The Classic 1/2 Pound Burger with roasted garlic aioli, pickles, lettuce, red onion, tomato and cheddar and a side of Truffle Fries from Palooza Brewery and Gastropub Thursday, February 27, 2025 in Kenwood. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Every town needs a gathering spot, and Palooza is Kenwood’s community hub.
This casual gastropub and brewery has a solid handle on beer-friendly food — burgers, wood-fired pizza, crispy chicken sandwiches, wings and baby back ribs — but also features upscale salads and entrées that are great for date night. Seasonal cocktails and weekly specials are always a good choice, and we love sitting on the covered patio with 180-degree views of Sugarloaf Ridge.
After 11 years in business, a rarity in the restaurant world, owners Jeff and Suzette Tyler have found a sweet spot in the growing Kenwood dining scene.
The vibe
Come as you are, whether that’s a post-soccer game lunch with the kids, after-work cocktails or a girlfriend brunch. Corrugated metal and dark wood walls keep the inside cozy-comfy year round, but it can get a bit noisy when the restaurant is crowded. If the weather is nice, opt for outdoor seating.
Barbacoa tacos with braised beef, chimichurri, pickled onions, red chilis, cilantro and avocado crema from Palooza Brewery and Gastropub Thursday, February 27, 2025, in Kenwood. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)Beet Salad with whipped goat cheese, arugula, citrus, almonds and champagne vinaigrette from Palooza Brewery and Gastropub Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Kenwood. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)The Deep Dish Warm Chocolate Chip Cookie topped with chocolate ganache, vanilla ice cream and sea salt from Palooza Brewery and Gastropub, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Kenwood. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
The food
Barbacoa tacos ($20) filled with seasoned braised beef, chimichurri sauce and avocado crema are a best bet. We also like the messy-but-tasty ahi poke nachos ($22) with crispy wonton chips, fresh ahi tuna and sriracha aioli. Half pound-burgers ($22) are made with a mixture of chuck and brisket with the Palooza logo iron-branded into the brioche bun. Finish the meal with a warm chocolate chip cookie drizzled with chocolate ganache, vanilla ice cream and sea salt ($13). The falafel plate ($22), with lemony tzatziki sauce and grilled pita bread, is very shareable and vegetarian-friendly. Beet salad with whipped goat cheese and a petite arugula salad is a great light-lunch option.
The perks: Dog-friendly patio, full bar, good beer selection, family-friendly.
The tab: Most dishes range from $15 to $26. Larger entrées like pan-seared salmon risotto and ribs are $31-$38.
The deals: Happy hour from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and all day Sunday at the bar, with doorbuster pricing on wine, beer and well cocktails.
The service: Highly experienced servers who know the menu and put guests at ease. Wait times were minimal.
Fun fact: Owner Jeff Tyler used to own a popular downtown Santa Rosa hot dog cart.
The spot: 8910 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood, 707-833-4000, paloozafresh.com
Two brilliantly preserved turn-of-the-century homes on a 10,426-square-foot lot in downtown Petaluma have hit the real estate market. A Georgian Revival five-bedroom, seven-bathroom mansion sits alongside a three-bedroom, three-bathroom craftsman cottage. The asking price for the entire property is $2,895,000.
The larger of the two 1902 heritage homes is the work of Brainerd Jones, a prolific architect in Sonoma County who the Petaluma Argus-Courier once dubbed as “the man who built Petaluma.” Jones’s other notable works in town include a schoolhouse, the Petaluma Carnegie Library and an addition to the McNear Building and Mystic Theater, all visible from the property.
Living room in 1902 Petaluma heritage home. (RavePhoto.com)Parlor in historic Petaluma home. (RavePhoto.com)
The 4,124-square-foot Brainerd Jones estate on 10 Keller St. has three stories and includes two formal parlors, a dining room and fireplaces. The tawny rich millwork is the original stained redwood, with coffered ceilings and hand-carved columns. Brass and globe chandeliers are also original. A second-story deck with a traditional balustrade gives a grand overlook to the lawn.
Next door, at 8 Keller St., an enclosed front porch leads into the 2,040-square-foot craftsman home. There’s a repeat of the stained redwood millwork throughout, but in a more angular design that’s a good match for the craftsman’s clean lines. A persimmon tree provides a focal point of changing beauty in the yard.
For more information on this property at 8 and 10 Keller St. in Petaluma, contact listing agent Rob Sullivan, 707-772-9171, Coldwell Banker Realty, coldwellbanker.com, gingermartin.com.
Amina Syammach and the Quail & Condor bakery team create a mosaic of pastries for the early morning rush Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, in Healdsburg. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Small-town charm meets big-time flavor in this Sonoma County gem, where vibrant downtown streets, world-class wineries and a thriving food scene await. Whether you’re exploring unique boutiques, savoring farm-to-table meals or taking in stunning landscapes, this town offers the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure. From scenic hiking trails to delicious dishes at every corner, we’ve curated a guide to the best spots for an unforgettable day in Healdsburg.
Ah, Kouign-amann, with your layers upon layers of flaky dough and sugary bliss. Don’t worry if you can’t pronounce it — the friendly weirdoughs (their term!) atQuail & Condor bakery (149 Healdsburg Ave.) know the drill.
Varieties of croissants available at Quail & Condor bakery Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, in Healdsburg. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)Artist Alice Sutro’s “Mistress of Memory” is featured in the restaurant atop Harmon Guest House in Healdsburg on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Christopher Chung/The Press Democrat)
Healdsburg’s chic downtown packs a punch and is best navigated on foot. Pop intoHarmon Guest House (227 Healdsburg Ave.) to see the latest installation of its rotating artist series, then head toLevin & Company Community Booksellers (306 Center St.). For 30-plus years, this family-owned bookstore and its upstairs art gallery has offered a snug space for contemplation and escape.
Nearby, the popularity of downtown newcomer Acorn Cafe (124 Matheson St.) is no surprise, with dishes like shakshuka and lemon ricotta hotcakes, topped with lemon lavender ice cream from local favorite Noble Folk. At Acorn, settle in on the patio by the plaza, or opt for a grab-and-go sandwich and hit nearbyFitch Mountain for heart-pumping hiking trails with a view.
Healdsburg shakshuka with poached eggs, tomato shakshuka, eggplant, pistachio & green olive tapenade, fresh herbs and Goguette sourdough with a Big Sur juice from the Acorn Cafe Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, in Healdsburg. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)At Aesthete Winery & Farm in Healdsburg, make a reservation in the Creekside Lounge with its individual, private spaces furnished with Adirondack chairs overlooking the banks of Dry Creek. The open-air retreat is perfect for a picnic, or upscale snacks from the tasting room. (Courtesy of Aesthete Winery & Farm)
For a more serene outdoor adventure, set your sights onAesthete Farm & Winery (5610 Dry Creek Road), a short drive away in Dry Creek Valley. Home to more than just vineyards, guests are encouraged to roam the 24-acre property, meet the social herd of rescue sheep and goats, and taste wines from rockstar winemaker Jesse Katz. If Dry Creek is flowing at a mellow pace, the winery has Adirondack chairs by the water that are the place to be.
Back in town for drinks and dinner, start at Lo & Behold (214 Healdsburg Ave.) for a Happy Trails gin cocktail or the World’s Best Vodka Soda, crafted with local Young & Yonder vodka, and maybe a pre-dinner snack of kimchi noodles, made fresh daily. Then finish at the casualTisza Bistro (165 Healdsburg Ave.), a warm, neighborhood-y spot for crispy potato latkes with smoked salmon, dumplings and schnitzel — a dinner date that’s hard to break.
Jambalaya at The Parish Cafe in Healdsburg. (Christopher Chung/ The Press Democrat)
Mardi Gras — the colorful, pre-Lenten celebration held on Shrove Tuesday (March 4) — is right around the corner, and Sonoma County has some New Orleans-level festivities planned.
French for “Fat Tuesday,” Mardi Gras tradition calls for eating all the fats in the home in preparation for Lent fasting. In addition to feasting, the day is filled with festive music, costumes and parades. Not ones to turn down a good time, Sonoma County restaurants and bars have a handful of celebrations in store for people to bask in the revelry.
All events take place on Mardi Gras day, March 4, unless noted otherwise.
Mardi Gras Party and Feast at Rio Nido Roadhouse, Rio Nido
The Russian River’s Rio Nido Roadhouse will host two events for Mardi Gras this year. Its annual Mardi Gras Party will take place from 4-7 p.m., March 1, featuring Sonoma County’s NOLA funk and jazz group Bourbon Street Brass Band. New Orleans-inspired food will be served, including Louisiana gumbo, muffuletta sandwiches, beignets and king cake, as well as specialty cocktails.
The roadhouse will host its Fat Tuesday Feast from noon to 7 p.m., March 4, with live jazz music from Bay Area band Honey Disposition. NOLA menu specials will be served all day, featuring po’boys, crawfish boudin balls, Cajun shrimp and grits, and desserts, plus cocktails. Music starts at 5 p.m. Both the Mardi Gras Party and Fat Tuesday Feast are for all ages; no cover charge.
Shrimp and grits at The Parish Cafe in Healdsburg. (Christopher Chung/The Press Democrat)Beignets at Parish Cafe in Healdsburg. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Mardi Gras with Parish Cafe & Elephant in the Room, Healdsburg
Healdsburg’s New Orleans-inspired Parish Cafe will team up with nearby bar and music venue Elephant in the Room for its fourth annual Fat Tuesday party. Parish Cafe will serve traditional Louisiana dishes, such as crawfish, jambalya, muffuletta and beignets, from 2-8 p.m. Meanwhile, on the stage at Elephant in the Room, there will be live music performances by Brian Boudin Band, Spike Sikes and His Awesome Hotcakes, and Vernon “Ice” Black and The House Party. There will also be a photo booth, kids’ activities like mask decorating, and drinks from Flambeaux Wines and Fogbelt Brewing. Tickets are $25 for adults, $10 for children ages 2-12 and free for children under 2. Food and drink tokens are $8. Purchase tickets on Eventbrite.
Mardi Gras Celebration with Sally Tomatoes, Rohnert Park
Sally Tomatoes will host a Mardi Gras celebration and community night from 5-8 p.m. at its Rohnert Park events venue. The night will include a Cajun buffet featuring portobello soup, dirty rice, big chicken mamou, cornbread with honey butter, carved roast beef and pecan sugar cookies. General admission is $20 for adults and $10 for kids. Call to RSVP.
1100 Valley House Drive, Rohnert Park, 707-665-9472, sallytomatoes.com
Alec McNeill, left, and Tim Eschliman with members of the Rhythmtown-Jive band lead a parade of Mardi Gras revelers in a parade down American Alley in Petaluma on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017. (Alvin Jornada / The Press Democrat)
34th Annual Mardi Gras Mambofest, Petaluma
Petaluma’s Mystic Theatre will host its annual Mardi Gras Mambofest, featuring a night filled with live music, food and revelry. Starting at 6:15 p.m., festivities kick off with a band-led street parade through downtown and back to the theater. Bay Area Americana group California Blue Runners will get the music flowing at 7 p.m., followed by Rhythmtown-Jive performing from 8:15-9:45 p.m. Next door, McNear’s Saloon will serve Cajun food and drinks. General admission is $15. Purchase tickets online.
As in the sweet Swedish tradition for Fat Tuesday, Petaluma’s Stockhome restaurant will offer its annual semla — a cardamom bun filled with whipped cream and marzipan (sweet almond paste). The treat is only available during the month of February, so you’ll want to order your semla by Feb. 28 in time for Mardi Gras. A single semla is $9, an order of six semlor (plural for semla) is $48 and a dozen semlor is $108. Order for pickup online.
Semla, a traditional Fat Tuesday bun in Sweden, is available at Stockhome restaurant in Petaluma throughout February only. (Stockhome)Lemon Ricotta Hotcake with Acorn house lemon curd, whipped ricotta, oat crumble and lemon lavender ice cream from the Acorn Cafe Thursday, October 3, 2024, in Healdsburg. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
More dining options for Mardi Gras
In addition to New Orleans cuisine from The Parish Cafe in Healdsburg and semla from Stockhome in Petaluma, there are plenty of other eateries in the county to enjoy traditional Mardi Gras and Louisiana-inspired foods. Shrove Tuesday is also known as Pancake Day. Head to Healdsburg’s Acorn Cafe (124 Matheson St.) for the fattest pancakes in the county. Find more of our favorite pancakes in Sonoma County here.
Bag O’ Crab: Seafood boils, including shrimp, crawfish and more, plus Cajun and “Louisiana Flavor” seasoning options. 1901 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-843-7267, bagocrabusa.com
Rocker Oysterfeller’s: Shrimp étouffée, Cajun pasta and beignets at the Valley Ford location. New Orleans barbecue shrimp, blackened Gulf shrimp and Carolina grits, Cajun blackened pasta, Creole fisherman’s stew and sticky praline bread pudding at the Lucas Wharf location. 14415 Highway 1, Valley Ford, 707-876-1983; 595 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, 707-772-5670, rockeroysterfellers.com
Simmer Claw Bar: Vietnamese-Cajun seafood boils, including shrimp and crawfish, with Cajun seasoning option. 595 Rohnert Park Expressway, Rohnert Park, 707-806-2080, simmerfamily.com
Buttermilk fried chicken sandwiches on a brioche roll with slaw and dijonnaise by chefs Marianna Gardenhire and Daniel Kedan of Backyard restaurant during the North Coast Food and Wine Festival at SOMO Village in Rohnert Park, California, on Saturday, June 10, 2017. (Alvin Jornada / The Press Democrat)
It’s time to get those calendars organized and start blocking off the many days you need to stay put in Wine Country, because an amazing lineup of food and wine festivals are getting ready to kick off in Sonoma County and Napa Valley. Think award-winning vino and bites that, in some cases, are paired with famous musicians from around the globe.
Read below for details on upcoming food and wine events in Sonoma and Napa counties, and scroll through the gallery above to see scenes from previous years’ events.
Wine Road’s Barrel Tasting Weekend, March 1-2
Wine Road Sonoma County’s barrel tasting weekend welcomes this year’s attendees to experience library wines, step into the cellar and explore barrel wines or simply enjoy current vintages and stock up on some wines at the event. Participating wineries are located throughout northern Sonoma County, including in Healdsburg, Santa Rosa, Windsor, Guerneville, Forestville, Sebastopol, Cloverdale and Geyserville. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., March 1-2. Tickets are $80 for the weekend, $60 for Sunday only and $10 for the designated driver. Find more information at wineroad.com.
D’Argenzio Winery in Santa Rosa will participate in the Wine Road’s Barrel Tasting Weekend. (D’Argenzio Winery )Celebrate spring in Sonoma Wine Country at Passport to Dry Creek Valley. (Charlie Gessell/For Sonoma Magazine)
Passport to Dry Creek Valley, April 25-27
Now in its 34th year, Passport to Dry Creek Valley welcomes visitors to over 25 wineries throughout one of Sonoma County’s most famous wine regions, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., April 26 and 27. Along with stellar wine and food pairings during the weekend, there will be a “Twilight Welcome Party” from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Friday, April 25, at Bacchus Landing in Healdsburg. Tickets are $35 per day for non-drinkers, $95 per day for weekend Passport guests, $175 for a two-day Passport (Saturday and Sunday) and $150 for the Friday Twilight Welcome Party. Purchase tickets at drycreekvalley.org.
Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience, May 15-18
Local farmers, winemakers and chefs will showcase the renowned food and wine made in Sonoma County during the fourth annual Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience, May 15-18. Over a dozen talented chefs from Sonoma County and around the world, including chefs Antonia Lofaso and Stephanie Izard, will craft seasonal bites for the Vintners Plaza Grand Tasting on May 17.
Part of the proceeds from the Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience go to local nonprofits, including Farm to Pantry and the Healdsburg chapter of Future Farmers of America. Tickets start from $200 for select events; the platinum VIP weekend package is $4,500. Events take place around the county. Find more information and purchase tickets at healdsburgwineandfood.com.
Chef Stephanie Izard will appear at the Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience. (Courtesy photo)Bling Bling Dumpling booth serves up fried pork dumplings with veggie spring rolls Friday, May 27, 2022, during BottleRock Napa Valley in Napa. (Erik Castro / For The Press Democrat)
BottleRock Napa Valley, May 23-25
Wine Country’s biggest music festival returns on Memorial Day Weekend, taking place at the Napa Valley Expo. This year’s headliners include Green Day, Justin Timberlake and Noah Kahan. Some notable Bay Area musicians in the lineup include E-40, Remi Wolf, 4 Non Blondes and The Silverado Pickups.
BottleRock Napa Valley will also serve some of the best cuisine in Wine Country, including from Michelin-starred PRESS Restaurant, Morimoto Napa, Stateline Road Smokehouse, Gerard’s Paella and HopMonk Tavern. A number of Napa Valley wineries will be pouring at the event, as well as Petaluma’s Lagunitas Brewing Company.
General admission is $233 for a one-day pass and $456 for a three-day pass. VIP and Skydeck tickets are currently sold out. Purchase tickets at bottlerocknapavalley.com/tickets.
Chili braised pork shoulder sliders on brioche with Napa cabbage slaw by chef Crista Luedtke at The Press Democrat’s North Coast Wine & Food Festival. (Will Bucquoy)
North Coast Wine & Food Festival, June 14
Nearly 100 gold-winning wines from the North Coast Wine Challenge will be served alongside dishes from 25 much-loved Wine Country chefs from 1-4 p.m. on June 14 at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa. This event is organized by The Press Democrat, sister publication of Sonoma Magazine. Designated driver tickets are $60, general admission is $130 and VIP tickets are $260. Purchase tickets online (includes a 15% convenience fee) or in person at the LBC ticket office (no extra fees).
The North Coast Wine & Food Festival supports local nonprofit Sonoma Family Meal, a network of chefs, farmers and food producers fighting food insecurity during disasters. Heather Irwin, dining editor at Sonoma Magazine, founded the nonprofit.
Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa, 707-521-5231, northcoastwineandfood.com
Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens in Santa Rosa hosted the annual Taste of Sonoma event in 2024. (Bob McClenahan / Taste of Sonoma)
Taste of Sonoma, June 21
More than 100 wineries will be pouring at this walk-around wine tasting event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 21, at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens in Santa Rosa. There will be wine seminars, food trucks, themed wine lounges and a beer garden. Early bird ticket pricing ($190 for general admission and $240 for VIP admission, plus fees and sales tax) is available through April 30. A Valentine’s Day sale of $20 off (with promo code 25TOS-VALENTINE) is available through Feb. 17. Purchase tickets on Eventbrite.
Festival Napa Valley’s annual Taste of Napa, its signature celebration of the valley’s food and wine, at The Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa. (David Ortega / Taste of Napa)Festival Napa Valley’s annual Taste of Napa, its signature celebration of the valley’s food and wine, at The Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa. (David Ortega / Taste of Napa)
Taste of Napa, July 12
Festival Napa Valley’s annual Taste of Napa, its signature celebration of the valley’s food and wine, will be held from noon to 3 p.m., July 12, at The Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa. The event will include offerings from Napa Valley wineries, breweries, restaurants and chefs, plus live music and activities. Early Bird tickets are $125 per guest and are on sale now. A limited number of Reserve Tasting Salon tickets are available for $295. The Reserve Tasting Salon includes early access at 11 a.m. as well as exclusive wine tastings in a private setting. Purchase tickets online.
Taste of Napa is part of Festival Napa Valley’s Summer Season, which takes place at venues throughout Napa Valley, July 5-20. A full lineup of events will be announced in March.
Ellen Cavalli (right) serves apple cider to Joshua Crawford (left), from Livermore, and Dana Cappelloni from Healdsburg at the 45th Gravenstein Apple Fair. The annual fair this year will be held from Aug. 9-10 at Ragle Ranch Park in Sebastopol. (Will Bucquoy/For The Press Democrat)
Gravenstein Apple Fair, Aug. 9-10
The 52nd annual Gravenstein Apple Fair, Sebastopol’s beloved, long-running festival celebrating all things Gravenstein, will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Aug. 9-10, Ragle Ranch Regional Park in Sebastopol. In addition to the famed apple in all its forms (cider, sauce, pie and more), there will be a number of north bay food vendors offering farm-fresh meals, snacks and sweet treats. There will also be live music, children’s activities and contests, such as apple pie baking, apple juggling and caramel apple eating challenges. Stay tuned for more info on tickets.
Blue Note Jazz Festival’s Black Radio Experience, Aug. 29-31
Last year, Napa’s Blue Note Jazz Festival introduced The Black Radio Experience, in lieu of the annual jazz festival. The three-day festival in 2024, held at The Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa, featured artist-in-residence and Grammy award winner Robert Glasper along with headliners John Legend, Jill Scott and Andre 3000. Live music was accompanied by a variety of food and drink options, plus after parties.
The Black Radio Experience will return for Labor Day weekend at the The Meritage Resort & Spa. Robert Glasper will return for the festival, and the full lineup will be announced in April. Find updates and ticket information at bluenotejazz.com/black-radio-experience.
A local favorite since 1975, this event introduces attendees to new favorite wines to add to their collection. The event includes professional food and wine competitions, as well as an amateur wine competition. Find more information and tickets, when they become available in May, at harvestfair.org.
Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa, 707-545-4203, harvestfair.org
Dana Rebmann, Ana Fingerson and Maci Martell contributed to this article.
“The more we peeled back the layers, the more we wanted to know about the house,” says Corey Rawdon of the home he shares with his husband, Noah Jeppson, and their dog, Bash. Pictured is the transformed kitchen with a customizable, vintage-style message board. (Eileen Roche)
When Noah Jeppson showed his husband Corey Rawdon a listing for a historic, Gothic-style Victorian in downtown Healdsburg near the plaza, Corey’s response was immediate, but not in the way that Noah had hoped.
“Oh, it was a hard pass,” Corey remembers, laughing. This was in September 2020, and the couple, who were living in Tahoe, wanted to move closer to San Francisco for work — and to put down some small-town roots in the hope of starting a family together.
“I knew Noah was going to fall in love with it though,” says Corey. “It had the walkability, it had the charm. It was a project we could put our own imagination into, to create something.”
Corey, a marketing executive, and Noah, an experiential graphic designer, had renovated several homes together in the past and knew the draw of bringing an older home into the present.
“When you’re in an old house, you realize you’re the caretaker of the house and you want to do what you can to preserve it, to understand the stories and put together the story of the house,” says Noah.
“The more we peeled back the layers, the more we wanted to know about the house,” says Corey Rawdon of the Healdsburg home he shares with his husband, Noah Jeppson, and their dog, Bash. Pictured is the transformed kitchen with a customizable, vintage-style message board. (Eileen Roche)Though each room of the home has a different color palette, the tones echo throughout the space, from the downstairs bath to the upstairs hallway (pictured). (Eileen Roche)
The home had been built in 1884 by one of Healdsburg’s earliest residents, a German immigrant who owned a bar and later served the town as fire chief and mayor. After the owner raised his family, the home had been used as a boarding house and apartments. Though it was in good structural condition, much of the Victorian character had been lost over time.
“Every family that had lived in this house had done something different and made it their own, so we weren’t afraid to do that as well… We wanted to bring back the warmth and the color and the joy,” says Noah.
The couple kept the floor plan intact with separate formal rooms for dining and socializing, but wanted to layer in color and functionality, including a laundry room, a full-size bath downstairs and a new wall of cabinets in the kitchen.
“We drew inspiration from the house itself and what would’ve occurred during the time it was built — having a drawing room, a formal front parlor. But then we wanted to create space for the future, first and foremost for family,” says Corey.
The couple’s formal front parlor, with vivid colors, vintage furniture and artwork from the Haitian painter Fritz Merise. (Eileen Roche)
As they restored the home, the couple uncovered traces of the past that helped them understand its history. Behind an existing section of wall, Noah found a school slate used by an early resident who became the town’s first high school graduate. Elsewhere, he found the written signatures of the builders scrawled on walls, old newspapers used as insulation, hand-forged nails — and best of all, a previously boarded-up hidden passageway.
“Noah cannot resist the opportunity to explore,” says Corey. “I was on the phone with him, and he was showing me a section of the wall in the dining room, pushing and tapping on it, and then he said, ‘I’ll call you back. I’m going to get a sledgehammer.’ So he goes and gets the sledgehammer and knocks a hole in the wall, and it just keeps going back into a void.”
“Of course that was just like another invitation to keep exploring some more,” laughs Noah. Later, the couple enlarged the hole and turned it into a passageway connecting the formal front parlor to the dining room, which they use for guests.
The hidden passage from the parlor to the dining room, which Noah uncovered while tapping around on the walls one day. (Eileen Roche)
Painting and decorating the space was an opportunity to layer in more historical perspective. Corey chose a bold trio of colors — wall, trim, ceiling — to define each room, a look that he and Noah call “Victorian Pop.” Each room is meant to pop on its own, explains Corey, but some colors become touchpoints that echo throughout the home for continuity. The warm rose-tan in the living room is repeated on the ceiling of the upstairs hall, for example, and the slate-brown window trim reappears in a bedroom. It’s a vivid, design-forward approach to color.
“‘Fortune favors the bold’ is a saying I’ve always lived my life by,” says Corey. “It’s only color. If it doesn’t work, you can always paint over it.”
Noah focused on the home’s decor, sourcing historic furniture, art, and architectural details on Craigslist and at local antique stores. They each had a veto authority over the other’s choices.
“But we didn’t allow each other to say, ‘I kind of like it but I wish it were something different,’” explains Corey. “It was either ‘that’s a no’ — or you had to let the other person run with it. But in allowing ourselves that freedom, we were able to work together almost without trying to. It just naturally happened.”
A vintage telephone doubles as a plant stand in the historic Healdsburg home. (Eileen Roche)Noah and Corey’s casual front living room, with whimsical artwork by Danish designer Bjørn Wiinblad. (Eileen Roche)
For the past few years, all of the couple’s energy and time has been poured into the house and its many needs. “So it’s like, OK, this year for Christmas, we’re giving each other an antique mantel and tile for the kitchen,” says Noah.
Corey, who grew up in Tennessee, contributed some family heirlooms — his grandmother’s bell, which sits on the table in the formal parlor, a sprig of cotton he picked in Tennessee on the mantle, and a wagon-wheel light in the small outbuilding that the couple use as a shared office.
Neighbors and friends often remark that the home the couple has created together feels a bit like a museum. “And we’re like, sure, it is. But it’s the everyday museum,” says Corey. “The look is highly curated and feels special, but it’s still approachable, and you can go up and touch everything. You can live in it. You can use it. It’s not just for looks.”
Noah Jeppson in the office of the historic Victorian home he shares with his husband, Corey, in Healdsburg. (Eileen Roche)Noah preserved all of the historic finds from the renovation, including a school slate and a scrap of wallpaper, which inspired some of the Healdsburg home’s paint colors. (Eileen Roche)
Corey and Noah are now turning their attention to deepening their roots in the community. They’ve built a little free library on the corner of their lot and are currently finishing a renovation of their front garden, creating a space where they can chat with neighbors and their dog, Bash, can play. They both volunteer with the Healdsburg Museum & Historical Society, and Corey now serves on the board of the group. And last summer, they were the host family for a college baseball player who was spending the summer in Sonoma County as a member of the Healdsburg Prune Packers baseball team.
They say they are looking forward to becoming even more a part of the fabric of the town and their neighborhood in their next chapter of life. “Raising kids takes a village,” says Corey. “Part of moving here was to find and build our own community, to have that village so that when we have kids, we have that support system.”
They’ve named their home the Heartwood House, a name they picked in honor of the prime local redwood used in its construction back in the 1880s. But beyond that, the couple say that the name Heartwood House has come to embody a spirit of warmth and community.
“We do just have a lot of heart put into our home,” says Corey. “We’ve found new meaning in this old house.”
Sunflower Caffé in Sonoma has outdoor seating in front of the restaurant and on a backside patio. (Sunflower Caffe)
Sonoma, with its rich history, scenic landscapes, and renowned food and wine culture, offers a wealth of experiences for all types of visitors. Whether you’re drawn to its picturesque plaza, surrounding vineyards or delightful dining scene, there’s no shortage of things to see, do and taste. To make the most of your time in this charming town, we’ve rounded up a few of the must-visit spots that will make for a perfect, laid-back day in Sonoma.
Sonoma Plaza makes everyone feel as if it’s their place. Designed by General Mariano Vallejo in 1835, it’s home to City Hall, a duck pond, rose garden and plenty of benches for prime people-watching. Start the day with espresso, waffles and mimosas atSunflower Caffè (421 First St. W.), a sunny gathering spot right on the park that understands breakfast is the most important meal of the day. After, wander past the plaza’s Sebastiani Theatre (476 First St. E.) to check out what’s playing — the venue hosts both independent movies and occasional live shows.
Outside dining table at Sunflower Caffe in Sonoma. (Sonoma County Tourism)Berry granola waffles from Sunflower Caffe in Sonoma. (Sunflower Caffe)The Buena Vista Winery tasting room in Sonoma. (Sonoma County Toursim)
A short drive away, raise a glass to Wine Country history atBuena Vista Winery (18000 Old Winery Road), in a tasting room that dates to 1857. The theatrical light-and-sound show at the winery’s Wine Tool Museum details early local history and stories of Buena Vista’s eccentric founder, Agoston Haraszthy.
Haraszthy’s historical tales continue at nearby Bartholomew Estate Winery (1000 Vineyard Lane). This was originally part of the same estate as Buena Vista, and guests are encouraged to wander the property just as the self-proclaimed “Count of Buena Vista” might have done. At Bartholomew Estate, you can opt for a guided forest bathing experience or escape solo on more than three miles of trail before sitting down to taste wines and nibble on marinated olives, pickled veggies, baba ganoush and more from Sonoma’s Spread Kitchen.
Wine tasting at Bartholomew Estate Vineyards and Winery in Sonoma. (Steven Krause)Crispy rice with scallion-ginger from Valley Bar + Bottle on the Sonoma square. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Flavors of the season aren’t limited to wine. In their smart tasting room a short drive from downtown,Hanson of Sonoma (22985 Burndale Road) mixes warm boozy delights like hot chocolate made with organic espresso vodka. It’s hard not to love, especially on a chilly afternoon. For a decadent splurge, pair vodka martinis with Thomas Keller’s Regiis Ova caviar.
Back at the plaza, reserve ahead atValley (487 First St. W.) for a locally inspired, farm-to-table dinner and thoughtful, low-intervention wines. The crispy rice with ginger and scallions, and a custardy boiled egg with spicy, umami-laden XO sauce are standouts among an ever-changing lineup. Interesting visiting chef collaborations and special events happen throughout the year.
Malfadine Fra’Diavolo, ribbon-shaped pastas with sughetto di pomodoro, calabrian chili and Pecorino Romano from Stella in Kenwood. (Stella)
After 15 months of anticipation, the Glen Ellen Star team has announced that their second restaurant, Stella, will open March 1.
The Cal-meets-Ital restaurant will lean heavily on housemade pasta and wood-fired meats at the former Cafe Citti (9049 Sonoma Highway) location. Unlike Glen Ellen Star, there will be no pizza — but there will be a mozzarella bar.
The restaurant is the newest venture for chef Ari Weiswasser, his wife Erin and managing partners Spencer and Ashley Waite. Glen Ellen Star’s chef de cuisine, Bryant Minuche, will lead the Stella kitchen.
Lumache pasta with aji amarillo pesto, chanterelles, puffed sorghum from Stella in Kenwood. (Stella)
The opening menu lists seven types of fresh pasta ($24-$31), including bucatini cacio e pepe, lobster ravioli, lumache with aji amarillo pesto (a vegan cashew version is also available) along with tagliatelle with prosciutto and spicy mafaldine (a ribbon-shaped pasta). Entrées include a Duroc pork chop with lemon caper butter sauce ($42), Snake River Farms bavette steak ($45) and whole grilled Daurado fish.
Italian mozzarella and burrata dishes — aka the mozzarella bar — include burrata with brown butter walnuts and 12-year aged balsamic vinegar, buffalo mozzarella with anchovy and a farm egg yolk, and mozzarella with artichoke and lemon vinaigrette all served with fettunta (fancy garlic bread).
Bavette steak from Stella in Kenwood. (Stella)
Cozy Italian desserts like tiramisu, ricotta zeppole (doughnut holes) and chocolate olive oil cake will also be on the menu, but it’s the Baked “Gelaska” with vanilla gelato, raspberry sorbet, sponge cake and torched marshmallow fluff that has us extra excited.
Zeppole doughnuts with mascarpone and candied fruit from Stella in Kenwood. (Stella)
Wines by the glass or bottle are mainly from Sonoma and Napa, and a handful of low-proof cocktails, including a white Negroni and Stella Spritz, are offered.
The restaurant will include a dining room with a fireplace, chef’s counter seating and a covered outdoor patio. Stella will be open for dinner from 4:30 p.m. daily. Reservations are available at stellakenwood.com.
The couple were married at Olive Oaks in Sebastopol. (Stephanie Klotz)
On the 10th anniversary of the day they started dating, Heather Delman and Dylan Price celebrated their love with a wedding that perfectly blended their story with the natural beauty of Sonoma County. The couple, who met at Sonoma State University and both work in the wine industry, exchanged vows last May at Olive Oaks in Sebastopol, a private home that hosts events.
“The vineyards in the background were a nod to what we both do,” Heather explains. “And we wanted a place where we could bring our own wine.”
The couple planned a heartfelt, outdoorsy celebration that showcased the friends and family who had shared in their journey.
The couple and their bridal party after the ceremony in Sebastopol. Because they both work in the wine industry, they loved that their site had views of nearby vineyards. (Stephanie Klotz)
“I didn’t meet one new person on my wedding day. Everyone was a part of our story,” says Heather. “It’s a big reason why we decided even to have a wedding. This is the only time we can get all of these people in one place together.”
With many guests flying in from the East Coast, where Dylan’s family is from, the couple hoped to share what they love about living in Sonoma County. “We wanted to make an awesome experience and show everyone why we love it so much,” says Heather.
Details reflected the couple’s deep connection to the region. The flowers came from a local farm, and the final look was a bit of a surprise. Heather chose the color palette in advance but allowed the team at the farm to arrange what was freshest and in season. “I was already in my dress when the flowers arrived, and I loved them,” she says.
The flowers came from a local farm in Santa Rosa, Longer Table Farm. (Stephanie Klotz)Guests shaded themselves with parasols on the warm May afternoon in Sebastopol. (Stephanie Klotz)
Instead of a traditional tiered cake, the couple opted for seasonal fruit pies as well as cake jars decorated with stickers of their dog, Odin, who also put in an appearance at the wedding.
“He’s essentially our child. We are so obsessed with him. But we were scared to let him loose with that pool,” laughs Heather. The sweets decorated with Odin’s face proved very popular with their guests. “We barely got to taste the desserts,” she says. “They were gone in minutes!”
Instead of a traditional tiered cake, the couple opted for seasonal fruit pies as well as cake jars decorated with stickers of their dog, Odin. (Stephanie Klotz)Fruit pies from Hillary Burdick of indie bakery A Little Luster. (Stephanie Klotz)
The historic Harbor House Inn in Elk was built in 1916 and recently updated with a $10 million remodel. Guests can relax on the dinning room deck with stunning views of the sea stacks and their caves. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
When the ocean is your kitchen pantry, nature decides what’s on the menu. And that’s precisely why chef Matthew Kammerer left San Francisco for a slip of a town on the blustery Mendocino coast.
Since 2018, Kammerer’s two-Michelin-starred Harbor House Inn has gained a reputation in haute dining circles for its obsessive sea-to-table ethos. He collects sand, seawater, kelp and lace lichen in a small private cove just steps from the kitchen. Fishermen come to his back door with their daily catch, and Kammerer keeps an Instagram diary of foraged ingredients like nettle and purple cress for curious diners.
Harbor House Inn sits in a remote town of just 208 people, two hours from the closest restaurant supply store, so Kammerer is forced to rely on what’s available from his immediate surroundings. The 10-course menu doesn’t depend on specific ingredients. Instead, it morphs to include the best of what Mother Nature has on hand at any particular moment.
Chef Kammerer collecting kelp for the Harbor House Inn restaurant in Elk along the Mendocino coast. (Benjamin Heath)
“Every day is different. Nature is in charge. Nature decides what we cook and how,” Kammerer said. “If I look out the window and it’s really stormy and no one is fishing, there are things we can’t get, so we’re not serving it. If something’s not available, that’s OK.”
As a sustainability champion, Kammerer’s philosophy requires constant pivots — subbing out purple for red urchin, serving Dungeness crab during its short season, adding more produce from the restaurant’s small farm and not wasting anything. Charcoal ash and sand, stems and leaves, ocean salt, fir needles and wild coastal flowers all have a place on the menu.
“It’s our ecosystem on a plate,” he said. And that’s why people worldwide pilgrimage to the 20-seat dining room, perched on a high bluff overlooking the Pacific, for a taste of the wild and unspoiled Mendocino Coast.
A changing environment
Since opening the restaurant in 2018, Kammerer has seen the environment change in noticeable ways — first slowly and then more quickly. Salmon season has been canceled for three years due to perilously low numbers of young fish. “And we may not have one again. The damage has been done,” he said.
Kelp is dying off, abalone is harder to find, fishing seasons are delayed or closed, and beaches are strewed with plastic and other garbage, affecting birds and marine life.
“You just realize that everything is connected and, as a chef, you’re paying attention to these things,” Kammerer said.
The remodeled dinning room at The Harbor House Inn in Elk uses the warmth of redwood found in coastal groves. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)Grilled abalone, field mustard and seaweeds from our cove from chef Matt Kammerer at the Harbor House in Elk. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
In 2020, the Harbor House Inn, which includes 10 guest rooms, was awarded a Michelin Green star for its sustainability efforts and ethical stewardship of the environment.
For Kammerer, that meant eliminating plastic wrap, saving gray water for watering plants, composting and sourcing 90% of the restaurant’s ingredients from Northern California. The electricity on the property is produced from renewable solar and geothermal sources.
It’s not for everyone, and that’s OK
Before launching Harbor House, Kammerer was executive sous chef at San Francisco’s critically acclaimed Saison. But he knew the bustling city, where beautiful food had to be trucked from farms and ranches, wasn’t his ultimate calling.
So the chef spent his days off driving up and down the Pacific coast with a particular rubric for a restaurant he wanted to create — it should be near the coast, with just a handful of rooms for guests to stay, ocean views and the ability to use hyperlocal ingredients from sea and land.
The historic Harbor House Inn in Elk was built in 1916 and updated in 2018 with a $10 million remodel. Guests can relax on the dinning room deck with stunning views of the sea stacks and their caves. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Ironically, the location he found — the Harbor House — was built in 1916 by the Goodyear Redwood Company to showcase the beauty of redwood from the nearby lumber mill. According to historical accounts, it produced 40,000-50,000 feet of lumber daily at its peak.
At $325 per person for the 10-course experience, dining at Harbor House isn’t for everyone (the abbreviated lunch experience is $150 per person). Though the cost is Michelin-level, the restaurant attracts a different brand of guests compared to other star-studded establishments. It seems to resonate particularly well with those who enjoy geeky deep dives into the minutiae of Kammerer’s painstakingly detailed process.
The food
I am one of those geeky food people intently curious about Kammerer’s single butter-poached Dungeness crab leg wrapped in kombu and baked inside a rock-shaped loaf of ashes and sand.
“Think of it like salt-baking,” explained Kammerer of encrusting seafood inside a salt crust to evenly cook and keep the meat moist.
In a dramatic tableside flourish, the bread “rock” is cut open, the seaweed unfolded and the leg delicately revealed. It is part of a trio of crab dishes that also includes a broth made with the crab carapace, and a finger bowl of body meat in buttery foam topped with tiny edible flowers.
Then there is celery root pasta with uni. The root is blanched, smoke-dried and rehydrated in uni sauce from Fort Bragg red sea urchin. The dish, presented in locally made pottery, is the size of a coaster. It made me weep a little.
Summer squash, green garlic, preserved lemon and fava from chef Matt Kammerer at the Harbor House Inn in Elk. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)Black cod smoked over bay laurel at Harbor House Inn in Elk. (Brendan McGuigan)
Black cod from Noyo Harbor in Fort Bragg is cooked using ambient heat above a charcoal grill, then brought to the table in a custom-made wooden box that opens to reveal the thumb-sized white fish bathing in wisps of smoked bay laurel that lend the scent of witchy smudging to the room — begone bad vibes.
A final tableside tea service includes a glass mug of pine needle tea and local honey stirred with a bouquet, and an array of mignardise (bite-sized desserts) — including a candy cap mushroom macaron.
After three hours, which included brilliant wine pairings ($250) and a 1997 Raymond Lelarge Champagne that I savored, it was hard to leave Kammerer’s carefully crafted world of culinary perfection.
That’s the whole point of a proper Michelin meal — to elevate food to a level of artistry rarely found in daily life.
Whether you’re someone who wants to know the exact poaching temperature of the kombu or you’re just punching a Michelin-restaurant bingo card, Harbor House is the essence of Mendocino at this exact moment, from ocean to plate.
