Glen Ellen Star Coming to, Yep, Glen Ellen The Glen Ellen Star will soon shine brightly in the cozy little burg of Glen Ellen. And though we are mourning the closure of the former Saffron Mediterranean restaurant that it replaces, the Star will give us delicious new reason to visit downtown. Think “refined rustic,” and you’ll get the idea of {…}
It’s a New Year’s ritual just as significant as popping that cork of Sonoma sparkling wine at midnight. The vows, the promises, the visions of a healthy new life to come with a proper diet. Fortunately for Sonoma County residents, we already live that dream, year-round. Some of the healthiest food to be found is grown and cooked right here. {…}
“For 2012, I hereby solemnly swear to treat myself well. When I feel healthy and happy, I perform better in both work and my personal life. Because I’m Good Enough, I’m Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Me!” If you’ve ever seen Al Franken perform on Saturday Night Live, you know what this is all about. With his character, {…}
Celebrate with Friends, Family, and Effortless Entertaining With the holidays just around the corner, food is on everyone’s mind. What to cook for the inevitable elaborate feasts? Well, as the old joke goes, for some one of us, the best thing we make is reservations. Luckily, Sonoma County abounds with world-class chefs happy to do the kitchen magic for us. {…}
The folks behind one of the Wine Country’s most popular GLBT social groups, Sonoma Gaydar (which I’ve blogged about in the past), have teamed with Kenwood’s bucolic Deerfield Ranch Winery – noted for its atmospheric 23,000-square-foot wine-cave tasting center – to host a big Halloween fete at the end of the month. The party will take place on Saturday, Oct. {…}
Nothing says lovin’ like something from the oven. And somehow, it’s even more delicious when someone else does the baking. Here are some of our favorite places for a beautiful loaf of bread or crazy good cookie: Wild Flour Bread, Freestone We might start simply with how to find this bakery. Follow Highway 12 about five miles past Sebastopol toward {…}
Ice Cream Sundays … and Saturdays, too Sonoma Valley Portworks is playing with Straus Creamery ice cream this month. Come taste unique blends of ice cream mixed with port and sherry, along with other delicious ingredients. The possibilities are endless, and several variations are being served every Saturday and Sunday through Labor Day, for example: DECO port ice cream with {…}
Congratulations to Laura Chenel’s Chèvre,that won two first-place awards in cheese making from the American Cheese Society 2011 Annual Competition. The winning cheeses are the Fresh Chèvre and Cabecou. Try them in this delicious recipe served with summer’s bright star – fresh ripe tomatoes. Warm Laura Chenel’s Chèvre and Tomato Confit Serves 6 1 6.2-ounce jar Laura Chenel’s Chèvre Cabecou {…}
The combination is classic Americana – an ice-cold beer, and a big, juicy burger, enjoyed while you kick back in your favorite pair of blue jeans. Of course, what you actually wear is up to you, and since this is Wine Country, we’ll remind that burgers go really great with a rich, peppery Zinfandel, too. But we’re ready with {…}
Every Tuesday I experience a new and fun thing to do in Sonoma County in regards to wellness. This time my travels brought me to an awesome store and massage studio called Body Karma in the town of Sonoma (19310 Sonoma Highway Suite C, 707-935-5855, www.bodykarma.biz). There I met with Julie Chiriap, owner and massage therapist, who specializes in creating {…}
