trying new chefs and food {…}
Where to begin? Masala Jack’s Indian Curry House is by far the best Indian restaurant I have found. I’m a traveler, father of two, author, and business person and I’m always happy to share great experiences. I would recommend the Tikka Masala with your choice of chicken or lamb. I’m more partial to the lamb, however my girlfriend loves the {…}
With a name like PizzaVino 707, the theme is so crisply, intoxicatingly, numerically obvious. There’s pizza in a starring role at the downtown Sebastopol restaurant, the thin-crust pies wood-fired and topped with locally sourced ingredients. There’s 707, which is the area code from whence those local ingredients come. And there’s wine, in approachable California- and Italy-centric varieties. Yet now, partner {…}
Just when you thought the Sonoma food and wine scene couldn’t get any more exciting, along comes Artisano, bringing a Saturday chock full of foie gras and fine wines. Touted as a “celebration of small production, locally handcrafted wine, food and art,” the inaugural event takes place Nov. 14 from noon to 5 p.m. on the lawn of the Geyserville {…}
The Bohemian Highway is one of the most scenic drives to be found anywhere in California. This special 10-mile roadway winds through towering redwoods, gorgeous pastures, rocky ravines, and three charming townships forgotten by time: Freestone, Occidental and Monte Rio. Buffered from the extremes of the marine fog and inland heat, this corridor is a gem of benign climate and {…}
Every night (Tues- Sunday 5:30pm-7:00pm) the Starlight in Sebastopol has a New Orleans Revival menu. It’s three courses of New Orleans Style cuisine for only $25. For example, this week’s menu is: 1. Summer Squash Gratin 2. Exotic Mushroom and Asparagus Vol au Vent 3. A Pair of Poached Pears with Chevre (A wine pairing is also available for and {…}
Dry Creek General Store, located in Dry Creek of all places, has a sandwich called the Dry Creek Stacker. It is Beyond Awesome. You have to lift with your knees. It has prosciutto and cheese and awesomeness. It may have a small turkey in there, too, this thing is so big. It ain’t cheap, but it feeds two, so I’d {…}
