Learn to Cultivate Worm Poop and Guerrilla Garden at Santa Rosa’s Heirloom Expo

By biteclub
Fletcher Pope, 2, of Petaluma with his mom at the National Heirloom Expo.

It’s gardeners and farmers gone wild at the annual National Heirloom Expo, held Sept. 11-13 at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. With hundreds of exhibits, speakers and the annual squash tower this gathering of soil nerds, seed savers, beekeepers, no-tillers and food activists returns to Santa Rosa for the eighth year.

What we love about this gathering are the passionate speakers, exhibitors and vendors who find kinship in this earth-forward, future-thinking, inclusionary event that looks to our agricultural past to create a road toward a more sustainable tomorrow.

 

For example, the potential dangers of herbicides like Monsanto’s Roundup and wide use of genetically modified crops have been at the forefront of the Expo’s agenda for years, with speakers warning strongly against the unknown (or unreported) longterm hazards for humans and the planet. With the recent landmark case that awarded $289 million to a groundskeeper to alleged that the weedkiller resulted in his terminal cancer diagnosis, more and more Americans are taking notice. Recently Santa Rosa banned the use of Roundup in city parks. A discussion on Sept. 12 at 7-.m. by consumer activist and author Jeffrey Smith will focus on “How to Heal from GMOs and Roundup”.

Other discussions include Doug and Stacy, Midwestern YouTubers who live on an 11-acre  off-grid compound; Vanessa Harden on how a group of individuals secretly plan flowers, shrubs and veggies in neglected urban spaces; eating a plant-based diet with local nutritionist and Veggie Queen Jill Nussinow along with talks on raising poultry, permaculture and seed-saving.

On Thursday evening, compost connoisseur Jeff Lowenfels will talk about worm poop — aka worm castings — and why every gardener should have some, also explaining the soil food web and how to create have a healthy relationship with fungi. Watch a few of his YouTube videos about what may be the world’s most unsexy subject and you’ll get that he’s truly a, ahem, fungi fun guy.

There’s an entire Kids’ Pavillon with plenty of fun activities for your burgeoning young green thumbs and a demo marketplace helping raise money for local school gardens. Plus, 4,000 varieties of heirloom vegetables, giant pumpkins, a dahlia flower show, fruit carving, globally inspired cuisine, live music, and seed swapping.

All this wholesome, family-friendly fun is $15 for a one day pass and $30 for a three-day pass. Children are free. Details at heirloomexpo.com.

Fall-For-You Wardrobe Picks from Sonoma

By Karen Kizer

Of course you’re perfect the way you are, but who wouldn’t mind being just a little more stylish this fall? Just a tiny upgrade here (enter, perfectly fitting shirt), or some high-functioning outerwear there (hi, stunning shawl), or quality suede shoes that side step the big box offerings. Here are some finds, all from Sonoma, that might impress your date, your clients or, the toughest one to win over, yourself.

A Piece of Calistoga History Becomes Luxury Five-Room Inn

By Dana Rebmann

When The Francis House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, it was already in bad shape, its glory days greatly in danger of becoming a lost memory.

Built in 1886 as a family home for successful merchant, James H. Francis, it’s the only stone building in Napa County with authentic French Second Empire architecture. From 1919 to 1964 it served as the Calistoga Hospital. After its doors were locked for good, the house remained the talk of the town – but, as time went on, it was for all the wrong reasons.

For more than 50 years the residence was uninhabited, essentially abandoned. Time took its toll. Those driving by, especially those aware of its history, would look and wonder. The Calistoga landmark was in ruins, said to be weeks away from demolition, when husband and wife team, Dina and Richard Dwyer took on the challenge of ensuring its future.

“When we settled on the property, the city planner said ‘congratulations’ and ‘my condolences,’” said Richard Dwyer.

Though there are a number of exterior photographs documenting the history of The Francis House, there was little to work with regarding the interior. A clean slate of sorts, three long years later, the house is the talk of the town again. This time for all the right reasons.

The Francis House is set to reopen September 7th as a luxury five-room inn. Guest rooms pay tribute to the property’s rich past, while at the same time ushering it into modern times. Antique desks mingle with smart TVs. Bathrooms feature Carrara marble and heated toilets. Amenities including an infrared sauna and salt room, billiards, and heated pool make it a place easy to linger longer.

As The Francis House gets closer to opening day, the curious have been stopping by, to take a peek, and say thanks. Calistoga is not just gaining a luxury property, it’s getting back a treasured piece of community history. In September, a Tiburon resident will be back for what, I guess, you could call his second stay. He was born at the Calistoga Hospital 81 years ago.

The Francis House of Calistoga was recently awarded a 2018 Preservation Design award from the California Preservation Foundation. Room rates range from $495 to $695, including breakfast. 1403 Myrtle Street, Calistoga, 707-341-3536. thefrancishouse.com

Nearby Spots Worth Saving Time for this Fall

The Francis House is just a couple blocks from Lincoln Avenue, making it easy to wander along Calistoga’s main drag. Plan on setting aside some time to soak up neighborhood hotspots, because, being in hot water is always a good thing in Calistoga.

At Indian Springs, weekday pool passes are $25 for all spa day guests who book a 50-minute treatment. On weekends and holidays, it jumps to $50. indianspringscalistoga.com

Established in 1952, the mud baths at Dr. Wilkinson’s Hot Springs Resort provide the kind of dirt legends are made of. drwilkinson.com

Located between Calistoga and St. Helena on Highway 29/128, the restored, water-powered grist mill at Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park, still grinds grain during tours every weekend. Admission: $5 for adults, $2 for children 6 to 17, those under 6 are free. napavalleystateparks.org

Enjoy some bubbly cheer while touring the 125-year-old wine caves at Schramsberg Vineyards. $70; reservations are required in advance. schramsberg.com

Sip Italian-style wines at Castello di Amorosa, a 13th century Tuscan castle in the middle of wine country. Tours start at $45, and reservations are highly recommended. castellodiamorosa.com

Healdsburg’s Coolest Pie and Ice Cream Shop, Noble Folk, Coming to Santa Rosa

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

Downtown Santa Rosa’s food scene has undergone an extensive makeover in the last year, with plenty of sparkle, rouge and lipstick in the additions of swell destination spots like Perch & Plow, Gerard’s Paella, Parish Cafe, Acre and Naked Pig. But wait, there’s a whole lot more in store and we’ve got the, er, scoop.

Pie at Noble Folk in Healdsburg. Courtesy photo
Pie at Noble Folk in Healdsburg. Courtesy photo

This week, Healdsburg pastry and ice cream wunderkinds, Ozvaldo Jimenez and Christian Sullberg (Noble Folk, Moustache Baked Goods) announced the opening of a new Noble Folk on Fourth Street in Santa Rosa. Pause for head explosion.

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, the 30-somethings say they’ve long contemplated expanding, and when restaurateur Sonu Chandi offered up the former salon next to his upcoming Bollywood Bar & Clay Oven, they jumped.

Noble Folk will be opening in Santa Rosa in fall 2018. Courtesy photo.
Noble Folk will be opening in Santa Rosa in fall 2018. Courtesy photo.

“Imagine if Moustache and Noble Folk had a baby,” said Sullberg, standing outside the 539 Fourth Street location, which they’ve already started rehabbing. “That’s the idea, a little bit of both,” he explained, offering up the pies and ice creams they’ve become known for at Noble Folk along with some cake creations along the lines of Moustache.

The co-owners and Sonoma County natives say they’re glad to bring some additional family-friendly sweetness to downtown. We say, Santa Rosa just got its kitten heels and a sassy hair flip with Noble Folk as part of its food reboot.

Concurrently, the Chandi Hospitality Group (Beer Baron, Bibi’s Burger Bar, Stout Bros, Mountain Mike’s) is working on a Bollywood-themed Indian restaurant to take over the former County Bench (535 Fourth St.). Sonu Chandi said that they have hired Chef Niven Patel, a Florida-based proponent of farm-to-table Indian cuisine, to create the menu and seasonal cocktail guru Scott Beattie (Cyrus, Ramen Gaijin) to create Indian-inspired drinks. Having tried their “secret Indian menu” at Bibi’s, call me enthusiastic.

The opening menu includes dishes like ghost pepper cheddar naan, local vegetable pakora, gooseberry chutney, lamb samosas with mint chutney, pomegranate biryani, whole turmeric-marinated grouper, channa masala and pork belly vindaloo. The restaurant is also slated to open in November.

After a Decade, Barndiva Gets a New Chef. You Won’t Believe Who It Is

By biteclub
Mark Hopper, owner and chef at Vignette, puts salt in his casserole made from earthquake kit ingredients, in Sebastopol on Thursday, October 2, 2014. (Christopher Chung/ The Press Democrat)
Mark Hopper, owner and chef at Vignette, puts salt in his casserole made from earthquake kit ingredients, in Sebastopol on Thursday, October 2, 2014. (Christopher Chung/ The Press Democrat)

Okay, I’m sorry for the clickbaity headline, but this one’s a bit of a heavy hitter we’re pretty excited about.

Remember Vignette in the Barlow? A while back, it seemed to disappear overnight along with its chef/owner Mark Hopper. The website went dark, the Facebook page wasn’t updated, and pretty much no one we asked knew exactly where Hopper had landed.

Surprise! News came out yesterday that Hopper will be the new executive chef for Barndiva in Healdsburg following the departure of Chef Ryan Fancher. Hopper has a stellar resume, working closely with Thomas Keller at the French Laundry, the opening of Las Vegas’ Bouchon and executive chef for casual dining at the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group. He was also instrumental in the opening of Farmshop in Marin, and the late Vignette, which opened in 2014, was a BiteClub favorite for his handmade pizzas and wood-fired veggies.

It’s a solid fit, as Hopper is dedicated to sustainable, local sourcing and should jive with the Barndiva aesthetic.

Stay tuned for more details on Hopper’s introduction to Barndiva.

Taste of Sonoma 2018: Highlights and Food Pix

By biteclub
Pork belly potstickers at Taste of Sonoma 2018 at the Green Music Center. Heather Irwin/PD
Pork belly potstickers at Taste of Sonoma 2018 at the Green Music Center. Heather Irwin/PD

Another great year at Taste of Sonoma, which happened Sept. 1, 2018 at the Green Music Center. Highlights included a rose tasting panel, great showings by Ramen Gaijin, Stockhome (Chef Roberth says they’re doing up to 400 covers a day at the new Petaluma restaurant), Jam’s Joy Bungalow, Chef Tom Schmidt of John Ash & Co, Gerard’s Paella and many others.

Enjoy the gallery above for some food pix.

 

Glen Ellen’s Olea Hotel Reopens After Being Damaged in the Wine Country Fires

By Christi Warren
The pool at the Olea Hotel in Glen Ellen. (Sonoma County Tourism)

Sia and Ashish Patel finished renovations on their historic Glen Ellen hotel just a year before the Nuns fire marched its way.

Purchased in 2011, the husband and wife fell in love with the property’s 200-year-old olive trees that rimmed the lush Sonoma Valley hillside it brushed up against (the trees gave name to the hotel; olea is latin for olive or olive tree). Together, they modernized its interiors and added four new guest rooms, setting down the final paintbrush in 2016.

When the Nuns fire came racing through Glen Ellen last October, the century-old Warm Springs Road hotel was right in its path.

“You never expect that it’s going to happen to you,” Sia Patel said.

But it did. Thanks to a couple of fire crews that set up camp on the property, though, the damage was surmountable. Gone are two of the property’s historical cottages, as well as a significant number of the olive trees the Patels so loved, but the rest emerged mostly unscathed.

This week, nearly a year after the blaze, the Olea Hotel reopened to the public. Burn scars still mark the hillside.

The damage was estimated to be about $1 million, though the final dollar amount will likely be more than that, Sia Patel said. After scraping the fire-damaged buildings from the land, the Patels took advantage of the closure, further modernizing the interiors and installing a pool.

“Luckily our weekends are totally booked,” Sia Patel said. “Our weekdays, I’d say, we’re 50 percent there right now. We’re just trying to get a couple months of the busy season in.” 

Rates begin at just $199 and include a two-course breakfast. Olea Hotel is offering two special packages through February, 2019: Winter Escape – 20% off regular rates plus a $25 spa credit and Linger Longer – Stay one night, get 20% off; stay two nights or more and receive 30% off each additional night. Both packages include the hotel’s signature two-course breakfast of sweet and savory items plus breakfast buffet.

Click through the above gallery to see photos of the recently reopened Olea Hotel, and of the damage it sustained during last year’s wildfires. oleahotel.com

20 Ways to Upgrade Your Weekend in Wine Country

By Ashlee Ruggels

Fall is arriving and the warm, sunny days are slowly dwindling. Avoid the post-summer funk by brightening up your free time: enjoy time at the coast, taste wine in the countryside, try new foods, freshen up your look or simply embrace your weekend laziness. Click through the above gallery for 20 ways to upgrade your weekend in wine country.

 

 

 

9 Sonoma Products to Upgrade Your Bathroom

By Karen Kizer

Creating a great looking bathroom doesn’t have to involve taking a sledgehammer to your old tile and grout. A lot can be accomplished with some paint, clutter editing and the addition of a few (carefully selected) accessories. Here are some exquisite products, all available in Sonoma, to inspire some salle de bain style—click through the above gallery for details.