Author: biteclub

Foodie News and Gossip: Sublime to Ridiculous

I'll be spending Friday and Saturday at Greystone, checking out what's next on the world culinary stage during their annual Worlds of Flavor conference. This year's theme is Mediterranean Flavor, featuring Italy, Spain, the South of France, Greece, Turkey, Tunisia, Morocco, Lebanon, ancient Persia, and the other food cultures of the Silk Road that connected the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East with Asia.

Proposition 2: Why eaters should care

First off, BiteClub is about the least political person on the planet. Except when it comes to basic human decency toward others—and the food I eat. I’ll keep my philosophies to myself on Prop 8, but I think that all Biteclubbers might want to weigh in on Proposition 2. Though its received much less press […]

Thai Issan | Sebastopol

Despite a menu that runs for several pages, Thai Issan needs to go back to basics. The recently-opened Sebastapol restaurant may have bitten off a little more than it was ready to chew when it comes to flavorful Thai cooking

Backyard Tourist: Napa Valley Wine Train

Meals on wheels, a secret kitchenWhen the Napa Valley Wine Train rolled out of the station in the late 1980’s, it wasn’t exactly to a rousing welcome. In its early years pockets of tourist-averse townies railed against the idea of a train bringing hordes of tourists to the valley. A disgruntled Sonoma winemaker held it […]

Syrah takes over Mixx

Syrah owner Josh Silvers has just closed a deal to take over the former Mixx space in Railroad Square. After months of speculation about who might go into the vacant restaurant but Silvers tells BiteClub that construction and renovations have begun. Named Jackson’s Bar & Oven, plans are for affordable dining with a focus on […]

Juicy news

BiteClub’s finally gotten word on the whereabouts of former General’s Daughter chef Preston Dishman. After hunting around Sonoma and Napa for the right gig without luck, Preston and his wife will be heading to San Mateo. Dishman will be the new executive chef of Viognier, owned by the Draeger family. Though we’re sad to see […]

Carlos Country Kitchen

For months now, BiteClubbers have been lauding the breakfast-time merits of Carlos Country Kitchen, the red-checkered diner off College Avenue. Bordered by a gas station, botanica and car-repair shops just past the 101 overpass, the neighborhood isn't the most charming. There were some health inspection issues that were corrected. But hey, it keeps out the dilettantes and dabblers--though certainly not fans who pack the parking lot to overflow capacity