Page 308 – Sonoma Magazine

Open This Fall: 18 New Sonoma County Restaurants We Can’t Wait to Try

October 2018

By biteclub

Wagyu short ribs at Kosho Restaurant in Sebastopol. Heather Irwin/PD

Restaurant openings continue throughout the county, with a who new batch of fall announcements including new Japanese, pizza, fish and chips and much more. Check out what we’ve tried and what we’re waiting for this fall.

NOW OPEN

Chicken meatball skewers at Kosho Restaurant in Sebastopol. Heather Irwin/PD

Kosho Japanese: Legendary Sushi Ran chef Jake Rand opens a top-notch sushi bar and yakitori, along with homey okonomiyaki (Japanese pancakes), tempura and katsu. 6750 McKinley St., Sebastopol. Open daily 5 p.m.to 9p.m., 707-827-6373, koshosushi.com.

Crooks Coffee: After a year of renovations, this Edgar Allen Poe-themed coffee shop is a haven for aspiring writers and in-need-of-caffeine scribes from the nearby Press Democrat. Family-owned spot features clever coffee drinks (including a creme brulee latte and turmeric “mylk”), along with teas, grab-and-go pastries and lunchtime sandos and salads. A cozy addition that’s quickly becoming a popular hangout. 404c Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa., 707-791-3365.

Urban Pizza Co.: Simple, honest hand-tossed pizza from a family that’s been in the biz for decades, serving up solid classics and a killer piadine. 500 Mission Blvd., Santa Rosa, 707-978-4668, urbanpizzasantarosa.com.

Crooks Coffee in Santa Rosa. Heather Irwin/PD

Boardwalk Kitchen: Stellar Windsor location with plenty of outdoor seating serving up fish and chips, fish tacos, chowder, chicken waffles and salads. 9238 Old Redwood Hwy., Suite 128, Windsor, theboardwalkkitchen.com.

Paradise Sushi & Hibachi: Popular all-you-can-eat sushi chain has taken over the former Hikuni, serving up solid sushi and continued hibachi service. 4100 Montgomery Dr., Suite C, Santa Rosa, 707-539-9188.

Veggie miso mabo don with organic tofu, tempeh, eggplant and spicy bean sauce with garlic, ginger and greens at Raku Ramen and Rolls in Santa Rosa. Heather Irwin/PD

Freaking Tacos: Cheap, tasty tacos served up quick. 400 W. Third St., Santa Rosa, 707-890-5003.

Raku Ramen: The owner of Sea Thai Bistro and Sea Noodle Bar has paired up with popular sushi burrito food truck chef Takeshi Uchida to create Raku Ramen and Rolls in Santa Rosa’s Montgomery Village. More than just a ramen shop, Shoubu Japanese’s Uchida has created a menu inspired by his sustainable vision for Japanese cuisine — and it’s something to write home about. Excellent poke, ramen, simple rolls.2424 Midway Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-623-9668.

Boxcar Fried Chicken and Biscuits. Heather Irwin/PD

Boxcar Fried Chicken & Biscuits: Former Fremont Diner reopens with a simpler, fried-chicken focused menu. Hours currently limited to Monday through Friday from 11a.m. to 3p.m., 2698 Fremont Dr., Sonoma, 707-938-7370, boxcar-friedchicken.com.

Stockhome: Swedish comfort classics like meatballs, Swedish pancakes and plank steak along with Turkish street food (inspired by the popular Stockholm street food) including kebabs and falafel. Don’t miss small plates like pickled herring, grilled Halloumi and celery root gratin. 220 Western Ave., Petaluma, 707-981-8511, stockhomerestaurant.com

Bollywood Bar & Clay Oven. Courtesy photo: Facebook

MOMENTS AWAY
Bollywood Bar & Clay Oven: Nationally-recognized Indian chef Niven Patel is helming a farm-to-table menu at Bollywood Bar & Clay Oven that, even in previews, was inspired. Indian spices that line the pantry of the young chef’s pantry are meticulously sourced from a small village in the Indian state of Gujarat. Cocktail heavy-weights Scott Beattie and Andrea Mota are going all in on Indian-inspired libations. 537 4th St,, Santa Rosa, bollywoodbar.net. Opening Oct. 17.

Farmer’s Wife
Popular farm market sandwich vendor gets a spot in the Barlow. thefarmerswifesonoma.com

COMING SOON
Fern Bar: Much-anticipated collaboration between restaurateur Lowell Sheldon (Lowell’s, Handline) with Lowell’s chef Joseph Zobel, Sam Levy (Bar Manager of the Restaurant at Meadowood) and Gia Baiocchi (Nectary). Anticipated late fall, early winter at the Barlow.

Christian (front) and Ozvaldo (thumbs up) in front of the forthcoming Noble Folk. Courtesy photo.

Noble Folk Santa Rosa: Known for their ridiculously delicious house-made ice creams (strawberry miso, Thai tea, raspberry lychee sorbet) and pies (peach bourbon with streusel, vanilla sweet corn custard with strawberry compote), along with sleek aesthetics and community-minded activism, Healdsburg’s Ozvaldo Jimenez and Christian Sullberg will open an outpost in downtown Santa Rosa in the coming months at 539 Fourth Street.

Hyatt Regency’s Revamped Brasserie: After a major renovation to the hotel, the restaurant also gets a facelift and a new chef — Executive Chef Rene Jakushak formerly of Santa Rosa’s Hilton restaurant, which was lost in the wildfires.

Sweet T’s: Revamp of Fountaingrove barbecue spot is near completion and slated for an October opening.

IN THE WORKS
Willi’s Wine Bar: Look for an early 2019 opening of the Stark’s iconic wine bar. They will also be opening a Jewish deli in downtown Santa Rosa sometime in 2019.

Mint and Liberty: Former Breakaway Cafe in Sonoma will be reborn with a new look, feel and chef.

Jade Room: Ongoing renovations in downtown Santa Rosa in anticipation of an oyster bar and hangout spot.

Russian River Getaway: Where to Sip, Snack and Shop in Guerneville

October 2018

By Karen Kizer

Equal parts quaint and quirky, away from it all and where it’s at, the Russian River town of Guerneville has been a longtime host to summertime fun-seekers. A hot spot with a cool river is a draw for many in the Bay Area, where an abundance of foggy beaches make for shivering summer outings. Guernevilles’s beloved Johnson’s Beach closes from late September to late May, but the wine and redwood rich, LGBT-proud region still draws in the off-season. Guerneville’s Main Street offers a unique shopping experience, from fine art to five-and-dime finds. Check out the shops you might have missed while being distracted by all that festive fun and natural beauty. Click through the above gallery for details.

Deck the Halloween Halls With Vintage Finds From Petaluma Stores

October 2018

By Karen Kizer

Don’t let your Halloween decor have a trend-to-trash lifespan. Forgo the big box pre-fab wares that don’t wear well from year to year, and visit a vintage store for some unique resale finds. The antique look lends itself nicely to Halloween decor with the haunted mansion vibe it evokes. Petaluma’s great antique stores always deliver in the resale realm—click through the above gallery for details.

Best Sonoma Wineries to Visit This Fall

October 2018

By Jean Saylor Doppenberg

Summer’s slow fade into fall brings with it the harvest and many delicious reasons to seek out small, intimate tasting rooms. Some are located on rural country roads, others down quaint and quiet alleys. Many are featuring special food-pairing events and live music through October. Click through the above gallery for details.

Sonoma County Restaurants: 5 Hot Places to Eat and Drink Right Now

October 2018

By Heather Irwin

Miso katsu, pank fried kurobuta pork with owari style sauce at Sake 107 in Petaluma. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)

Dining Editor Heather Irwin hoists a fork each week at the latest restaurant openings throughout Sonoma County — from hidden ice cream shops to Michelin-starred dining rooms — for her longtime online food column, BiteClub. As Wine Country’s farming and tourism seasons reach their zenith, she’s picked out a handful of spots to check out before winter approaches.

Gerard Nebesky, owner of Gerard's Paella y Tapas in Santa Rosa. Photo by Shana Bull. — Gerard Nebesky, owner of Gerard’s Paella y Tapas in Santa Rosa. Photo by Shana Bull.

Gerard’s Paella y Tapas, Santa Rosa: A local master shares his art.

With a mop top of curly white hair and a grin that rarely leaves his face, restaurateur Gerard Nebesky is the kind of guy who invites you to his longtime camp at Burning Man after knowing you for 15 minutes — and really means it.

The owner of Gerard’s Paella Y Tapas, which recently opened in downtown Santa Rosa, routinely dives for abalone and other local seafood for his Spanish rice dishes and learned to make paella on a backcountry ski trip. In 2008, he bested Iron Chef Bobby Flay in a paella smackdown in San Francisco. If you’ve ever been to a big Wine Country event, you’ve probably seen him hovered over hot 4-foot pans of rice and vegetables and shaking hands with pretty much everyone who stops by to say hello.

To say he’s something of a celebrity adventurer is putting it mildly, even before he reveals that he’s tight with former “Saturday Night Live” cast member Rachel Dratch (he catered her birthday party) and, with more glee than ego, that actor Jason Schwartzman will portray him in the upcoming Netflix movie “Wine Country.” The Napa-based “dark comedy” directed by Amy Poehler recently wrapped in Napa Valley and stars Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph, Ana Gasteyer, and a host of other SNL folks.

“I’m the ‘Annoying Paella Guy,’” he says, holding up a caricature drawing of the cast — with himself in the corner as the Paella Guy. Meanwhile, pans of paella bubble away on his home burners, getting the perfect crispy crunch on the bottom of the pan. Those small paella pans, however, are pipsqueaks compared to the 10-foot pans he’s used at major events like the Maker Faire in New York City. “I can serve 1,200 with one of those,” he said.

Inside the restaurant, the menu is divided into “pintxo” (little bites often eaten with long wooden picks) and tapas (heartier small bites) along with paella, salads, “bocadillos” (baguette sandwiches), and desserts. It’s best to order at least a few smaller dishes to share, our favorites being paella croquettes with Manchego cheese, or goat cheese-stuffed piquillo peppers (both $5) along with sweet-spicy fried potatoes (Papas Bravas, $8).

If you get one thing at Gerard’s, get the El Pescador paella ($14) — assuming you dig shellfish. Filled with clams, mussels, prawns, and squid, the beauty of this dish is the “arroz negro,” or black rice, created with cuttlefish ink. It’s a classic, and the ink gives a slightly briny taste to the rice, complementing the fresh seafood. A few dabs of aioli add richness and a hint of sweet, along with green peas for color and additional sweetness. We kind of can’t get enough of this dish.

El Valedon ($15), also known as the #flayslayer, is the winning Food Network paella and features a mix of seafood and marinated chicken with sweet peppers and garbanzo beans. Think of it as more of a crowd-pleaser with a variety of ingredients rather than a single point of view.

Don’t miss the special cocktails, like the housemade sangria, a lemon and lager shandy and our favorite, white port, tonic, and lime — truly a little bit of sunshine in a glass.

With this brick and mortar restaurant, Nebesky is finding a new audience for his charm and his paella. Having redesigned the former Persona Pizza in downtown Santa Rosa (also previously the longtime Arrigoni’s) into a welcoming spot with a cool sunroom, bright and open dining area, and open kitchen, the madeto- order paella is as much spectacle as meal.

Open Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. No reservations. 701 Fourth St., Santa Rosa 707-708-8686 gerardspaella.com.

Click through the gallery above for more hot restaurants in Sonoma.

Best in Burgers: The Don Chava at Sonoma’s Family-Run Picazo Cafe

October 2018

By biteclub

Burgers at the Picazo Cafe in Sonoma. (Courtesy photo)

Salvador Chavez Sr. begins his days at 3:30 a.m., making breakfast pastries for his family-run restaurant in Sonoma. And while his raspberry twists and apple cinnamon rolls are excellent, it’s “Don Chava” — his nickname — that regulars come to see each morning at Picazo Cafe (19100 Arnold Dr, Sonoma).

“He’s always telling jokes,” said his son, Salvador Chavez Jr., in the cozy dining room of the century-old roadhouse on Arnold Drive. “When he’s not here, people get worried. They ask, ‘Is your dad OK?’ and I tell them, he’s just on vacation.”

The Chavez Family: Sal Chavez (left) with his wife, Kina Chavez, his parents Kris and Sal Chavez, and sons Maximus and Sal. Chris Chung/PD

Chances are, however, you’ll find at least one family member at the 26-seat restaurant at all times, either working the counter, serving, manning the charbroiler or making their lineup of special sauces. Aunts, uncles, cousins, kids and parents are all part of the multigenerational machine that has made Picazo into a well-trodden community destination.

“This is where the American dream really kicks in for us. I take it all very seriously,” said Sal Jr., who manages operations at the restaurant in addition to running his own spirits company and sitting on the city school board for many years.

“My parents crossed illegally, all with separate ‘coyotes’ (those paid to bring immigrants across the border). It wasn’t until my parents were reunited with my baby sister that they all realized the danger and effort they took for that dream. I want to honor that,” he said.

Don Chava Burger at Picazo Cafe in Sonoma. Heather Irwin/PD

Though his parents and sister are now citizens (Sal Jr. was born in America), their border crossing from Mexico in 1984 is still an important part of the family’s heritage. Working first at a dairy farm in Bodega, Sal Sr. and his wife, Kris, have been caretakers at a Sonoma Valley estate for nearly two decades, and live on the property.

Picazo, which opened in 2008, was actually an idea for a side business — a simple deli — where workers could grab a breakfast burrito and coffee starting at 5 a.m.“This place for my parents was a peace of mind for the future. It was a feeling that they will always have something that is ours,” said Sal Jr.

Armed with a rough business plan and a $40,000 business loan, Sal Jr., who was then an economics major at Sonoma State University, figured his brief experience working at a coffee shop on the plaza in Sonoma would arm him with all he needed to know to run a deli. Or at least an espresso machine. Not so much, he recalled, but he’s learned on the job. It was his dad’s idea for weekend burgers on a simple home grill outside the restaurant that turned out to be a pillar of their current success.
“We just pulled up the grill outside on Saturday and Sunday and made burgers and fries,” said Sal Jr.

They sold 40 or 50 burgers every weekend. The secret: “Constantly seasoning, flipping, it was always messy but delicious,” he said.

Now, the grill has disappeared, a charbroiler has been installed in the kitchen and the grill master’s spatula handed over to an uncle. What makes the burgers special are the homemade sauces, including his mom’s Picazo sauce (made with garlic, mushrooms, chipotle and sour cream), that add to the wow-factor of the lengthy burger menu.

Sal Jr., who got his kitchen training working for Ed Metcalfe of Shiso, has worked with his family to expand the menu even further, adding things like organic veggie bowls, avocado toast (named for his wife, Kina, who manages the restaurant), acai berry breakfast bowls and smoothies along with mahi-mahi fish and chips, baby back ribs and the signature must-have, the Don Chava burger made with grass-fed beef, pulled pork, pepper jack cheese, jalapeños, pickled red onion and spicy Picazo sauce.

“The special thing about this place is that it’s not all that special. It’s not fancy, but everyone here is really invested and wants to see things go right,” said Sal Jr., who admitted the parking around the restaurant is pretty awful. With just a handful of spaces in front, uncomfortably close to the street, on weekends, cars simply find a spot somewhere nearby.

“I see all the cars parked here, and all the ridiculous things people have to do to get here, and it makes me smile. I can’t imagine what it would be like with even pavement and good parking,” he said with a chuckle.

Welcome to Bollywood: Sneak Preview of New Downtown Santa Rosa Indian Eatery

October 2018

By biteclub

Garlic naan, pani puri, uttapam, tikka masala at Bollywood Bar & Clay Oven. Courtesy photo: Facebook — Garlic naan, pani puri, uttapam, tikka masala at Bollywood Bar & Clay Oven. (Photo courtesy Facebook)

Santa Rosa may soon be at the center of a tikka masala revolution.

Bardoli Buck (vodka, raw turmeric, ginger, lime, bitters, soda) and Gujarati Swizzle (gin, elderflower, lemon, Buddah’s hand, verbena, coconut milk, ginger beer).

Nationally-recognized Indian chef Niven Patel is helming a farm-to-table menu at Bollywood Bar & Clay Oven that, even in previews, was inspired. Indian spices that line the pantry of the young chef’s pantry are meticulously sourced from a small village in the Indian state of Gujarat, Patel’s home region. This isn’t window-dressing, but a passion for ingredients that Patel has (literally) cultivated on his Florida farm, Ranchopatel including fresh turmeric, mangoes, and other Indian ingredients.

Niven Patel at Bollywood Bar & Clay Oven. Courtesy photo: Facebook

We got a preview recently, and were especially impressed by dishes like Crispy Cauliflower with paneer and pickled shitakes; Shortrib Uttapam (think savory pancake); Tumeric Marinated Rockfish with Coconut Curry — even simple chicken tikka masala is given a makeover. We’re talking game-changers here. Patel will hand over daily restaurant operations to two of his chefs de cuisine who have moved to Sonoma County from Florida.

Adding to the all-star restaurant lineup, cocktail heavy-weights Scott Beattie and Andrea Mota are going all in on Indian-inspired libations like the Bardoli Buck (vodka, raw turmeric, ginger, lime, bitters, soda) and Gujarati Swizzle (gin, elderflower, lemon, Buddah’s hand, verbena, coconut milk, ginger beer).

Pani Puri at Bollywood Bar & Clay Oven. (Courtesy photo Facebook) — Pani Puri at Bollywood Bar & Clay Oven. Courtesy photo: Facebook

The Chandi Hospitality Group is behind the restaurant’s revamp, taking a very personal interest in bringing elevated Indian food and hospitality to the county. The owners of several downtown Santa Rosa restaurants were inspired by the family’s roots in the Punjab region of India as well as their experiences as California restaurateurs.

Niven Patel and Sonu Chandi at Bollywood Bar & Clay Oven. HI/PD

“Our foundation is rooted in the Indian concept of ‘mehmaan nawazi’, a heightened sense of hospitality and welcoming energy to all who come through our doors,” said a press release about the restaurant’s opening. Chandi Hospitality Group owns Stout Bros., Beer Baron, Bibi’s Burger Bar and the former County Bench (now Bollywood Bar & Clay Oven) as well as several Mountain Mike’s pizza restaurants.

Expect a soft launch in mid-October and a larger roll-out later in the month.

Bollywood Bar & Clay Oven, 537 4th St, Santa Rosa.

Calling All Sleuths: Solve a Murder Mystery in Napa Valley

October 2018

By Dana Rebmann

Halloween is fast approaching. Before you know it, it’s the end of October. If you need an incentive to get a jump on that costume, how about a night out on the town with vino, good eats, and a wine country take on the classic whodunit?

Just in time for the haunting holiday, the Napa Valley Wine Train is rolling along the rails with its Murder Mystery tour. The evening event, described as “real life theater,” features characters roaming the vintage cars, providing clues as they create menace on the rails.

Riders are transported back to 1915; San Francisco has risen from the devastation of the Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906, and Napa and Sonoma wine country is making a name for itself. The Grand Duchess Anastasia Petrovska Nybom, a Russian aristocrat, is the widow of “the owner and promoter of the Inglenook winery.” Senator Thurston Desmond III, is a corrupt U.S. Senator who is somehow both “for and against Prohibition.” Miss Valerie La Veaux is a captivating actress that stars in a mystery film entitled, “The Bottle Breaks.” Lt. Max Hohenberg is a Navy lieutenant who, while on leave, is serving as “the head winemaker for the Charles Krug Winery.”

Bring your best sleuthing skills to Napa Valley, and use the evening as an excuse to get into character as you don an early 20th century costume. Event attendees work in teams to solve the murder mystery onboard the train – they are welcome to ask questions; but you just never know if a character is telling the truth… An added perk: getting dressed up ensures you’re ready for whatever parties Halloween throws your way. And remember, there will be wine. Lots of wine.

The Murder Mystery Wine Train rolls along the tracks before and after Halloween, on Friday, October 19^th, and Saturday, November 17^th. The evening lasts around three hours; the train departs at 6:30pm, and returns around 9:30pm. (It’s recommended guests arrive by 5:45pm; the fun kicks off at the station before the train departs.)

Tickets start at $195 per person and include a welcome glass of sparkling wine, and a three course meal including options like Sliced Roasted Tenderloin of Beef, Brown Sugar Glazed Port Tenderloin, Lemon Thyme Roasted Chicken, and Kale & Quinoa Salad. Parties of two may be seated at a table for four with another party of two. 1275 Mckinstry Street, Napa, 707-253-2111, winetrain.com/events/murder-mystery

New Santa Rosa Happy Hour Is Something to Chirp About

October 2018

By biteclub

Street tacos at Bird and Bottle in Santa Rosa. Heather Irwin/PD

Santa Rosa’s Bird and Bottle has a new happy hour, and its something to chirp about because everyone knows that owners Mark and Terri Stark know their way around a creative cocktail menu.

From 3 to 6p.m. Monday through Thursday, you can get a Tito’s vodka martini or Espolon Reposado Tequila margarita for $4. Wines are $6 and specialty cocktails like the Shiso Pretty (vodka, spiced pear, shiso shrub, and lime) are $6.

Margarita at Bird and the Bottle’s Happy Hour in Santa Rosa. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine) — Margarita at Bird and Bottle’s Happy Hour in Santa Rosa. Heather Irwin/PD

But it’s the happy hour street tacos that really have us abuzz. Just two bucks gets you a hearty handful of corn tortilla-wrapped smoked pork shoulder, housemade pastrami, Korean chicken thigh or fried cheddar cheese curd taco with spicy crema, sprouts, and slaw.

If you’re doing the math, that’s just $8 for a hearty snack or, in our case, dinner. There’s also $2 beers and 32oz growlers of Henhouse Saison, Russian River Redemption and Shattercone IPA for $10. The patio is still plenty cozy, so party on. And on. And on. At least until 6p.m.

1055 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 568-4000, birdandthebottle.com.

8 Hot Instagram Food Trends and Where to Find Them in Sonoma County

October 2018

By Claire Pelote

It’s hard to dine out these days without seeing at least a couple of people hovering with smartphones over their plates. Taking a bite before it’s been immortalized on Instagram is pretty much a cardinal sin. Gone are the days when a well-thumbed copy of Zagat served as the restaurant bible. Today, #foodtrends and #foodporn are the new guiding principles. But, in the ever expanding Instagram universe, it’s hard to keep track of what’s new and what’s old: one day, unicorn cake and cloud eggs are hot; the next, they’re not. To give you a taste of the latest foodie fad, we’ve rounded up the new kids on the block: the hottest Instagram food trends (at least at this particular moment) and where to find them in Sonoma County. Click through the gallery above for all the #yummy details.