Mochi donuts, gluten-free summer squash tartlets, left, and Earl Grey polenta olive oil cakes, right, at The Altamont General Store in Occidental. (Beth Schlanker/Sonoma Magazine)
One of the most coveted recognitions in the Sonoma County food world isn’t a Michelin star or rave critical review — it’s the Snail of Approval. Awarded by two local chapters of the Slow Food organization — Russian River and Sonoma County North — it is handed out annually to restaurants, food producers and farms that honor the practice of making good, clean and fair food for all people.
The criteria for receiving the award are many, requiring multiple visits from Slow Food officials who assess aspects of the business like its sustainability, ethical sourcing, environmental impacts, cultural connections and community involvement.
There already are a number of local restaurants and food producers who, in addition to the 2024 winners, have received the Snail of Approval, including Psychic Pie in Sebastopol, Americana in Santa Rosa, Tilted Shed Ciderworks in Windsor and COOKIE…take a bite! in Santa Rosa. (See the full list at slowfoodsonomacountynorth.org)
Leith Leiser-Miller and Nicholi Ludlow, right, serving up their Psychic Pie pizza to attendees during the Snail of Approval awards ceremony held at Grange Hall in Sebastopol, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. (Erik Castro / For The Press Democrat)The Boho Bowl includes stewed French lentils, rice, pickled beets, Brussel sprouts, curried cauliflower, arugula, roasted root vegetables, sauerkraut, pumpkin seeds, chimichurri sauce, and creme fraiche at The Altamont General Store. Photo taken in Occidental on Thursday, May 13, 2021. (Beth Schlanker/Sonoma Magazine)
Here are the 2024 Snail of Approval winners:
Nightingale Breads: 6665 Front St., Forestville, 707-887-8887, nightingalebreads.com
Golden State Pickle Works: Available at Oliver’s, the Friday Sonoma Valley Farmers Market and the Saturday Napa Farmers Market. 510-717-7484, goldenstatepickleworks.com
Croque-Monsieur from Maison Porcella in Windsor, April 13, 2023. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)A selection of products from Leslie Goodrich, owner of LaLa’s Jam Bar and Urban Farmstand in Petaluma. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Lala’s Jam Bar: 720 E. Washington St., Petaluma, 707-773-1083, lalasjams.com
Woodlands Charcuterie: Multiple farmers markets locations weekly. Details at woodlandscharcuterie.com
Peanut butter pie at Hazel restaurant in Occidental. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)
Occidental’s Hazel restaurant will migrate to a new location later this year, according to owners Jim and Michele Wimborough. The 1,300-square-foot restaurant they’ve leased for nearly a decade is in escrow to a new buyer who is rumored to be a chef.
The Wimboroughs are taking the news in stride, knowing the building was slated to be sold. They’re already looking for Hazel’s next location — but it’s business as usual until October. Their current lease is through December 2025.
Michele Wimborough holding her pumpkin pie with walnut streusel at Hazel in Occidental. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)Various pies at Hazel restaurant in Occidental. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)
“It’s bittersweet to think about leaving this amazing community we’ve called home for nearly 10 years, but we’re staying positive and embracing this as a new adventure,” wrote the couple on the restaurant’s Instagram.
Hazel’s historic building at 3782 Bohemian Highway is listed at $700,000 on several commercial real estate sites. Broker Jeff Sacher confirmed that the location has a potential buyer, but escrow has not closed. This is a developing story.
Wine is poured for a wine-blending session at the Meadowcroft Wines tasting room at Cornerstone on Arnold Drive in Sonoma on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. (Robbi Pengelly / Index-Tribune)
Way back in the day some 10 years ago, wine tasting in Sonoma and Napa counties was a pretty easy affair. You stopped by the winery — generally no appointment needed — and tasted wines to see if there was one (or more) that you loved. You bought a bottle of that wine, or didn’t.
Most of the tastings were free, as part of the winery’s cost of doing business to showcase their work. Of the wineries that did charge a nominal fee, many subtracted that cost from any wine you purchased. In 2012, just 13.4% of Napa wineries and 14.6% of Sonoma County wineries charged tasting fees, according to the Silicon Valley Bank 2012 Direct to Consumer Wine Report.
These days, tasting wine can seem like a luxury. I visit wineries nearly every week, and it never ceases to amaze me how expensive tastings can be. The entry-level price of a Sonoma County wine tasting rose from $36 in 2022 to $43 today, notes the 2024 Direct to Consumer Wine Report. And in Napa, it’s even more pricey, with a standard wine tasting averaging $75.
Wine tasting in Calistoga. (Courtesy of Visit Calistoga)
I fondly remember the glory years when one of my favorite destinations, Heitz Cellar in St. Helena (436 St. Helena Highway), offered free tastings of its gorgeous, high-end wines, as it had since opening in 1961. Then, in 2018, Kathleen Heitz Myers, former president and CEO of the winery and daughter of founders Joe and Alice Heitz, sold the business to billionaire investor and business owner Gaylon M. Lawrence, Jr.
After an extensive remodeling and expansion, Heitz reopened in 2022, with fees ranging from $125 to — gulp — $1,000. To be fair, I checked this week and found the $1,000 tasting has been deleted from the winery website. The most expensive tasting now is $350, Napa locals can get a tasting of four wines for $50, and there is a note on the winery website stating that tasting fees “may” be credited with the purchase of wine or a club membership sign-up.
But really, do I want to have to wonder if I need to refinance my house in order to pay for a few precious sips of wine I may not even like?
Fortunately, some local wineries still offer complimentary tastings. Particularly in the slow-season winter months, we can sip without shelling out the big bucks even before we buy a bottle. It makes sense for the wineries: In the current extra-challenging and competitive direct sales market, wineries need to be more flexible to engage with consumers and close the deals. Here are a few to consider for your next tasting experience.
Wine is poured for a wine-blending session at the Meadowcroft Wines tasting room at Cornerstone on Arnold Drive on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. (Robbi Pengelly / Index-Tribune)
Meadowcroft Wines
It’s not the lovely winery owner Tom Meadowcroft’s fault that his beloved business is in Sonoma’s Cornerstone marketplace, which has lost most of its tenants and customers after the LeFever Mattson real estate investment company purchased the property in 2019 and have since nearly driven it into the ground with their financial shenanigans (currently under federal investigation).
So remember to visit Meadowcroft and try their seated, guided tasting of four wines for free ($25 value, offered through March 31). You can sit in the colorful, chic salon, or on the patio/porch framed by vines, and sample a changing selection from the expansive portfolio of sparklings, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, French Colombard, Viognier, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese and so much more.
Founders Adam McClary and Gabrielle Shaffer want us to “party like it’s 1999” with their boutique, small-production Cabernet Francs and Chenin Blancs. So at their quirky-freaky-fun little tasting saloon in downtown Napa, they welcome us with a Wild Wild West Tasting that delivers three notable wines and costs us nothing. Nada, zippo, zilch.
Gamling & McDuck Wine in Napa. (Gamling & McDuck Wine)
“It’s basically time travel to the good ole days,” McClary said, noting that the experience is about sampling wine to see if you like it, “not Ted Talks about winemaking and the history of Napa Valley.”
If you do want more personal guidance — “rambling talk about viticulture and fermentation or comparing pictures of pets” — plus broader wine styles, you can ramp things up to a Big Picture tasting for $35, or a Club Tasting for $70.
The artsy oasis in Geyserville is tiny. Really tiny. So owner, grape grower and winemaker Bill Frick admits only four guests at a time at his little roadhouse on a remote country lane, and personally serves you. It’s a magical, down-to-earth experience as he leads you through his cherished Cinsaut, Counoise, Carignane, Mourvedre, Syrah, Viognier and Rhône blends sourced from his 7.77-acre hillside estate.
A variety of wines at Frick Winery near Geyserville. (Christopher Chung / The Press Democrat)
Hours are limited to 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and walk-ins are welcome. But I strongly suggest booking a time on the website to make sure Frick isn’t pulled away by one of the endless chores he cheerfully tackles.
And be sure to tell him congratulations — 2025 marks the winery’s 49th year; Bill and his wife, Judith Gannon, started this adventure in 1976 with proceeds from the sale of their 1957 Chevrolet.
Dick Handal and his daughter Doralice Handal (also a cheese expert) are rockstars in the culinary and wine industries, and make their own wine under their Denier-Handal brand. Somehow they find time to also manage this industrial-fashionable space in downtown Geyserville, herding together (like cats, indeed) a changing array of six to eight different wineries.
And somehow, they manage to share splashes of the good stuff with us for free.
Locals Tasting room in Geyserville. (Heather Irwin / The Press Democrat)
It’s a wonderful, unique concept, offering flight tastings that allow you to parallel taste a singular wine variety made by different winemakers. For example, five different aromatic white wines, or five different Pinot Noirs, so you can compare and contrast.
Likely you’ve never heard of the tiny-batch brand names, such as Drive, in homage to the vintage car repair shop where owners John Musto and Tom Young made their first experimental wines.
Check the constantly changing list of limited production wines on the website, or even better, just stop in frequently to chat with Doralice about her beautiful North Coast Denier-Handal Verdelho (she will be delighted to give you expert suggestions for mouthwatering food pairings, too).
Visiting Korbel Champagne Cellars in Guernville is like taking a step back in time; the cellars first opened in 1882. The historic building, is a different sort of tasting room experience with rich history and delicious glass of bubbly. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Yes, they can call it Champagne, because Korbel has been around since 1882, and they are grandfathered in to use the designation that France now so fiercely protects. The brick castle-like structure looks like it belongs in Europe, too, draped in vines and surrounded by forests and lush gardens.
You kick off your visit with a complimentary tasting of Korbel Natural California Champagne, and can also enjoy a complimentary walking tour of the winery’s historic museum and cellar.
13250 River Road, Guerneville, 707-824-7000, korbel.com
Passport Programs
Winter in the Wineries Passport, Napa Valley and beyond
They’re not technically free tastings, but are pretty close. During the low season, some local towns and cities put together limited time deals where you can taste at multiple locations for one all-inclusive price.
Calistoga Chamber of Commerce offers a package of complimentary tastings, called Winter in the Wineries Passport, at 19 wineries in and around Calistoga. (Courtesy of Visit Calistoga)
Calistoga Chamber of Commerce, for example, offers a package of complimentary tastings, called Winter in the Wineries Passport, at 19 wineries in and around Calistoga, including Pope Valley and St. Helena, as well as in Lake County, for just $80 (valid to Feb. 9). You can taste at each location once, and get a stamp in your passport at each to mark your progress.
Participating wineries include top-level names like Charles Krug Winery, Château Montelena, Elusa Winery and Sterling Vineyards; the combined value is $800, says the Chamber.
Purchase your passport at visitcalistoga.com, or at Calistoga Welcome Center, 1457 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga.
Passport to Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Put Passport to Dry Creek Valley on your calendar for April 26 and 27. The weekend is a great way to explore 25-plus wineries along a 16-by-2-mile stretch of paradise, stopping and tasting along the way. Some wineries offer food and live entertainment, and winemakers are often on hand for meet-and-greets.
This year, for the first time, you can get single-day tickets. Costs range from $95 for single day ($35 for nondrinking designated drivers) to $175 for both days.
Get an early start on Friday, April 25, with 2-for-1 tastings at micro wineries not always open to the public (the discounted bonus is included in your regular Passport ticket). And for a primo party, attend the welcome gala that Friday night at Bacchus Landing in Healdsburg, where you’ll enjoy tastings from 20-plus wineries, food from chefs cooking over live fires, and music from DJ Saint Rose Disco (tickets are $150).
Note that prices will increase March 2, so get your tickets now. Purchase your passport at drycreekvalley.org
For a group tasting the Mable’s Experience with Red Cabbage & Apple Sauerkraut, homemade kimchi
Beet Salad, Sprouted Hummus and seasonal vegetables, Honeynut Squash/Nettle/Sunchoke Dips, Tinned Trout and a housemade Pickle Plate from Mable’s Restaurant and Patio at the newly renovated Lodge at Marconi Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Marshall. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Hidden under the marine layer of far West Marin, Tomales Bay is an otherworldly sliver of water straddled by Point Reyes National Seashore and acres of grazing land that stretch to Petaluma. Best known for its oyster farms, fish shacks, beaches, cheese making and forest-bathing opportunities, it’s a locals’ getaway for much of the winter and a year-round destination for shuckers.
At the halfway point between Marshall and Point Reyes Station is Marconi State Historic Park, 62 acres of coastal forests and meadows once used as a telegraph relay station by Guglielmo Marconi in the early 1900s. From his outpost on a hill facing Tomales Bay, Marconi sent the first radio communications from California to Hawaii and Japan — a link that brought instant communication worldwide for the first time.
Amid the mossy cypress and eucalyptus groves is the historic Marconi Hotel and newly renovated Lodge at Marconi, a group of cabins, lofts and event spaces dotted around the property. The on-site restaurant, Mable’s, serves as a restaurant for guests, a catering hub for events and is open to the public for dinner Tuesday through Saturday.
Though the menu takes inspiration from the nearby waters, executive chef Les Goodman intentionally shied away from adding another seafood shack to the mix.
Chef Les Goodman brings his take on Middle Eastern/Jewish cuisine to the new Mable’s Restaurant and Patio at the renovated Lodge at Marconi Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Marshall. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
“The menus directly on the Bay, they’re just very classic fish houses, and that’s what people want. I wanted to bring something very different, especially for the locals,” said Goodman, whose resume includes Dry Creek Kitchen, several restaurants in Las Vegas, teaching at Sur La Table and owning a small catering company. His farmers market pop-up, Goodman’s Deli, featured favorite Jewish dishes and Middle Eastern classics.
At Mable’s, Goodman brings his fine dining technique to a menu that moves from Mediterranean to Japanese to French to Russian with as much fluidity as the morning fog.
“A lot of those flavors I love, so (I’m) trying to bring that into a very globally-inspired menu that’s focused on locality, using farms within a few hundred miles, within three or four counties,” said Goodman. Fish, of course, is mainly sourced from nearby fishing boats.
Mable’s menu is hyper-seasonal and Goodman likes to change it almost daily based on what’s come in from the farms, while using or reusing ingredients in a few dishes. So, if you love one night’s “Under a Fur Coat salad” (see explanation below), it may or may not be on the menu the next day.
Mable’s Restaurant and Patio features a large selection of Tinned Fish with pickled vegetables and fried saltines Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, at the newly renovated Lodge at Marconi in Marshall. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Goodman’s daily specials, however, lift away any disappointment. On one of my visits just before Hanukkah, Goodman made potato latkes with smoked salmon and pomegranate seeds.
What you won’t want to miss is The Mable Experience. It consists of eight to 10 small plates that cover the table like a fog, according to Goodman, much like Korean banchan. The lineup typically includes fermented and pickled vegetables, seasonal salads like beet with horseradish crème fraîche and dill, tinned fish and kimchi.
“The experience is my play on the name Mable, which means ‘marine atmospheric boundary layer — MABL,'” said Goodman. (Much of Tomales Bay is influenced by an insulated layer near the ocean’s surface, bridging sea and sky and serving up plenty of fog, rain and cool temperatures.)
Mable’s isn’t much to see on the outside, boxy and utilitarian, but inside, the 100-seat restaurant is a warm, modern retreat where you’ll find a mix of the Patagonia set and locals. The 1,300-square-foot deck overlooking Tomales Bay has stunning views when the weather cooperates.
For me, Mable’s at the Lodge at Marconi is a restaurant that captures the enchanting flavors between land and sea unique to the Sonoma-Marin coast, magically.
Best Bets
For a group tasting the Mable’s Experience with Red Cabbage & Apple Sauerkraut, housemade kimchi Beet Salad, Sprouted Hummus and seasonal vegetables, Honeynut Squash/Nettle/Sunchoke Dips, Tinned Trout and a housemade Pickle Plate from Mable’s Restaurant and Patio at the newly renovated Lodge at Marconi Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Marshall. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)Housemade Sourdough Focaccia with house cultured butter in its own buttermilk and Hog Island sea salt from Mable’s Restaurant and Patio at the newly renovated Lodge at Marconi Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Marshall. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
The Mables Experience, $45 per person: A sampling of chef Goodman’s seasonal bites from ocean to farm. Eight or nine small plates usually include pickled vegetables, hummus, salads and other nibbles — often from the menu, but sometimes not — a good introduction to the flavors and ethos of the restaurant.
Sourdough Focaccia, $10: Thick slabs of airy focaccia are best slathered with house-cultured butter with a float of buttermilk.
McFarland Springs Hot Smoked Trout, $18: McFarland Farms hot smoked trout is mixed with crème fraîche for a creamy spread served with fried saltines and pickled veggies. If you’re big on tinned fish, there’s an extensive artisan collection including sardines in yuzu kosho or coconut curry sauce, Jamaican jerk rockfish or lemon caper mackerel ($13 to $18).
Seasonal Dips: Chef Goodman is a whiz with flavor-punched sprouted hummus with za’atar and harissa; tart turmeric-infused labneh (cheese made from strained yogurt) with smoked olive oil; or pureed honeynut squash with toasted sesame and date syrup that’s sweet and earthy. Served with seasonal veggies.
Fish Stew with Tomales bay mussels, Manila clams, best local catch and grilled focaccia from Mable’s Restaurant and Patio at the newly renovated Lodge at Marconi Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 in Marshall. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Daily Fish Stew for Two, $62: The green Le Creuset-style Dutch oven is the only thing constant about this seafood pot-au-feu (“stew” seems too common a name). There will be seafood, mostly from nearby, that includes the daily catch, also maybe with mussels. Always with housemade focaccia to sop up the goodness. Goodman rotates the base broth with flavors from Spain, Italy, France, Indonesia and Japan.
Milk and Cookies, $10: Baked to order, it takes about 20 minutes for this must-have dessert. Hot chocolate chip cookies are paired with a firm block of buttermilk panna cotta for a grown-up version of this childhood favorite.
May or may not be on the menu
Shuba “Under a Fur Coat” Salad, $23: This classic Ukrainian seven-layer dip gets a Tomales makeover with diced potato, smoked trout, pickles, carrots, beet, aioli, egg and dill. It’s a complicated dish, said Goodman, so on busy nights, it isn’t always available — the best of Eastern Europe in a convenient, scoopable stack.
Grilled Kofta Meatballs, $19: The zing of Goodman’s shakshuka ragout — made with tomato and red pepper — pools around spiced Stemple Creek Ranch beef meatballs with Tomales Farm feta. Served in a piping hot clay ramekin, it’s a signature shareable dish cozier than a sheepskin rug by a roaring fire.
Mable’s at The Lodge at Marconi, 18500 CA Highway 1, 415-663-9020, mablesrestaurant.com. Reservations recommended.
Lox bagel from Marla Bakery pop-up at Spinster Sisters in Santa Rosa. (Courtesy of Marla Bakery)
As with most iconic foods, the exact origin of the bagel is largely unknown and highly debated — mostly because ring-shaped bread has been made by a variety of cultures for centuries. However, the earliest known appearance of what resembles the modern-day bagel first appeared in 1300s Poland as obwarzanek, a braided ring of dough that’s boiled, sprinkled with seasoning and then baked.
The bagel migrated from Eastern Europe to the United States during the 19th century, where it was primarily found in Jewish immigrant markets, but didn’t make it into the mainstream world of baked goods until the 1970s. Since then, bagels have exploded in popularity across the nation — and now you don’t need to travel to New York to nab a good authentic one. As former New York City resident Tejal Rao wrote in a controversial article for The New York Times: the best bagels are in California.
Sonoma County should be no exception to the West Coast’s bagel boom, so here are 12 places to grab the finest bagels around.
Bagels from Healdsburg Bagel Company in Healdsburg. (Courtesy Drew Ross)Ellie’s Spicy Eggel with eggs, pepper jack cheese, avocado and tomato on an everything bagel from Grateful Bagel on Fourth Street in Santa Rosa, July 12, 2024. (Maci Martell/Sonoma Magazine)
Healdsburg Bagel Company
Using quality ingredients to create traditional New York-style bagels, Healdsburg Bagel Company owner Drew Ross and his team churn out made-to-order batches of fresh bagels daily. The handmade bagels come out soft with a crisp outside and loaded with flavor, like the generously-coated everything bagel or the cheesy pizza bagel. Plus, the shop makes and sells its own cream cheese schmears, bagel chips and all-beef bagel dogs. Find fresh HBC bagels at the shop as well as at Big John’s Market and various local farmers markets. Ross opened a Jewish-style delicatessen, called Drewish Deli, at the former Wyldwood restaurant in 2023.
Serving up great bagels since 1979, the modest Grateful Bagel sites in Santa Rosa and Sebastopol are local hot spots for a quick breakfast sandwich or midday bagel bite. Favorites include a pesto bagel with a simple schmear; Ellie’s Spicy Eggel with eggs, pepper jack cheese, avocado and tomato; and the Wild Boar, a classic ham, egg and cheese combo on a cheesy jalapeño bagel. In November of 2024, a Grateful Bagel location opened in the former JavAmore Cafe in Penngrove.
631 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-535-0570; 925 Corporate Center Parkway, Suite E, Santa Rosa, 707-522-1388; 300 S. Main St., Sebastopol, 707-829-5220; 10101 Main St., Suite A, Penngrove, 707-794-1516
Marla SR Bakery and Cafe
When Marla opened in 2023 in Railroad Square, customers who previously tried chef/owner Amy Brown’s baked goods at pop-ups and farmers markets lined up eagerly awaiting toasty bagels and giant croissants. For a sit-down breakfast at the cafe, order your choice of bagel topped with butter, farmers cheese, house-cured and smoked trout, or house spread with seasonal veggies. Need a bulk of carbs to go? Order the box of a half dozen bagels — two Maldon salt, two sesame, one poppyseed and one seeded — from the online shop for pickup.
A variety of freshly baked bagels from Marla bakery in Santa Rosa. (Beth Schlanker/The Press Democrat)Lox Plate with plain cream cheese, tomato, cucumber, onion, capers and GB bagel at Grossman’s Noshery & Bar in Santa Rosa on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (Darryl Bush / For The Press Democrat)
Grossman’s Noshery & Bar
This New York-style deli located in Santa Rosa’s historic Railroad Square district has a diverse menu of Jewish cuisine, including, of course, freshly baked bagels that are perfectly toasty and chewy. Try the simple yet elegant salt bagel with a housemade scallion cream cheese schmear or the Brooklyn Bagel Sandwich with lox, cucumber, tomato, sliced onion, schmear and dill on a toasted everything bagel.
308 1/2 Wilson St., Santa Rosa, 707-595-7707, grossmanssr.com
Café des Croissants
For a tasty, affordable bagel to-go, swing by any of the Café des Croissants locations. There are a variety of cream cheese spreads and bagel sandwich combos to choose from, such as honey walnut schmear on a blueberry bagel, or the popular Loxy Lady sandwich with lox, capers, tomatoes, onions and cream cheese.
For a proper New York-style bagel in a small town shop, look no further than New York Bagel in Rohnert Park’s Park Plaza Center. With a vast assortment of bagel flavors and add-ons, it’s hard to go wrong with these dense, chewy bagels generously topped with your favorite fixings. Local favorites include the jalapeño cheese bagel with bacon and eggs or a plain cream cheese spread, and the Manhattan Grille on an everything bagel stacked with melted Monterey Jack cheese, alfalfa sprouts, tomatoes and scallion cream cheese.
6400 Commerce Blvd., Rohnert Park, 707-588-0414
Sonoma Valley Bagel
With three locations and a host of bagel options to choose from, Sonoma Valley Bagel has something for everyone. Bagels here are traditionally made: kettle-boiled then baked for a hearty crunch and soft chew. The pizza and cinnamon sugar bagels are kid favorites; and the spinach parmesan and sourdough bagels are great for those who prefer slightly more sophisticated bagel sandwiches.
130 Stony Point Road, Santa Rosa, 707-578-7005; 1451 Southwest Blvd., Rohnert Park, 707-793-9990; 350 Rohnert Park Expressway W., Rohnert Park, 707-585-8095, sonomavalleybagel.com
Classic Lox at The Bagel Mill in Petaluma. (Courtesy The Bagel Mill)
The Bagel Mill
The Bagel Mill combines traditional bagel-making techniques with quality ingredients to create organic sourdough bagels, ensuring a great chew full of flavor every time. A fan favorite is the marble rye bagel, which pairs especially well with the housemade green olive cream cheese spread. The pesto bagel is another crowd-pleaser, as it’s flavorful enough to be eaten on its own and heightens any sandwich option you prefer, such as the Classic Lox spread or the loaded Spicy Turkey Club.
When it comes to hearty wholegrain, gluten-free, vegan bagels, Mama Mel’s is the cream of the crop. Its New York-style bagels are made with gluten-free flours and are steam-baked for a golden crust and chewy bite. The three-seed bagel contains a blend of organic chia, sesame and poppy seeds, giving the bagel a mild nutty flavor and satisfying crunch. Other favorites include the robust onion bagel and the naturally sweet blueberry bagel.
Order online for pick-up at Mama Mel’s Kitchen in Petaluma or find Mama Mel’s baked goods at the Santa Rosa Community Farmers Market on select Saturdays. Mama Mel’s also supplies its gluten-free bread and bagels to various locations across the county.
431 Payran St., Building C, Petaluma, 707-595-0980, mamamelsbread.com
Noah’s NY Bagels
With a wide assortment of freshly baked bagels, schmears, sandwiches and catering options, Noah’s is a local one-stop-shop for a quick bagel fix. Standouts include the gourmet challah and six cheese bagel, which pairs well with the signature Breakfast BLT sandwich with thick-cut bacon, eggs, spinach, tomato and parmesan aioli.
375 S. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma, 707-766-9651, noahs.com
Homegrown Bagels
Homegrown Bagels in Sonoma has been serving fresh bagels with a great chew and a firm, golden crust since 1978. With a healthy selection of bagels, spreads and creative bagel sandwich options, the fun bagel combinations are endless. For a farm-fresh delight, try the Veggie Sandwich on a tomato basil bagel. If you prefer a good hunk of protein in your bagel sandwich, go for the Petaluma Meltdown with grilled chicken breast, bacon and provolone on a classic sesame seed bagel.
Freshly baked sesame seed bagels at Homegrown Bagels in Sonoma. (Erik Castro/for The Press Democrat)Tony Peña makes bagels early in the morning at Homegrown Bagels in Sonoma. (Erik Castro/for The Press Democrat)
Flavia’s
This Cloverdale Mexican restaurant serves up a unique combination of great-tasting tortas, birria and bagels. Make your own bagel sandwich at the bagel bar, which has over a dozen different bagels to choose from along with various spreads, meats, veggies and cheeses. Or order a bagel sandwich off the menu, like the regular go-to Hot Mess bagel with egg, ham, cheese and chive cream cheese on an onion bagel. For a spicy kick to your morning, try the Choribagel — egg, cheese, chorizo and jalapeño on a jalapeño bagel.
Locals may come to this unassuming strip mall shop for the rich donuts and fritters, but its bagels are not to be missed. The spicy jalapeño cheese bagel is the hands-down fan favorite here, often filled with cream cheese or made into an egg sandwich.
1784 Piner Road, Santa Rosa, 707-541-0877
My Friend Joe Coffee
The ideal bagel spot for the weary college student, My Friend Joe across from the Santa Rosa Junior College campus serves up large, filling bagel sandwiches for folks on-the-go or in need of a study break. Using bagels from Grateful Bagel on Fourth Street and adding a generous amount of fresh ingredients, there are a variety of satisfying bagel sandwich options to choose from. A local favorite is the Pesto Manifesto on a cheesy pesto bagel with turkey, provolone, pesto, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle and pepperoncini.
1810 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-843-4966
Cafe Aquatica
Cafe Aquatica in Jenner is a charming place on the coast for breakfast or lunch. While this quaint coastal cafe may only have one bagel sandwich on the menu — the savory Lox Bagel with cream cheese, smoked salmon, capers, arugula and everything seeds on a toasted bagel — you can craft your own bagel from the modest sidebar menu. An open-faced bagel topped with avocado and a poached egg is a delicious, filling breakfast, or try the vibrant beet spread and roasted portobello mushrooms on a gluten-free bagel, courtesy of Mama Mel’s Kitchen.
The Los Angeles wildfires have forever changed the lives of thousands of people. It’s a story we know all too well in Wine Country. And though there are many miles between us, a number of hotel properties in Sonoma, Napa and Marin counties are offering free or discounted accommodations to those displaced by the fires in Southern California.
Lodge at Marconi, Marshall
Relative newcomer Lodge at Marconi is providing five complimentary nights to individuals and families displaced by the wildfires in Southern California. If more nights are needed, management company Oliver Hospitality has committed to working with guests to provide additional discounts.
Guest room at Lodge at Marconi in Marshall. (Courtesy Lodge at Marconi)
“Our mission at Oliver Hospitality is rooted in creating welcoming spaces where people can find comfort and community, especially during difficult times,” said Ashleigh Narcelles, VP of Sales and Revenue Strategies at Oliver Hospitality. “Offering five free nights at Lodge at Marconi to wildfire victims and evacuees is our way of extending that hospitality to those who need it most, providing a safe haven and a sense of relief as they navigate these challenging circumstances.”
Marconi’s sister property in South Lake Tahoe, Station House Inn, is extending the same invitation to fire victims; guests are asked to contact the hotel directly to book.
Ryoken Suite at Gaige House in Glen Ellen. (Courtesy Gaige House)The Astro is a retro motel just south of downtown Santa Rosa. (The Astro)
The Astro, Santa Rosa
In 2018, the not-yet-opened Astro became a refuge for Sonoma County evacuees. Now, the property is providing 30% off to anyone affected by the Los Angeles wildfires.
Call the hotel directly and ask for the Southern California Fire Rate to book.
323 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-200-4655, theastro.com
Hotel Healdsburg, Harmon Guest House and h2hotel, Healdsburg
Piazza Hospitality is offering 30% off stays of three nights or more for wildfire victims. The discount is valid through March and applies to all three of its Healdsburg properties.
The Rooftop Bar at Harmon Guest House in Healdsburg. (Courtesy of Harmon Guest House)
Piazza’s Central Coast property, Hotel SLO in San Luis Obispo, is offering 25% off rooms and a $25 dining credit for fire victims. There is no minimum stay during the week; a two night minimum is required on weekends.
The Flamingo Resort & Spa and The Sandman, Santa Rosa
The Flamingo Resort and its sister property, The Sandman, are offering 20% off room rates through January as part of their “Find Refuge in Wine Country” specials. Reservations can be made online for The Flamingo and for The Sandman.
Farmhouse Inn, Forestville; MacArthur Place, Sonoma; and Hotel Les Mars, Healdsburg
All three of Foley Entertainment Group hotels in Sonoma County are offering 20% off the best available rate as well as waiving all daily resort fees on stays through April.
At Farmhouse Inn in Forestville. (Farmhouse Inn)
Additionally, guests of Farmhouse Inn receive a $50 credit at its Farmstand restaurant. At MacArthur Place, those displaced by the wildfires in Southern California receive a $50 spa credit. Those checking in at Hotel Les Mars receive a bottle of wine.
The booking code is CALLOVE; identification is required at check in. Reservations can be made online here for Farmhouse Inn, here for MacArthur Place and here for Hotel Les Mars.
Farmhouse Inn, 7871 River Road, Forestville, 800-464-6642, farmhouseinn.com; MacArthur Place, 29 E. MacArthur St., Sonoma, 707-938-2929, macarthurplace.com; Hotel Les Mars, 27 North St., Healdsburg, 707-433-4211, hotellesmars.com
Sister property Hotel Californian in Santa Barbara is offering a special rate of $349 plus taxes, a waived resort fee and waived pet fee to wildfire evacuees. Call the hotel directly to book.
Guests dig into a feast of crab and all the fixings during the 31st annual Russian River Rotary Crab Feed at Shone Farm, in Santa Rosa. (Alvin Jornada / The Press Democrat)
The long wait for local Dungeness crab is finally over as crab season begins in Sonoma County. To celebrate the crustaceous occasion, various local restaurants and organizations will host crab feeds and feasts from January through February.
Don your bibs and stretch your shell-cracking knuckles for a series of all-you-can-eat crab extravaganzas. In addition to all the buttery goodness, the proceeds for many of these feeds benefit local charities and nonprofits.
Dunham Elementary Crab Feed Dinner, Jan. 11
Dunham Elementary School will host a crab feed from 5:30–9:30 p.m., Jan. 11, at Hermann Sons Hall in Petaluma. The adults-only event, which benefits the programs of Dunham Elementary PTO, will include all-you-can-eat crab, pasta, bread and salad, as well as a silent auction. Tickets are $77 per person, or $565 for a table of eight that includes two bottles of wine and dessert. Purchase tickets online or at the school office (4111 Roblar Road).
Hermann Sons Hall, 860 Western Ave., Petaluma, 707-795-5050, dunhamsd.org
Forestville Chamber of Commerce Crab Feed, Jan. 18
The Forestville Chamber of Commerce will host its annual crab feed starting at 5 p.m., Jan. 18, at Holy Ghost Hall in Sebastopol. Dinner starts at 6 p.m. and includes crab, pasta, salad and bread. There will be a raffle and silent auction. Tickets are $70 per person. To purchase tickets, call 707-481-3565.
Holy Ghost Hall, 7960 Mill Station Road, Sebastopol, 707-481-3565, forestvillechamber.org
The Penngrove Social Firemen host a crab feed on Jan. 18, 2025. (Courtesy of Penngrove Social Firemen)
Penngrove Social Firemen, Jan. 18
The Penngrove Social Firemen will host its annual crab feed benefit on Jan. 18 at the Penngrove Community Clubhouse. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. with cocktails, followed by a dinner of crab, pasta, salad and bread at 6:30 p.m. Proceeds from the feed will support improvements to Penngrove Park and Clubhouse, along with other community benefits. Tickets are $75 per person. Purchase tickets on Eventbrite, at Odd Cookie Bakery (10000 Main St.) or at Twin Oaks Roadhouse (5745 Old Redwood Highway). Last day to purchase tickets is at 4 p.m. on Jan. 16.
Montgomery Education Foundation Crab Feed, Jan. 18
The Montgomery Education Foundation will host its annual crab feed from 5:30–9 p.m., Jan. 18, at the Friedman Events Center in Santa Rosa. The night of delicious crab is a fundraiser for Santa Rosa’s Montgomery High School to support grants, scholarships and facility improvements. General admission is $70 per person, to-go dinners are $45 per person and a VIP table is $600. Purchase tickets on Eventbrite.
Petaluma Riding and Driving Club Crab Feed, Jan. 25
The Petaluma Riding & Driving Club will host its annual crab feed, the club’s largest fundraiser, on Jan. 25. Takeout crab orders will be available from 3–5 p.m., doors open at 5 p.m. for the event and a seated dinner starts at 6 p.m. The dinner includes Dungeness crab, pasta, salad, French bread and homemade cookies. There will also be a silent auction and chair raffle. The all-you-can-eat dinner is $75 for members and $77 for nonmembers. Takeout dinners are $65 for members and $67 for nonmembers, and $20 for an extra crab per takeout meal. A wine corkage fee is $10. Purchase tickets online.
The Russian River Rotary will host its 38th annual crab feed, with a “We are the World” theme, from 4:30–8:30 p.m., Jan. 25, at the Friedman Event Center in Santa Rosa. Dinner will include all-you-can-eat crab, pasta, salad and a special dessert. There will be a silent auction, raffles, live music and games, as well as a live auction with Sen. Mike McGuire. The event benefits nonprofits in the Russian River area and scholarships for west county graduates. A sponsorship featuring VIP perks is available for $1,250. General admission is $110 per person. Purchase tickets online.
State Sen. McGuire keeps the live auction bidding lively at the 32nd annual Russian River Rotary Crab Feed at Shone Farm, in Forestville, on Jan. 26, 2019. McGuire will return for the Rotary’s 38th annual crab feed on Jan. 25, 2025, at the Friedman Event Center in Santa Rosa. (Will Bucquoy/for The Press Democrat)
Ursuline Alumnae Association Crab Feed, Jan. 25
The Ursuline Alumnae Association will host its 13th annual crab feed starting at 5:30 p.m., Jan. 25, at the Cardinal Newman High School gymnasium in Santa Rosa. Dinner includes all-you-can-eat crab, pasta, salad, French bread and dessert, plus a no-host bar. The event will include a raffle as well as live, silent and dessert auctions. Proceeds will benefit the Ursuline Alumnae Association scholarship fund. Tickets are $75 per person. Purchase tickets online.
Cardinal Newman High School, 4320 Old Redwood Highway, Santa Rosa, ursulinealumnaesr.org
Petaluma Woman’s Club Crab Feed, Jan. 31
The Petaluma Woman’s Club will host its annual crab feed from 6–9 p.m., Jan. 31, at the clubhouse. Dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. and includes local Dungeness crab, French bread, salad with homemade thousand island dressing and a “Better Than Sex Cake” for dessert. The feed benefits the club’s restoration fund to help restore a historic Petaluma building designed by Brainerd Jones. A live auction by local Leland Fishman starts at 7:45 p.m. Tickets are $85 per person. There’s also a “takeout for two” option for $120, with pickup from 3-5:30 p.m. Purchase tickets on Eventbrite.
The Healdsburg American Legion Sotoyome Post 111 will host a crab feed Feb. 1. A no-host bar starts at 3 p.m. and a crab dinner will be served from 4–7 p.m. Dinner includes all-you-can-eat cracked crab, salad, garlic bread, beer and wine. The crab feed benefits local youth programs, college scholarships and the organization’s advocacy for veterans. Tickets are $95. To purchase tickets and make donations, email hanshenneberque@gmail.com or call Hans Henneberque at 707-849-6042.
The Sonoma County Farm Bureau will host its 35th annual Great Sonoma Crab and Wine Fest starting at 4 p.m., Feb. 1, at the Sonoma County Event Center at the Fairgrounds. Reception and silent auction starts at 4 p.m. in the Hall of Flowers. Dinner and a live auction starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Grace Pavilion. Proceeds from the event support the Farm Bureau’s agricultural education programs. Tickets are $165 per person. Sponsorships featuring a number of VIP perks are also available, from $1,650–$10,000. Purchase tickets online.
Sonoma County Event Center at the Fairgrounds, 1450 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa, 707-544-5575, sonomafb.org
Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay & Crab Feast, Feb. 1
Kendall-Jackson Wines will host its 20th annual Chardonnay and Crab Feast from 5–8 p.m., Feb. 1, at the winery. Dinner will include appetizers, Dungeness crab and family-style side dishes such as Caesar salad, charred broccolini, roasted potatoes and focaccia. The 21 and over event will feature estate Chardonnay. Tickets are $175 per person and $140 for wine club members. Purchase tickets on Tock.
5007 Fulton Road, Santa Rosa, 707-571-8100, kj.com
Hanna Academy Crab Feed, Feb. 1
Sonoma’s Hanna Academy will host its inaugural crab feed from 5–9 p.m., Feb. 1, in the Hanna Center Auditorium. The all-you-can eat crab dinner includes specialty drinks and desserts. There will also be live music from bluegrass band Mission Blue. Proceeds support the students of the special education nonpublic high school. General admission tickets are $85 and VIP tickets are $125. Sponsorships are also available, from $500–$5,000. Purchase tickets on Eventbrite.
The 62nd annual Forestry Crab Feed — a benefit for the employees of The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection — will be held from 5–10 p.m., Feb. 1, at Holy Ghost Hall in Sebastopol. Dinner will include all-you-can-eat crab cioppino, marinated crab, shrimp salad, garlic bread and wine. There will be a raffle, silent auction and live DJ music. Tickets are $75 per person. Purchase tickets online.
The Piner Athletic Hall of Fame will host its 17th annual crab feed starting at 5 p.m., Feb. 1, at the Friedman Event Center in Santa Rosa. Dinner starts at 7 p.m. and includes appetizers, salad, sourdough bread, crab and pasta. There will be a no-host bar, raffle, silent auction and dessert auction. As Piner’s biggest fundraiser, proceeds benefit the school’s educational needs as well as its planetarium and observatory. Tickets are $65 per person. Purchase tickets at any Oliver’s Market locations or order by calling Joan Fleck at 707-888-3995 or via a form mailed (with payment) to the Piner Athletic Hall of Fame at P.O. Box 12284, Santa Rosa, CA, 95406.
Rancho Adobe Firefighters Association Crab Feed, Feb. 1
The Rancho Adobe Firefighters will host its annual crab feed starting at 6 p.m., Feb. 1, at the Penngrove Clubhouse. The event will include all-you-can-eat crab, a raffle, live entertainment and a chance to meet local firefighters. Tickets are $75 per person. Purchase tickets at the Penngrove fire station at 11000 Main St., Penngrove.
The Puma Athletic Boosters Club will host its annual crab feed benefiting Maria Carrillo High School athletics programs starting at 5 p.m., Feb. 8, at the Friedman Event Center in Santa Rosa. Enjoy a crab dinner with all the fixings and bid on items in the silent and live auctions. The event is 21 and over only. Tickets are $90 per person. Purchase tickets online.
Friedman Center, 4676 Mayette Ave., Santa Rosa, mchspab.org
Rotary Club of Rohnert Park-Cotati Crab Feed and Seafood Festival, Feb. 8
The Rotary Club of Rohnert Park-Cotati will host its sixth annual Crab Feed and Seafood Festival starting at 5 p.m., Feb. 8, at Sally Tomatoes Event Center in Rohnert Park. Dinner will include cracked Dungeness crab, New England-style clam chowder, Bay Shrimp Louie salad and garlic bread. There will be raffles as well as live, silent and dessert auctions. Early bird tickets are $90 per person until Jan. 14 and $100 per person starting Jan. 15. Purchase tickets online.
Sally Tomatoes Event Center, 100 Valley House Drive, Rohnert Park, rotaryrpc.org
Pacific Empire Chorus Crab Feed, Feb. 8
Petaluma’s Pacific Empire Chorus will host a crab feed from 5–9 p.m., Feb. 8, at the Petaluma Veterans Building. The event includes all-you-can-eat crab, pasta, salad, French bread and dessert, as well as wine and Lagunitas beer. There will be auctions and a live a cappella show. Tickets are $80 for adults, $30 for children 10 and under, and $780 for a captain’s table for eight. Purchase tickets online.
Over 500 people attend the Fat Tire Club Crab Feed benefit for Becoming Independent at the Veterans Hall in Santa Rosa, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Becoming Independent will host a crab feed this year from 5–9 p.m., Feb. 8. (Will Bucquoy/For The Press Democrat)
Becoming Independent Crab Feed, Feb. 8
Nonprofit Becoming Independent will host a crab feed to support its programs and resources from 5–9 p.m., Feb. 8. The evening will include a crab feast, drinks, raffles, and live music and performances. Tickets are $75 per person. Purchase tickets online.
Kenwood Firefighters Association Crab Feed, Feb. 8
The Kenwood Firefighters Association will host its 15th annual crab feed with three seatings on Feb. 8 at the firehouse. Tickets are $85 per person and are on sale at the Fire Station. Call for more information.
The Rotary Club of Sebastopol will host its annual crab feed with seatings at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Feb. 15, at Holy Ghost Hall in Sebastopol. A four-course meal will include crab, salad, clam chowder and dessert. The event will feature live music, raffles and a no-host bar. Proceeds support the rotary’s Mark Sell Teacher Grant Program. Tickets are $85 per person. Purchase tickets online.
The Rohnert Park Chamber of Commerce will host its annual ‘Hot’ Crab Feed Fundraiser from 5–9 p.m., Feb. 15, at the Rohnert Park Community Center. Dinner will include all-you-can-eat crab, bread, salad and Mary’s Pizza Shack pasta, plus dessert and a no-host bar. There will be games and raffle prizes. Tickets are $80 presale and $90 after Jan. 17. VIP sponsorships are available, from $900–$1,100. Last day to purchase tickets is Feb. 7. Purchase tickets online.
Rohnert Park Community Center, 5401 Synder Lane, Rohnert Park, 707-584-1415, rohnertparkchamber.org
Bodega Bay Grange Crab Cioppino, Feb. 16
The Bodega Bay Grange will host its 2025 Crab Cioppino from noon to 5:30 p.m., Feb. 16, at Bodega Bay Grange Hall. Dinner includes all-you-can-eat crab cioppino, cold marinated crab, green salad, garlic bread, ice cream and cookies. You can bring your own wine or beer, and soda will be sold on site. Proceeds support the Bodega Bay Grange, including scholarships for local students. Seatings are at noon, 1:45 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $85 per person. Purchase tickets on Eventbrite.
Bodega Bay Grange Hall, 1370 Bodega Ave., Bodega Bay, 707-875-3616, bodegabaygrange.org
Rotary Club of Petaluma Crab Feed, Feb. 21
The Petaluma Rotary Club will host a crab feed with a no-host bar from 5:30–9:30 p.m., Feb. 21, at the Petaluma Veterans Building. The dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. and includes crab, salad, pasta, rolls and dessert. There will be a live auction at 8 p.m. to benefit Petaluma Valley Hospital’s Orthopedic Center. General admission is $100. Purchase tickets on Eventbrite.
The local Chapter 48 of Disabled American Veterans will host its fourth annual crab feed fundraiser from 3:30–9:30 p.m., Feb. 22, at the Veterans Memorial Building in Santa Rosa. An all-you-can-eat dinner includes Dungeness crab, salad, pasta, bread, dessert and drinks. There will be live music, raffles and a silent auction. Early-bird ticket holders can check in at 3:30 p.m. and general admission ticket holders can check in by 4:30 p.m. Proceeds will provide free rides for Sonoma County veterans to and from VA medical appointments. For more information and to purchase tickets, call 707-595-0324 or email DAV48Phone@gmail.com.
Veterans Memorial Building, 1351 Maple Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-595-0324, dav48sonoma.org
Sebastopol Masons Crab Feed, Feb. 22
The Sebastopol Masonic Lodge will host its benefit all-you-can-eat crab feed from 5–8:30 p.m., Feb. 22, at the Masonic Center. Family-style dinner will include crab, salad, pasta and garlic bread, and refreshments and desserts will be available for purchase. There will be two seatings, at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., as well as a takeout option. Tickets are $75 for adults and $37 for children 7 to 12 years old; children under 7 can attend free. Purchase tickets online.
The Valley of the Moon Lions Club will host its 47th annual crab feed fundraiser from 5–9 p.m., Feb. 22, at the Veterans Hall in Sonoma. Dinner includes crab, shrimp salad, pasta, bread and homemade cookies. A no-host bar will also be available, featuring wine, beer, mixed drinks and nonalcoholic refreshments. There will be a silent auction and raffle, and 100% of profits from the event will benefit local nonprofits and Lions International. Tickets are $95 per person. Purchase tickets online.
Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery will host its 18th annual crab dinner from 5:30–9 p.m., Feb. 22, at the winery’s barrel room. Winemaker Brent McKoy and the winery team will craft a feast paired with limited releases of Gary Farrell Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Tickets are $300 per person and $275 for club members.
The Sonoma County Democratic Party will host its 37th annual crab feed from 5:30–9 p.m., Feb. 28, at Graton Resort and Casino in Rohnert Park. Dinner starts at 7 p.m. and includes crab, pasta and salad. There will be a silent auction and a special guest (to be announced). Tickets are $80 per person, and sponsorships are available from $250–$3,000. Purchase tickets online.
Graton Resort and Casino, 288 Golf Course Drive W., Rohnert Park, 707-575-3029, sonomademocrats.org
Active 20-30 Club Crab Feed, March 1
The Active 20-30 Club of the Redwood Empire #1029 will host its 22nd annual crab feed benefiting kids from 5–10 p.m., March 1, at the Friedman Events Center in Santa Rosa. The 21-and-over event will include all-you-can-eat crab, cocktails, a silent auction and dessert auction. Proceeds benefit programs for local, disadvantaged youth. General admission is $95 and ticket sales end Feb. 18. Sponsorship opportunities are available, from $1,000–$2,000. Purchase tickets on Eventbrite.
Land + Local owner Kim LaVere mixes a Blood Orange Venetian using her Blood Orange and Fennel seasonal syrup with a dash of nonalcoholic bitters, an offering for designated drivers at Merriam Vineyards Monday, April 29, 2024, in Healdsburg. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
If you’d like to take a break from drinking, but not from your social life, Sonoma County’s bar and restaurant scene has plenty of alcohol-free options. And we’re not just talking tonic water.
The growing popularity of zero proof spirits have been a game-changer for mixologists, giving mocktails all the flavor and complexity of their signature cocktails, minus the alcohol. The rise in sober and sober-curious drinkers has driven demand for creative, food-friendly sippers made with vinegar shrubs, herbs, fruit juices, bitters and syrups.
We’ve lined up some favorite Sonoma County bars that serve up fabulous mocktails and nonalcoholic beverages for Dry January observers and anyone else eager for a break from booze.
Fern Bar in Sebastopol serves the “Euphoria,” a fruit forward nonalcoholic gin “free-spirited cocktail.” (Courtesy of Fern Bar)
Fern Bar, Sebastopol
At Fern Bar, “free spirited” beverages are given spotlight treatment on the cocktail list rather than being pushed down to the bottom of the menu. And there’s no shortage of creativity — the mocktails include top shelf spirit alternative with housemade shrubs and syrups made with seasonal fruits and spices.
Mocktail Faves: Try the ruby-toned Euphoria, made with nonalcoholic gin, hibiscus, jasmine, goji berry, schisandra berry and prickly pear or the Free Spirits Margarita with zero-alcohol tequila, lime, agave and a vitamin B boost. 6780 Depot St., Suite 120, Sebastopol, 707-861-9603, fernbar.com
Three mocktails at Stark’s Steak & Seafood (Photo: Loren Hansen)
Stark’s Steak & Seafood, Santa Rosa
Stark’s is the go-to place for classic cocktails and giant steak, and a happy-hour hot-spot, but your visit doesn’t have to be booze-infused.
Mocktail Faves: The Fig-It-Out features black mission fig and allspice simple syrup, while the Piña Coolada has caramelized pineapple, coconut, lime and orange. Want something more old-school? Ask the bartender for a nonalcoholic version of your favorite cocktail or go for a bitter and soda — the bar offers housemade bitters. Railroad Square, 521 Adams St., Santa Rosa, 707-546-5100, starkrestaurants.com
A mix of cocktails and mocktails with a view at Perch and Plow in downtown Santa Rosa. (Perch + Plow)
Perch + Plow, Santa Rosa
Perch + Plow is serves up “boozy magic” cocktails, but the restaurant’s cocktail program also includes several standard mocktails and nonalcoholic creations made on request.
Mocktail Faves: The Strawberry Mint Smash is a refreshing blend of strawberry puree, mint syrup, lime juice and club soda. The Spicy Peach Pit — with peach puree, lime juice, habanero syrup and pepper garnish — offers a sweet-spicy kick. Try their mocktail flight for a sampling of several drinks. 90 Old Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa, 707-843-3582, perchandplow.com
Mocktails from Bravas Bar de Tapas in Healdsburg. (Loren Hansen)
Bravas Bar de Tapas, Healdsburg
Bravas is a Healdsburg favorite for tapas and paella on the back patio. Their Spanish-influenced food is great with flavor-packed, seasonal mocktails.
Mocktail Faves: The Warm Apple Cider — cider infused with cinnamon, clove and orange — is perfect for the cold weather. While the Pomegranate Fizz and Blood Orangina make use of seasonal winter fruits, combined with soda for those classic bubbles. 420 Center St., Healdsburg, 707-433-7700, starkrestaurants.com
Lo & Behold, Healdsburg
Owners Laura Heffernon and Laura Sanfilippo are known for their cocktail-making magic — and that extends to alcohol-free drinks as well.
Mocktail Faves: For a tropical treat, try the Caribbean Queen, made with coconut, lime, orange and passion fruit. The Guava-Cucumber Cooler is super refreshing, while the Fruity Rumba — with kiwi, strawberry, lime and seltzer — is what La Croix dreams it could be. 214 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-756-5021, loandbeholdca.com
Lazeaway Club at The Flamingo
The lounge vibes are strong at this beachy-themed restaurant inside the Flamingo Resort. Naturally, they’ve got some tasty booze-free cocktails that make you feel like you’re on vacation.
Mocktail Faves: The Pier Pressure is an exotic trip to Thailand with this concoction of Thai tea, honey, lime and a piña colada float or the Donald Palmer with roobios tea, guava, lime and Thai basil. 2777 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-545-8530, lazeawayclub.com
Jackson’s Bar and Oven
Having one of the most popular happy hours in Santa Rosa, Jackson’s knows what they’re doing behind the bar. The craft cocktails are great, but the innovative mocktails shouldn’t be overlooked.
Mocktail Faves: The Bad Girls Club is fun and delicious, made with passion fruit, coconut, lime and sparkling water. But the Flavor of Love is a cutesy standout — lemon, ice tea and prickly pear with a pink salt rim. It feels like a leveled-up Arnold Palmer, without the dull association to golf. 135 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-545-6900, jacksonsbarandoven.com
Honorable mentions
Palooza Brewery & Gastropub
Among its impressive list on beers, wines and cocktails, Palooza offers a crisp and delicious mocktail. The Garden Gimlet has muddled cucumber, garden Seedlip, lime juice and elderflower syrup. 8910 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood, 707-833-4000, paloozafresh.com
Maci Martell, Heather Irwin and Sarah Steirch contributed to this article.
Clockwise from top left, Hogwarts Express, Pep in Your Step, The Bird, Living on the Veg and the Pretty Fly for a Fungi pizza from Slow Co. Pizza, Dec. 20, 2024, in Cotati. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
For twelve delicious days, from Jan. 8-19, more than 30 regional pizzerias and restaurants in Sonoma, Napa and Marin counties will participate in the inaugural North Bay Pizza Week.
Special pizzas will be available from some of Sonoma County’s top pizza-slingers (and my personal favorites) including Gabacool Provisions, Diavola Pizzeria & Salumeria, L’Oro di Napoli, PizzaLeah, Psychic Pie, Slow Co. Pizza, Sonoma Pizza Co. and The Red Grape.
Slow Co. Pizza offers a simple healthy menu with salads and seasonal veggies with a selection of beers and wine, Dec. 20, 2024, in Cotati. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)Leah Scurto, co-owner and executive pizza maker, at PizzaLeah in Windsor, on Wednesday, May 27, 2020. PizzaLeah will participate in the inaugural North Bay Pizza Week. (Beth Schlanker)
Leah Scurto, owner of PizzaLeah, has created a special Pinot Pizza with Instagrammer @nochillmustafa for the event, with proceeds supporting the nonprofit Farm to Pantry.
Find more details and a complete list of participating pizza purveyors at northbaypizzaweek.com.
Sonoma County jazz singer Stella Heath. (Courtesy of Stella Heath)
When Marcus Shelby became artistic director of Healdsburg Jazz five years ago, he hoped it could become a year-round endeavor. “The only problem was the pandemic,” says Shelby, who is also the leader of the renowned Marcus Shelby Orchestra. The pandemic delay gave Shelby time to plan and develop new programs — and this February, after 25 successful years of summer concerts, Shelby and his team will debut a new four-day Winter Fest.
“It’s an opportunity to produce some concerts; have some education presence; bring in some national, international, local, up-and-coming and legendary artists; and really celebrate this art form in the middle of winter in one of the most beautiful places in the world,” says Shelby.
Winter Fest launches Jan. 30 at downtown Healdsburg’s Paul Mahder Gallery with Venezuelan pianist and composer Edward Simon, whom Shelby calls one of the great pianists of our era. Singer Paula West’s quartet takes the stage at Spoonbar for two shows Jan. 31. “She has a wide repertoire of songs that speak to liberation and justice,” says Shelby. And Feb. 1, versatile vocalist Stella Heath performs the music of Ella Fitzgerald in an afternoon show that also features stories from the life of the jazz legend. Heath is also the education coordinator for Healdsburg Jazz.
Sonoma County jazz singer Stella Heath will perform the music of Ella Fitzgerald Feb. 1. (Courtesy of Stella Heath)Vocalist Tiffany Austin will perform at The Harlem of the West Jazz Party Feb. 1. (Victoria Webb/For The Argus-Courier)
The Harlem of the West Jazz Party Feb. 1 is a highlight of Winter Fest, featuring vocalist Tiffany Austin, vibraphone player and bandleader Sasha Berliner, pianist Darrell Grant, and baritone vocalist Jamie Davis of the Count Basie Orchestra, among others.
“They’ll form little groups — it’s not like they’re bringing their own groups,” explains Shelby. “It’s like an all-star game where people are really well known.”
Held at The 222 in the Paul Mahder Gallery, the four-hour Saturday night event will also feature the spoken word poetry of Healdsburg Jazz poet laureate Enid Pickett, writer Lewis Watts, and an exhibit of photographs of San Francisco’s Fillmore District, which was known for a thriving jazz club scene in the 1960s, earning it the nickname “Harlem of the West.”
(The district hosts its own jazz festival each June.)
The Harlem of the West Jazz Party, on Feb. 1, will feature the spoken word poetry of Healdsburg Jazz poet laureate Enid Pickett. (Christopher Chung/The Press Democrat)Pianist Jason Moran, artistic director of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., performs Feb. 2. (Clay Patrick McBride/Courtesy Healdsburg Winter Jazz Festival)
Pianist and composer Jason Moran, a 2010 MacArthur Fellow and the artistic director of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., headlines a solo concert featuring the music of Duke Ellington as the festival concludes Sunday, Feb. 2.
Shelby calls Moran an incredible composer and one of the leading thinkers in jazz today. “It’s pretty special for us … to have Jason Moran out here,” says Shelby.
The festival is timed to coincide with the start of Black History Month. “Historically, it’s a slow part of the year up in Healdsburg,” says Shelby, “so it was a good time to kick off our Black History Month program.”
Healdsburg Jazz Winter Fest, Jan. 30-Feb. 2 at locations around Healdsburg. Individual event tickets from $40. healdsburgjazz.org
