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Hank’s Creekside Restaurant, Santa Rosa: The traditional breakfast and brunch spot Hank’s Creekside Restaurant in Santa Rosa was featured in the “House Specials” episode in season one. Fieri tried the blueberry pancakes with corn beef hash: “It’s basic, it’s simple, but it’s money,” he said. (Photo by John Burgess)
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(Now Closed) Willie Bird’s Restaurant, Santa Rosa: Known for serving up turkey in a wide variety of ways, Willie Bird’s in Santa Rosa was featured on Fieri’s “Talkin’ Turkey” episode in season two. He tried the turkey stroganoff served in a creamy sauce with sautéed mushrooms. “I’m impressed,” Fieri said. “You're going to see me back just for this one.” In April 2022, two years after Willie Bird's was sold and relocated, the nearly 50-year-old business closed down its storefront. (Photo by John Burgess)
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Ann-Marie Hintermann has taken turkey orders for 18 years at Willie Bird's Restaurant in Santa Rosa. (Photo by John Burgess)
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La Texanita Restaurant, Santa Rosa: Craving an authentic taste for his “Global Grub” episode in season seven, Fieri went to La Texanita Restaurant in Santa Rosa. “So simple, but so good,” he said of the carne asada tacos. “I'm telling you something, there's just nothing that can beat that handmade tortilla.” (Photo by Heather Irwin)
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Taqueria Molcajetes, Santa Rosa: Fieri highlighted numerous dishes at Santa Rosa’s Taqueria Molcajetes for his “Regional Recipes” episode in season 29, including its taquitos, burritos and chile verde. He called this Mexican restaurant off W. College Avenue a “gem.” (Photo by Alvin Jornada)
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Ismael Gutierrez prepares a molcajete mixto at Taqueria Molcajetes in Santa Rosa. (Photo by Alvin Jornada)
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(Now Closed) Worth Our Weight, Santa Rosa: The nonprofit Worth Our Weight culinary training program was featured in the "Funky Finds" episode in season 11. Fieri noted it as a "one-of-a-kind experience," and the Guy Fieri Foundation donated a pretzel cart to the culinary program/restaurant. His favorite special dishes were the nectarine scones and the huevos rancheros with pulled pork and pico de gallo. (Greg K. / Yelp)
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Worth Our Weight executive director Evelyn Cheatham announced the closing of the culinary training program for at-risk young adults in 2018 after struggling to find funding. Cheatham passed in November 2019. (Photo by John Burgess)
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Zoftig Eatery, Santa Rosa: Featured on the “From Big Burgers to Little Italy” episode in season 29, Zoftig Eatery is a contemporary restaurant serving up healthy fare. Fieri tried the Korean burrito, packed with marinated Marin Sun Farms beef, house kimchi, brown rice and veggies. “I’m going to drown in my own drool,” he said before chomping down on the burrito. (Photo by Chris Hardy)
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Matt Spector, chef and owner of Zoftig Eatery in Santa Rosa, creates healthy bowls for lunch guests. (Photo by John Burgess)
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Simply Vietnam Express, Santa Rosa: Serving up the unique flavors of Vietnam, Santa Rosa’s Simply Vietnam Express was featured in the “Meaty Mashup” episode in season 29, where Fieri praised its combination pho. “Oh my goodness. It’s light, refreshing, but the depth of flavors is outstanding,” he said. “It’s everything I wanted it to be." (Photo by John Burgess)
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(Now Closed) Johnny Garlic's, Santa Rosa: Before it closed in 2018, Fieri featured his own restaurant in the "Unexpected Eats" episode in season 14. The restaurant had a fusion of Mexican, Italian, Asian and Cajun dishes on the menu, and on his show Fieri highlighted the eatery's Sashimi Won Tacos dressed in eel sauce, which won gold at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair. (Photo by Kent Porter)
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(Now Closed) Jimtown Store, Healdsburg: In the “Porktastic” episode in season 11, Fieri featured Healdsburg’s Jimtown Store, a quaint café in a rustic country store tucked away in the vineyards of Alexander Valley. “Big, deep flavor in the brisket,” Fieri said of the smoked brisket sandwich he tried there. “Sauce is no joke, you get that little back kick of the bourbon.” Jimtown Store closed down at the end of 2019 due to wildfires and expensive housing. (Photo by Alvin Jornada)
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Catelli's, Geyserville: This California-inspired Italian restaurant was featured in the "Bar Food and Bon Bons" episode in season 12. Fieri said the ravioli, made in-house from scratch, was "memorably great," as are the beef meatball sliders "that you can't get enough of." Fieri featured Catelli's in three other episodes of “Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives” and its spin-off show "Triple D Nation." (PD File)
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Zazu's Bacon-in-the-Burger with malt vinegar chicaronnes. (Photo by Chris Hardy)
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Russian River Pub, Forestville: This Russian River staple is a regular go-to for Fieri, who first featured the pub in the "American Cookin'" episode in season one. Some of Fieri's favorite dishes at Russian River Pub include the pub burger, seared ahi tuna salad and beef tri-tip sandwich; but it's the crispy, juicy chicken wings that he calls "some of the best-tasting wings in the nation." Fieri featured the pub again in the "Takeout: Bold Bites Brought Home" episode in season 32, and a third time in the Triple D Nation spin-off in the "California Comfort" episode. (Saachi G. / Yelp)
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Cafe Citti, Santa Rosa: Before it moved locations from Kenwood to Santa Rosa, Fieri featured Cafe Citti in the "Bringin' It Home" episode in season nine. Fieri enjoyed the Italian trattoria's classic Polenta ai Funghi Porcini, and he called the ravioli an "orchestra of flavors." (Photo by Jeff Kan Lee)
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(Now Closed) Schellville Grill, Sonoma: Sonoma’s Schellville Grill serves a fusion of wine country fare and Austin-style barbecue, which is why it was featured on the “Grilled, Smoked and Sauced” episode in season nine. Fieri tried the buckaroo sandwich with Mexican Achoté chicken on a brioche roll and the tri-tip sandwich smothered in a special barbecue sauce. “The right amount of smoke,” he said of the flavor. “You have a really good ability to blend things really well, without having anything take over another.” Schellville Grill owner Matthew Nagan sold the restaurant in February 2020. (Photo by Robbi Pengelly)
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Sunflower Caffe, Sonoma: Located in the historic Sonoma Plaza and offering seasonal menus, Sonoma’s Sunflower Caffe was featured in the “From Mozz to Matzo Balls” episode in season 11. Fieri sampled the borsht and feta lamb burger. "That's like the [most] luscious lamb burger,” he said. “Seriously, one of the best I've tried." (Photo by Crista Jeremiason)
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(Now Closed) Cochon Volant BBQ Smokehouse, Sonoma: Another Sonoma County restaurant to be featured on the “Meaty Mashup” episode in season 29, Cochon Volant BBQ Smokehouse is proud of their slow-smoked barbecue meats — and Fieri’s endorsement. They even created a dish in his name: the WTF (What the Fieri) Burger, topped with barbecued pork shoulder and beef brisket. "Wow that's good,” Fieri said of their fried chicken. “I can't put it in my mouth fast enough. This is not your grandma's fried chicken, this is a chef's fried chicken." In the fall of 2021, the smokehouse closed and became Il Fuoco, with Cochon Volant owner Rob Larman still at the helm and Fieri's namesake burger still on the menu. (Photo by John Burgess)
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Nicole Marcotte, right, and Kelsey Blackwell of Berkeley at the Cochon Volant BBQ Smoke House in Sonoma. (Photo by John Burgess)
wonderful review 🙂
Mr. Fieri, the early 2000’s are over.
Could have sworn Russian River Pub made the list !!
Yes, 12 years ago. First season.
Food not as good as it was then IMHO.
It would be great if the address of these places was shown.
Fieri’s fat. Wanna be fat? Eat his fave foods.
Nice to see Willy-Bird finally get recognition.
Go away Guy, go on, get!
Why the hate?
The word is that some people resent the fact that Sonoma county has so many really great chefs, yet an untalented showboat like Fieri gets the national recognition because he can stuff food into his face. To some, he is the Donald Trump of the culinary world. Now I’m just answering your question, it’s just my observation from discussions I have had with people in the restaurant business so don’t attack me.
Yaaay Trump! This country needs more Trumps to dump the establishment on its ear. These local stuffed shirt chefs have no flavor to their persona where Guy has both a sophisticated palate AND a dynamic persona. It is hard for some to swallow anything but a plain brown paper person both in the culinary world AND politics. Love Guy and love his show!
As they say, to each his own. Some people love wrestling, some would rather watch chess match. Like I said, I was just reporting what I hear through the gravevine.
Yeah, I’ve heard that, too. Lots of jealous folks in the restaurant biz around here. A lot of them are snobs, too. I don’t know Guy personally, but I know a few people who do and some that have worked with him. They all say he knows food and that he’s an incredible chef. And there’s certainly no debate regarding his charitable and philanthropic efforts.
Guy Fieri gave a ton of time, money and effort to help fire victims in the last few years. More than most have done. So, STFU.
I agree that Guy is a really good person and has helped so many people. His food is…well…it appeals to a lot of people and conceptually I like the fearlessness he has always shown. I don’t accepting hating on anyone this generous and good to the community. Unless you know him personally, please keep uninformed and baseless comments to yourself.
Something a lot of people don’t know is that he moved Guy’s Grocery Games to Sonoma County (specifically Santa Rosa) to support our local businesses. He buys almost all of the food in the “grocery store” (it’s a special set) from Oliver’s. My non-profit has received hundreds of pounds of food that the show donates each week while they’re filming. There are many others — Redwood Gospel, Redwood Empire Food Bank and many others — that feed our community with food his show has paid for.
Guy is frequently on set, and is always friendly and kind to us all.
I can say personally, that Guy has a huge heart. It’s easy to hate when someone is such an easy target, but realize that without Guy, our community wouldn’t be as wonderful as it is.
Also talking to some chefs that worked with him and a previous partner he’s not exactly the greatest of chefs or businessmen… but definitely has what it takes to be a celebrity. And some of them don’t realize (or do but don’t like the fact) that being a celebrity chef has way more to do with being a celebrity than a good chef. Generally most people I know that have seen him and from the couple of interactions me and my coworkers have had is a pretty great and very personable human being.
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