Author: biteclub

I’m about the least political person on the planet. I head for the hills when discussion starts to veer toward candidates, “anti” anything or involves sweaty, shouting people. Not that I don’t have the utmost admiration for the advocates among us. I’m just more of an eater than a fighter. So while Richard Gere, Ani […]

Hospital food, I’m here to tell you, is every bit as awful as you’ve heard. Having just spent four days and nights in the pediatric ward, BiteClub would have traded a bed pan, four grape drinks, a slightly used IV bag and a several luxurious nights on the floor for a real hamburger. The distance […]

The Bauer has spoken. Each year, the San Francisco Chronicle food critic bestows his blessings on a lucky 100 restaurants (see who they are) as “the best” of the year. In 2008 only four made the grade in Sonoma County. On the list: Rosso, Cyrus, Cafe La Haye and the Farmhouse Inn. That’s it. Really? […]

It’s a bit depressing driving around Santa Rosa these days, with every other storefront seemingly FOR LEASE. I hear endless frustration from folks in the food biz about ridiculous rents and increasing food costs. I’m get bummed seeing folks like Mark Malicki move out of town while yet another Panda Express or Taco Bell open […]

Lunch started like a bad Abbot and Costello skit. “Let’s get halo halo,” my friend said.“Yeah, uh, hi there.” Sometimes I mumble. Maybe she didn’t hear my earlier salutations.“No, halo-halo,” she said.“Hellooooooooo,” I say again, thinking, sheesh Mel, get a hearing aid.“No, they have halo-halo!” “Uh, okay.”“It’s like a milkshake. You’ll like it,” she laughs.Mmmmm. […]

Just in case we haven’t gushed about our local chefs quite enough this year, the James Beard Foundation has kindly volunteered to put that final cherry on the congratulatory sundae of foodie fete-ing with its annual award nominations. Unimpressed? Let’s just say anyone interested in the food world considers a Beard nomination a sort of […]