Inspired by her world travels, Guerneville chef and restaurateur Crista Luedtke is set to open Road Trip, a new restaurant featuring approachable, globally inspired eats (plus some of her nostalgic favorites) in late April.
The new, casual restaurant replaces Brot, a German eatery that shuttered this past December.
“I want it to have creativity and not stay in one lane. I want people to come up to the river and look at the menu and find four or five things they absolutely want to have,” Luedtke said.
Opening dishes include a banh mi panzanella salad with lemongrass chicken; spiced beef empanadas with aji verde; Texas BBQ flatbread with pulled pork, house barbecue sauce and dill pickles; fish and chips; a fried chicken sandwich; vegan coconut green curry; Mexican street corn salad; a Mexican-style hot dog with bacon, chili, crema and jalapeños; and the Mac Daddy burger with secret sauce, pickles, onions and a sesame milk bun. Most dishes range between $14 and $24. A $12 kids menu will be available.
![At Road Trip restaurant in Guerneville. (Kelly Puleio Photography)](https://www.sonomamag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Roadtrip_1508-934x1400.jpg)
![Crista Luedtke is opening Road Trip restaurant in Guerneville. (Kelly Puleio Photography)](https://www.sonomamag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Roadtrip_2057-1-934x1400.jpg)
![At Road Trip restaurant in Guerneville. (Kelly Puleio Photography)](https://www.sonomamag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Roadtrip_1459-934x1400.jpg)
As seasons change and Luedtke visits new locales, she’ll bring back some culinary inspiration to the Road Trip menu.
As part of its opening festivities, Road Trip will host a Big Queer Food Fest “On the Road” dinner April 14 at the restaurant. The event is part of a multicity tour for the 2025 festival celebrating LGBTQ+ chefs and their culinary contributions. The Road Trip dinner will feature chefs Tiffani Faison, Solarpunk Farms and ally chef Stephanie Izard for a five-course dinner from the restaurant’s menu, including wine pairings with LGBTQ+ winemakers.
Chad Hahne and David Lewis, television and film producers who have worked with many food-related shows, including Guy’s Grocery Games and Tournament of Champions, filmed in Santa Rosa, founded the event.
Tickets for the event are available at bigqueerfoodfest.com.