Page 136 – Sonoma Magazine

A Wine-Lover’s Perfect Day Trip to Bodega Bay

April 2022

By Linda Murphy

It would take at least a week to explore all the charms and outdoor activities Sonoma’s coastline has to offer. But a one-day, wine-friendly trip to the seaport town of Bodega Bay can be a great introduction.

Bodega Bay is just 23 miles west of Santa Rosa, via Highway 12, Bodega Highway and Highway 1. In a straight-through drive, the landscape changes from downtowns and housing developments in Santa Rosa and Sebastopol, to vineyard-studded hillsides and the last vestiges of Gravenstein apple orchards, to oak, fir and redwood forests, to the rocky Pacific Ocean and its pockets and spits of sandy beach. Yet a few stops along the route deliver a more leisurely and delicious way to Bodega Bay.

This itinerary isn’t for golfers, surfers, hikers or bicyclists, but rather for wine lovers craving a relaxing, don’t-break-a-sweat day. The overlapping Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley winegrowing regions near Bodega Bay are widely known for vibrant chardonnays, rosés, pinot noirs, syrahs and sparkling wines, all of which thrive in vineyards exposed to the cooling winds and fog from the Pacific Ocean. Fasten your seat belts, sip and spit, and rehydrate often with water for a safe journey.

Morning

Depart Santa Rosa, driving west on Highway 12 through Sebastopol. Continue west on 12, which turns into Bodega Highway. In approximately 6 miles from Sebastopol, near the intersection of Bodega and Bohemian highways, you’ll find Freestone Artisan Cheese, where owner Omar Mueller and his team offer goodies for the perfect picnic basket.

While waiting for coffee and a hot crepe (sweet or savory) or gluten-free buckwheat galette, shop from the small but carefully chosen selection of local cheeses, charcuterie, oils, vinegars, nuts, jams, crackers and other condiments. Mueller’s house wines include a vineyard-designated chardonnay from nearby Freeman Vineyards and a blanc de blancs bubbly made by Norm Yost of Flying Goat Cellars. Open Friday-Monday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

380 Bohemian Highway, Freestone, 707-874-1030, freestoneartisancheese.com

Mid-morning/noon

From Freestone Artisan Cheese, drive northwest on Freestone Road and merge onto Bohemian Highway. In 3.2 miles, turn right onto First Street, then take a quick left onto Occidental’s charmingly rustic Main Street. There, you’ll find Bohème Wines Cellar Door, where owner and winemaker Kurt Beitler pours his wines, for no-appointment-needed walk-ins.

Beitler focuses on small-production pinot noirs and chardonnays, vineyard-designated and of excellent quality. Bohème largely flies under the radar, although it’s surprising that this is the case, given the charm and finesse of Beitler’s coastal-influenced wines. Those looking to discover a brand to tell others about visit Beitler’s tasting room, open noon-6 p.m. Thursday-Friday ; and noon-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Or call to schedule a private tasting and vineyard tour, a fine way to fill a mid-morning before hitting the coast.

3625 Main Street, Occidental, 707-874-3218, bohemewines.com

On to Bodega Bay

Reverse course and drive south on Bohemian Highway, then turn right onto Bodega Highway/Highway 1 for the cruise into the village of Bodega Bay. Take a left on Doran Beach Road and you’ll find Doran Regional Park; it covers 127 acres on the spit separating Bodega Harbor and Bodega Bay and its beach is ideal for picnicking, walking, sticking toes into the frigid water and surfer-watching. Or go fly a kite. The entrance closes when day-use parking ($7) is full.

201 Doran Beach Road, Bodega Bay, 707-875-3540, parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/Visit/Doran-Regional-Park

Afternoon

Barbara and John Drady founded Sonoma Coast Vineyards in 2001, with winemaker Anthony Austin specializing in pinot noir from, you guessed it, the Sonoma Coast region. They eventually sold the brand to Vintage Wine Estates, which has expanded the range of wines to include chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, red blends and bubbles, and maintained the “SCV” tasting room in Bodega Bay. Wines by the glass start at $10 and the wine flight is $25 (reservations required). A grab-and-go artisan cheese and charcuterie box, which serves two, is available for $35. Open daily from 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

555 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, 707-921-2860, sonomacoastvineyards.com

For those who don’t gorge themselves on Freestone Artisan Cheese picnic fare or cheese and salumi from Sonoma Coast Vineyards, there is The Birds Cafe. The comfy patio and porch areas of Melissa Freeman’s casual eatery overlook Bodega Bay and the menu includes fish tacos, oysters, clam chowder, fish and chips, chicken tenders and other items that are as good as any served in Bodega Bay. The fish tacos and artichoke fritters are standouts; vegetarians will be happy with the artichoke tacos. The wine list is small yet smart, with La Crema Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Rosé; Ferrari-Carano Sonoma County Fume Blanc; and a syrah-carignane blend from Sonoma Coast Vineyards. Photos from “The Birds” filming in 1963 are on the walls; Freeman’s parents were extras in the movie. Open daily, 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m.

1407 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, 707-875-2900, thebirdscafe.com

Early takeout dinner

For a more upscale meal, visit Terrapin Creek Cafe. Open 4:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday-Monday the restaurant of Liya Lin and Andrew Truong offers a menu that typically includes pan-roasted Hokkaido scallops with sweet potato and ginger purée; poached halibut with baby bok choy; braised lamb shank; and beef ribeye with potato puree, sautéed broccolini and trumpet mushrooms. Local sourcing of ingredients is a signature of Terrapin Creek.

1580 Eastshore Road, Bodega Bay, 707-875-2700, terrapincreekcafe.com

Alternate stop on the return to Santa Rosa

The Region wine bar in The Barlow in Sebastopol is open from 1-8 p.m. daily, with options for ordering food from Barlow center eateries. For those who haven’t had enough wine tasting, stop at this new venue with push-button pours of wines from approximately 25 Sonoma producers, most of them small and with otherwise hard-to-find bottles.

180 Morris Street, Suite 170, Sebastopol, 707-329-6724, drinkyourregion.com

This Might Be the Most Perfect Burger in Sonoma County

April 2022

By Heather Irwin

machados burger — Bacon Cheeseburger, Machado Burgers: Is this bacon cheeseburger the most perfect burger in Sonoma County? Quite possibly. Don’t miss the Piggy Tots, tater tots topped with homemade chili, pulled pork, cheese, onions and jalapeños and mustard sauce. 406 Larkfield Center, Santa Rosa, 707-546-6835, machadoburgers.com (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)

Is Machado’s bacon cheeseburger the most perfect burger in Sonoma County? Quite possibly.

This Larkfield walk-up counter offers jaw-busting creations that check all of our “perfect burger” boxes. Chewy (but not too soft) Franco American buns easily hold up to a meaty grilled beef patty, oozing cheese, piles of shredded lettuce (please stop putting entire leaves on burgers, people!), salty pickles, onions, tomato and a tangy housemade mustard sauce that’s just right.

The former Big Boys Buns and Burgers also has Piggy Tots on the menu, which are tater tots topped with homemade chili, pulled pork, cheese, onions, jalapeños and mustard sauce. We’re in hog heaven.

406 Larkfield Center, Santa Rosa, 707-546-6835.

Find more favorite Santa Rosa burger spots here.

We Braved the Lines at Santa Rosa’s Sonic Drive-In So You Don’t Have To

April 2022

By Heather Irwin

Tater tots, onion rings, and drinks from Sonic fast food chain. (Wild As Light / Shutterstock.com)

Since 2019, Sonoma County has waited patiently for a Sonic Drive-In to arrive in Santa Rosa. This Oklahoma-based chain is an American classic, hawking burgers, hot dogs, popcorn chicken, onion rings, grilled cheese, tater tots, jalapeño poppers and anything else your doctor would strongly advise against.

Not surprisingly, when it opened on April 7, lines snaked out of the parking lot, causing traffic snarls along Santa Rosa Avenue. That enthusiasm has continued steadily as eager newcomers pull into one of the six drive-in spaces or drive-thru lines. With an average wait of about 25 minutes, eating here is a commitment, however (though it can be significantly faster at off hours).

So is it worth it? Yes and no. While pickle fries and Coney Island dogs are fun, Sonic is all about the drinks.

Depending on how you do the math, there are up to 1.5 million drink combinations on the Sonic menu. It’s a mind-bending mixture of fountain drinks, slushes, milkshakes, juices and flavorings coupled with candy and fruit add-ins that have given rise to “secret drink menu” blog posts raving about the Sonic Sunrise (cherry limeade with orange juice), the Pink Lady (Sprite with cherry juice and vanilla cream) or the Dr Pepper Orgasm (Dr Pepper, lemonade and Powerade).

The top seller is Cherry Limeade slush, though Ocean Water comes in at a close second (a very blue, very coconut-y, fizzy citrus drink that’s as much ice as drink). Fans rave about Sonic’s proprietary “nugget” ice — a soft pellet that retains its chill and begs to be chewed loudly.

The food is another story. It’s not that great. Though the burgers are enormous, they’re just OK, without any redeeming qualities. The tots are also acceptable, as are the corn dogs. The onion rings taste like they’ve been fried in doughnut batter, with an oddly sweet quality. Rumor has it (there has been no confirmation from Sonic) that the secret ingredient in the cornmeal onion ring batter is vanilla ice cream.

Even the Sonic Signature Sauce falls flat, tasting like a bad knockoff of Chick-fil-A’s smoky-sweet mustard sauce.

So go for some chili-cheese tots, maybe a breakfast burrito or some mozzarella sticks, and stay for the nearly infinite possible drink combinations like a cake batter milkshake, sweet tea with orange and cream, a Red Bull strawberry apricot slush, a cranberry limeade with Nerds candy or a chocolate chip cookie dough milkshake. Sonic’s daily happy hour is from 2 to 4 p.m., when all drinks and slushes are half off.

Sonic Drive-In, 2245 Santa Rosa Ave., open 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. for takeout or drive-up only. sonicdrivein.com

New Tapas Restaurant and Bar Coming to Downtown Santa Rosa

April 2022

By Heather Irwin

Cheese board from Kancha, opening soon in downtown Santa Rosa. (Courtesy of Kancha)

A new tapas restaurant and bar, Kancha, is slated to open in May at the former Fourth Street Social location in downtown Santa Rosa.

Restaurant veteran and owner Angel Cayllahua (Roka Akor, La Mar SF) has taken over the lounge-y space that launched as The Jade Room in 2019 but has struggled to find consistent clientele after fires, the pandemic and ongoing downtown malaise.

Now that diners (and drinkers) are heading out again in droves, Cayllahua plans an extensive selection of Champagne and other bubbly drinks from around the world, along with wine and beer to pair with Peruvian and Japanese small bites meant for sharing. Fresh oysters, seared scallops with passion fruit leche de tigre, crab cakes, ceviches, lomo saltado empanadas, octopus causa, charcuterie platters and a “very adult mac and cheese” with huancaina (a mild yellow chile and cheese sauce) are on the opening menu. Stay tuned for more opening details.

643 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, kanchasr.com

Sonoma Family Creates a Rich Existence in 320-Square-Foot Tiny Home

April 2022

By Derek Moore

320 sq ft home sits on the Bouverie Preserve.

This article was originally published in the March/April 2020 issue of Sonoma Magazine.

Justin Koenig and Jennifer Potts live with their two young sons in a home smaller than many kitchens. If that sounds cramped, it isn’t until you step inside the 320-square-foot house at Glen Ellen’s Bouverie Preserve that you truly appreciate just how tight it really is. With just a few steps, a visitor has completed the tour of the kitchen, living room, bathroom, and single closet. On either end of the tiny home are bedroom lofts — one for Kai, 6, and Toby, 9, the other for their parents.

The couple, who have been together since high school, have to be careful not to bang their heads on the ceiling when they get out of bed. Their morning routine in the kitchen is more like a dance. “There’s definitely a choreography we’re figuring out,” says Justin, a physical therapist. “I see her going for the milk, so I step over here to the toaster. You are definitely more aware of each other’s space.”

The Potts Family. — Justin Koenig, Jennifer Potts and their two children, Kai, 6, and Toby, 9. (Rebecca Gosselin)

During storms, wind causes the entire house to sway. “It’s like living on a boat, basically,” says Jennifer. She is a wildlife and fire ecologist for Audubon Canyon Ranch, which owns the 535-acre preserve. Her job is the reason why the couple are afforded the rare opportunity of raising their boys in such a world-class setting. But as a concession to the preserve’s mission and in exchange for living rentfree on the site, the couple must maintain a small footprint on the landscape.

Laundry and kitchen share front entry corner of the tiny home. — Tiny home kitchen. (Rebecca Gosselin)

What their tiny home lacks in space, however, is more than made up for by its hillside setting. From their deck, the family enjoys an amazing view of Sonoma Valley Regional Park and Sonoma Mountain. The surrounding preserve offers limitless opportunities for the boys to explore and play. On a sun-dappled Saturday morning, Kai races an electric scooter he got for Christmas up and down the tree-lined road leading to the house, without concern for other vehicles. “That’s a pretty sweet backyard,” Jennifer says.

Toby and Kai spend most of their days outside swinging through the trees, playing in their treehouse, biking, and all things outdoors. — Toby and Kai spend most of their days outside. (Rebecca Gosselin)

On spring and summer days, she delivers lunch to the boys in their tree fort via a bucket and rope-and-pulley system attached to the house. The family scours creeks for invasive crayfish, which they freeze and give to Audubon Canyon staff to feed to otters. Or they go swimming in a large pool at the former home of David Bouverie, the late London architect whose name graces the property. Frequent visitors include red-tailed hawks, deer, bobcats, and an occasional mountain lion. “They may not have city smarts. But they know how to identify birds,” Jennifer says of her boys. At night, the family soaks in a hot tub on the deck beneath a universe of stars.

Main living space in the tiny home. Nearly every surface (including the stairs) opens up to some sort of storage space. Their are two loft bedrooms (one for the boys and one for Jennifer and Justin. — Justin built stairs that double as storage for easier access and better use of space. (Rebecca Gosselin)

Looking across to the boys bedroom loft. — Looking across to the boy’s bedroom loft. (Rebecca Gosselin)

Still, family closeness can at times feel claustrophobic. The family resorts to placing a Rubbermaid storage bin in the shower so their younger son can indulge his preference for taking a bath. And it’s so loud at times that Justin retreats to his Chevrolet Volt to make work calls and answer emails. In a nod to his mental health, he schedules an hour of alone time every Tuesday night in the bedroom loft, where he dons headphones and watches shows on his cellphone. Jennifer, who seems more comfortable with chaos, says she’d be fine living in a cave, without any amenities other than her cappuccino maker.

The couple concede their lifestyle is not for everyone. But they consider themselves fortunate, two years after their former residence at Bouverie Preserve was destroyed in the 2017 Nuns fire. The night the October inferno erupted, the family drove away from the preserve, sensing no imminent danger from a blaze that, at the time, appeared to be burning far in the distance. Jennifer returned the following morning to retrieve more of the family’s belongings. Instead, she drove up the hill just in time to watch their home catch fire and burn to the ground. Shocking? Yes. But she also acknowledges feeling relatively comforted by the spectacle, which she captured on video. “You think of all the people who didn’t know [whether their home was lost] for two weeks, and I watched it go down,” she says.

Jennifer and Justin Potts in their living room. — Jennifer and Justin in their living room. (Rebecca Gosselin)

The couple saved some of their most meaningful possessions, including love letters and cards they gave to one another when they were dating. But they had to replace most everything else. They say the process of downsizing their lives — what they refer to as “decluttering” — has been cathartic, even freeing. “It was awesome, because you got to start from scratch,” Justin says. “Everything we acquired was necessary.”

The couple’s greatest sense of loss in the aftermath of the fire was over no longer having access to the preserve and space for their boys to grow in nature. Knowing they faced steep odds to rebuild any structures on the protected acreage of the preserve, Jennifer approached her employer with an idea to put a tiny home on the site. Justin spent hours researching options online. And then one day, the couple were watching an episode of “Tiny House Nation” when they were drawn to a home featured on the program, which turned out to be for sale. Audubon Canyon Ranch purchased the house for $55,000 and the family had it shipped to California.

Jennifer was at the preserve on the summer day in August 2018 when the cozy abode arrived on a trailer pulled by a pickup. “It was so cool. It came up the road,” she recalls. “There’s our home.”

Tell Us: What’s Your Favorite BBQ Spot in Sonoma County?

April 2022

By Sonoma Magazine Staff

Let us know your favorite BBQ spots in Sonoma County. (Shutterstock)

Do you love BBQ?

For a summer magazine story, we’re looking for YOUR favorite Sonoma County BBQ ideas. Please send the names of your top BBQ restaurants, pop-ups and food trucks to bbq@sonomamag.com by Wednesday, May 4. Suggestions should be located within Sonoma County and should be places where the public can go to eat (ie, not your friend’s house, even if his ‘cue is the best you’ve ever tasted!).

Can’t wait to hear from you, and thanks so much!

Costeaux French Bakery Expands to Petaluma

April 2022

By Heather Irwin

Healdsburg-based Costeaux Bakery will open a satellite cafe in the Hotel Petaluma this summer. The new location, which has walk-up counter service only, will sell coffee, bread, pastries, lunch and desserts.

“The loaf is out of the oven,” said owner Will Seppi in a social media post announcing the opening. The menu will include dishes like their Deep Dish Quiche, croissant breakfast sandwiches, salads, lemon tarts, French macarons and sourdough baguettes. The cafe will be open daily at 205 Kentucky St.

Founded in 1923, Costeaux is one of the oldest bakeries in the county, with locations in Healdsburg and at the Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, plus their traditional Latino bakery in Roseland, Tia Maria.

More details to come.

22 Sonoma Brunch Spots for Mother’s Day 2022

April 2022

By Maci Martell

In addition to its five-star rating of the Montage Resort, Forbes also highlighted the Montage Spa and the resort’s restaurant Hazel Hill with their very own four-star ratings. (Christian Horan Photography)

Any day is a good day to show your mom some extra appreciation. This Mother’s Day, May 8, treat her to a sunny gourmet brunch at a nice restaurant or scenic winery.

All the listed brunches are on Sunday, May 8, unless otherwise noted. Reservations required for most places. Click through the above gallery for a peek at the venues.

Bacchus Landing

A Mother’s Day brunch and wine pairing on the piazza of a seasonal fruit salad with a strawberry-basil syrup, avocado toast on local artisan bread, chicken and waffles with brown honey butter and bread pudding with a raspberry cremeux, plus bottomless glasses of wine. Brunch seatings at 10 a.m. and noon. Tickets are $125 per person. Reserve on Tock.

14210 Bacchus Landing Way, Healdsburg, 707-395-0697, bacchuslanding.com

Breathless Wines

Brunch on the patio accompanied by live local music. There will be quiche, salad, croissants and sparkling wine to toast to mothers. Tickets are $22 to $34 per person and there are multiple seating times from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Reserve on Tock.

499 Moore Lane, Healdsburg, 707-395-7300, breathlesswines.com

Bubbles from Breathless Wines in Healdsburg. (Courtesy photo) — Bubbles from Breathless Wines in Healdsburg. (Courtesy of Breathless Wines)

Comstock Wines

Comstock Wines will bring back its annual Mother’s Day brunch with a special feast paired with a wine flight. Seatings available at 3 p.m. (11 a.m. and 1 p.m. seatings are sold out.) Tickets are $85 per person or $75 for club members. Reserve on Tock.

1290 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, 707-723-3011, comstockwines.com

Hazel Hill at Montage

Hazel Hill at Montage Healdsburg will host a two-course prix fixe Mother’s Day brunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in addition to a three-course prix fixe Mother’s Day dinner. The brunch is $95 per person and will include seasonal entrees, desserts and drinks; menu details will be announced at montagehotels.com/healdsburg/upcoming-events. For reservations, call 707-354-6900 or book online on OpenTable.

100 Montage Way, Healdsburg, 707-979-9000, montagehotels.com/healdsburg/dining/hazel-hill

Flamingo Resort

A buffet-style Mother’s Day brunch from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the ballroom. The brunch will include an assortment of savory entrees, sweets and sides, such as quiche, salad, French toast, roasted tri-tip, a bagel brunch board, fruit tarts and mini pastries. Tickets are $65 for adults and $35 for kids 12 and under. Reserve on Tock.

2777 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-545 8530, flamingoresort.com

John Ash & Co.

A special brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with an assortment of seasonal dishes. The brunch menu includes oysters, French onion soup, ricotta and salmon crepes, eggs Benedict, strawberry challah French toast, spring vegetable frittata, duck confit hash, country fried angus steak and pan-roasted sea bass. See the full menu with prices here. Reserve on OpenTable.

4350 Barnes Road, Santa Rosa, 800-421-2584, vintnersresort.com/dining/john-ash-co

Ricky’s Eastbound

A Mother’s Day brunch from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. featuring bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys. The brunch menu includes beignets, fresh fruit and other breakfast sides for the table, plus your choice of French toast, eggs Benedict, California omelet or spring asparagus salad with smoked salmon for the entree. The brunch is $42 per adult and $18 per child 12 and under, and bottomless drinks are $22 per person. To make a reservation, call 707-843-5143 or email RickysEastbound@gmail.com.

5755 Mountain Hawk Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-843-5143, rickyseastbound.com

Victory House at the Epicenter

The Epicenter’s sports bar and restaurant Victory House will celebrate Mother’s Day with a brunch starting at 10 a.m. and comedy show (for ages 18 and up) starting at 11 a.m. The brunch will include breakfast burritos, eggs Benedict, buttermilk pancakes, grilled flank steak, orange-marinated pork tenderloin, apple pie parfait and chocolate cake. San Jose comedian Jeanette Marin with headliner Dennis Gaxiola will perform. The comedy show is $50 per person. Purchase tickets on Victory House’s website.

3215 Coffey Lane, Santa Rosa, 707-757-9041, visitvictoryhouse.com

DeLoach Vineyards

Unwind this Mother’s Day with yoga, tea and pizza from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A morning yoga class in the vineyard ($40 per guest, $32 per wine club member) will start at 10 a.m. and includes a glass of sparkling rosé. The tea service ($60 per guest, $48 per club member and $15 for kids) will be held at multiple times from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and includes scones, tea sandwiches and sweets, with additional wines and pizzas available to buy. There will be kids’ activities, such as outdoor games and Mother’s Day card-making at the craft table. Reserve the tea service or yoga experience on Tock.

1791 Olivet Road, Santa Rosa, 707-755-3300, deloachvineyards.com

TIPS Roadside

A family-style Mother’s Day brunch from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The all-you-can-eat brunch will include cornbread with honey butter, vegetable quiche, shrimp and grits, fried chicken and sides of housemade breakfast sausage, applewood-smoked bacon, root vegetable hash, red-eyed gravy and beignets for dessert. There will be bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys for an extra $19. The meal is $55 for adults, $20 for children 12 and under and free for kids 6 and under. Reservations are required; reserve a table on Tock.

8445 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood, 707-509-0078, tipsroadside.com

Salt & Stone

Mother’s Day brunch from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. A la carte brunch menu includes seasonal fare and brunch favorites such as brioche French toast, huevos rancheros, steak and eggs, Shanghai chicken salad, Dungeness crab melt, sumac-crusted snapper, lamb burger and cauliflower gnocchi. Book a table on Salt and Stone’s website via Resy.

9900 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood, 707-833-6326, saltstonekenwood.com

Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa

Mother’s Day brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. complete with a la carte entrees, crepe station and dessert buffet. The brunch menu includes a seafood platter to share, Dungeness crab Benedict, grilled lamb rack, pastrami-smoked salmon, various fruit crepes, strawberry cheesecake and chamomile panna cotta. The kids menu includes buttermilk pancakes, brioche French toast, macaroni and cheese, chicken tenders, a kids burger with fries and access to the crepe station and dessert buffet. $110 per adult and $39 per child. Reservations required. Call 707-939-2415 to reserve a table.

100 Boyes Blvd., Sonoma, 707-939-2415, fairmont.com/sonoma

Wit & Wisdom

Three-course prix fixe Mother’s Day brunch served from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. includes brunch classics and fresh seasonal dishes such as roasted Pacific oysters, rigatoni arrabbiata with lobster, eggs Benedict, king salmon, creme brûlée French toast, charcoal-grilled lamb chops, wild mushroom pizza and Basque-style cheesecake. The brunch is $89 per person. See the full food and drink menu and make a reservation here.

1325 Broadway, Sonoma, 707-931-3405, witandwisdomsonoma.com

Murphy’s Irish Pub & Restaurant

Mother’s Day celebration at Murphy’s with a special menu of Irish and seasonal dishes in addition to the regular menu. The Mother’s Day brunch menu will include a breakfast shepherd’s pie with poached eggs, smoked salmon omelet, ahi tuna Nicoise salad and chicken and waffles with Irish bangers. Reservations recommended for groups of six or more.

464 First St. East, Sonoma, 707-935-0660, sonomapub.com

Roche Winery & Vineyards

Roche Winery’s annual Mother’s Day Brunch in the Vineyard with seatings at 10 a.m. and noon will include a breakfast tower of bagels, rye toasts and baguettes with homemade jam and cream cheese, yogurt and granola parfaits, baked goods, spinach frittata, flat-iron steak and sweet potato hash. $85 per person, $65 for wine club members, $15 for children and free for kids 3 and younger. The last day to buy tickets is May 3. Learn more and purchase tickets here.

22097A Bonness Road, Sonoma, 707-935-7115, rochewinery.com

Viansa Winery

Mother’s Day picnic brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Viansa Winery’s scenic lawn with live music by Bay Area singer Lara Louise. A $125 ticket includes a spot on the lawn for up to six people, a bottle of wine with Govino wine glasses and a charcuterie spread of cheeses, baguettes, fruit and Italian desserts. Additional food and wine will be available to buy from the marketplace and the woodfired pizza oven. Wine club members get a 20% discount on tickets. Purchase a ticket on Tock.

25200 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, 800-995-4740, viansa.com

Picnic at Viansa Winery in Sonoma. (Courtesy of Viansa Winery)

Enriquez Estate Wines

As part of its Brunch in the Vineyard series, Enriquez Estate Wines will partner with SoCo Paella to host a Mother’s Day brunch with live music by Bay Area singer John Vicino. The brunch will include salmon cake with lemon aioli; “adult grilled cheese” with brie, figs and caramelized onions; chocolate chip cookies; and award-winning wines. The event is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and tickets are $60 per person. Reserve a seat on Tock.

5960 Eastside Road, Forestville, 707-347-9719, enriquezwines.com

Rio Nido Roadhouse

Mother’s Day brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with local musical duo Mac & Potter, who will perform oldies and Americana music from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. No cover charge.

14540 Canyon 2 Road, Rio Nido, 707-869-0821, rionidoroadhouse.com

Rocker Oysterfeller’s

Rocker Oysterfeller’s 16th annual Mother’s Day Brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. will have a two-course brunch menu plus oysters and brunch drinks such as mimosas, Irish coffee, Bloody Marys and Ramos gin fizzes. A menu for children 10 and under will also be available. Reservations are required for groups of six or more, and groups of five or fewer will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis. To make a reservation for a party of six or more, email info@ffrsi.com.

14415 Highway One, Valley Ford, 707-876-1983, rockeroysterfellers.com

Coast Kitchen at Timber Cove Resort

Coast Kitchen at Timber Cove Resort will serve a buffet-style Mother’s Day brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with dishes such as waffles, fried chicken and eggs Benedict. There will also be an omelet station and fresh fruit and pastries for dessert. To reserve a table, call or 707-847-3231.

21780 Highway 1, Jenner, 707-847-3231, coastkitchensonoma.com

Mother’s Day Treats

Indulge your mom’s sweet tooth this Mother’s Day with a special treat from one of these Sonoma County bakeries.

Costeaux French Bakery

Costeaux will be open Mother’s Day for its regular Sunday brunch, 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The bakery is also offering a special “For Mom with Love” care package, which includes chocolate biscotti, cinnamon walnut bread, a dozen French macaroons and two handmade “mom” shortbread cookies. Order by Thursday, April 28, for the package to arrive in time for Mother’s Day.

417 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-433-1913, costeaux.com

Nom Nom Cakes

Nom Nom Cakes is offering Mother’s Day specials such as themed cakes, cupcakes and fruit tarts. Order online for pickup or delivery.

390 Calle Del Sol, Bodega Bay, 805-350-0680, nomnombaking.com

BFF Collaborations

BFF Collaborations is selling Mother’s Day mugs with either a cookie bouquet or chocolate-covered strawberries. Last day for Mother’s Day orders is April 27.

Bffcollaborations.company.site

Frosty’z Bakery by Jaeden

Frosty’z Bakery has a special Mother’s Day cookie set available for pre-order. Pre-order early and pick-up on Saturday, May 7, between noon to 1 p.m. at Homespun Market in Rohnert Park.

frostyzbakerybyjaeden.com

Healdsburg’s Newly Opened Little Saint Features Wines from 13 Countries

April 2022

By Sarah Doyle

Little Saint during Friday’s grand opening in downtown Healdsburg on April 22, 2022. (Chad Surmick / The Press Democrat)

Little Saint in Healdsburg, which opened Friday, features an international bounty of wines from 13 countries — including Greece, Croatia, Lebanon, France and South Africa. The 300-bottle list also has an impressive selection of exceptional wines made in Sonoma County.

For Wine Director Alexandria Sarovich, who joined Little Saint’s sister restaurant, Single Thread, as a sommelier three years ago, creating the wine program at the highly anticipated new restaurant was an exercise in curiosity and intuition. With a strong focus on sustainably produced wines and those made by women and people of color, the wines at Little Saint’s restaurant, bar and wine shop illustrate Sarovich’s interest in supporting winemakers from underrepresented communities.

“When choosing a wine, we choose what feels right,” she said. “I hadn’t tasted many BIPOC wines prior to starting this program, but that’s what I’m most curious about. It just feels right to look at these wines with an open mind.”

Located in the 10,000-square-foot space formerly occupied by SHED Modern Grange, Little Saint is a restaurant, cafe, wine shop and event space from Single Thread’s Kyle and Katina Connaughton, philanthropist Jeff Ubben, animal activist Laurie Ubben and designer Ken Fulk.

Approximately 80% of the wines available in the restaurant will be sold in the wine shop, with the remaining 20% reserved for restaurant guests only. Local winemakers will offer complimentary wine tastings to the public every other Tuesday, beginning with Tom Darling of Darling Wines on May 3.

On other days, guests can drop by the tasting area and buy a white, red or skin-contact wine by the glass from a list that is updated weekly.

“I want people to feel like they can come in on a regular basis and enjoy an affordable glass or bottle of wine, whether it’s a $13 bottle of cava or $40 bottle of nebbiolo,” Sarovich said. “I don’t want the space to feel like it’s reserved just for special occasions because of the price.”

In the future, Little Saint expects to host wine release parties, wine dinners and other special events.

Highly Anticipated Little Saint Opens in Healdsburg. Take a Look Inside

April 2022

By Heather Irwin

Leslie Schulz of Little Saint prepares a to-go order in downtown Healdsburg on April 22, 2022. (Chad Surmick/The Press Democrat)

The massive industrial-style space that once housed SHED Modern Grange in downtown Healdsburg opened Friday as Little Saint, a restaurant, cafe, bar and retail space from the owners of three-Michelin-starred Single Thread restaurant.

The much-anticipated opening comes four years after SHED closed in 2018, leaving the prime 10,000-square-foot space just off busy Healdsburg Avenue empty. Since it opened in 2013, SHED had been a popular central venue for an increasingly high-end Healdsburg dining scene.

On Friday, locals entered Little Saint unsure of what to expect and with faces registering a combination of recognition and surprise. Everything and nothing is different as you walk in. The layout of the cafe, coffee bar, mercantile and food cases have changed little since SHED closed, but there’s a new warmth with cozy banquettes, floor-to-ceiling drapes hung with modern art and double the seating. The 25 North St. location is welcoming in a way that builds on SHED’s original vision, but with the skilled hospitality and of-the-moment cuisine of Single Thread.

A selection of small plates from Little Saint in Healdsburg. (Emma K Creative) — Plates from Little Saint in Healdsburg. (Emma K. Morris)

A flag graces the exterior of Little Saint during FridayÕs grand opening in downtown Healdsburg on April 22, 2022. (Chad Surmick / The Press Democrat) — A flag graces the exterior of Little Saint during Friday’s grand opening in downtown Healdsburg on April 22, 2022. (Chad Surmick / The Press Democrat)

Behind the project are Kyle and Katina Connaughton of the upscale Single Thread, designer Ken Fulk of San Francisco nonprofit Saint Joseph’s Arts Foundation, philanthropist Jeff Ubben and his wife, animal activist Laurie Ubben, and Program Director Jenny Hess. In addition to its food offerings, the expansive Healdsburg space will also be used as community hub for conversations with thought leaders, live music performances and events.

“This is a community gathering place that’s been missing for a few years,” said Little Saint General Manager Akeel Shah, most recently of Single Thread. “That’s what SHED was all about, and it’s exciting to bring this back.

“Immediately, when we told the community that we were opening our doors, it started a spark,” Shah said.

Little Saint both embraces and expands on the ideals of SHED founders Doug Lipton and Cindy Daniel, who took a leap of faith by self-funding the design and build of a “modern grange” in 2013. Considered groundbreaking at the time, their project aimed to celebrate the farms, wines, makers, artists and thought leaders of Sonoma County in a buzzy modern space.

When it closed at the end of 2018, the former SHED lay fallow, with ongoing rumors of purchase. When the Ubbens bought the building in 2020, they vowed to continue the SHED legacy.

Single Thread’s management arm, Vertice Hospitality Management, operates the food and wine components of the space. Chef de Cuisine Bryan Oliver will make a return to the kitchen, where he once worked with executive chef Perry Hoffman when SHED was in operation.

The restaurant’s plant-forward cafe and restaurant menus pay homage to 30 acres of Alexander Valley farmland: the 5-acre Little Saint Farm and the Connaughtons’ 25-acre Single Thread Farm.

The food, said Kyle Connaughton, showcases the micro-seasonal produce of the farms, a reflection of what’s happening today in Sonoma County. Restaurant dishes include lavash with togarashi, purple haze carrots with crunch rice and XO sauce, cauliflower biryani and rice pudding for dessert.

The cafe, open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., sells a variety of salads, bowls and desserts with dishes such as beets in coconut yogurt, potato salad with egg-less mayonnaise and orzo with asparagus and preserved lemons.

Fulk’s design elements include a cozy collection of upcycled vintage and custom pieces by local artisans. The curated art collection at Little Saint showcases Ken and Laurie Ubbens’ private collection as well as pieces from California expressionist artists Jack Freeman and Gerald Wasserma. Installations will change frequently.

Co-owner Laurie Ubben said that the timing for opening was perfect, after years of lockdown and social distancing. The result has far surpassed what she expected when the project began.

“How we engage with our surroundings is the future of food. Having connection to where things come from is important. In some small way, having everything here under one roof is representative of that,” she said.