The Laguna de Santa Rosa drains a 254-square-mile watershed and is the largest freshwater complex on the Northern California coast. This world heritage site is known for its biodiversity, but delivers reliably beautiful sunsets due to the flatness of the land. Walking trails are available to provide a view of the close of the day, but the lagoon itself reflect mirrors the vibrancy of the sky on any given evening. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)
Looking for some bright ideas to lighten up your friends’ and followers’ social media feeds? A particular subset of photographers (both amateur and professional) might have just the inspiration you need: it comes in the form of radiant sunsets.
Dubbed “sunset hunters” by Urban Dictionary, these phone-photography pros seek out the best time of day to shoot and share images of the setting sun – on as many platforms as possible. As 189.2 million Instagram posts under the hashtag “sunset” can confirm: photos of incoming twilight are appealing to the masses.
From cotton candy colors to bright, fiery hues, this miracle of nature is (almost) impossible to take a bad picture of.
But what makes for a spectacular sunset shot? Is it an uninterrupted, larger-than-life sunset sky? Is it a coastal nightfall scene, the last light of day emanating from the ocean’s edge? Or is it perhaps a sylvan setting; a descending sun painting vineyards valleys and rolling hills orange and red from behind a distant mountain? That may be impossible to determine. But now’s the time to experiment: autumn and winter sunsets are the most vivid of the year.
Just like the color of the daytime sky, the shade of the sunset is determined by the reflection or refraction of sunlight by small particles in the atmosphere, a process called “scattering.” Light with a shorter wavelength – like blue and purple – is scattered most, which is why we see a blue sky most of the time and especially at noon, when the sun is directly overhead.
At sunset, however, the light from the sun takes a longer path through the atmosphere than during the middle of the day. By the time the light reaches your eye, the blues have already been scattered out, allowing longer wavelength light – like orange and red – to make an appearance.
As the days shorten, wind patterns allow for drier and cleaner air which makes for more brilliant coloration than the sunset-muting summer haze. This is why the approaching autumn and winter seasons are prime for sunset-hunting.
In Sonoma County, we enjoy another sunset-watching perk: there are fewer light-scattering dust and pollution particles in the air than in more populous cities. In other words, there are extra colorful sunsets to capture.
If your expectations are now sky-high, the brightest idea may be to start your sunset-hunting career by selecting one or two sunset spots from the above gallery. This way, you avoid the risk of sun setbacks in your Instagram game. Good luck, and may all your photos be brightly-hued and beautiful.
(Finally, if you enjoy getting spaced out by science, consider this: seeing sunsets is a subjective experience. Since our eyes are only sensitive to a fraction of the full spectrum of the sun’s wavelengths, we can only actually perceive certain parts of it. And so, when it comes to sunsets and light, there really is more than what meets the eye… or the lens.)
After a long week, sometimes a quick getaway is the best gift you can give yourself. Wine Country has seemingly countless escape options, but recent renovations at Carneros Resort and Spa might be the inspiration needed to get a relaxing staycation on the calendar.
Set on 28-acres in the Carneros region, just across the county border between Sonoma and Napa, the majority of the resort’s accommodations are cottages, making it feel more like a neighborhood (with amazing yards) than a hotel. The resort is currently finishing a multi-million dollar, full renovation of the cottages that includes new bathrooms, lighting and furniture, as well as new tech features like Bluetooth speakers, HD televisions and upgraded Wi-Fi. The long list of amenities also includes fireplaces, indoor-outdoor showers, heated bathroom floors, and private outdoor spaces.
It’d be easy to sleep in and never leave your room, but getting out and about is highly encouraged, and often comes with a view.
The adult-only Hilltop Pool, arguably one of the most photogenic hotel pools in Wine Country, is located steps away from the Spa at Carneros. Fresh off of its own $3.5 million renovation, the spa recently reopened, boasting a new menu of treatments (everything from massages and facials to body wraps) and state of the art technology like zero gravity spa pedicure chairs and an infrared sauna. The nearly 6-thousand square-foot space is light and airy, thanks to high ceilings and plenty of windows. In addition to nine new treatment rooms, the co-ed relaxation area has expanded, offering cozy sitting spots, both indoor and out.
The Hilltop Dining Room, located next to the spa, serves up a selection of light and healthy dishes that can also be enjoyed poolside. For something fun and a bit different at dinner, it’s worth checking in at onsite FARM restaurant to see what’s currently being featured on its single ingredient tasting menu. Every two weeks the ingredient changes. The recent “Tasting of Summer Corn” featured the likes of Brentwood Sweet Corn Custard, Ricotta Gnocchi with corn puree, and a blueberry tart with sweet corn gelato. 4048 Sonoma Highway, Napa,707-299-4900, carnerosresort.com
Nearby Spots You Won’t Want to Miss this Summer
If you can actually peel yourself off of those poolside lounge chairs, there are a number of other fun spots worth checking out in the neighborhood.
If you’re in the mood for bubbles, Domaine Carneros offers daily tours, tastings and food pairings. Reservations are required but can be booked day of, depending on availability. 1240 Duhig Road, Napa, 800.716.BRUT.
Thanks to a new “No Reservations” policy, drop in visitors are now welcome at the di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art. Located on 217-acres, di Rosa boasts multiple galleries, a sculpture park, and a 35-acre lake. Advance tickets are still recommended for those who wish to take part in a guided tour. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm. 5200 Sonoma Highway, Napa, 707-226-5991.
Cornerstone Sonoma is home to nine Cornerstone Gardens, as well as the test gardens for Sunset magazine. There’s also a café, distillery, and a handful of tasting rooms and boutique shops. The gardens are open daily from 10am to 4pm. Businesses are open daily from 10am to 5pm. 23570 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, 707-933-3010.
Coming soon..
The Village is getting ready to swing open its doors any day now. In addition to nine tasting rooms, (eight wineries and a brewery) there’s a gourmet grocery, The Village Food & Wine Center, and Vista Collina Resort. 850 Bordeaux Way, Napa, 707-251-3067.
Suzanne Hagins pours a glass of Hops and Honey hard cider at Horse and Plow winery in Sebastopol, California on Wednesday, July 27, 2016. (Alvin Jornada / The Press Democrat)
Things kick off at Sebastopol’s Horse & Plow Cidery with a new cider release, food and live music on August 3, followed by the legendary Txotx Spanish Cider Party at Tilted Shed Ciderworks in Windsor. On August 5, Backyard restaurant hosts a pig roast with flamenco music and a tour of Tilted Shed’s orchard. On August 8, Ethic Ciders’ Ned Lawton hosts a tour of his Apple Bottom Farm, sharing strategies for organic and regenerative orchard management.
Agrestic Cider and Leaky Barrel Cider will release a collaboration cider to benefit fire recovery at Barley & Bine Cafe in Windsor. But wait, there’s more…Handline hosts small plates and ciders benefiting the Just & Resilient Futures Fund on Thursday, from 4 to 7p.m., and Spinster Sisters hosts a pairing of Tilted Shed Ciderworks with small plates or dinner on Saturday. Find out more about all of the events at SonomaCountyCiderWeek.com.
Everything is Awesome: Oliver’s Market—Cotati, Windsor and Santa Rosa
Local, independent and employee owned. A cheese case that should win a public service award. An in-house taqueria with tasty affordable burritos able to sustain a college student for a year, or four. An impressive deli counter, hot food bar and bakery featuring all the regular favorites as well as a few surprises (from petit fours to teriyaki meatballs). These are some of the many reasons to love Oliver’s.
A few more: a wine and distilled liquor section stocked with local finds and import. Raw local honey from Santa Rosa’s Gipson Golden, for just $6.99/pound. A variety of bulk foods in enormous supply (we’re talking the length of a wall), as well as herbs and other wellness products: skincare, essentials oils, vitamins and more. In short, a perfect blend of regular grocery items and the obscure, extremely local and supremely artisanal – if you can’t find it at Oliver’s, it’s probably not that cool.
Oliver’s Market, 546 East Cotati Ave, Cotati, 707-795-9501, 560 Montecito Center, Santa Rosa, 707-537-7123, 461 Stony Point Rd, Santa Rosa, 707-284-3530, 9230 Old Redwood Highway, Windsor, 707-687-2050, oliversmarket.com
Pantry Prizes: Oakville Grocery Store—Healdsburg
Oakville Grocery Co. is the longest running grocery store in the area – their Napa store dates back to 1881. Among other things, we come here for the pantry superstars, including some of the tastiest preserved foods we’ve ever tried: sumptuous sauces from Petaluma’s Preserve Farm, roasted tomato bruschetta sauce from Oakville Grocery’s own label, infused mustards, olive oils, rubs, relishes and more.
For a quick bite to round out your shopping excursion, there’s a deli section and pizza oven. According to Oakville Grocery’s Facebook page, their wine manager, Susan Straight, is an expert wine writer and wine judge, “but never a wine snob,” who loves helping customers find the perfect bottle.
Oakville Grocery, 124 W Matheson St, Healdsburg, 707-433-3200, oakvillegrocery.com
Sweet Spot: Sonoma’s Best—Sonoma
On the east side of Sonoma, just past the historic square, you’ll find Sonoma’s Best – a “modern mercantile” established in 2010. This cafe-deli-wine-gift shop is definitely the place to go for stocking up on all things Sonoma, and some quaintness. The wine shop sells local wines as well as bottles from around the world. Customers can easily navigate the selection: one whole shelf is devoted to Sonoma, there’s another for $10-and-under bottles, and then there’s the wine bar for tasting, information and conversation.
The cafe features coffees, baked goods (like fun and tasty house-made peanut butter and jelly cookies) and a bar for noshing on sandwiches while gazing out the window. Deli foods are sold in the adjoining room. Additional eating areas (one inside and one out on the back patio) give guests the green light to stay a while to enjoy the setting. The gift shop is stocked with goods that are practical, whimsical and for the foodie-minded. The collection of cheeses, preserves and other foods represent the home team (Sonoma), but also reveal an appreciation for tastes beyond the region.
Sonoma’s Best, 1190 E Napa St, Sonoma, 707-996-7600, sonomas-best.com
Big Little Grocer: Penngrove Market—Penngrove
“She may be little but she is fierce,” is said of the diminutive spurned lover, Hermia, in a Midsummer Night’s Dream. The same could be said of the all-local, small-scale produce case at Penngrove Market, all of which is as pretty as food can be, fairly priced, and stocked for most of your needs.
Dinner puzzles can be solved easily and breezily in this airy space, that stocks minimally but smartly. Some ordinary staples are available here, too, making for even greater one-stop-shopping possibilities. (If you want everything in the world, of course there’s plenty a big box elsewhere – but if you’d like a small selection of good things, this seems like a dream destination.)
A stylish, rustic setting make this new grocery store a good spot to enjoy a cappuccino and croissant (from the cafe) and there’s artisan pizza, too (because grocery shopping is a chore in serious need of an enjoyment upgrade). Meats and wines are well stocked, but not overwhelmingly so. Local is the through-line, like Yanni’s sausages made right in Penngrove. The floral arrangements for sale could turn your table top into solid proof that you are a home design genius. No bulbous displays of mums, carnations and sweetly-stinky lilies – instead, think succulents and thistle, arranged in graphic shapes that are both wild-looking and executed to T.
Penngrove Market, 10070 Main St, Penngrove, 707-753-4974, penngrovemarket.com
Interior of Duke’s Spirited Cocktails in Healdsburg. Courtesy photo.
Indira gin from local microdistillery Sipsong Spirits has become a favorite of local bartenders who are using it for a bevy of summer cocktails.
But what’s got us feverish for this beauty is drinking it on the rocks and appreciating the wild blend of botanicals that fairly leap out of the glass. Italian juniper, orange, bay, lavender, lime, cumin, and coriander are among the flavors of this grape-based spirit made by Tara Jasper in tiny batches at Sonoma Brothers distillery.
She describes the gin and the name of the company as “Distilling the Moment” — a moment we’re happy to experience repeatedly.
You can find it at Perch and Plow in Santa Rosa; Valette,Duke’s, and Barndiva in Healdsburg, Wishbone in Petaluma and many other top cocktail spots in Sonoma County and bottles are available at Big John’s market in Healdsburg, Oliver’s Markets, Bottle Barn and Wilibees, sipsongspirits.com.
The dwindling bee population is bad news for the health of the planet. The good news is there are measures to combat this problem, and more people are engaging in these efforts. If you’d like to help save the bees, here are a few items to buy in Sonoma County. Click through the above gallery for more information.
It’s Back-to-School time, which for many families means a trip to the nearby mall. We’ve lined up a few trends here in Sonoma County, so you can window shop from your computer before you hit the store with spend-happy kids in tow. Click through the above gallery for details.
Beignets at Tips Roadside in Kenwood. Heather Irwin/PD
It’s barely 5:30 p.m., and Chef Thaddeus Palmese has a line of orders almost 3 feet long coming into his kitchen. Five line cooks listen over the din of clanking pans and the chatter of the dining room, answering his every order with, “Yes, chef!”
Chef Thaddeus Palmese expedites service at Tips Roadshouse in Kenwood. Heather Irwin, PD
Sitting at the counter, watching the complicated dance happening just feet away, is both fascinating and slightly stressful. Flames leap into the air, knives are chopping, sizzling pans come within inches of arms. Inevitably someone gets burned, a dish doesn’t pass muster with Palmese and another gets sent back to be re-plated.
Welcome to Tips Roadside, where one of Sonoma County’s favorite chefs is finally getting a chance to come out from behind the food trucks — The Tri TipTrolley — that he’s been inside for the past five years, quietly honing his menus while serving the simple tri-tip-centric bowls of owner Andrew and Susie Pryfogle’s popular red trolley mobile kitchens.
Thicker than water cocktail at Tips Roadside in Kenwood. Heather Irwin/PD
“The ad said they wanted a kick-ass chef,” said Palmese, as to why someone with classic chef training and the former chef of Starlight Diner in Sebastopol would work on a food truck. But its been a fun ride for Palmese, who’s now ready to reintroduce his version of Southern dining, with everything from creamy grits and Hoppin’ John Salad to fried chicken and beignets.
Located in the former Vineyards Inn in Kenwood, the restaurant has been gutted, overhauled and reborn as a clean, bright and modern roadhouse with two large dining rooms, a full bar and eventually, an outdoor patio. It’s been a long revamp for the team, who started reconstruction before the 2017 fires. In the first days of the fires, the Tri Tip Trolley team drove their trucks into fire zones to help feed first responders. Much of the art on the restaurant walls pays homage to the harrowing weeks during and after the fires, which affected many parts of the Sonoma Valley.
Grilled steelhead salad with chilled soft boiled egg, haricot vert, olives, frisee, mizuna, smoked tomato, meyer vinaigrette, tempura meyer lemon at Tips Roadside in Kenwood. Heather Irwin/PD
Now that they’re up and running, however, the restaurant has been flooded with guests — from early diners from Oakmont and nearby wine tasters to later waves of locals and tourists. There’s every indication that, like nearby Salt and Stone and Palooza, the newcomers are already becoming part of the fabric of Highway 12.
With an extra dose of Southern flavor, we’re confident they’ll be serving up Wine Country comfort food for a long time to come.
Best bets
Tri-Tip Bites with chpotle, creamy horseradish and garlic aioli at Tips Roadside in Kenwood. Heather Irwin/PD
Tri-Tip Bites, $14: Harkening back to their food truck start, these straight-up nuggets of flavorful beef were relatively unknown outside California until a few years ago. Inexpensive, but delicious, they’re even better with chipotle, horseradish and garlic aioli dipping sauces.
Grilled Steelhead Salad, $15: Palmese calls this his “Nicoise, Sort Of” Salad. Like the French salad of tuna, eggs, green beans, frisee and olives, it’s a kitchen-sink sort of dish, but becomes more intentional with the use of steelhead salmon, smoked tomatoes and Meyer lemon vinaigrette. The tempura-fried lemon slice is an added component that’s as tasty as it is pretty.
Hoppin John salad with a slab of housemade bacon at Tips Roadside in Kenwood. Heather Irwin/PD
Slab of House Bacon with Hoppin John Salad, $13: It’s hard to get more traditional than this Southern comfort dish of bacon, rice and black-eyed peas. Palmese deconstructs it, placing a thick slab of homestyle bacon and beans dressed with a mustard vinaigrette, pickled squash and red peppers. Puffed rice adds a bit of crunch.
True Grits, $15: This is the do-not-miss dish, whether or not you think you like grits. Because you haven’t had grits until you give yourself over to these fluffy, cheesy, buttery ground corn kernels that would make any Southerner homesick. Unlike polenta, grits are made with white corn, and have a softer, less coarse texture — which in less adept hands is a lot like Cream of Wheat. Infused with flavor, the addition of smoked mushrooms are a revelation, topped by bright spring peas, pea tendrils and Gouda cheese.
Fried chicken with mashed Yukons, peas and carrots at Tips Roadside in Kenwood. Heather Irwin/PD
Night Market Fried Chicken, $17: A gluten-free crust takes this version out of the realm of Old School cast-iron fried chicken, but with a softer, lighter crust that doesn’t overshadow the actual chicken. The meat stays moist, with plenty of flavor, but the sides of Red Eye Gravy, smashed Yukon potatoes and fresh peas and carrots make this dish seem right out of Maw Maw’s kitchen.
Beignets at Tips Roadside in Kenwood. Heather Irwin/PD
Beignets, $8: Plan ahead, so you’ve got both the time and appetite to appreciate Palmese’s version of the classic beignet. Unlike others, that have more of a donut dough, these start with a pate a choux dough — a bit eggier and lighter, puffing into little balls of air and crust. A mouth-puckering Meyer lemon sauce is perfect spooned into the center. You’ll be tempted to snarf them in a single bite, which you will do exactly once, realizing that the insanely hot steam inside has burnt your tongue into next week.
Interior of Tips Roadside in Kenwood. Heather Irwin/PD
Crafted cocktails have local monikers like “Sugarloaf Mountain” and Highway 12, using mostly local spirits from the restaurant’s full bar. We loved the Thicker Than Smoke with Sonoma Brothers Bourbon, St. George Raspberry, blackberry syrup and bitters ($12), though all the cocktails we tried leaned toward the sweet. Like sweet-sweet. A full page of local wines, spirits and beers make this a hotspot for tasting your way through Sonoma’s favorite tipples. Plus, free corkage on all Kenwood wines.
Needs Work: The menu, with dishes like smoked short ribs, fisherman’s stew and tomato soup, seems wintery for an opening summer menu, though the use of seasonal produce and local ingredients lighten the flavors somewhat. The restaurant can be very warm on hot days, so dress accordingly.
Owner Andrew Pryfogle speaks with guests at Tips Roadside in Kenwood. Heathe Irwin/PD
Overall: Palmese gets a chance to spread his wings, showcasing his passion for the food of his Southern roots to Wine Country in a perfect roadside spot in the Valley.
Tips Roadside, 8445 Highway 12, Kenwood, 707-509-0078, tipsroadside.com. Now open for brunch and dinner Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sonoma Magazine-Eat Here Now. The Perch and Plow on Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa. (photo by John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Small but Mighty: Perch + Plow, Santa Rosa
Out of Chef Mike Mullins’ diminutive galley kitchen comes a lineup of stunning dishes, from coconut-curried cauliflower with harissa to his grandmother’s fried chicken sandwich, yellowtail ceviche, and a frisée salad with pork belly and a soft egg. There’s also an unforgettable burger that’s just become our new favorite.
Mullins starts all of his dishes at Perch+Plow with fresh, local produce and meats, which give him a head start on deliciousness. Having come up through top-notch restaurants including Michelin-starred Cavallo Point, Petite Syrah, and the Kenwood Restaurant — along with stints in the canteens of Silicon Valley (Apple, Google) — he’s got plenty of culinary chops.
Beef Carpaccio with aged balsamic, extra virgin olive oil, crispy shallots, arugula, capers and aioli at the Perch and Plow on Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa. (Photo by John Burgess)Grilled octopus with chickpea puree, fennel pesto, and onion flower at the Perch and Plow on Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa. (Photo by John Burgess)
And by “diminutive kitchen,” we mean that the mise en place could fit on a postage stamp and staff is packed in like Tokyo subway riders. A stray elbow or knife blade could have serious consequences. But Mullins takes it all in stride, equating the staff’s movement more to a graceful dance they’re perfecting. A few stepped-on toes are the price of entry. Plus, Mullins says, everything’s easy to reach.
Expect a mix of small plates, snacks, salads, several raw fish dishes and just a handful of larger plates. With prices ranging from $8 to $22, it’s an affordable luxury for most. Cocktails are equally impressive under Alec Vlastnic (formerly of Spoonbar), who whips up boozy magic with fresh produce, artisan spirits, and exotic infusions (bacon fatwashed bourbon, dill foam, strawberry balsamic shrub). A $12 cocktail is worth every penny. A brief beer and wine list seems a little bit tackedon but will likely expand. Non-alcoholic choices should be expanded.
The laughing bartender Bri Hall serves up cocktails at the Perch and Plow on Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa. (Photo by John Burgess)
The former Christy’s on the Square, an upstairs space overlooking the new Courthouse Square, has always had the potential for greatness. It finally seems to have a team up to the challenge. The interior has been transformed into a sleek, modern design with a grand Bud Snow octopus mural as an eyecatching centerpiece.
Large windows open onto the square and skylights fill the restaurant with a soft glow. The handful of bar tables and stools with front-row views of the action and warm breezes below are among the most coveted.
As downtown Santa Rosa continues its transformation from quiet county seat to a Wine Country destination, restaurants like Perch+Plow lead the way.
Click through the above gallery for more Sonoma County restaurants to check out right now.
House burger with aged cheddar, frisee, pickled onion, aioli and house fries at the Perch and Plow on Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa. (Photo by John Burgess)
When the Atlas Fire reduced Signorello Estate to ruins last October, Ray Signorello vowed to rebuild his namesake winery. It’s a complicated process that’s expected to take years. But just nine months after flames raced across the family-owned Napa Valley winery, Signorello is welcoming visitors again thanks to a temporary modular tasting space that will serve as home while the winery is being rebuilt.
“We were really fortunate no one got hurt. We didn’t lose any vines,” said Ray Signorello Jr. “It’s exciting what’s going to unfold here over the next two to three years.”
The new tasting space, located next to where the winery once was, opened to guests on July 13 – just four busy days after the modular unit its housed in arrived at the Silverado Trail estate. But don’t let the whirlwind timeline fool you. Though temporary, the Estate Room tasting area is modern and comfortable, offering vineyard views that include Signorello’s 39-year-old Chardonnay vines. On the walls, framed artwork pay tribute to what Signorello Estate once was, the devastation it endured, and its plans for the future.
Guests can now take part in what’s called the Estate Experience. It begins with a 20-minute golf cart driving tour of the property and a short walk in the vineyard, before returning to the Estate Room for a seated tasting.
Four wines are paired with bites such as Smoked Scottish Salmon with caviar and crème fraiche on a potato crisp, Comté cheese, Mushroom Duxelles, and Grilled New York steak with Padrone glaze. (St. Helena’s Tre Posti is catering the custom menu.) Featured wines include Signorello’s proprietary white Seta, Hope’s Cuvée Chardonnay, its Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, and Padrone, its proprietary red wine. The semi-private tastings focus on wine education, with particular attention given to low-yield, old vines.
In an effort to rebuild the winery as fireproof as possible, construction plans call for steel bones, lots of glass and rock, with minimal wood. In addition to the new winery, caves will be dug into the hillside, adding 11,000 square feet of underground space. Once finished, Signorello Estate will boast the unique combination of being a new winery paired with what’s believed to be some of Napa Valley’s oldest vines.
“We get to really do it right. That’s the silver lining,” said Signorello Jr.
Estate Experience tastings are available Thursday through Monday at 10am, 1pm, and 3pm, by appointment only. Cost is $100 per person, with a maximum of eight people. Plan on 90 minutes to enjoy the Estate Experience. Reservations are only accepted by phone. Signorello Estate, 4500 Silverado Trail, Napa, 707-255-5990, signorelloestate.com
