Endless mimosas. Eggs Benedict. Cinnamon rolls. Yeah, we’re talking about brunch, that lazy weekend invention that splits the difference between breakfast and lunch. It’s always the best meal of the week because let’s face it, #brunch is always trending. Click through the above gallery for some favorite Sonoma County brunch restaurants on our continual rotation.
Did we miss one of your favorite brunches? Let us know in the comments.
Maci Martell contributed to this article.
Windsor pizzaiolo Leah Scurto of Pizza Leah will appear on Hulu’s “Best in Dough” Sunday. The baking competition show pits pizza makers against each other as they go dough to dough in a battle for the best pie.
Scurto appears in episode 6, “Pizza Champs,” with Joe Carlucci of Alabama’s Valentina’s and Ali Haider of 786 Degrees in Los Angeles. The show’s winner receives $10,000.
A longtime member of the U.S. Pizza Team, Scurto has been slinging pizza for most of her adult life, rising through the ranks of Santa Cruz-based Pizza My Heart. She eventually became the executive chef, overseeing its expansion from two restaurants to 24 throughout the Bay Area.
In 2020, Scurto opened Pizza Leah in Windsor, offering thin-crust round pies and square-pan pies. She’s received critical acclaim for her fermented dough, crisp crusts and unique combinations of ingredients.
“Best In Dough” is hosted by Wells Adams, who appeared on “The Bachelor.” Chef Daniele Uditi of Pizzana in Los Angeles is head judge, and the show also features Chef Millie Peartree, comedienne and food influencer Eunji Kim and baker Bryan Ford as judges.
Pizza Leah, 9240 Old Redwood Highway, Suite 116 (in Oliver’s shopping center), 707-620-0551, pizzaleah.com
Native American basket weavers follow differing traditions and use various techniques. But they do seem to agree on one thing: That their least favorite question people ask them about basketry is, “How long does it take to make a basket?”
Even though the question itself is not meant to be offensive, it betrays a basic misunderstanding of basketry. It’s part of daily family and tribal life, and carries a strong spiritual connection between Native Americans and nature. Basket weaving is a lifelong endeavor, often starting in childhood, that takes a long time to master.
“We say it takes a lifetime,” said Clint McKay of Forestville, president of the California Indian Basketweavers Association.
Outsiders may see baskets as souvenirs produced quickly in large quantities for sale at roadside stands, but to the weavers, baskets are useful tools, family treasures and an expression of tribal love for the land and all it provides.
Watch this video to learn why the basket-weaving tradition is an essential part of Pomo culture.
Weaving is not simply a craft, said McKay, an enrolled member of the Dry Creek Pomo, Wappo and Wintu tribes. To many, weaving is a way of life.
“To me, weaving is much more than an art form,” he said. “It’s the very essence of who we are as an Indian people. There has not been one aspect of our tradition that has not been touched by basketry.”
Baskets traditionally have been used to collect, clean, store and prepare food, as well as for catching fish, trapping birds and a variety of other needs.
“We carry our babies in baskets,” McKay said.
Susan Billy of Ukiah, who apprenticed as a young adult with famed Pomo basket weaver Elsie Allen starting in the early 1970s, already had been surrounded by the basketry tradition since her childhood.
“For thousands of years, we have been making baskets for every purpose, from birth to death. We made baskets because we had to. We developed basketry to such a high level that we didn’t need to develop pottery,” she said.
Even though baskets filled a practical need, there is still much more to the tradition than that, Billy explained.
“For me, basketry always has been a spiritual process,” she said. “I don’t consider it a craft. We have to pray, and ask the plants if they want to be in a basket.”
Authentic basket weaving depends as much on gathering the right natural materials as on technique.
“If you don’t gather, you don’t make baskets,” Billy said.
Materials used to make baskets include willow, redbud, bulrush and sedge grass, and although they’re found in nature locally, it wouldn’t be precisely correct to say the specimens used to create hand-made baskets are growing wild.
“We tend these sourcing sites with tenderness and respect,” Billy said. “They’re more like tended gardens.”
Some weaving skills can be taught in classes but, traditionally, weavers have learned the entire weaving culture from their families.
“My mother was a weaver, and her mother before her,” said weaver Nancy Napolitan of Windsor, whose sister also is a basket weaver.
“It was part of what I grew up with. My family knew basketry.”
Although Napolitan shares other weavers’ dread of the question, “How long does it take to make a basket?” she offered an answer.
“If you sat there with a machine, you could put one out in an hour,” she said, “or you could spend several years. It’s a complex thing.”
The Santa Rosa Junior College Multicultural Museum houses, displays and preserves the Elsie Allen Pomo Basket Collection. The museum is open 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Monday-Thursday. The collection can also be viewed online: museum.santarosa.edu/exhibit/6. Learn about Elsie Allen in this Press Democrat article.
Healdsburg’s Little Saint has been named one of The New York Times’ 50 favorite restaurants of 2022. The plant-based restaurant, operated by Kyle and Katina Connaughton of Michelin-starred Single Thread, opened in April.
“The preparations revel in the produce, rather than just ratcheting up the umami in a quest to conjure animal flavors,” wrote Brian Gallagher, describing the cuisine of the recently opened restaurant for The New York Times’ “The Restaurant List 2022: 50 places in America we’re most excited about right now,” which was published online Sept. 19.
The Healdsburg restaurant, cafe and bar are stocked daily from the 24-acre Single Thread Farm and the 5-acre Little Saint Farm that offer fresh produce year round.
“It may seem like a cheat to open a plant-based restaurant in the Sonoma Valley’s cradle of organic abundance. But it would almost be a shame not to open one, if you had not only a 24-acre farm nearby but also the cooking brain trust of Single Thread,” Gallagher said.
Chilled strawberry borscht, smashed cucumbers with XO sauce and a chocolate tart made with a coconut cream crust were among the dishes highlighted by The Times. Locally, the restaurant has garnered praise for its innovative meat- and dairy-free menu.
“We are incredibly proud of the recognition for the hard work of the team at Little Saint that is so passionate about not only our food and hospitality but the mission to create something new and different within the community,” said Chef Kyle Connaughton.
Chef de Cuisine Brian Oliver and the Little Saint staff spent months before the restaurant’s opening doing extensive research and development on plant-based ingredients and have made limiting food waste part of their ethos. For example, water from cooked chickpeas is used as a plant-based emulsifier for cocktails or egg-white replacement.
The restaurant and cafe are part of a collaboration between the Connaughtons; designer Ken Fulk; philanthropist Jeff Ubben and his wife, animal activist Laurie Ubben; and program director Jenny Hess.
The 10,000-square-foot building, which formerly housed Healdsburg SHED, also offers live music, art and events, a market, a wine cellar and a bakery.
In the Bay Area, San Francisco’s Abacá (Filipino cuisine) and San Ho Won (Korean barbecue) also were recognized by the newspaper.
Little Saint, 25 North St., Healdsburg, 707-433-8207, littlesainthealdsburg.com
The Gypsy Cafe in Sebastopol is pausing its restaurant service until 2023, amid a worker shortage and supply chain issues. But true to form, owner Shawn Hall will keep the popular spot open with yet another pivot.
In October, the 11-year-old restaurant known for its hearty brunches, lunches and comforting dinners will become Gypsy General Store and Pie Bar.
Gypsy still will serve organic coffee and fresh juices as well as wine and beer at their bar.
Hall has repeatedly pivoted her business through the pandemic, offering takeout food, building an outdoor area and changing Gypsy Cafe’s hours. But a worker shortage and supply chain challenges have forced her to end restaurant service, for now, she said.
In addition to pies, Hall also will sell a variety of vintage items and handicrafts at Gypsy, including rustic salvaged iron pieces, pottery, furniture, jewelry and goat milk soaps. Her Gypsy Cafe Cookbook will be released this fall.
Gypsy Cafe is located at 162 N. Main St., Sebastopol, gypsy-cafe.com. Open 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday and 5 to 9 p.m. Friday.
Sebastopol chef Larry Vito has found a buyer for his restaurant, Bar B Que Smokehouse.
We reported earlier this month that the 71-year-old restaurateur was looking to retire and head to Mexico, where his 36-foot sailboat awaits him. He cited increasing labor and food costs, along with the high cost of outsourcing deliveries to companies like Grubhub and DoorDash, as additional reasons to close shop.
At the time, Vito said he would close the restaurant in mid-September after failing to find a restaurateur willing to purchase the 13-year-old business. Now that’s changed, he said, and the barbecue spot “will remain open for the foreseeable future.”
The sale is expected to be complete by November, according to Vito, but he did not offer further details. The restaurant will continue to operate its normal hours in the meantime.
And yes, Vito plans to head to Mexico this winter to sail his restored yacht in Mexico’s Sea of Cortez.
“Since the announcement, so many of our clientele have stopped by, emailed and called to let us know how upset they are about the closure. We are amazed and grateful for their recognition and support,” Vito said.
Bar B Que Smokehouse is at 6811 Laguna Park Way, Sebastopol; bbqsmokehousebistro.com. Open 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
Autumn is in the air in Sonoma County, which means it’s time for leaf peeping, cider sipping, hay riding, and of course, pumpkin picking. The county’s treasured pumpkin patches have plenty in store for this year’s fall festivities, from traditional corn mazes and tractor rides to carnival-like activities and food. Don your autumn attire and get ready for a season of fun, fall-related recreation and all the pumpkins you can carry.
Check out all the prime pumpkin patches open in Sonoma County this year in the above gallery. Do you know of any additional pumpkin patches that are open this year? Send us an email with information.
Love clean lines and modern design? Get ready to check all the boxes. A new build in Glen Ellen just hit the market and it comes with many of the most-wanted modern design features.
The 3,700-square-foot home has three bedrooms and four bathrooms, plus an additional structure of 1,500 square feet. The dwelling sits on 2.2 acres and is listed for $7,650,000. Clean lines compose this modern home, which has true floor-to-ceiling windows that pocket into the wall in the great room for “seamless indoor-outdoor living” and great views.
Board-formed concrete walls, which mimic wood, offer a weighty visual counterpoint to all the glass. The look is warmed up by occasional spots of stained wood siding, fashioned from reclaimed wood from 100-plus-year-old sinker cypress trees.
The open concept floor plan connects the kitchen, dining and lounging areas and sets the stage for casual living. Elegant modern furniture pieces and geometric lighting designs cap off the look and infuse sophistication into the less-is-more look.
Color is kept to a minimum with gray walls and tonal cabinets. Subtle shades of blues are infused with restraint through textiles and art. Warmth is introduced in the palette through small details like gold framing on chairs and the occasional satiny pillow.
The expansive yard has a rectangular pool that mirrors all the angles of the home. The theme of blues continues outside via a similar subtle use color: pillows on the outdoor sofa, and two aqua-colored Adirondaks which provide a playful splash of vivid color. The landscaping is dotted with plants placed in fire-resistant “islands.”
Other amenities that suit modern tastes include a 444-bottle, climate-controlled wine room, two gas fire pits, a hot tub and solar panels.
This home at 12320 Manzanita Lane in Glen Ellen is listed with Holly Bennett with Sotheby’s International Realty – Wine Country – Sonoma Brokerage. For more information call 707-484-4747, 707-935-2500 or visit hollybennett.com
If you’d like to experience Wine Country living in a cozy hillside retreat, a unique property just hit the market in Sonoma County. A log cabin perched on 48 acres in the hills west of Healdsburg, with panoramic views of Dry Creek Valley, is currently listed for $1,450,000.
The two-bedroom, two-bathroom, 1,504-square-foot dwelling, built in 1998, manages to be both classic cabin and modern home thanks to a few inspired design details.
The unfinished log walls provide a richly textured canvas for the interior decor. Only a few elements are needed to modernize the rustic design: lights with drum shades, stone countertops, select spots of finished walls, and pretty linens. These details shine against the simple-yet-sumptuous honey-colored wood grain.
The Dry Creek Valley views, of course, take center stage. Windows on all sides of the home offer light and picturesque views. Interior window frames that disappear into the walls yield all the focus to the outdoors.
The backyard elements echo the simple natural design indoors. A rectangular covered deck abuts a pool with matching clean lines. The lounge chairs repeat this simplicity, and the cylindrical log posts of the terrace cover provide pleasing contrast to all the rectangular shapes. The style is effortless yet complete, especially when taking in the views.
On the exterior of the home, red trim offers a surprising touch of color. The choice is repeated in a trio of Adirondack chairs positioned on the porch for optimal valley viewing.
The home has other cozy cabin features — a wood burning stove, high-ceilings, and an open floor plan — all of which encourage easy, comfortable living. Click through the above gallery for photos.
This home at 4001 Brack Road is listed with Carole Sauers of Healdsburg and Artisan Sotheby’s International Realty. For more information call 707- 433-6555, 707-433-6555, or visit carolesauers.com
Singer Stella Heath is an old soul—or, as people like to tell her, “I’m not of my time.” By age 8, she was obsessed with classical singing and piano, preferring her mother’s collection of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong recordings to the latest radio hits. As the lead vocalist in a handful of local bands – Bandjango Collectif, Stella & the Starlights, the Stella & Ian Duo – she loves to interpret Swing-era jazz standards, along with French gypsy and New Orleans favorites.
At 34, her crowning achievement to date might be The Billie Holiday Project, a touring storybook revival concert she wrote and performs, exploring the life of the iconic jazz singer – a show that always ends with Lady Day’s ominous classic “Strange Fruit.” Looking ahead, 2022 is shaping up to be an epic year for Heath, not just because of her growing popularity on local stages, but because she’s also expecting twins in March.
Here, Stella talks about music, motherhood and surviving the pandemic.
I tried to hit the ground running and make the most of livestreams and online concerts. I met a fantastic blues pianist and singer from Cincinnati named Ben Levin, and we did several duets during the pandemic. We want to continue the collaboration since it’s so rare when you find someone’s voice that really blends with yours. I also did a lot of hiking, which is one of my favorite things to do (favorite trails: Willow Creek near Monte Rio, Jenner Headlands and Armstrong Redwoods), and I visited Mt. Rainier for the first time.
I think jazz is this incredible American art form that should be studied and revered in our society, but it’s not. People feel alienated and they don’t understand jazz. People have to be introduced to it. So, connecting jazz to a storyline or a historic figure, an icon like Billie, kind of brings people into it in a different way. And having the pinnacle be “Strange Fruit,” and how it’s connected with the struggles we’re all still facing today, I think is really important.
The language intrinsically brings out different aspects of yourself or your voice. Like singing in French, a lot of the French songs are these melancholic, complex story songs with a whole dramatic arc. Whereas singing in Spanish, it can be very carnal and guttural, like on your sleeve, your heart’s just out there. I love how the language allows you to express different parts of yourself.
I could have the best-laid plans, but I know it will be totally different once the twins come. It’s a time of transition. I want music to be a part of their lives, so I want to get back to performing and having music around, at rehearsals and all of that. We’ll see how it all shakes out. The last show I have booked on the calendar is March 5, so right now that’s my cutoff.
