But, in difference to our reading habits, the brick-and-mortar bookstores have bounced back in recent years. Between 2009 and 2015, the number of independent bookstores in the United States grew by 35 percent, despite challenges in the form of big box stores, online retail and e-books. In 2023, over 200 new stores opened across the country.
This recent increase seems to indicate that, despite the infinite distractions of the digital world, there are some things that can’t be replaced by an easy search and click. Thumbing the pages of a book, chatting with the bookseller, discovering a rare treasure on a shelf; there’s a sense of authenticity in a bookstore often lost in the digital space. Beyond the benefits of this individual experience, independent bookshops also play an important role in our community as businesses supporting the local economy and as gathering places for a diverse group of people.
To celebrate our local independent booksellers, and to encourage more reading, we’ve created a book-lover’s guide to Sonoma County. Enjoy these fabulous local bookstores on National Independent Bookstore Day, April 26, or any day of the year.
Morning light bathes cloth bound books at Treehorn Books in downtown Santa Rosa, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)Lygia Burns from Santa Rosa looks for a particular children’s book at Treehorn Books in downtown Santa Rosa, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)
Treehorn Books, Santa Rosa
Founded by two Sonoma State graduates in 1979, Treehorn Books has an extraordinary selection of used books, specializing in classical literature. An ever-expanding inventory lines the shelves and tables. It’s hard to find a book-free spot in this tiny Santa Rosa shop. Treehorn caters to its many regulars, whose tastes are kept in mind for new purchases. The store buys books from customers but is selective in doing so, considering the shelves are already overflowing. Teachers receive a 10 percent discount. 625 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-525-1782.
Owner Jill Brown, accompanied by her dog, Marvin, restocks books, as customers Dan and Lyn Jacoby browse through the shelves at Paperbacks Unlimited in Santa Rosa on Monday, April 1, 2019. (Beth Schlanker/ The Press Democrat)Employee Curtis Farber carries a stack of books to put on the shelves at Paperbacks Unlimited in Santa Rosa on Monday, April 1, 2019. Paperbacks is the oldest bookstore in Sonoma County. (Beth Schlanker/ The Press Democrat)
Paperbacks Unlimited, Santa Rosa
Founded in 1972, Paperbacks is Santa Rosa’s largest used bookshop, and the oldest in Sonoma County. The store specializes in popular fiction but also has nonfiction on its well organized shelves. The mystery/suspense and science fiction sections are among the most popular in the store and there are also great books for young adults. The owners, Howard and Jill Brown, are now in their 70s but hope to keep the store open as long as possible for their many loyal customers. Customers who donate books to the store get a store credit and seniors receive a discount. 4625 Sonoma Highway, Santa Rosa, 707-539-8102, paperbacksunlimited.net
Levin & Company Community Booksellers in Healdsburg. (Bronwyn Simmons)
Levin & Company Community Booksellers, Healdsburg
“A good bookstore should be the nexus of a community – a place where friends and strangers can come together for a while and feel like an extended family,” says the family behind Levin & Company. Bookworms have come here for over 30 years to browse more than 2,500 titles in the fiction section (the largest of any independent bookstore in Sonoma County) while audiophiles enjoy the curated vinyl and CD selection. There’s nonfiction, too: history, science, biographies, eastern and western philosophy, gardening, cooking and more. The store hosts literary events such as book signings with authors, and upstairs is a collection of local art, jewelry and crafts. 306 Center St., 707-433-1118, levinbooks.com
Angela Abruzzi of Sebastopol browsed the books on display at Copperfield’s in downtown Petaluma on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022. (Crissy Pascual / Petaluma Argus-Courier)
Copperfield’s Underground, Petaluma
Paul Jaffe and Barney Brown purchased Sebastopol’s Myst Bookstore in June of 1981 and changed the name to Copperfield’s Books. Over 40 years later, there are 10 Copperfield’s across the North Bay, including in Healdsburg, Petaluma, Santa Rosa and Sebastopol. In the Petaluma store, there’s a downstairs underground shop, a “haven for treasure seekers looking for used and rare books.” The cellar space is packed with thousands of titles, including some rare editions, covering a variety of subjects: art, history, science, fiction, poetry and more. 140 Kentucky St., Petaluma, 707-782-0228, copperfieldsbooks.com
Eirinie Carson reading one of the winning stories in the Argus-Courier’s annual Scary Story Competition, on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, at the Word Horde Emporium of the Weird & Fantastic in Petaluma. (Ross Lockhart)
Word Horde Emporium of the Weird & Fantastic, Petaluma
Ross Lockhart founded Petaluma’s Word Horde Books during the pandemic after realizing there’s never a perfectly convenient time to start working on your dreams. He worked in book and music stores for much of his life and dreamed of one day opening his own shop and doing things differently. From a humble blog to a brick-and-mortar store in the Petaluma Village Premium Outlets, Word Horde specializes in “weird, horrific, fantastic and speculative fiction for all ages.” Beyond books, there are also toys, puzzles, board and card games, accessories, candles, bath and body products and other “fantastic” gifts. The bookstore and emporium also hosts literary events, typically spooky in nature, such as a Poe poetry reading on Edgar Allan Poe’s birthday in January. 2200 Petaluma Blvd. N., Suite 805, Petaluma, 707-981-9110, weirdandfantastic.com
Readers’ Books in Sonoma on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020. The bookstore opened in 1991 with the mission to create a space for locals to hang out. (Christopher Chung / The Press Democrat)Andy Weinberger, proprietor of Readers’ Books on East Napa Street in Sonoma, inside the bookstore in 2020. (Christopher Chung / The Press Democrat)
Readers’ Books, Sonoma
This Sonoma bookstore opened in 1991 with the mission to create a space for locals to hang out, in addition to their homes and workplaces. Its most popular sections are literary fiction, cooking and, more recently, politics. Customers can read books on the patio in the garden, and bring their dogs for company. The bookstore hosts weekly author events and offers a 15 percent discount to teachers. Used books are accepted in exchange for store credit. 130 E. Napa St., Sonoma, 707-939-1779, readersbooks.com
Local resident Shariyah Scalise browses at Russian River Books & Letters in Guerneville Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2022. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Russian River Books & Letters, Guerneville
The location for this bookstore has been a destination for avid readers since the ’70s. The bookshop (previously named Mockingbird Books then Twice Told Books) was bought by new owners in 2021. Russian River Books & Letters boasts a collection of both used and new books and is connected to next door neighbor Coffee Bazaar. The bookstore hosts regular community events and writing workshops, as well as monthly book club meetings. 14045 Armstrong Woods Road, Guerneville, 707-604-7197, booksletters.com
Stephanie Culen, owner of Poet’s Corner Book Shop, “decorates” the outside of her tiny, 275-square-foot shop, before opening in Duncans Mills on Thursday, September 30, 2021. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Poet’s Corner Book Shop, Duncans Mills
This woman-owned shop might be the smallest bookstore in the United States — but what it lacks in space, it makes up for in community togetherness. Beyond the mix of books and poetry, the shop also offers calendars, stationery, puzzles, coloring books and other novelty gifts. For an extra cozy reading session, pick a book from the tiny shop and enjoy it in the outside sitting area with a cup of tea from the nearby Duncans Mills Tea Shop.
Second Chances Used Books in Sebastopol. The bookstore hosts author book signings as well as open mic poetry nights. (Bronwyn Simmons)
Second Chances Used Books, Sebastopol
Located on the same block as everyone’s favorite ice cream shop, Screamin’ Mimi’s, Second Chances is Sebastopol’s only independent used bookstore. The owner of the store, Brandy Mow, previously owned Copperfield’s Used and Rare bookstore in Sebastopol. Mow has filled her new store with good books and added cozy armchairs for customers to enjoy a quiet reading moment. Brandy keeps a digital itinerary of the store’s books so that she can easily inform customers of available titles and she organizes open mic poetry nights in the store. 6932 Sebastopol Ave., Suite E, Sebastopol, 707-827-8291, 2ndchancesusedbooks.com
Many Rivers Books & Tea, Sebastopol
Many Rivers Books specializes in high-quality loose leaf tea and spiritual books, said Ellen Skagerberg from Santa Rosa. This Sebastopol store has an extensive selection of tea and incense, as well as some rare and niche books. 130 S. Main St., Sebastopol, 707-829-8871, manyriversbooks.com
Lumache al Pesto with spring pea pesto, morel mushrooms and aged parmesan from Stella Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Kenwood. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
I can’t remember when pasta became a bad word, but it’s time to welcome back a good plate of tagliatelle and step away from the Lacinato kale and spaghetti squash. Like forever.
But all pastas are not created equal. Kenwood’s newest restaurant, Stella, takes a deep dive into lesser-known Italian regional shapes like Roman tonnarelli (spaghetti’s chunkier cousin), Florentine creste di gallo (ruffled rooster’s crest), rigatoncini (a tiny tube) popular in southern Italy, or tagliatelle (ribbons) from the Emilia-Romagna region. Served al dente — not too soft or too hard — you’ll finally understand why Italians consider pasta part of their national identity.
Stella, which means “star” in Italian, is the realization of a longtime dream for chef Ari Weiswasser. After launching Glen Ellen Star 13 years ago and mastering the craft of wood-fired cooking, the French Laundry alum was ready for a new project.
Glen Ellen Star chef/owner Ari Weiswasser remodeled the old Cafe Citti on Highway 12 in the Sonoma Valley and opened Stella. Photographed Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Kenwood. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Teaming up with his wife, Erinn Benziger, and managing partners Spencer and Ashley Waite, Weiswasser began the journey of launching Stella — a vision nearly six years in the making that finally came to life in early March at the former Cafe Citti on Highway 12.
“We really wanted to explore Italian cuisine, and Stella just gives us the opportunity to do a lot more,” said Weiswasser. Glen Ellen Star’s chef de cuisine, Bryant Minuche, will run the Stella kitchen.
While pasta plays a starring role, Stella’s wood-fired grill steals the show. Orange flames leap several feet toward the hooded kitchen vent as bold cooks stoke the fire with bundles of wood. From the chef’s counter, you can feel tingles of heat with each flare.
Sam Fink works the wood burning open grill in the open kitchen at Stella. Photographed Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Kenwood. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Whole grilled dourade (sea bream fish), lamb ribs, mushrooms and soft Scamorza cheese get the kiss of the grill, imparting smoky flavor and gentle char unique to live fire cooking.
“We wanted to design an open kitchen so there is a show. The cooking should be on display because it connects our chefs and cooks with the dining room,” said Weiswasser.
The vibe
Stella’s modern dining room features warm lighting, long rows of banquette seating and smaller bistro tables along the walls. The indoor-outdoor style enclosed patio is a more casual option.
The main dining room with counter seating and a view of the open kitchen at the new Stella restaurant in the old Cafe Citti space on Highway 12 in the Sonoma Valley. Photographed Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Kenwood. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)The covered patio seating at Stella restaurant in the old Cafe Citti space on Highway 12 in the Sonoma Valley. Photographed Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Kenwood. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
The wine list is beautifully curated, featuring mostly small-production wineries in Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino counties. Low-alcohol spritzes are a favorite, like the white Negroni ($17) with vermouth, sherry and grapefruit; or the smoked strawberry margarita ($16) made with “coal-kissed” strawberry puree.
Lunch is expected to debut in mid-May. Stella also sells fresh, uncooked pasta and sauces for a quick meal at home.
“The pasta cooks in 3 minutes and 45 seconds, timed exactly to Dean Martin’s ‘That’s Amore,’” said Weiswasser.
With a clear focus, excellent service and dishes with broad appeal, Stella’s star is already rising in Sonoma Valley.
Best bets
Scamorza Impiccato appetizer with truffle honey and grilled garlic sourdough from Stella. Photographed Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Kenwood. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
SF halibut crudo ($24): Thin slices of this raw flatfish soak up the sweet strawberry “aqua pazza,” a featherlight dressing I licked from the plate.
Scamorza impiccato ($18): The smoky flavor of this melted mozzarella-style cheese is delicious with drizzles of smoked honey on grilled sourdough. The presentation of the toast on a greasy piece of paper left us cold, because this tasty dish deserves better.
Burrata and Walnut in brown butter with 12-year aged balsamico and sourdough from the Mozzarella Bar e Fettunta at Stella. Photographed Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Kenwood. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Mozzarella bar ($25-$36): Yes, it’s as delightful as you might expect, though it’s not a bar but more of a list. Stick to burrata — cream-filled mozzarella imported from Puglia. Standouts include the Burrata and Walnut ($28) with walnuts cooked in brown butter and a drizzle of 12-year-old balsamic vinegar; and the Burrata and Prosciutto di Parma ($29) with a ribbon of salty prosciutto atop creamy burrata. Fettunta (fancy garlic bread) served on the side is one of my favorite things on the menu, perfect for soaking up anything left in the bowl.
Lumache al Pesto with spring pea pesto, morel mushrooms and aged parmesan from Stella. Photographed Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Kenwood. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Lumache al pesto ($29): You will be ruined for anything else after eating a plate of this snail-shaped pasta that’s cooked perfectly al dente, with seasonal spring pea pesto, mushrooms, breadcrumbs and edible violets. It’s almost too pretty to eat.
Tonnarelli cacio e pepe ($25): I’m extremely picky about this dish because of its deceptive simplicity. Made with pasta, pecorino cheese and pepper, it needs to be a bit creamy from the pasta, water and cheese, with a smack of fresh black pepper in your face. This version didn’t disappoint. The portion size is smaller than I’d expect but it makes up for it in flavor.
Duroc Pork Chop Milanese with lemon caper butter sauce from Stella. Photographed Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Kenwood. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Duroc pork chop Milanese ($42): A thinly cut breaded and fried pork chop with a creamy Meyer lemon and caper sauce was a favorite of the table. After seeing this dish on the restaurant’s Instagram, it was a must-try. Enough for two.
Half Roasted Chicken ($34): Glen Ellen Star has always received my vote for excellent wood-fired chicken, and this grilled version was excellent. A perfect char on the breast, moist meat and simple pan sauce with Chinese XO sauce give it an umami boost.
The interior of Stella’s Baked “Gelaska” with vanilla gelato, raspberry sorbet, sponge cake and cubes of torched marshmallow fluff. Photographed Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Kenwood. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Baked Gelaska ($16): A riff on baked Alaska, with sponge cake, raspberry sorbet and vanilla gelato topped with a swirl of torched marshmallow fluff. A dessert I won’t soon forget.
Stella is at 9049 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood, 707-801-8043, stellakenwood.com. Open daily for dinner.
Chili braised pork shoulder sliders on brioche with Napa cabbage slaw by chef Crista Luedtke of boon eat + drink at The Press Democrat’s North Coast Wine & Food Festival at SOMO Village in Rohnert Park, Saturday, June 10, 2017. (Will Bucquoy)
Entering the North Coast Wine Challenge certainly paid off for Balletto Vineyards this year. The Santa Rosa winery took home three Best of Class awards, four double gold medals and one gold medal for its Russian River Valley wines, including a 2019 Sparkling Brut Rosé, a 2024 Sauvignon Blanc, 2021 and 2022 Pinot Noirs, a 2021 Sexton Hill Vineyard Chardonnay and a 2023 Teresa’s Chardonnay.
It was stiff competition as a record 1,147 entries flooded in from Sonoma, Marin, Napa, Lake, Mendocino and parts of Solano counties. And that made the victory all the more important for the family-owned winery, which has participated in the competition since it launched 13 years ago.
“We’ve been part of the (North Coast Wine Challenge) since day one,” said John Balletto, who, together with his wife Terri Balletto, owns and operates the 180-acre vineyard, winery and hospitality center on Occidental Road, and owns more than 700 acres of additional prime vineyard land in Sonoma County. “Supporting our local community and celebrating the incredible talent in Northern California has always been at the heart of what we do,” he added.
Mikaela Tancioca and Taylor Pullen sample caviar on blini from Plaza de Caviar during the North Coast Wine & Food Festival. Held in Rohnert Park, on Saturday, June 8, 2019. (Alvin Jornada / The Press Democrat)
Wine lovers will have the opportunity to taste Balletto’s winning wines, along with dozens of other medal-winning wines, at the North Coast Wine & Food Festival, held June 14 at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa.
The wines will be served with food from 20 of the region’s top chefs, including Marc-Henri Jean-Baptiste, chef-owner of Maison Porcella. This is the third year Jean-Baptiste has been invited to the festival, and he plans to showcase his new catering and charcuterie programs at the June event.
“The North Coast Wine & Food Festival celebrates our region’s true bounty and brings together people who genuinely appreciate quality, craftsmanship, and creativity,” he said. “Donating my time and food is a natural way to give back to the community that inspires my daily work.”
Building relationships
Roommates Amanda Harrison, left, and Abby Vidana enjoy their afternoon at the North Coast Wine and Food Festival. Held at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa, Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)
At the North Coast Wine Challenge, which took place April 1-2, panels of judges blind tasted and assessed flights of wines over the course of one day. They knew the category of each flight that they tasted — Pinot Noir, for example — but not any of the individual wines.
After each flight, the judges cast their votes — gold, silver, bronze or no medal — and, since there are often divergent opinions, the experts discussed the wines and negotiated. A wine that received a gold medal vote from every judge on a panel was awarded a double gold.
Competing for the third time this year, Petaluma’s Brooks Note Winery won a double gold for its 2023 Petaluma Gap Pinot Noir, as well as a gold for its 2024 Pinot Blanc from Mendocino County.
“I love that (the North Coast Wine Challenge) is local,” Brooks Note owner Garry Brooks said. “We’ll definitely pour our 2023 Petaluma Gap Pinot and the 2024 Pinot Blanc (at the North Coast Wine & Food Festival) — and there’s sometimes an under-the-table offering for people who love what we do.”
At the North Coast Wine and Food Festival in Santa Rosa, Saturday, June 15, 2024. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)
Entering the competition is an investment for wineries, from the $85 entry fee (per wine) to shipping costs to donating wines to pour at the festival.
“While the ROI (return on investment) isn’t easy to measure in numbers, the real return comes in the form of connections,” said John Balletto. “From warm feedback from friends and colleagues to new faces in our tasting room, events like this are about building relationships and sharing our story.”
For Brooks Note, which produces just 2,500 cases per year, donating the wine and time is worth it.
“I think the ROI is a bit more anecdotal,” Brooks said. “We love it when someone places an order, but it’s just as valuable to introduce people to our wines who haven’t tried them before. As a newer, small producer, it can take a couple of years for people to recognize us. Sometimes, showing up a few years in a row (at the competition and festival) is how we make that happen.”
The North Coast Wine & Food Festival usually sells out — purchasing tickets in advance guarantees your spot. VIP tickets provide early entry — one hour before general admission. A portion of ticket sales will benefit local nonprofit Ceres Community Project.
Adam Parks of Victorian Farmstead Meat Company in Sebastopol. (John Burgess)
When Santa Rosa home cook Hunter Odem shops for pork, it’s different from the way many of us shop. He simply calls up a local rancher and orders an entire pig.
“I just sent a whole, 200-pound hog to the butcher,” he says. “I get one every six months for me, my wife, and our 2 and 4-year-old kids, and we pack our standalone freezer.”
For Camp Meeker resident Jennifer Sheehan, planning dinner for her husband and son is a breeze. Chances are good that the meal will include pork or lamb from the chest freezer in her workshop, perhaps posole with pork shank and hominy or a lamb ragu with hearty meatballs. It takes about a year for the Sheehans to eat a hundred pounds of lamb, she says, and maybe eight months to finish a whole pig.
A New Zealand Kunekune pig at Wild Things Ranch in Cazadero. (Charity Epperson/Courtesy Wild Things Ranch)
Sonoma County is home to plenty of home cooks who purchase whole animals, parceling and freezing the cuts to feast on all year long. Many believe in the importance of supporting local ranchers and reducing the distance from field to plate. Many local ranches practice rotational grazing and regenerative agriculture for optimum soil health, and their animals often enjoy more humane conditions.
Home cooks like Odem and Sheehan also love that the boutique, grass-fed meat they purchase is deeply delicious. “Oh my gosh, we eat that whole hog so quickly,” Sheehan says with a laugh. “It’s the best meat I’ve ever had. We got our first pig two years ago, made BLTs and said, oh my goodness, we can never eat bacon from anywhere else again. It’s just so much richer and meatier, and there’s just something to it that you can’t get from the grocery store.”
For Odem, who grew up raising livestock with his 4-H club, it’s always been important for him to know where and how his food arrives on his plate.
“I actually go out to where ranchers are raising my meat, and see how they take care of everything,” he says. “I want to know what those animals are going through and trust the meat. If you don’t know where the meat comes from, you have to cook it more for safety, and that usually makes it tougher and dryer.”
Rare Icelandic sheep at Wild Things Ranch in Cazadero. (Charity Epperson/Courtesy Wild Things Ranch)
Odem and Sheehan source meat for their families from Wild Things Ranch in Cazadero, where owner Charity Epperson specializes in unusual heritage Icelandic lamb and New Zealand kunekune pigs. Epperson grew up on the protected wetland Grizzly Island in Suisun Bay, with parents who worked a 2,500-acre preserve for cattle ranchers and sheep grazers needing vegetation management in sensitive areas.
“When we were growing up, we never bought meat from the grocery store,” Epperson recalls. “We either raised it or hunted it.”
Epperson’s husband, Sam, was raised on his family’s 1800s ranch in the rugged Cazadero mountains, 7 miles from the coast, where the business is now based. Epperson brought the first animals to Wild Things Ranch in 2018. Because the animals she raises are heritage breeds, they grow more slowly and naturally than commercial breeds. “That yields better flavor and texture, since the meat has time to mature,” Epperson says.
Rancher Charity Epperson and her rare Icelandic sheep at Wild Things Ranch in Cazadero. (Charity Epperson/Courtesy Wild Things Ranch)New Zealand Kunekune pigs at Wild Things Ranch in Cazadero. (Charity Epperson/Courtesy Wild Things Ranch)
“Kunekune” means ‘fat and round’ in Maori,” she explains, referring to the New Zealand Indigenous language. “The pork is outstanding, with excellent marbling, a deep red color similar to beef, and rich, sweet flavor. They’re a lard breed, so their bacon tastes almost candied after it caramelizes in cooking.” Her ranch’s Icelandic lamb, too, is sweeter than most other lamb meat, distinctively delicately textured and much leaner.
With the variety of cuts she receives in a bulk order, Sheehan says she never worries about driving her family into palate fatigue. “I love to create recipes and cook,” she says. “And pork and lamb are such versatile meats that I make little spins on it and really utilize every single piece.” Taking home bones for savory, soul-soothing broth is a given; brains, heart, and other offal are optional.
At Wild Things Ranch, animals are harvested by a mobile, USDA-certified slaughter service, saving the animals the stress of being transported to a facility. The harvested meat then goes to Willowside Meats butcher shop to be cut and wrapped for pickup. An animal’s hanging weight, or what the purchaser actually receives, is quite a bit lower than its weight at harvest.
Checking the fences at Wild Things Ranch in Cazadero. (Charity Epperson/Courtesy Wild Things Ranch)
For a 150-pound pig, purchasers take home about 120 pounds, and only pay for that final poundage. A 100-pound lamb nets about 55 pounds of product. “We eat a lot of meat, so we usually can power through it by ourselves,” Odem says. For smaller households, folks often split an order with neighbors or friends.
In days past, investing in a chest freezer full of meat could be risky. In wildfire seasons, power outages made protecting perishable foods difficult, and often impossible. Some Sonoma County residents took to hosting block parties to make sure their freezer victims didn’t go to waste while sharing some much-needed love with the community.
Now, though, freezing food is actually great for disasters, if you’re prepared. “Our deep box freezer is completely fine for about 24 hours,” Sheehan explains. “We do have a generator, because we live in the woods, so we kind of have to. And thawing meat is easier than driving to the store in a disaster.”
The nearest Sebastopol supermarket is about 17 miles round-trip from her rural home. Culinary survival is even easier for Odem, a professional electrician. “I have access to a lot of generators and I’m pretty handy with being able to get around anything that pops up.”
Adam Parks of Victorian Farmstead Meat Company in Sebastopol. (John Burgess)
Victorian Farmstead Meat Company owner Adam Parks is well known for the variety of locally raised meats he stocks at his stand inside Community Market at The Barlow. He works with nearly a dozen family-owned farms across Sonoma and Marin counties, hand-selecting unexpected meats like quail and Pitman Family Farms Cornish hen. He can also handle custom butchering, including succulent brisket-chuck burger mix and porchetta wrapped in skin-on pork belly.
“There really is a difference with local meats,” says Parks. “I can go to the ranches and see the animals being raised. I know what they’re feeding them, if anything, other than pasture. I know how they’re being humanely handled. And I trust these farmers.”
Set in a charming brick house, the Lola Wines tasting room offers a chill atmosphere and energetic wines in Calistoga. (Lola Wines)
Calistoga is one of my favorite Wine Country towns because it somehow makes me feel like I’m on vacation, even though it’s less than an hour away from my house. I love its low-key, casual vibe, its unpretentiousness and the cute shops along Lincoln Avenue. Now, after visiting Lola Wines, I have another reason to adore Calistoga. Like the town itself, Lola is the kind of place that inspires visitors to slow down and chill, all while exploring an array of vibrant and delicious wines.
The story
Lola House is all about showcasing the winery’s less-common varietals. (Lola Wines)
Growing up on Anna Maria Island on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Seth Cripe took an interest in wine at an early age. And I mean early. He was just 13 years old, working as a busser and dishwasher at a local restaurant called Beach Bistro, when his boss recognized the spark in him. Though Cripe was underage, he was allowed to taste wines from the restaurant’s extensive list and he learned all he could about the wines of the world. After meeting Swanson Vineyards founder W. Clarke Swanson at Beach Bistro, Cripe left school at age 17 and headed to Napa Valley. He worked at Swanson for four years before moving on to Pfeiffer Vineyards in Australia, and later, Caymus Vineyards in Rutherford.
Cripe founded Lola, named for his beloved dog, in 2008 on the idea that wine and the Napa Valley itself should be unpretentious, approachable and affordable. The winery works with Napa Valley vineyards from Yountville to Calistoga, along with sites in the Russian River Valley and Santa Lucia Highlands, to produce a wide-ranging lineup. In addition to nationally distributed Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, Cripe makes 20 small-production bottlings from esoteric varieties like Counoise, Chenin Blanc and Muscat.
The vibe
On warm days, the pretty back patio at Lola House is the place to be. (Lola Wines)
The Lola House tasting room, set in a petite 1892 brick house, lies just off Lincoln Avenue. Indoor tastings take place in the home’s traditional-meets-modern parlor, with its rustic brick fireplace and intimate groupings of mix-and-match tables and chairs. There, wall hangings that include historic photos, original art and Cripe’s prized surfboard combine to create a cozy and eclectic feel. On warm days, the pretty back patio is the place to be. Leafy potted plants and flowers provide natural separations between seating areas, ensuring a bit of privacy between groups, and a few slender palm trees tower overhead. You might find yourself — as I did — wishing this could be your very own backyard hangout.
On the palate
Lola House is all about showcasing the winery’s less-common varietals. Offerings go to wine club members first, then whatever they don’t snap up is showcased at the tasting room. Cripe makes the wines with minimal cellar intervention, using neutral oak to showcase the purity of the fruit. The wines are fresh and energetic without veering too far in the “lean and mean” direction.
Lola House is all about showcasing the winery’s less-common varietals. (Lola Wines)
Chenin Blanc is making a comeback in California, and Lola’s 2022 bottling from St. Helena ($45) makes a great case for its resurgence. The wine is crisp and bright, with floral accents and apple-pear flavors. The 2023 Calistoga Dry Muscat ($45), made in large clay vessels called amphora, has the floral aromatics of a sweeter bottling — yet the wine is delightfully dry. Think apricots and tropical fruits. The 2023 Yountville Counoise ($65) is another gem. It’s light on the palate, showing vibrant red berry aromas, mouthwatering acidity and a touch of spice.
Tastings cost $35 for a flight of five wines. Expect to spend around 90 minutes tasting through the selections.
Beyond the bottle
Cripe and his brother Mic are among the world’s only producers of bottarga, a caviar made from salt-cured and dried gray mullet roe harvested from the waters near Anna Maria Island and the neighboring fishing village of Cortez. Along with bottarga, they offer smoked mullet roe and blackfin tuna mojama — a salt-cured and dried tuna loin that’s sometimes called the “prosciutto of the sea.” Lola visitors can sample the delicacies via the Cortez Conservas Pairing add-on ($30), or the à la carte menu of snacks and small plates. The spring menu includes a gorgeously presented whipped burrata accented with bottarga, chives and lemon. I also sampled the seasonal mojama toast adorned with quince paste and Manchego. Both were delicious, with layered and complex flavors.
Tina Caputo is a wine, food and travel journalist who contributes to Sonoma magazine, SevenFifty Daily, Visit California, Northern California Public Media, KQED and more. Follow her on Bluesky at @winebroad.bsky.social, view her website at tinacaputo.com, and email her story ideas at tina@caputocontent.com.
Salmon Benedict on the brunch menu at Sarmentine Bakery in Petaluma. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)
If you’ve ever stood in line at Petaluma’s Sarmentine Bakery, you’ll know that the baguettes go fast and the éclairs even faster. The French patisserie that began as a pandemic pop-up has been winning over the hearts and taste buds of Sonoma County with its flaky chocolate croissants, lemon tartlets and fancy Financiers.
Now, husband-and-wife owners Alexandra and Louis Zandvliet are tackling brunch.
The new Petaluma-only menu, which launched last week, is a siren song of fluffy brioche sandwiches, salmon-laden croissants with hollandaise sauce, and bread pudding in a pool of crème Anglaise.
“We want people to love us,” said chef Don Provencio, who recently joined the Sarmentine team and handles the brunch menu. He became a fan of Sarmentine while working as a chef at Château St. Jean winery in Kenwood and was eager to collaborate on a heartier menu.
Salmon Benedict on the brunch menu at Sarmentine Bakery in Petaluma. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)French toast on the brunch menu at Sarmentine Bakery in Petaluma. (Heather Irwin / The Press Democrat)
It’s not hard to love Provencio’s thick-cut French baguette toast soaked in vanilla custard, griddled and topped with kisses of mascarpone and fresh berries, or bread pudding made with canele (pastry thimbles of caramel), raisins and custard.
All brunch dishes feature the bakery’s breads and pastries. A few lucky day-olds make it into French toast or bread pudding — age-old recipes that turn simple loaves into sweet dishes.
Savory dishes include a croque madame topped with Emmentaler cheese and a poached egg; a salmon or vegetable croissant Benedict with scalloped potatoes; a Provencal-style tuna sandwich with capers and olives; and salade nicoise.
Croque madame on the brunch menu at Sarmentine Bakery in Petaluma. (Heather Irwin / The Press Democrat)
Because every brunch menu is required to include avocado toast, Sarmentine uses its seeded sourdough as a base for smashed avocado, goat cheese, sprouts and cherry tomatoes. You can also peruse what’s in the bakery cases, adding chocolate croissants, Paris-Brest or a brownie to your brunch.
Alexandra Zandvliet, a former midwife, began her baking career as a pandemic hobby in her home kitchen. She quickly gained a following, opening her first bakery (52 Mission Circle) in Santa Rosa. The bakery and patisserie became a beacon for the croissant and café au lait set with an ever-expanding lineup of cream puffs, éclairs, butter and ham baguettes, croissants, olive bread and dozens of other sweet and savory treats. A bakery at The Barlow in Sebastopol followed, and the Petaluma location opened in 2024.
The bakery won a Snail of Approval award in 2024 from two local chapters of the Slow Food organization — Russian River and Sonoma County North. The award is handed out annually to restaurants, food producers and farms that honor the practice of making good, clean and fair food for all people.
Brunch is served from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday through Monday — only at the Petaluma location. 840 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, 707-623-9595, sarmentine.com
03/30/2011: D1:
PC: Patisserie Angelica, in Sebastopol, features tea from Mariage Freres.
It’s no secret that Sonoma County loves its coffee — you’re never far from an artisan brew here. But for those who prefer leaves over beans, it can sometimes be a bit harder to get your hot drink fix. To aid our fellow tea-lovers, we’ve rounded up 10 favorite places for a cuppa.
Tea & Trumpets, Sonoma County
In 2014, Mark Bowden left the corporate world and founded Tea & Trumpets, selling organic loose leaf to share his love of a soothing cup of quality tea. The online shop has a hefty variety of teas to fit any occasion, from an energizing yerba maté (without the jitters) to the tropical Hawaiian Breeze (ideal for iced tea). Tea & Trumpets also has a Tea of the Month club, offering three 1-ounce bags of tea to try every month. Find Tea & Trumpets products at farmers markets, grocers and cafes across Sonoma County and beyond.
This family-owned tea room offers a wide selection of premium teas from Japan, China and Taiwan as well as Japanese eats such as ramen, udon and rice bowls. Learn the art of making matcha or craft a ruby-red mocktail with the shop’s MarTEAni kit — complete with loose leaf citrus hibiscus tisane (herbal tea), raspberry-Meyer lemon syrup and hibiscus sugar to rim your glass with. A personal favorite is the Benifuki green tea from the Kagoshima region of Japan, a nutty and grassy tea with anti-inflammatory properties (perfect for treating seasonal allergies).
Clockwise from top left, pressed rice Oshizushi with pickled shiso, unagi, tuna, pickled shiso and miso cured salmon from Taste of Tea in Healdsburg. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)Dozens of varieties of specialty teas available at the Russian River Tea Co. in Healdsburg. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Russian River Tea Company, Healdsburg
Upon entering this small, woman-owned boutique, customers are greeted by a wall of over 100 teas, along with infusers, mugs, honey and other tea-related products. The large assortment of tea blends ensures there’s something for everyone’s palate.
The tea shop’s salted caramel chai is a cozy pick-me-up — black tea blended with caramel, cinnamon, cardamom, fennel and a touch of mole spice. For those who like their tea fruity, try the Mango Tango tisane tea featuring sweet mango, papaya, pineapple and strawberry bits blended with hibiscus and blue cornflower petals. Come in any day for a complimentary tea sample.
Located in Santa Rosa’s historic Railroad Square, this roastery offers everything from coffee and tea to live music performances (shows are free with a purchase of food or drink). The café’s herbal tea Mate Carnival is a stimulating blend of roasted mate, rooibos, almonds, cocoa hulls and flower petals. Another favorite is the Bourbon Vanilla tea, made with Indian black tea and vanilla essence, aged in bourbon casks, which pairs well with any of the baked goods on display at the register.
This quaint café, located just a few minutes west of downtown Petaluma, offers country-inspired meals and seasonal sweets from its in-house bakery that all pair perfectly with a spot of tea. The peach iced tea makes a great refreshing drink on a hot day, and the chai tea latte has the right amount of spice to warm you up when it rains.
Petaluma Coffee & Tea has long been a popular gathering spot for locals. (Laura Schneider / Petaluma Coffee & Tea)Customers can take a sniff of the dozens of teas offered at Petaluma Coffee & Tea. (Laura Schneider / Petaluma Coffee & Tea)
Petaluma Coffee & Tea, Petaluma
This Petaluma cafe caters to coffee- and tea-lovers who like a wide selection of beans and loose leaf teas, and an industrial look to go with it. This is a place to feel right at home: a large coffee roaster and several bean-packed burlap sacks fill the room with comforting coffee aroma while locals play jaunty tunes on the piano.
In addition to coffee blends from all over the globe, Petaluma Coffee and Tea also serves up a variety of teas, like Strawberries & Roses, a mix of green sencha, carrot, pumpkin, strawberry, and rose blossom; and fine cut organic Assam with a warm robust flavor (available by the cup and pound).
Located in a charming Victorian in downtown Sebastopol, this tea room takes inspiration from Scottish-American naturalist John Muir. It offers both Scottish and English tea services, as well as seasonal, plant-based lunch menus and holiday tea events.
The Queens Rose Garden is a popular black tea at Muir’s Tea Room, with its warm vanilla and soft, sweet rose notes. The Enchanted Forest green tea is a magical blend of mellow Sencha and spicy mate, mingled with hints of black forest cherry cake. After your tea service, don’t forget to check out the gift shop for artisan bath products, home and garden décor, gourmet treats and children’s items.
Patisserie Angelica in Sebastopol offers dozens of tea selections from around the world for their West County Tea kits. Photo taken Tuesday, April 25, 2023. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Patisserie Angelica, Sebastopol
Sweet-tooths be warned, this Parisian-style bakery offers irresistible artisan treats along with a beautifully displayed West County High Tea. Reservations are required one week in advance for the tea service, which comes with your choice of fine teas from Mariage Frères and an assortment of housemade finger sandwiches, such as English cucumber and chive cream cheese, and heavenly pastries like warm cream currant scones with organic Meyer lemon curd.
Owners Adrian Chang pours freshly steeped Mae Salong Kindred Oolong tea at Two Trees Tea House in Occidental Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (Beth Schlanker / The Press Democrat)
Two Trees Tea House, Occidental
Opened just last month, this west county tea house already has a loyal following for its cozy gathering space and welcoming tea services. Two Trees sells 10 types of single-origin black, red, white and green teas, and will soon offer items like teapots and cups. The shop hosts walk-in tea tastings — including a Gong Fu Cha ceremony featuring curated teas served Chinese-style in a gaiwan — as well as a community tea service, offered on a sliding-scale/donation model. Try the mellow Mae Salong Kindred Oolong with notes of red dates and custard or the Chiang Dao Wild Mountain Green tea with hints of refreshing honeysuckle and toasted hazelnut.
Tucked away in a small outdoor marketplace off Highway 116, the Duncans Mills Tea Shop boasts a bevy of loose leaf teas. There are traditional selections like English Breakfast and Earl Grey, as well as more unique flavors like Orange Cookie Chai and Ruby Lemon Mint. Also find tea snacks and cute teaware, such as teapots shaped like cats and lighthouses.
Brunch at Layla restaurant at MacArthur Place Hotel and Spa in Sonoma. (Emma K Creative)
Sonoma County restaurants and wineries are celebrating moms this Mother’s Day, May 11, with special brunches, dinners and deals.
All Mother’s Day brunches will take place on Sunday, May 11, unless otherwise noted.
Santa Rosa
Iron & Vine
Celebrate Mother’s Day with a brunch buffet at Bennett Valley Golf Course restaurant Iron & Vine, featuring two seatings at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The menu features fresh fruit, spring salad, eggs Benedict, scrambled eggs, herb-crusted smoked salmon, roasted spring vegetables, applewood smoked bacon, breakfast potatoes and an assorted dessert bar. Brunch is $58 for adults, $20 for children ages 3 to 12 and free for children under 3. Moms also golf free with a paying golfer. Prepayment is required; cancellations are refundable up to seven days in advance. Make reservations here.
The resort’s annual Mother’s Day brunch buffet will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The buffet menu includes buttermilk pancakes, sweet potato frittata, salmon curry, prime rib, lemon dill chicken, baked mac and cheese, cinnamon rolls, chocolate mousse tart and more. Brunch is $80 for adults and $35 for children 12 and under. Reserve on Tock.
John Ash & Co. in Santa Rosa will host a Mother’s Day brunch. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
John Ash & Co.
John Ash & Co., located at Vintners Resort, will host a special Mother’s Day brunch buffet with seatings from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Known for its seasonal, locally sourced cuisine and romantic Wine Country setting, the restaurant offers an elegant atmosphere for celebrating Mom. Brunch is $125 per person. Reserve on OpenTable.
Bricoleur Vineyards will host a special Mother’s Day brunch offering guests the chance to enjoy fine wine and seasonal cuisine in a relaxed, scenic setting. The experience is designed to celebrate the women who inspire us with a thoughtfully prepared menu and exceptional hospitality. Brunch is $125 per person, plus a special children’s menu for $25 per child. Reserve on Tock.
Bricoleur Vineyards in Windsor will host a three-course Mother’s Day brunch paired with estate wines. (Paige Green Photography / Bricoleur Vineyards)
Kenwood
Salt & Stone
Kenwood’s Salt & Stone will host a Mother’s Day brunch with seatings from 9-11:30 a.m. at the bar, in the dining room or on the outdoor patio. Brunch entrées will be served with coffee cake, fresh fruit and choice of beverage. Reserve on OpenTable.
Layla will serve a special Mother’s Day brunch menu from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring both à la carte selections and seasonal specials. Highlights include smoked arctic char, Brokaw avocado toast, burrata with tomato and spring onion jam, huevos rancheros and quiche with king trumpet mushrooms. Guests can also enjoy local coffee, organic teas, cold-pressed juices, and a full cocktail menu including mimosas and espresso martinis. Reserve on OpenTable.
Brunch at Layla restaurant at MacArthur Place Hotel and Spa in Sonoma. (Emma K Creative)
Honrama Cellars
Honrama Cellars will host a “Bubbles, Bagels & Brushes” Mother’s Day brunch experience featuring live music by Catzin Viveros and a guided painting session with Jose Martinez from Napa Valley Painting. Guests will enjoy sparkling wine, bagels and the chance to create a memorable keepsake. The event begins at 10:30 a.m. Tickets are $90. Reserve on Tock.
Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn will host a Mother’s Day brunch from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its restaurant Santé. Brunch will include a shared seafood platter, followed by a choice of entrées such as butter-poached lobster Benedict, miso-braised short rib hash, croissant croque madame or a spring omelet. Guests can end their meal with a selection from the dessert station, featuring Meyer lemon tart, cappuccino crème brûlée, strawberry and Champagne truffles, and more. Brunch is $125 per person, $39 for children ages 5 to 12 and free for kids under 5. Reserve on OpenTable.
Butter-poached Maine lobster will be on the Mother’s Day brunch menu at Santé Restaurant at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2013Larson Family Winery in Sonoma will host a Mother’s Day brunch. (Larson Family Winery)
Larson Family Winery
Larson Family Winery will host a scenic Mother’s Day brunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the estate grounds. Guests will enjoy a boxed brunch prepared by HopMonk Catering, featuring savory bites and sweet treats. Moms will be welcomed with a glass of sparkling rosé and the event will include live music by Lindsay Gang. Brunch is $65. Reserve on Tock.
Roche Winery will host a cozy Mother’s Day brunch in its barrel room, featuring family recipes spanning Ireland and California. Guests will be welcomed with a glass of sparkling brut rosé before enjoying a buffet of blueberry-lemon muffins, cinnamon caramel apple rolls, French toast, vegetable frittata, crab cakes, traditional Irish sides and more. Two seatings are available at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., with additional wine available for purchase and outdoor seating available post-meal. Tickets are $95 for adults, $80 for wine club members and $20 for children ages 3 to 13. Advance reservations are required by May 1. Purchase tickets on CellarPass.
Viansa Winery will celebrate Mother’s Day with its Bubbles + Blooms brunch from 10 a.m. to noon, featuring sparkling wine, seasonal flowers and panoramic views from the Summit of Sonoma. The event includes a gourmet brunch catered by the girl & the fig, with a waffle station, chef-staffed omelet bar, buffet table and dessert station. Tickets are $95 for adults and $40 for children 10 and under. Additional wine will be available for purchase. Reserve on Tock.
Brunch at Wit & Wisdom restaurant in Sonoma. (David Varley/Wit and Wisdom)
Wit & Wisdom
Wit & Wisdom will offer a three-course prix fixe Mother’s Day brunch with seatings from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Menu highlights include hamachi crudo, eggs Benedict, roasted salmon, tavern burger and chef Michael Mina’s signature lobster pot pie. Guests can enhance their experience with additional à la carte selections. Reservations are recommended. Reserve on SevenRooms.
Orsi Family Vineyards will host a Mother’s Day brunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its Healdsburg winery, accompanied with live music and springtime vineyard views. The Italian-style brunch will include quiche, pain perdu and seasonal salads, all paired with estate wines. Brunch is $70 for wine club members and $80 for non-members. Book on Tock.
Breathless Sparkling Wines will celebrate Mother’s Day with a garden patio brunch. Guests can enjoy quiche and pastries from Criminal Baking Co., fresh fruit salad and award-winning sparkling wines. Live music will provide the perfect ambience for the celebration. Tickets are $38 per person ($30 for Wine Society members), with multiple seating times starting at 10 a.m. Reserve on Tock.
Jordan Chardonnay will be poured for Mother’s Day at Jordan Winery in Healdsburg. (Jordan Vineyard & Winery)
Jordan Vineyard & Winery
Celebrate Mother’s Day with a refined Afternoon Tea at Jordan Winery’s newly remodeled dining room. The experience begins with a glass of Jordan Cuvée by Champagne AR Lenoble in the Oak Tank Room, followed by seated tastings of Jordan Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Guests will enjoy classic tea sandwiches, petits fours and fresh berries, culminating in a foraged tea service featuring ingredients from the Jordan Estate. Seating is communal and the event is limited to 24 guests. The Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea will be offered from 3:30-5 p.m. on Friday, May 9, and Saturday, May 10. Tickets are $95 per person and is for guests 21 and over only.
Hazel Hill will host an elevated Mother’s Day brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The extensive buffet includes stations for omelets, seafood, carving and freshly baked pastries, plus spring-inspired starters and desserts. Guests can also shop jewelry from Falling For Dainty, offering permanent pieces on-site. Brunch is $145 per adult and $65 per child. Reserve on OpenTable.
Wild King Salmon crusted in brioche with sorrel and vidalia onion from Hazel Hill at Montage Healdsburg. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)A Mother’s Day brunch from Spoonbar at h2hotel in Healdsburg. (Spoonbar)
Spoonbar
H2Hotel restaurant Spoonbar will host a Mother’s Day brunch buffet from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The menu includes brioche rolls, smoked salmon, English pea vichyssoise, eggs Benedict, spring quiche, prime New York strip and vegetable ragout. Dessert dishes include macarons, mini eclairs, lemon tartlets and chocolate pots de crème. Brunch is $75 per person and $35 for children 12 and under. Reserve on OpenTable.
Lo & Behold will host its annual Mother’s Day brunch from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The menu will feature fan-favorite brunch dishes alongside new specials, with festive cocktails and mocktails also available. Reservations are recommended.
The Restaurant at Farmhouse Inn dining room in Forestville. (Farmhouse Inn)
The Restaurant at Farmhouse Inn
Celebrate Mother’s Day with a three-course prix fixe brunch at The Restaurant at Farmhouse Inn, served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The experience includes a DIY flower arranging cart, a tea station with loose leaf wellness teas, and a spa station featuring creams, lotions and sprays. Brunch is $95 per person. Reserve on OpenTable.
Rocker’s Roadhouse, located at the historic Valley Ford Hotel, will serve a special menu of fresh, seasonal dishes in a warm, welcoming atmosphere perfect for families and friends. Brunch will be served from 10 a.m. until closing time. Reservations are recommended.
At Russian River Vineyards, guests can enjoy a curated wine flight alongside special seasonal menu items crafted to complement the wines. Available from May 9 through May 11, this outdoor dining and tasting experience offers scenic views and live music amid a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere. Reserve on Tock.
The Mother’s Day brunch menu at this coastal restaurant features locally inspired dishes such as lemon ricotta pancakes, eggs Benedict with asparagus and rosemary ham, and a fried green tomato BLT. Guests can also enjoy options like clam chowder, shrimp cocktail and a curated local cheese plate — all served with stunning ocean views. Reservations are highly recommended.
Reyna Yagi of Yagi Sisters Farm Sunday, January 26, 2025. (Chad Surmick / The Press Democrat)
Nearly a decade ago, the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District recognized a shortcoming in its land protection program, which seeks to preserve agricultural land through conservation easements that prevent subdivision and residential development. Agency staff typically worked with large agricultural properties, like dairies, cattle ranches and vineyards — properties more effective to preserve in terms of staff time and cost per acre.
But the approach often meant that the group worked with people who already owned land, often passed down through the generations.
“It meant there were wide ranges of the Sonoma County population that we didn’t have a chance to interact with as directly,” says Mary Chambers, agricultural specialist at Sonoma County Ag + Open Space. “And when you look at how inequitably land ownership is distributed in the U.S. and in Sonoma County — I think it’s like over 95% of farmland in the U.S. is owned by white people.”
Assessing the soil at Longer Table Farm in Santa Rosa, Jan. 27, 2025. (Chad Surmick / The Press Democrat)
Chambers says those numbers allowed the group to reflect on how their work is limited when they work only with existing landowners. They decided to seek out other tools to create opportunities for new landowners when farmland is being sold.
In 2024, to target small-scale fruit and veggie farmers, Sonoma County Ag + Open Space launched a new pilot program called “Buy-Protect-Sell.” Modeled on a similar program in San Mateo County, the idea is “to have more equitable land access to smaller farm property,” Chambers says.
Interested Sonoma County farmers are submitting applications to the program this spring. Later this year, the county agency aims to buy a piece of property, probably between 5 and 50 acres, and secure a conservation easement on the land, and possibly a covenant to the deed to encourage row-crop farming. The agency is also exploring adding an affordability covenant, something Ag + Open Space has never tried before, that would prevent the land from being flipped for a higher price.
Ariel Patashnik, left, Amy Ricard and Bill Keene of the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District navigate an old logging road in Howlett Forest, Monday May 1, 2017, near Annapolis. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2017
By the end of 2025, one farmer will be selected, based on need and contributions to the community, to purchase the new property at a much cheaper price than they could access on the open market.
For Sonoma County Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, the program is the culmination of principles she’s advocated for since being elected to the board in 2017. Working with then-Ag + Open Space general manager Bill Keene, she was trying to find a way to support small farmers. “It felt like it took forever to actually get the policy across the finish line, and now it’s ‘go time,’ which is exciting.”
If the pilot program succeeds, look for more Buy-Protect-Sell projects down the road.
“I hope this becomes a staple of the Ag + Open Space District,” Hopkins says.
A cheeseburger and fries from Superburger. (Beth Schlanker / The Press Democrat)
Sonoma County boasts some of the best cuisine around — thanks in part to our bountiful agriculture industries and world-renowned chefs. It’s no surprise, then, that several local eateries have received such resounding acclaim to warrant opening additional locations.
While national megachains like McDonald’s, Starbucks and Taco Bell may come to mind when thinking of fast food franchises, a business only needs at least two locations to be considered a chain. Plenty of establishments in the county fit the bill, many of which have become entrenched as local staples that we couldn’t imagine our cities without.
Check out our list below of popular chain restaurants that started right here in Sonoma County. Click through the above gallery for a peek at some of our favorite dishes at each restaurant.
Five or more locations
Mary’s Pizza Shack
New York City native Mary Fazio opened her first pizza shack in the county in 1959 with her Italian father’s original recipes and a goal to provide delicious, home-cooked meals to family and friends. Today, Mary’s Pizza Shack has 10 locations (pared down from 17) across Sonoma, Napa and Solano counties — all owned and operated by third and fourth generations of Fazio’s family. In September of 2024, Mary’s Pizza Shack Corporation announced it filed for bankruptcy, though its press release stated it would not be closing any locations.
The long-established local pizza chain made Bite Club’s list of best pizza in the county for its family-friendly atmosphere — kids can even craft their own pies. Try out a variety of Mary’s offerings with friends and family (how Fazio would have wanted it) with the “Mary’s BIG Spaghetti and Pizza Meal Deal” for $64.95, which comes with a medium, two-topping pizza, a family-sized dish of spaghetti with two giant meatballs, a half loaf of garlic bread and a choice of two large salads or soups.
Locations in Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Petaluma, Sonoma, Windsor, Napa, Fairfield and Vacaville. maryspizzashack.com
El Roy’s
After forming a successful Marin County taco truck in the early aughts, siblings Yvette Vega and Roy and Fernando Cabrera moved their operation to Petaluma and established a new brick-and-mortar restaurant, opening in 2016. El Roy’s Mexican Grill became an instant hit, along with its now-five local taco trucks, which were voted the “best taco truck” in the county several years in a row by The Press Democrat readers.
The trucks, including El Roy’s Express Mex, are cleverly located in high-trafficked areas, like the Petaluma Fairgrounds and on Roseland’s Sebastopol Road, beckoning passersby with its roasted al pastor and bright orange facade. Shrimp burritos and tacos dorados are fan favorites. On the heels of the closure of El Roy’s Petaluma restaurant in January, El Roy’s announced its new brick-and-mortar restaurant in south Santa Rosa will open soon.
France natives Jean and Anne Costeaux bought a 1920s-era French American bakery in Healdsburg in 1973, changing its name to Costeaux French Bakery. Karl and Nancy Seppi purchased the bakery from them in 1981 with a vision to expand, and Jean taught them the art of bread baking. Ever since, Costeaux French Bakery has been featured in food and travel magazines around the world and won several Harvest Fair medals for its sourdough baguettes, French macaroons, princess cake, the famed cinnamon walnut bread and more.
Along with the original bakery and cafe on Healdsburg Avenue, Costeaux locations include a bakery inside Big John’s Market in Healdsburg, Costeaux On The Go at the Sonoma County Airport and its newest outpost in Petaluma in the Hotel Petaluma. The Seppis’ son, Will Seppi, launched Costeaux’s sister bakery Tía María, named after his aunt Mary who helped his parents start the Costeaux bakery, in 2019 in Roseland. The Mexican panaderia (bakery) menu includes conchas, bolillos, churros, sandwiches and its signature cuatro leches cake.
Locations in Healdsburg, Santa Rosa and Petaluma. costeaux.com
At Costeaux French Bakery in Healdsburg. (Mariah Harkey / Sonoma County Tourism)
Three to four locations
Bianchini’s Sandwich & Salad Market
When Bryan Crane’s mom and step-father, Steve and Deborah Bianchini, were ready to retire from their just two-year-old delicatessen, Crane started working there and decided to purchase the business with a goal to extend its healthy offerings to the greater community. The first Bianchini’s store opened on North McDowell Boulevard in Petaluma in early 2009, and a second store in Santa Rosa opened in 2013. Another Petaluma location opened up in 2016 on South McDowell.
The popular deli boasts a wide variety of salad and sandwich offerings — and customers can create their own or opt for grab-and-go meals and refreshments. There are over a dozen specialty sandwiches to choose from, such as the hotly requested roasted turkey breast with avocado and pesto or the loaded Veggie Delight with house spread.
Born and raised in Mexico, Salvador Cruz left the cabinetry business after 20 years and founded his ice cream business in 2010 on Stony Point Road in Santa Rosa to share his favorite childhood flavors with the community. After two years of success in Roseland, Cruz opened a second location in Petaluma. The third and fourth locations, both in Santa Rosa, followed in 2014 and 2018.
As Fruta expanded, so did its quality cold dessert offerings, including paletas, bionicos, milkshakes, mangonadas, aguas frescas, acai bowls and more. There are also savory dishes, such as esquites and the spicy Takislocos — Takis chips with jicama, cucumber, cueritos (pickled pork rinds) and Japanese peanuts, all sprinkled with tajin and drizzled with chamoy, lime juice and Valentina hot sauce. Our “best ice creams in the county” roundup lists Fruta’s unique and traditional flavors, like mamey, membrillo, rose petal and chongo zamorano. Fan favorite flavors include coconut, guava, strawberry and arroz con leche.
Dean Biersch, a founding partner in Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant in Palo Alto, branched out and opened his tavern/beer garden concept in Sebastopol in 2008. HopMonk Tavern — which has three locations in the area and also owns the 1920s-era Twin Oaks Roadhouse in Penngrove since 2016 — is known for its craft beer, modern pub grub and regular live music performances.
If you’re stopping in for more than a German-style brew, might we recommend the Nashville hot fried chicken? Spicy, juicy fried chicken is dressed with bread and butter pickles, mayo and lettuce between toasted brioche buns, resulting in a mouthwatering union of textures and flavors. The nachos, sliders and samosas are also great dishes to share.
Locations in Sonoma, Sebastopol and Novato. hopmonk.com
At Hopmonk Tavern in Sebastopol. (Sonoma County Tourism)
Mombo’s Pizza
The late pizzaiolo Fred Poulos founded Mombo’s Pizza in 2002 in Santa Rosa, conveniently located near Santa Rosa Junior College, where it’s been feeding authentic New York-style pizza to hungry students for over 20 years. Popularity skyrocketed, and a second location opened in 2005 in Sebastopol, closer to where Poulos lived. Andrew Peletz, who started as general manager of the two pizza shops, purchased the restaurants from Poulos a few months before his death. Peletz opened a long-awaited third Mombo’s in 2022 in Healdsburg, and a fourth location opened later this summer in Cotati.
Mombo’s sells thin-crust pizza whole or by the slice, following New York pizza tradition, along with salads, fries, wings, pasta and desserts. Local favorites include the Mombo Pesto pizza, made with the house’s award-winning pesto sauce, and the Mushroom Cloud pizza with mushroom, onion, garlic, parmesan and pillows of ricotta. Don’t miss the fried raviolis, meatball subs and gelato.
Locations in Santa Rosa, Sebastopol and Healdsburg. mombospizza.com
Acme Burger
After several years cooking French cuisine in high-end restaurants, Culinary Institute of America-trained Todd Kniess moved to Sonoma County and opened Acme Burger in 2019 in Cotati. Using local ingredients, such as Sonoma Mountain Beef and Willie Bird turkey burgers, the quality of Acme Burger’s fare exceeds expectations of what one would predict from an affordable, casual eatery.
In just a few years, the local chain opened up a second location in Santa Rosa in 2021 and a third location at a former gas station in Petaluma in 2022. In September of 2024, Petaluma got its second Acme location, located in the former Flamez Grill.
Another “Best Burger” lister, Acme’s Sonoma Beef Burger is a classic — sporting a fresh seared patty, house sauce, lettuce and tomato between Franco American Bakery sesame seed buns. Make it a combo with a side of shoestring fries and a classic milkshake.
Formerly known as Lala’s Creamery, this go-to Petaluma ice cream parlor opened up additional locations in Forestville and Healdsburg in 2023. (The Healdsburg location also houses Iggy’s Organic Burgers— because what’s more down-home American than burgers and ice cream?)
Angela’s gets a shout-out in our best ice cream lineup for its traditional banana splits as well as more unique flavors like lavender, Earl Grey tea, mojito sorbet and “Pigs in a Cream Blanket.” Our dining editor calls the Iggy burger (at Healdsburg location only) “a delicious take on a classic smash burger.”
Lavender Angela’s Organic ice cream is served in a sugar cone at Iggy’s Organic Burgers on the plaza, Friday in Downtown Healdsburg June 30, 2023. (Chad Surmick / The Press Democrat)
Amy’s Drive Thru
Petaluma-based organic food producer Amy’s Kitchen introduced an all-vegetarian fast food concept to the county when it opened Amy’s Drive Thru in Rohnert Park in 2015, reenvisioning what drive-thru fare could entail. The menu at Amy’s includes pizza, burritos, soups, salads, veggie burgers and other fast food staples, in addition to fan favorites like mac and cheese.
Amy’s veggie burger boasts the title of the “best non-meat burger” on our list of best burgers in the county. For vegans with a sweet tooth, the drive-thru also offers non-dairy shakes and cinnamon rolls. Amy’s currently has three locations, including inside the San Francisco Airport.
Locations in Rohnert Park, Corte Madera and San Francisco. amysdrivethru.com
Restaurateur Mike Atallah and his son Yazen opened their first Cafe Mimosa in Rohnert Park in May 2019, just a month before Atallah closed down his popular Adel’s Restaurant on Santa Rosa’s College Avenue. By early 2020, Atallah opened a second Cafe Mimosa in the renovated Adel’s space, which he purchased in 1986. The modern, brunch-focused eatery quietly opened a third branch, on North McDowell Boulevard in Petaluma, in 2021.
The cafe’s bottomless weekend mimosas and tempting selection of eggs Benedicts and breakfast hashes lend to it being among the best brunch spots around. The fresh berry-topped French toast and chilaquiles in salsa verde also get rave reviews.
Locations in Petaluma, Rohnert Park and Santa Rosa. cafemimosaaa.com
Smoked Salmon Benedict with champagne hollandaise, rosemary house potatoes on an English muffin with a mimosa sampler-from left, mango, blackberry and strawberry-from Cafe Mimosa in Rohnert Park. (photo by John Burgess/The Press Democrat).Cobb Salad with chicken, egg, avocado, smoked bacon, cherry tomatoes, blue cheese and organic mixed baby greens from Cafe Mimosa in Rohnert Park. (photo by John Burgess/The Press Democrat).
Acre Pizza
An offshoot of the old Acre Coffee (now Avid Coffee) — in connection with San Francisco-based Acre Gourmet — owner Steve DeCosse switched gears in February 2020 to open a pizza parlor. The first Acre Pizza opened in The Barlow in Sebastopol, and its New York and Detroit-style pies made with high-quality, local ingredients were a hit. Just a few months later in May, the Acre Coffee on Petaluma Boulevard reopened as an Acre Pizza. After almost a year of construction, a third location opened in Cotati in 2023.
Acre’s deep-dish, Detroit-style pizza received a nod on our best pizza roundup for its crispy crust and melty cheese topped with house marinara. Other favorites include the NY Potato Pizza, with thinly sliced potatoes and leeks and three kinds of cheese, and the Detroit Ranch: pesto and ranch dressing layered over smoked chicken and Sonoma County Meat Co. bacon.
Locations in Petaluma, Cotati and Sebastopol. acrepizza.com
HenHouse Brewing Company
Shane Goepel, Scott Goyne and Collin McDonnell founded HenHouse Brewing in January 2012, first releasing its hand-crafted beers at the Petaluma Market and then on draft at several taprooms. HenHouse began partnering with Petaluma Hills Brewing Company on North McDowell Boulevard in 2014, and it wasn’t until 2016 that HenHouse opened its own brewery and tasting room on Bellevue Avenue in Santa Rosa.
By 2018, the HenHouse founders obtained a lease to operate a taproom at the shuttered (as of 2017) Petaluma Hills location, which they call the “Palace of Barrels.” Already garnering a cult-following at this point, HenHouse opened its third location in Fairfax in 2022, only for it to close late last year. Luckily for Marin County beer lovers, HenHouse’s “Record Room” taproom opened on Grant Avenue in Novato last year and has been receiving high praise.
HenHouse’s limited-release Big Chicken IPA is highly anticipated each year, while its original Oyster Stout, one of the brewery’s earliest and most eclectic ales (brewed with whole oysters), is available all year-round. To complement your frothy lagers, each taproom hosts a lineup of rotating food trucks, including Galvan’s Eatery, Red Horse Pizza and Streetside Asian Grill.
Collin McDonnell, Co-Founder and CEO of Henhouse Brewing Co., in their Santa Rosa brewery and tasting room (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Grateful Bagel
Five people from different parts of the country came together in 1981 to open the Grateful Bagel on Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa — Linda Altman, Joan Rashti, Robert Wilson, Michael Kessler and Laurie Winkler. Kessler and Winkler were from the East Coast, according to the first review of the bakery in The Press Democrat on April 17, 1981, and they missed the bagels they were accustomed to. In a year, the bakery was distributing its bagels to delis and grocery stores from San Francisco to Fort Bragg.
By the mid-’80s, the Grateful Bagel had opened a second shop in Sebastopol and a third in east Santa Rosa. A fourth location opened on Keller Street in Petaluma in 1994. Since then, the Petaluma bakery has closed and the Santa Rosa ones changed locations, to Fourth Street and Corporate Center Parkway, but the quaint location in Sebastopol, on 300 S. Main St., is still going strong.
One can’t go wrong with a bagel sandwich for a filling breakfast or lunch. Popular bagel sandos here include the Wild Boar with ham, egg and cheese, and the Loxy Lady with lox, capers, cream cheese, tomato and onions. The cheesy pizza bagels are delightful, whether you take it with a simple cream cheese schmear or stuff it with meat and veggies.
French expats Louis and Alexandra Zandvliet originally opened their bakery in Santa Rosa in 2021 with funds from a Kickstarter campaign. The boulangerie was a wild success, and the couple expanded to Sebastopol in 2023, replacing the former Red Bird Bakery, and then to Petaluma in 2024.
Not only does the bakery have some of the best croissants around, it also offers a lineup of éclairs,cream puffs, butter and ham baguettes, olive bread and dozens of other sweet and savory treats.
Locations in Santa Rosa, Sebastopol and Petaluma. sarmentine.com
Superburger
What started off as a small burger shack on the corner of College and Fourth streets in Santa Rosa in the early 1950s ballooned into one of Sonoma County’s most enduring and treasured burger chains. Superburger now has three locations in the county, churning out char-grilled beef to the masses — though it still crafts made-to-order hamburgers and old-fashioned milkshakes just as it has done for over half a century.
The establishment’s namesake standard, the Cheese Superburger, beats a Big Mac any day — with eight ounces of fresh ground beef under a bed of crisp lettuce, tomatoes, red onions and pickles between toasted local bakery buns. And its St. Helena Ave. Burger, towering with onion rings and thick-cut smoked bacon and drizzled with original barbecue sauce, made it on our list of the best burgers in the county. Don’t forget the crispy shoestring fries and variety of hand-spun milkshakes.
The St. Helena Ave. Burger from Superburger in Santa Rosa. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Two locations
Old Chicago Pizza
Founded in 1977 and opened the following year by owner Bill Berliner, the Old Chicago Pizza on Petaluma Boulevard North has been serving Chicago-style deep dish pizza for over 40 years. Old Chicago opened a second location in 2020 in Petaluma, a delivery and take-out outpost, located on North McDowell Boulevard.
The deep dish pies earned Old Chicago a spot on our best pizza in the county roundup, and the pizzeria also offers thin crust and new double crust pizza, favored by many locals on Yelp. The pesto garlic bread is another all-around favorite, best accompanied with a personalized deep dish while seated in the 1870s-era flagship building.
Nan Taylor Mishkin, who died in 2010, started Omelette Express in Railroad Square in 1977, and it quickly became a Santa Rosa tradition. Her son Don Taylor has been owner and manager of the establishment since 1987. After 30 years of success in the Railroad Square district, Don and his wife Laura opened up a second location in Windsor. In 2018, they opened a restaurant in Santa Rosa’s “Sister City” Jeju City, on South Korea’s Jeju Island.
The local breakfast and lunch staple has nearly two dozen omelets to choose from on its menu, or you can customize your own, always served with country potatoes and local, fresh baked bread. If omelets aren’t your thing, the menu also includes French toast, eggs Benedict, corned beef hash, burgers, salads and sandwiches.
Marne Dupere and Mike Morisette opened their charming, modern-rustic Plank Coffee shop in 2012 in Cloverdale, offering specialty roasted coffee and organic fare from local farmers. Seven years later, the pair opened their second location in Healdsburg, a cozy, plant-laden spot on Dry Creek Road.
For a quick pick-me-up, a house-roasted Americano and fresh baked pastry (the vegan orange cake pleases just about everyone) is a sure bet. If you have time to linger in the natural setting, enjoy a hearty vegetarian breakfast sandwich with a seasonal latte or organic tea.
Coffee from Plank Coffee in Healdsburg. (Plank Coffee)
Crooked Goat Brewing
In 2016, a group of six friends took their home beer-brewing hobby and turned it into a full-fledged brewery and taproom when they opened Crooked Goat Brewing in The Barlow. The Sebastopol brewpub soon became a dedicated hangout spot for people to enjoy a craft beer flight during a trivia night or while listening to live music on the weekends. Crooked Goat added a second taproom in 2022 in Petaluma, where the crew of co-founders originally started crafting their brews in a small space behind Pete’s Henny Penny.
The Bee Beard honey ale and Grapefruit Ibex IPA are just a few of the favorite beers on tap here. Food at the Sebastopol taproom includes fare from Acre Pizza, Osito Style Tacos and The Farmer’s Wife, plus housemade snacks like jerky and pretzels. At the Petaluma location, patrons can order meals from Acme Burger and Stefano’s Pizza.
Ozzy Jimenez, former Healdsburg mayor, and his partner Christian Sullberg began their endeavor into the dessert scene in 2011 with Moustache Baked Goods in Healdsburg, known for its delectable, scratch-baked cupcakes. Riding the momentum of their bakery’s success, the pair opened a pie and ice cream concept, Noble Folk, in 2014 on Matheson Street. Specializing in pie à la mode and eclectic ice cream flavors — like black sesame, Thai tea and lemon lavender — the shop became a favorite among locals, who excitedly welcomed a second location in 2018 in Santa Rosa.
The unique, rich flavors of Noble Folk’s ice cream alone is reason enough for the shop to lead the pack in our list of best ice cream in the county. And yes, its pie is also on our list of best local pies — try the Dutch apple for a traditional treat, or the peanut butter mousse pie in an Oreo crust for something to please your inner child. Fun, gourmet cupcakes are also still a part of the mix.
After five years of running the Sub Zero Ice Cream franchise spot that she opened in The Barlow in 2013, Jacki Wilson pivoted to fashion her own ice cream shop in 2018, focusing on naturally flavored frozen concoctions. Located in the same Sebastopol hotspot, Wilson’s Two Dog Night Creamery was a hit among those who liked the liquid nitrogen-frozen desserts they came to know and love from Sub Zero, as well as the new flavors and organic, dairy-free offerings. A second location opened a short time later, by 2019, in Windsor’s Bell Village shopping center.
The creamery gets a shoutout in our best ice cream roundup for its smooth, gelato-style ice cream and seasonal flavors using local ingredients, such as the Summer Yuzu or the vegan Key Lime. Favorite classic scoops include the Coffee Heath Bar, Banana Foster Crunch, Mint Oreo and the traditional banana split.
“Strawberry Letter” ice cream cocktail at Nimble and Finn’s. It’s strawberry sorbet with vermouth, elderflower, and champagne, May 18, in Santa Rosa’s Railroad Square (Chad Surmick / The Press Democrat)
Nimble and Finn’s
Sisters Leandra Beaver and Jazmin Hooijer first started hawking artisanal ice cream from a pushcart freezer in 2012, soon supplying local weddings and events with creamy desserts and winning medals at the county’s Harvest Fair. After about three years, the sisters opened their first ice cream shop inside the historic Bank of Guerneville, bringing their tasty, organic innovations to the Guerneville Bank Club. Nimble and Finn’s opened a second location a few years later in Santa Rosa’s Railroad Square district, meanwhile expanding its offerings to ice cream cakes and ice cream cocktails.
Lively flavors like Whiskey Butterscotch and Lavender Honeycomb earned Nimble and Finn’s a spot on our local best ice cream lineup — not to mention the boozy, summertime Strawberry Letter, with Champagne, vermouth, strawberry sorbet and elderflower. The charming shop also offers pie, cookies, floats, ice cream sandwiches and even upscale grilled cheeses.
The first Cafe des Croissant opened on Fourth Street in Santa Rosa by Kenneth E. McGee in 1983, according to public legal notices in The Press Democrat at the time. A second location opened on Marlow Road in 1987, and a third on Lomitas Avenue in 1989. The cafe eventually expanded to Sebastopol, a drive-thru in Rohnert Park and an outpost in Santa Rosa’s Roxy Theater. Since then, ownership has changed hands and all but two of the locations have closed — including the Roxy spot being turned into Nana’s Cafe in early 2024. The Lomitas Avenue and Sebastopol locations remain.
Cafe des Croissant has won local Harvest Fair awards for its flaky croissants and unique muffins, such as ginger or cappuccino. The almond and cinnamon walnut croissants are standouts. The cafe also offers bagels, salads, paninis and breakfast egg sandwiches.
