Category: Food + Drink

A sample flight of bears at Bear Republic Brewing Co. in Healdsburg in 2013.

Bear Republic to Open New Brewpub in Rohnert Park

Bear Republic Brewing Co. will expand in Sonoma County by opening a brewpub in Rohnert Park, at the site of the shuttered Latitude Island Grill. The new brewpub will be in addition to its original location in Healdsburg and its new production facility in Cloverdale. It is expected to open within a year. The deal […]

Santa Rosa’s Secret Breakfast Spot

Written by Heather Irwin for BiteClubEats. Shhh. Don’t tell anyone, but we’ve found a secret Santa Rosa breakfast spot. Local cook Damon Gault slings hash from around 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Sunday mornings at Sprenger’s Tap Room (446 B St., Santa Rosa). And by “around” we mean as long as people are eating and his food doesn’t […]

Drinking Stories: The Role of Yeast in Winemaking

Written by Bill Swindell for The Press Democrat. Bill Swindell’s new podcast, “Drinking Stories,” peels back the veneer of the wine, beer, spirits and cider industries. In the first episode, Bill speaks with Kevin Sea of Santa Rosa Junior College about yeast, the Jan Brady of the fermentation process, and the important role it plays […]

Review of Franchettis Wood Fire Kitchen in Santa Rosa

Written by Heather Irwin for BiteClubEats. Two forks + one bite of polenta cake = friendship on the line. Over a recent lunch nosh-fest my gal pal and I had nearly inhaled a plate of seared polenta with truffle porcini spread, mushrooms, arugula and tiny Peruvian sweet peppers ($14) at the new(ish) Franchettis Wood Fire […]

Sonoma County’s Best Food and Wine Pairings

Written by Heather Irwin for BiteClubEats. Chefs have become the secret weapon at Sonoma wineries trying to woo your tastebuds, not simply with a bite of bread or a dull plate of cheese and crackers, but with Michelin star-worthy dishes. In Sonoma County, more and more wineries are offering these intimate white tablecloth experiences that […]

2016 BottleRock Restaurants and Food Vendors Announced

Music festival band lineups? Meh. We’re waiting for the chef lineups to be announced, Napa’s 2016 BottleRock team has finally served up details on the food rock stars waiting to feed us this summer. The annual music festival in Napa is a coming together of food, wine, art and of course, music. The mostly-Napa lineup mixes […]

Five Spring White Wines to Enjoy in Sonoma County

This time of year is a conundrum. We have one muddy shoe in the rainy season, while the other is tap dancing under sun-kissed skies. We don’t dare leave our jackets in the hall closet … or do we? Our palates are just as confused but, in the end, can’t resist the urge to chase […]
Slicing beef brisket at the Cochon Volant BBQ Smoke House in Sonoma. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)

Pig out at Sonoma’s new Cochon Volant

The metal flying pig sculpture soaring atop the roof of Cochon Volant BBQ Smokehouse in Sonoma promises pork, as does the name Cochon, which is French for “pig.” And certainly that succulent meat is a hallmark of this friendly little eatery from chef-owner Rob Larman. If the art piece from Glen Ellen talent Bryan Tedrick […]
Russian River Brewing Company's Vinnie Cilurzo, with wife Natalie, is a semifinalist for Outstanding Wine, Spirits or Beer Professional in the James Beard Foundation Awards.

2016 James Beard Award Semifinalists Announced

Two Sonoma County men were among semifinalists announced Wednesday for the James Beard Foundation’s 2016 restaurant and chef awards. Russian River Brewing Co.’s Vinnie Cilurzo of Santa Rosa and Littorai Wines’ Ted Lemon of Sebastopol were among the 20 making the cut for Outstanding Wine, Spirits or Beer Professional. About two dozen Bay Area restaurants […]