Page 158 – Sonoma Magazine

12 Easter Egg Hunts in Sonoma County

April 2022

By Maci Martell

Harper Malone, 20 months, hunts for Easter eggs during the Sebastopol Kiwanis Club’s Easter egg hunt held at Ives Park in Sebastopol. (The Press Democrat)

Grab your Easter baskets and don your bunny tails — Sonoma County is preparing a multitude of Easter egg hunts and other fun activities to put a spring in your step this year.

Kids of all ages have a chance to hunt for colorful, treat-filled eggs, as well as nosh on springtime snacks, make arts and crafts, and meet the Easter bunny in a number of towns across the county.

Downtown Santa Rosa Egg Hunt

Nearly 30 businesses in downtown Santa Rosa are participating in a grand Easter egg hunt for all ages. The 2022 “Egg-Cellent Adventure” involves scouting out the participating businesses with the help of a map and clue sheet, collecting stickers from each business and then entering your complete egg hunt passport for a chance to win a prize, including the grand prize of a trip for four to Disneyland.

There’s also an “Amateur Egg Hunt” for kids 10 and under, which requires finding 10 of the 29 participating businesses for a chance to win a small prize. The hunt ends at midnight on April 16.

To learn more and obtain a map and clue sheet, visit downtownsantarosa.org/egghunt.

Jennifer Reynolds hands out a treasure hunt sticker to Talitha Blair, 3, at Timothy Patrick Jewlers in downtown Santa Rosa on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. Downtown Santa Rosa businesses are hoping to drum up some business with an Easter "Egg" Hunt where kids can collect stickers from businesses and turn them in for prizes. (Photo by John Burgess/The Press Democrat) — Jennifer Reynolds hands out a treasure hunt sticker to Talitha Blair, 3, at Timothy Patrick Jewlers in downtown Santa Rosa during the 2021 Easter egg hunt. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Easter Stroller Strides and Egg Hunt

The group Fit4Mom Santa Rosa/Windsor is organizing an Easter Stroller Strides class and egg hunt on Wednesday, April 15, at Howarth Park in Santa Rosa. The Stroller Strides class begins at 9:15 a.m. and the egg hunt will begin five minutes after the class ends. This event is free. The group meets at the boat ramp near Lake Ralphine at the top parking lot of the park for Stroller Strides. Find more information here.

Howarth Park, Santa Rosa.

Cloverdale Lions Easter Egg Hunt

The Cloverdale Lions Club is organizing an Easter egg hunt at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 16 at Jefferson Elementary’s ball field. Find more information here.

315 North St., Cloverdale

The Kenwood Firefighters Association’s Easter Egg Hunt

The Kenwood Firefighters Association will be hosting its traditional Easter egg hunt Saturday, April 16, at Plaza Park on Warm Springs Road, according to the Kenwood Press. The event is for children through 6th grade and will start at 9 a.m. The event is free and participants are encouraged to bring their own baskets.

Plaza Park, Warm Springs Road, Kenwood.

Glen Ellen Easter Egg Hunt at Dunbar School

The Sonoma Volunteer Firefighter’s Association will host a series of Easter activities, beginning with egg dyeing at the Glen Ellen fire station at 2 p.m., Friday, April 15. The Easter egg hunt is the following day (Saturday, April 16) from 10 a.m at Dunbar School. There will be golden eggs redeemable for chocolate fire trucks, a bag of candy will be awarded kids who find at least 5 eggs. The Glen Ellen Village Market has donated 120 eggs for the Easter egg hunt, so there will be plenty of eggs to search for. Bring a basket or sack for collecting the eggs. For questions, call the Glen Ellen fire station at 707-996-9266 or contact Edmond Joseph at 707-975-2222.

11700 Dunbar Road, Glen Ellen.

Ximena, 3, right, and sister Allison Rivera search for eggs in the tall grass at the 30th annual Glen Ellen Easter egg hunt at Dunbar School. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Sebastopol Easter Egg Hunt

The Kiwanis Club of Sebastopol will host its free annual Easter Egg Hunt from 10 a.m. Saturday, April 16 at Ives Park. Children of all ages can hunt for treats and colored eggs and the Easter Bunny will stop by to greet and pose with the kids.

Ives Park at Jewell Avenue and Willow Street, Sebastopol, sebastopolkiwanisclub.org

Rohnert Park Easter Egg Hunt

Cross and Crown Lutheran Church and School in Rohnert Park is hosting an Easter egg hunt from 10 a.m. Saturday, April 16. The hunt is for all children through sixth grade and there will be a story time, crafts and snacks.

5475 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park, 707-795-7853, crossandcrownrp.org

Comstock Wines

Comstock Wines will host its annual Easter Egg Scramble in the Vineyard from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 16. The kids’ egg hunt through the vineyards starts at 11 a.m. sharp, followed by wood-fired pizzas and wine (for adults). The event is free, but reservations are required as space is limited. Get tickets on Tock.

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

Karah Estate Vineyards

This Cotati winery will host an Easter egg hunt from 2-5 p.m. on April 16. There will be Easter trivia for a chance to win prizes along with house wines paired with jelly beans to celebrate the holiday. The event is free and dog-friendly. The $20 wine tasting fee will be waived with a two bottle purchase.

1010 W. Railroad Ave., Cotati, 707-795-3030, karahestatevineyard.com

Wild Hearts Ranch Egg Hunt

Pregnant Mare Rescue North will host an Easter fundraiser and mixer from 2-7 p.m on Saturday, April 16 at Petaluma’s Wild Hearts Ranch. The event will include an Easter egg hunt, games, horse interactions for the kids and a raffle and silent auction featuring local artwork. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for youth under 18 and free for kids under 5. All proceeds go to the care of the rescue’s horses. Purchase tickets on EventBrite.

200 Queens Lane, Petaluma.

Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn

In addition to a lavish Easter brunch on Sunday, April 17, Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn will host an Easter egg hunt for all ages starting at 10 a.m. on the front lawn.

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

Rio Nido Roadhouse

Rio Nido Roadhouse will host its annual Easter Eggstravaganza on April 17 with an egg hunt for all ages following an Easter brunch. Kids 5 and under are first up for the hunt at 11 a.m., followed by kids 6-9 at 11:30 a.m. and then kids 10 and up starting around 11:45 a.m.

There will be a Peep Diorama Art Contest based on the theme “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous Peeps.” Drop off shoebox-sized dioramas before 1 p.m. for judging. Winners and prizes will be announced by 2 p.m.

There will also be a peep catapult competition for kids of all ages as well as local firefighters with a fire engine on site for kids to meet, greet and climb aboard. Call to RSVP for the Easter egg hunt to ensure there will be enough goodies for everyone.

14540 Canyon 2 Road, Rio Nido, 70-869-0821, rionidoroadhouse.com

More Easter fun for adults and kids

West Wines

West Wines will celebrate Easter with a weekend of fun activities at its vineyard and tasting room, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 16-17. Easter activities will include a trivia walk through the vineyard for all ages, wine tasting with cheese and charcuteries for adults and jelly beans and juice pairing for children. The event is $35 and free for club members. Make a reservation online.

1000 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, 707-433-2066, westwines.com

Viansa Sonoma Winery

Viansa Winery will celebrate Easter on April 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with rosé, sparkling wine, wood-fired pizza, live music by local folk singer Clay Bell and family photos with the Easter bunny. Registration is not required. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.

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

Easter Celebration at East Washington Place in Petaluma

East Washington Place in Petaluma is celebrating Easter with arm painting, balloon making and photos with the Easter bunny from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, April 10.

401 Kenilworth Drive, Petaluma, eastwashingtonplace.com

Where to Find Easter Treats in Sonoma County

April 2022

By Maci Martell

Easter cookies from Frosty’z Bakery by Jaeden. (Frosty’z Bakery by Jaeden)

Confectioneries and baked goods abound this Easter season, with local bakeries and candy shops crafting special treats for the springtime holiday. From chocolate bunnies and candy-filled eggs to decorated cookies and carrot cakes, there’s something for everyone’s sweet tooth.

Here’s where to find Easter treats in Sonoma County.

BFF Collaborations

A joint venture from Sonoma County-based childhood friends and owners of Amanda Marie’s Pastries and BeYOUtifully Chaotic Gifts, BFF Collaborations is selling cute Easter bunny mug cakes with part of the proceeds benefiting Save the Children. The ceramic mugs with bunny cupcakes inside have Easter-themed quotes such as “Shake your bunny tail” and “Have a very hoppy Easter.” The last day for Easter orders is April 7.

bffcollaborations.company.site

Costeaux French Bakery

Costeaux French Bakery has a selection of treats and baked goods available for Easter, such as carrot cake and artfully decorated chick and bunny cookies. Order in the store or online for pickup in time for Easter.

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

Eye Candy Chocolates

Artisan chocolate truffle-maker Eye Candy Chocolates has a line of Easter treats for pickup, including chocolate ganache-filled bunnies, hot cocoa bombs, chocolate lollipops and Easter-themed truffle boxes. Pre-order online for pickups.

6761 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol, 707-888-0568, eyecandychocolatier.com

Frosty’z Bakery

This Sonoma County-based online cookie bakery has a number of Easter cookies available for pre-orders, including ones shaped and artfully decorated like bunnies, chicks, eggs, carrots and Easter baskets. Pre-order early and pick up on Saturday, April 16, between 2-4 p.m. at Homespun Market in Rohnert Park.

frostyzbakerybyjaeden.com

Nom Nom Cakes

Bodega Bay-based bakery Nom Nom Cakes is offering Easter specials in addition to its usual array of pies, tarts and specialty cakes. The specials include Easter cupcakes, breakable candy-filled chocolate Easter eggs and an Easter cookie decorating kit that has everything you need to create a dozen charming Easter-themed sugar cookies. Order online for pickup.

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

Patisserie Angelica

Patisserie Angelica will be closed on Easter Sunday, but the Sebastopol bakery is selling a generous selection of spring and Easter-themed desserts you can pick up before the holiday. The spring dessert menu includes chocolate raspberry eggs, lemon egg-shaped cake, Easter-decorated spiced carrot cake, gateau Parisian, Easter cookies and flourless chocolate souffle. Call by Sunday, April 10, if you want a custom cake or special dessert by Easter.

6821 Laguna Park Way, Sebastopol, 707-827-7998, patisserieangelica.com

See’s Candies

Famous Bay Area chocolatier See’s Candies has a vast selection of Easter candy available for shipping, delivery or pickup. Treats include chocolate bunnies, jelly beans, limited-time spring lollipops, chocolate eggs and assorted Easter baskets. Order online or visit locations in Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa and Windsor.

sees.com

The Chocolate Cow

The Chocolate Cow’s online chocolate shop has special assortments of Easter truffles available for shipping. The truffle boxes include nine assorted chocolates, including bunny truffles, pecan turtles, peanut butter cups and sea salt caramels. The Easter truffle boxes are $30-34 each.

452 First St. E., Suite F, Sonoma, 707-935-3564, thechocolatecowshop.com

Volo Chocolate

This Windsor chocolate factory is offering its seasonal “Bean to Bunny” 62% solid dark milk chocolate rabbits, made from whole cocoa beans, browned butter and caramelized milk. The deadline for online orders shipped to your house by Easter has passed, but you can still place orders for picking up in the store 1-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The 2.4-ounce bunnies are $12 each.

399 Business Park Court, Windsor, 707-536-6764, volochocolate.com

Sonoma County Distillery Earns Organic Certification

April 2022

By Dana Rebmann

Sonoma County has long been a hub for organic farming. Organic and biodynamic wineries may get the most attention, but the lineup of organic products grown and made here is long and varied. Think about your last trip to the farmers market or the grocery store — from olive oil, fruits and vegetables to milk, eggs, honey and just about everything in between, locally made organic products are easier to find than ever. And now you can add organic craft spirits to the list.

Healdsburg’s Young & Yonder Spirits recently completed the process of becoming a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic craft distillery. Founded in 2013 by wife-and-husband team Sarah and Joshua Opatz, the distillery has sourced quality organic ingredients for its spirits since day one. But after watching the marketplace and listening to their customers, the couple decided it was time to make the leap and seek official organic certification.

“Going organic was a decision that we made from the commitment to push ourselves to be better at what we do,” said Joshua Opatz. “It also has very little downside. If consumers don’t find that aspect of our product valuable, it doesn’t deter them from still enjoying the product all the same.”

Organic products are in high demand. As a result, the word “organic” is widely used to market a variety of goods. This can make it complicated and confusing for consumers as they try to interpret labels and make choices in the store and, sometimes, organic labels can be misleading. USDA certified organic products, however, have an official stamp of approval since these products must be grown and processed according to certain federal regulations and standards. These regulations and standards address a variety of factors, including soil quality, pest and weed control and the use of additives.

To receive USDA organic certification takes time and and requires quite a bit of effort. For Young & Yonder, it took about a year and the process included a variety of steps such as evolving the supply chain, locating reliable partners, securing proper paperwork and redesigning labels.

“From a cost perspective, it was expensive,” said Joshua Opatz, who noted that the cost can deter business owners from seeking USDA organic certification. But it also “elevates the entire operation to a more traceable, cleaner, product-focused environment,” he added.

Organic certification is a notable accomplishment for a small, family-owned and operated distillery, but earning the certification doesn’t mean the work is over. This is just the beginning of a longterm process; yearly audits and inspections are required to maintain organic certification.

Organic spirits growing in popularity

Once a rarity in the artisan distillery world, organic spirits are becoming increasingly popular. The majority of Sonoma County’s distilleries use organic ingredients in their spirits but Young & Yonder is only the second to complete the USDA certification process.

Hanson of Sonoma, an industry standout for making vodka from grapes instead of grains or potatoes, launched in 2015 with an organic vodka. Owned and operated by four siblings and their parents, the distillery now produces a variety of vodkas that are all certified organic, from the Original to the flavored Habanero, Cucumber, Meyer Lemon, Mandarin and Ginger.

Hanson of Sonoma Organic Vodka — All of the vodkas produced by Hanson of Sonoma Distillery are certified organic. Photo Credit: Nat & Cody Gantz

“It’s very transparent being an organic product,” said co-owner Alanna Hanson. “In the spirits world, where ingredients aren’t even listed on the label, being organic is one of the few ways to really have some credibility in the product and the juice that goes in the bottle.”

Distilleries and the spirits they produce are certified individually. In other words, an organic distillery can still produce a conventional, non-organic product alongside organic ones. In addition to its organic grape-based vodkas, Hanson of Sonoma also produces a single malt, double barrel whiskey that is not organic.

Young & Yonder crafts a variety of spirits, including vodka, gin, absinthe, amaro and whiskey. All spirits are certified organic apart from the three whiskeys they produce. (The Opatzes weren’t able to find local, organic grains they felt delivered the quality, aroma and taste they wanted for their whiskeys and instead opted to source non-GMO grains from local producers.)

If the demand for organic spirits continues to grow, the availability of local organic ingredients will likely increase, too. This is a win-win for local distilleries, local farmers and for those of us who like to enjoy spirits made in Sonoma County.

Young & Yonder Spirits, 449 Allan Court, Healdsburg, 707-473-8077

Hanson of Sonoma, 22985 Burndale Road, Sonoma, 707-343 1805

Healdsburg’s Single Thread Reopens with World’s Best Chef Collaboration

April 2022

By Heather Irwin

A dish from Chef Val Cantu of San Francisco’s Californios. Photo: Adahlia Cole

Single Thread Farms and Restaurant will reopen on May 1 after a duct fire forced the three-star Michelin restaurant to close for 10 weeks. Following the opening, owners Kyle and Katina Connaughton will host a special collaborative dinner on May 19 with Chef Jorge Vallejo from Quintonil in Mexico City and Chef Val Cantu from Californios in San Francisco.

The ten-course dinner will represent the spirit of Single Thread while showcasing the philosophies of Quintonil and Californios, according to Chef Kyle Connaughton. Quintonil is rated No. 27 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list (Single Thread is No. 37), and is known for its elevated takes on classic Mexican cuisine. Californios is a two-star Michelin restaurant with a contemporary tasting menu featuring Latin American cuisine.

The menu for the special dinner is $425 per person (wine, tax and gratuity not included). No vegan or vegetarian requests are possible due to the nature of the menu. Reservations can be made through Tock.

10 Great Sonoma County Restaurants and Wineries for Easter Brunch

April 2022

By Maci Martell

Chicken & Waffles with sriracha cream & organic maple butter and a Bloody Mary from the Gypsy Cafe in Sebastopol on August 13, 2020. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Sonoma County chefs are preparing for Easter with a range of interesting dishes, brunches and dinners. From five-star hotels and wineries to local favorite restaurants and cafes, check out where to enjoy Easter brunch near you. Click through the above gallery for details. All listings are for Sunday, April 17, unless otherwise noted.

Sonoma County Restaurant Debuts Money Saving NFTs

April 2022

By Dana Rebmann

outside of Big Bottom Market — Outside of Big Bottom Market in Guerneville. (Courtesy Big Bottom Market)

Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, are all the rage these days. The NFT market surpassed $40 billion in 2021, according to an estimate from blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis Inc., and celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Snoop Dogg, Ellen DeGeneres, Cara Delevingne and Kate Moss have joined the craze.

Now, it seems, NFTs are coming to Sonoma County. Last week, Guenerville’s Big Bottom Market announced that it will be releasing a series of NFTs to celebrate its 11th anniversary this year.

“That sounds interesting, but what exactly is an NFT?” you might ask. Here’s the short answer: A non-fungible token is essentially a unique digital form of art — it could be a photograph, video or even piece of music — that can’t be replicated. (Unlike a fungible item or currency, like the U.S. dollar or Bitcoin, NFTs can’t be traded for or replaced by another item or currency of exactly the same kind or value.) NFTs are bought and sold online (in many instances with cryptocurrency) and are recorded on what’s called the blockchain, a digital ledger of transactions.

While the most expensive NFTs have sold for millions of dollars, they can also be free. And that’s the case with Big Bottom Market’s NFTs. Those interested in acquiring Big Bottom Market NFTs can visit the restaurant’s page on the Cent social network platform where they can subscribe to the page and create an account. Every account will automatically be assigned a crypto wallet in which the owner can collect the restaurant’s NFTs for free. A new NFT will be released every week and will work similarly to a digital coupon that gives the owner a discount at Big Bottom Market.

Big Bottom Market co-owner Michael Volpatt announced the NFT release on Instagram. He believes the Guerneville market is the first restaurant in Sonoma County, and possibly the Bay Area, to test the marketing power of NFTs.

“I’ve always been kind of an early adopter of new technology,” said Volpatt. “To utilize NFTs that we give away for free, that will help promote what we’re doing.”

Big Bottom Market’s first NFT. (Courtesy of Big Bottom Market)

Big Bottom Market’s first NFT is a picture of the Parson Jones Tree, the tallest tree in Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve in Guerneville. Those who collect it will receive a 50% discount on the restaurant’s popular Parson Jones sandwich with garlic and herb roasted turkey, havarti cheese, arugula, garlic aioli and housemade jalapeño ham on a soft French roll.

When a new Big Bottom Market NFT is released, the NFT from the previous week can no longer be collected. Only subscribers who minted the older NFT can keep it stored in their wallets for safekeeping; they will have the NFT forever and can redeem it at any time.

Subscribers can expect the NFTs to be linked to a number of hunger-inducing food photos, including a biscuit or two. (The Big Bottom Market biscuits made Oprah’s “Favorite Things” shopping guide in 2016.) But don’t be surprised if wine makes regular appearances, as well. (Yes, NFTs have also arrived in the wine industry.)

“NFTs are an innovative and fun way to celebrate our success and give back to our customers who have supported the Market since we opened in 2011,” said Volpatt. “We hope that our fans will collect the NFTs and redeem them in store for some tasty deals.”

Big Bottom Market, 16228 Main Street, Guerneville, 707-604-7295, bigbottommarket.com

Sleek and Modern ‘Triple Barn House’ in Sonoma Asks $3 Million

April 2022

By Karen Kizer

Triple Barn House — an award-winning custom home by San Francisco-based Mork-Ulnes Architects — is a little bit country and a lot rock ‘n’ roll.

The 1,700-square-foot home, which has been featured in Sonoma Magazine, Architectural Digest and Dwell, is perched on a hillside lot above Sonoma Valley and combines an asymmetrical triple-gabled roof, Cor-Ten steel cladding and a cavernous opening in the center to create a modern take on the traditional farmhouse. It is currently on the market for $2.949 million.

The house was built in 2016 for a San Francisco couple who wanted to be “easy on the land and have a light footprint, leaving everything as natural as possible.” Its rusty-colored siding mimics the farmhouse’s red hue and its board and batten wood exterior. The rich rust patina also forms a protective surface layer and blends with the surrounding terrain and the rusty-red color of the soil.

Concrete was used for the walls and provides energy efficiency, fire resiliency and durability. The concrete is exposed in parts of the home, like the entryway and the office, which creates a rich texture and a bold industrial style contrasted by white walls and floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the valley and far-off mountains. Smaller square and rectangular picture windows in the main area of the home create a more cocooned feeling in those rooms while the main bedroom has a curtained wall of glass toward the living area and a large window with treetop views.

The industrial and sleek home has been ornamented with down-to-earth design details and artwork throughout, including a credenza with vases, baskets and grass lampshades and richly-colored paintings. Outdoors, an oval wooden hot tub contrasts with the zigzag roofline while tamarack wooden chairs face a circular fire pit. Click through the above gallery to view the home.

Three Barn Home at 101 Adobe Way, is listed with Daniel Casabonne of Sotheby’s International Real Estate. For more information, call 707-939-2222, 707-494-3130; email daniel@casabonnerealestate.com or visit 101adobeway.com

Peek Inside Majestic Calistoga Estate Listed for $15 Million

April 2022

By Karen Kizer

New to Napa Valley’s luxury real estate inventory is a majestic property that emulates English country estates and Flemish rural architecture. The four-bedroom, seven-bathroom home has 9,000 square feet of living space and sits on 40 acres on a hillside in Calistoga. It is listed for $15 million.

The dwelling, which is made up of three pavilions linked by breezeways, is stately and elegant, owing to the traditional lines of steeply pitched roofs, native stonework and a tonal palette taken from the natural surroundings.

Bay Area designer Rela Gleason worked with John Sease and Bobby McAlpine of McAlpine Architecture in Montgomery, Alabama to design the home for her family. Built in 2009, the rustic building is trimmed with black steel windows, French doors, native stone and western red cedar.

“I took all the colors straight from nature and the natural surroundings,” said Gleason, adding that the aim was for “the house to appear to have grown from the land.”

Nature proves to have been a good guide. The muted-color interiors are visually arresting yet subtle enough to yield focus to the scenic outdoors, which include a lawn abutting a stone-lined, infinity-edge pool, an olive grove, vineyards and the Vaca Mountains.

The house has been decorated with furniture pieces that are eclectic but, together, form a cohesive look — from a 1700s oak blanket chest to a “partner desk” that Gleason found in a field with a “free” sign on it. Textiles from pillows to rugs have geometric designs, mostly in slate grays and stony whites. Fireplaces — seven in total — provide warmth but also architectural interest: rugged limestones in the main rooms and more delicate tile in bathrooms and bedrooms.

Outdoors, Gleason has created a distinction between the natural outdoors and the yard’s manicured greenery. Aiming for low-maintenance, she chose only a few plant varieties and potted boxwoods clipped into spheres. There’s a line of fruit trees and the property’s Tuscan varietal olive grove and Cabernet vineyard also yield a respectable bounty each year.

An avid cook, Gleason created a chef’s kitchen with four islands. (Gleason wrote the book Living Well, available on Amazon, which includes many of the recipes she has created in this kitchen.) The two stainless steel “workhorse islands” allow for prepping and staging. Another island, Gleason said, is used for eating, working at the computer and gathering with grandchildren, which is why it’s been nicknamed the Giggle Table.

Gleason has been designing homes for 45 years. “Designing and building houses is what I love to do,” she said. “It was a privilege to build one for our own family on this special hill. It was a labor of love.”

This home at 777 Lommel Street in Calistoga is listed for $15 million by Arthur Goodrich with Sotheby’s International Realty – St. Helena Brokerage. For more information, call 415-735-8779, 707-200-2488 or visit sothebysrealty.com/eng/sales/detail/180-l-86828-the2zr/777-lommel-rd-calistoga-ca-94515

Kendall-Jackson to Host Kentucky Derby Party in Santa Rosa

March 2022

By Diane Peterson

Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens in Santa Rosa. (Courtesy of Kendall-Jackson)

Kendall-Jackson will host a gala Kentucky Derby party from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. May 7 at the Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens to benefit Sonoma County’s Meals on Wheels program operated by the Council on Aging.

Derby Day festivities include a large-screen viewing of Kentucky Derby races, on-the-spot betting, fashion contests and an onsite milliner creating unique hats. There also will be Derby-inspired Southern cuisine paired with award-winning Kendall-Jackson wines, including the preferred wine of the Derby, the Kendall-Jacksoun and Kentucky Derby commemorative 2020 chardonnay and 2019 cabernet sauvignon.

There will also be mint juleps showcasing the Straight Bourbon Whiskey of Young & Yonder Spirits, an artisan craft distillery in Healdsburg. Seismic Brewing Company of Sebastopol will pour new-release brews, and local restaurant partners will offer small bites and sweet treats from Ferrero Rocher.

Kendall-Jackson founder Jess Jackson ignited his lifelong dream in 2005, when he and wife Barbara Banke established Stonestreet Farm on premium farmland in the famous Bluegrass hills of Lexington, Kentucky. Stonestreet has since enjoyed racing Thoroughbred horses in the Kentucky Derby; Curlin finished third in 2007 and Good Magic finished second in 2018.

Tickets are $125 per person. To purchase: kj.com/events/kentucky-derby-party. Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens is located at 5007 Fulton Road.

This article was originally published in The Press Democrat.

This Sonoma Restaurant Is All Over Instagram. Believe the Buzz

March 2022

By Heather Irwin

David Rust and Katherine Menard, both of Sonoma, dine in front of a large wall displayed with apples at Animo restaurant in Sonoma. (Darryl Bush/For The Press Democrat)

At Animo restaurant in Sonoma, there is no exterior signage.

That could be a sly nod to its exclusivity or that owners Josh Smookler and Heidy Mu He can’t afford one just yet.

One of the buzziest openings of the year, Animo has taken Wine Country by storm, with its whole Spanish turbot, Iberico pork, striking apple wall and fiery hearth-cooked food appearing on just about every local chef’s Instagram page.

But look beyond the gleaming parrilla and dry-aging cabinets and you’ll see a repurposed picnic table under the butcher paper and glassware. There’s a cracked window, a hastily redecorated bathroom, mismatched chairs and a banquette from Craigslist.

Animo is a moonshot for the young couple who moved their family from New York to California, sold everything (including Mu He’s engagement ring) and put their futures on the line for a 26-seat restaurant that defies precise definition.

It’s sort of Basque with touches of Korean, but that’s about as far as they’ll go in nailing down their vision. Smookler is the kind of cook who thinks nothing of flying to Texas to investigate an acorn-eating pack of pigs for his soup bones or aging a piece of steak for 462 days just to see what happens.

“There is no real definition, and why does it have to be defined?” said Smookler, an alum of some of New York’s top restaurants, such as the former Bouley and Chef Thomas Keller’s Per Se.

The thrill for them with Animo is in recreating special meals from their travels and with an evolving food scene that embraces diverse cultures and flavors.

“I always believe in full commitment,” said Smookler, who spent two weeks sleeping on patio furniture inside the unheated restaurant before it opened. “We couldn’t afford a hotel.”

Best ramen in New York

Animo’s enthusiastic welcome by the culinary community here is the result, in part, of a 2014 New York Times restaurant review naming the couple’s pop-up, Mu Ramen, the best ramen shop in New York.

Though Mu Ramen was a cautious toe-dip to see if the neighborhood could support a ramen shop, Smookler obsessively sourced the best bones for his tonkotsu ramen stock, critic Pete Wells lauded.

But not all press is good press, and within a few hours of the review’s release, Smookler had nearly 2,000 reservation requests, smothering business and leaving readers irate at Wells for killing Mu Ramen.

And though the couple had a thriving brick and mortar spot less than a year later, Smookler quickly lost interest. A crush of people wanting quick bowls of ramen at a breakneck pace left the couple exhausted.

“We just couldn’t control things, and were working a lot. I was so done with ramen. It just didn’t get me up in the morning,” Smookler said. In 2020, as the pandemic raged, they closed the restaurant, draining their savings, he said.

Mu He worked at Panda Express to help pay bills. “We were that desperate,” she said.

Gambas al ajillo, includes prawns, roasted garlic and olive oil, at Animo, a restaurant in Sonoma, Calif., on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. (Photo by Darryl Bush / For The Press Democrat)

‘We want to be a gem’

Now, Smookler is cooking what he’s passionate about.

The turbot, a fish that looks like it’s been steamrolled into a flat pancake, is a chef’s fish Smookler calls “the most special fish in my life.” Aged briefly, the delicate white meat is cooked above fiery coals, with grates rising and falling to control the heat. Served de-boned on a white platter, it’s a wildly impressive dish ($130).

For the pork dish ($56), the meat is sourced from Iberico pigs raised by La Grange, Texas-based Acorn Seekers, a cultish food producer Smookler has been supporting for years.

“Let’s find the best ingredients, and like a child, how do I optimize its potential? I just want to make clean, simple food with the best ingredients,” Smookler said.

“The menu is an agreement I make with guests. If I don’t do my best, if it doesn’t come out right, I don’t charge,” he said.

Mu He handles the front of the house and though she’s comfortable in the kitchen, she creates a welcoming hospitality for every guest, whether a deep bow to Japanese guests or a wide smile for regulars.

But rather than bucking for Michelin stars or haute cuisine, the couple wants to be part of the community.

“We want to make people proud of a restaurant like ours in Sonoma. We want them to think we’re a gem,” Smookler said.

That means the same graciousness for someone who just has a glass of wine and an appetizer as for a table of eight ordering hundreds of dollars of food.

“We just want everything to be magic,” Mu He said.

Best Bets

The menu is brief but difficult to experience in a single go. The turbot is a great starting place if you like fish, but the meatier pork is cooked to medium-rare and is an experience. You’ll be tempted to overdo it with appetizers, and they’re excellent.

Boquerones Toast, $14: Here’s an example of the specificity of Smookler’s cooking. The tiny grape tomatoes are peeled before roasting for the sweetest flavor, the anchovies on top are creamy and light and the toast is gently crisped — a must-try.

Kimchee Fried Rice, $16: A nod to Smookler’s heritage (he is Korean-born and raised by a Jewish family), but more simply a tasty addition to the meal, with pastrami from NYC’s Katz’s deli.

Asparagus, $14: This spring vegetable likely will move off the menu, but Smookler has a magical way with vegetables that brings out their flavors rather than smothering them in sauce.

There’s a chance Animo, like Mu Ramen, could fall victim to its success with so much attention being thrown their way so early. Hopefully, the well-studied menu and Smookler’s dedication in the kitchen help them weather the admiration.

18976 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma. Instagram: @animo_restaurant. Parking is limited. Reservations are highly recommended through OpenTable.