Page 381 – Sonoma Magazine

4 Sonoma Hotels & Vacation Rentals With Stunning Water Views

November 2016

By Christina Molcillo

With the holidays fast approaching and the season creeping closer to winter, now is the time to take advantage of some of the last warm weekends and enjoy the beauty of the Sonoma Coast or nearby Russian River. Here are four places to stay for a relaxing waterfront weekend:

Sea Ranch Escape – The Sea Ranch

Living room with a view. (Photo courtesy of The Sea Ranch Escape) — The Agua Blanca rental home at the Sea Ranch. (Photo courtesy of The Sea Ranch Escape)

There’s an undeniable advantage to having an entire house to yourself, especially if you’re going on a vacation with the whole family. Along the Sonoma Coast, there are ‘communities’ of vacation homes, like Sea Ranch Escape, that give you the freedom to come and go as you please without the worry of shared walls, cleaning service interruptions, or inflexible check-out times. Below is the entry to one of Sea Ranch Escape’s featured homes, the Agua Blanca.

The Agua Blanca is a one level home that allows up to four people to stay comfortably. This is one of several homes available for adults only. When staying at the Agua Blanca, you don’t need to worry about packing a book to read. The owners of this home are editors and authors, so there’s plenty of interesting books to browse in the library.

Sea Ranch Escape, The Coastal Real Estate Company – Liisberg & Kalinoski, 35590 Verdant View, The Sea Ranch, 95497, (707) 785-2426, searanchescape.com. Agua Blanca: $1,006 for two nights, or $2,766 for seven nights.

Bodega Bay & Beyond – Bodega Bay

Captain's Lookout. Exterior of home. (Photo courtesy of Bodega Bay and Beyond) — The Captain’s Lookout in Bodega Bay. (Photo courtesy of Bodega Bay and Beyond)

Another vacation home community, Bodega Bay & Beyond has over 50 homes for short-term rental right on the coast, or near the dunes of Salmon Creek. This model is called the Captain’s Lookout – a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home that sleeps 6 people and has panoramic views of Bodega Bay. Kids are welcome, but pets need to stay home.

Captain's Lookout. Living room overlooking the ocean. (Photo courtesy of Bodega Bay and Beyond) — Living room overlooking the ocean at the Captain’s Lookout.

Captain's Lookout. Bedroom. (Photo courtesy of Bodega Bay and Beyond) — Master bedroom at the Captain’s Lookout.

The master bedroom at the Captain’s Lookout is spacious and comfortable, with a sliding door leading to a patio where you can enjoy a nice Cabernet while soaking up the sights and sounds of the ocean.

Bodega Bay & Beyond, 575 CA-1, Bodega Bay, 94923, (707) 785-2426, www.sonomacoast.com. Captain’s Lookout: two nights are $750, an extra night is $325, a week is $1,900.)

Jenner Inn – Jenner

The Jenner Inn. (Photo courtesy of TripAdvisor.com)

The Jenner Inn is uniquely located where the Russian River meets the Pacific Ocean. With views of the Russian River estuary, this inn is a wildlife lovers dream offering glimpses of eagles, seals, river otters, sea lions, and pelicans. Your vacation here can simply consist of watching the wildlife and taking a leisurely stroll on the beach.

Milky Way room. (Photo courtesy of Jenner Inn) — Milky Way room at The Jenner Inn.

The rooms at The Jenner Inn each have different themes. While some of the rooms may be extra plush, this one – called the Milky Way – prides itself on being comfortable and home-like. Pets aren’t allowed, but Fido will forgive you when he sees how relaxed you are when you get back home.

View from the Milky Way room. (Photo courtesy of Jenner Inn) — View from the Milky Way room at The Jenner Inn.

If you’d like to kayak on the Russian River, you couldn’t find a better spot to stay. You could also just take a well-deserved day off, relaxing and watching the river flow by.

Jenner Inn, 10400 Coast Route 1, Jenner, 95450, (707) 865-2377, www.jennerinn.com

Bay Hill Mansion Bed & Breakfast – Bodega Bay

The Bay Hill Mansion Bed & Breakfast is a charming Queen Anne estate, perched at the base of Mt. Roscoe at the north edge of Bodega Bay. Until 2013, this B&B was a private residence. There are only five suites available, so early reservations are advisable if you’d like the opportunity to stay here.

captains suite — The Captain’s Suite at Bay Hill Mansion Bed & Breakfast.

Bay Hill Mansion offers a pampered experience with casual ambiance. The rooms feature classic appointments, such as chandeliers and plush over-sized beds and chairs, as well as original art. A homemade breakfast with fresh and organic ingredients is served daily.

Goat Rock. (Photo courtesy of Bay Hill Mansion Bed & Breakfast) — Goat Rock Beach.

9 miles down the road from Bay Hill Mansion is Goat Rock beach and stunning seaside views. This is the kind of place that lends itself to leisurely strolls or simply decompressing.

Bay Hill Mansion Bed & Breakfast 3919 Bay Hill Road , Bodega Bay, 94923, (877) 468-1588, www.bayhillmansion.com

Chef announced for new Santa Rosa Brewery

November 2016

By biteclub

Chef Ryan Seamus McCarthy will be the opening chef for 2 Tread Brewing Co. in Santa Rosa. Photo: St. Helena Farmer’s Market

When 2 Tread Brewing Company opens at the Santa Rosa Plaza next month, expect more than just good beer.

Owners have just announced that Chef Ryan “Seamus” McCarthy will be heading the kitchen. McCarthy is a veteran of several Bay Area restaurants including the three-Michelin starred Restaurant at Meadowood, St. Helena’s Farmer and the Fox, Sausalito’s Murray Circle and SF’s Outerlands.

Brewery co-owners Bill Drury, Tracy Heydorn and Christian August have been building out the 10,000 square foot indoor-outdoor space at the Plaza for months. The finished brewery and pub will feature on-site brewed beers, a casual chef-driven menu, live music and a full bar at the former Fresh Choice restaurant (which closed in 2012).

“A friendly place for beer, bikes and music is something I know I want,” said Drury, “and I think we’re filling that niche.”

Drury said that Christian August, formerly Head Brewer at Firestone-Walker, plans to brew about 1200 barrels in their first year, selling primarily onsite.

The buildout will begin in the next few weeks, with an anticipated opening in fall 2016.

“We want to create a community gathering place where people can relax with friends or family and enjoy some great beverages with some really interesting food,” said Drury. The brewery name references the treads of hiking boots, bicycles and the outdoors he and his co-owners love.

2 Tread joins other downtown Santa Rosa brewery businesses Russian River Brewing Co. and Third Street Ale Works. Sonoma County now has more than 20 craft brewers.

(Featured photo courtesy of St. Helena Farmer’s market)

Don’t Miss: New Sonoma Cider Taproom and Restaurant

November 2016

By Julie Fadda Powers

Since starting Sonoma Cider in 2013, father and son David and Robert Cordtz dreamed of opening a tap room, and now it’s a reality. Their 5,500-square-foot space in Healdsburg has 25 taps, from which they pour the cidery’s staples, plus experimental lots and small batches crafted specifically for the space.

Sonoma Cider founders Robert Cordtz, left, and his father, David, at their production facility in Healdsburg, on Tuesday, March 1, 2016. (Christopher Chung/ The Press Democrat) Sonoma Cider Christopher Chung — Sonoma Cider founders Robert Cordtz, left, and his father, David, at their production facility in Healdsburg. (Photo by Christopher Chung)

“I’m really excited about making all sorts of new ciders,” Robert said, citing recent creations including Bananaweizen (cider with Hefeweizen yeast and bananas), a breakfast cider called The Jax, which tastes like Apple Jacks cereal, and The Imperial (fermented with dark honey to 10.2 percent alcohol by volume and aged in whiskey barrels for eight months).

Sonoma Cider Taproom and Restaurant in Healdsburg. Photo: Gretchen Gause — Sonoma Cider Taproom and Restaurant in Healdsburg. (Photo by Gretchen Gause)

Just a block from the plaza at the former site of the Healdsburg Children’s Gymnastics & Fitness Center, the tap room is open daily for lunch and dinner, with a menu inspired by the world’s famous cider regions. There will also be beer, wine and nitrogenated coffee.

There’s plenty of bar seating and table dining, and space for live music, comedy and other entertainment. The industrial-themed space also offers shuffleboard, games and abundant free parking.

44-F Mill St., Healdsburg, 707-433-8212, sonomacider.com

Crab mac and cheese at Sonoma Cider Taproom and Restaurant in Healdsburg. Heather Irwin/PD — Crab mac and cheese at Sonoma Cider Taproom and Restaurant in Healdsburg. (Photo by Heather Irwin)

How to Become Wine Smart in A Day

November 2016

By Diane Peterson

Terrorized by terroir? Mystified by malolactic fermentation? Don’t know Gewürztraminer from Grenache?

If so, Andy Hyman is your guy. The Sonoma resident is a tour bus driver for Platypus Tours, which offers winery excursions in Sonoma and Napa Valley. He’s heard all the questions neophytes have about how wine is made, how to sniff and taste, how chocolate and vanilla get into Cabernet Sauvignon, and which wines pair well with particular foods.

Then he did something about it. With the help of his wife, Marla Rosner, Hyman wrote, edited and self-published the book, “Snob Free Wine Tasting Companion: Wine Smart in a Day!”, an accessible guide that helps wanna-be wine tasters speak the language. A thoughtful holiday gift for aspiring oenophiles, it won a Pinnacle Award from the National Association of Book Entrepreneurs earlier this year.

Andy Hyman, author of "Snob Free Wine Tasting Companion" and tour guide for Platypus Tours Ltd. at Loxton Cellars on Wednesday, June 29, 2016 in Glen Ellen, California . (BETH SCHLANKER/ The Press Democrat) — Andy Hyman, author of “Snob Free Wine Tasting Companion” and tour guide for Platypus Tours Ltd. at Loxton Cellars in Glen Ellen, California. (Photo by Beth Schlanker)

“When I was out at the wineries, I saw nothing for the beginner,” Hyman said. “I wanted a primer for people who want to get a better understanding of wine … but not come off as being snobs.”

It’s packed with pithy facts and figures, and chapters address such topics as the growth cycle of a grapevine, the role of oak barrels in winemaking, and advice on matching food and wine.

And just like a bottle of wine, Hyman’s book can be consumed in a few hours.

Learn more here: snobfreewinetasting.com

Single Thread Opening Date Dec. 2

November 2016

By biteclub

Chef Kyle Connaughton and his wife, Katina Connaughton, will open Single Thread Farms and Inn in Healdsburg. Photo courtesy of Sally Egan.

An opening date of Dec. 2 has been announced for the long-awaited Single Thread Restaurant + Farm in Healdsburg.

Chef Kyle Connaughton’s forthcoming dining experience has been touted as one of the nation’s most important restaurant openings of 2016. Connaughton and his wife, Katina, have been preparing for the opening for more than a year, and The Wall Street Journal and national food blog Eater have called them culinary visionaries.

Reservations are available here, and pre-paid tickets are required. The cost of the late fall and early winter dining experiences are $296 per person.

More details about the farm, the Connaughtons and the restaurant here.

Katina Connaughton of Single Thread Farms Restaurant in Healdsburg. Photo: Sally Egan

Take A Peek Inside the $175 Million Graton Casino Hotel

November 2016

By J.D. Morris

Since it opened three years ago, the Graton Resort and Casino has brought a taste of Las Vegas to Sonoma, offering a sea of slot machines, table games, stylish restaurants, bars and event space — but no accommodations.

Rendering of guest room suite at Graton Resort & Casino Hotel in Rohnert Park.

That changes Nov. 15 with the opening of the casino’s $175 million hotel near Rohnert Park, including 200 upscale rooms, a resort-style pool, fitness center, spa and salon.

graton4 — Rendering of guest room suite at Graton Resort & Casino Hotel in Rohnert Park.

The six-story hotel, with an expansive ballroom for concerts and conventions, essentially doubles the resort’s size and boosts its bid to compete as an overnight Wine Country destination, with Vegas flair.

graton1 — Premium Double Room at Graton Resort & Casino Hotel. (Photo Courtesy: Graton Resort & Casino)

“We’re going to do some world-class pampering,” said Joe Hasson, the casino’s vice president and general manager.

Gamblers who participate in the casino’s four-tier loyalty program, Graton Rewards, can expect the expansion to offer points toward hotel perks, including free and discounted rooms.

graton2 — Premium Double Room Bathroom at the Graton Resort & Casino Hotel in Rohnert Park. (Photo Courtesy: Graton Resort & Casino)

The luxurious pool area comes with amenities standard on the Strip: a bar, cabanas and look for online casino at Svenskkasinon lounge chairs in the water. Other elements will remain unique to Sonoma, however, including a design and color palette Hasson said was meant to be reflective of the area’s scenic beauty.

The Graton Resort & Casino's six-story luxury hotel, in Rohnert Park, on Wednesday, September 28, 2016. (Christopher Chung/ The Press Democrat) Graton Resort & Casino Hotel Expansion — The Graton Resort & Casino’s six-story luxury hotel, in Rohnert Park. (Photo by Christopher Chung)

This being Wine Country, hotel guests can also anticipate a taste of the area’s finest inside their rooms: Hasson said “the region’s terrific liquids” will find their way to the mini bars.

Room rates start at $399 for weekdays and $499 for weekends, plus taxes and fees. A stay at one of Las Vegas’ luxury resorts can go for far less, but Hasson said demand for the rooms has been strong, driving prices high and keeping them there.

Graton Resort & Casino, 288 Golf Course Drive W., Rohnert Park, 707-588-7100, gratonresortcasino.com

The view from a 2,600 square-foot luxury suite on the top floor of the Graton Resort & Casino's new hotel, in Rohnert Park, on Wednesday, September 28, 2016. (Christopher Chung/ The Press Democrat) Graton Resort & Casino Hotel Expansion Christopher Chung — The view from a 2,600 square-foot luxury suite on the top floor of the Graton Resort & Casino’s new hotel, in Rohnert Park. (Photo by Christopher Chung)

Goodbye G & G: An ode to a favorite local grocer

November 2016

By biteclub

News that G&G Markets is being sold to Safeway hit me like a ton of bricks. I just didn’t see that one coming, and it’s bad news for Sonoma County for a lot of reasons — from G & G’s ongoing community involvement and financial generosity for local organizations to its willingness to give fledgling local producers space on the shelves.

The sale won’t be finalized until the end of the year, but the latter is what has me especially concerned.

Since I was a teen visiting my grandma in Santa Rosa, G&G was the place you went when you needed something unusual or hard to find. In the 1980s, that meant rarities like pickled ginger or rice noodles. Later we went for the Pasta King’s famous pesto sauce or good deli meat. More recently, it was my go-to for everything from small-production butter and arrowroot powder to holiday crab, shrimp chips and local cheeses.

It’s heaven to walk the aisles, peering at cans of Heinz spotted dick, bottles of Mexican sodas and packages of dried fish, mushrooms and unidentifiable Asian specialties. During baking season, I can count on finding just about any kind of flour, from coconut to rice, and then grabbing a box of fried rice and pork to keep me cooking. Not to mention their annual Christmas town display, something that delighted both young and old.

But every time I went, I also found dozens of little local producers just starting production. Unlike Whole Foods or Safeway, which have a fairly intensive vetting process, or Costco, which demands massive amounts of product to go on its shelves, G & G (along with Pacific Market and Oliver’s Markets) is the Sonoma County food kick starter where you can talk to a human about your idea, possibly even an owner. They have hosted live feeds of John Ash’s Good Food Hour and cooking lessons with chefs like Josh Silvers.

I admit that I’m also part of the problem. I don’t faithfully shop at G&G, usually preferring the convenience and cost of my nearby Safeway. For specialty items, I make the trek from my house to G & G or Oliver’s Markets, but for daily staples like toilet paper, milk and ice cream, proximity rules the day. I suspect many others do the same.

Acquisition of local markets seems to be accelerating. Bay Area Andronico’s supermarkets also announced this week their sale to Safeway, meaning even fewer local grocers to support local producers.

And I get it. Safeway isn’t in the business of supporting community purveyors. Its buyers make attempts, and as a regular Safeway shopper I love seeing things like Bella Rosa Coffee, Clover dairy products and Franco-American bread in my basket. But these boutique small producers are primarily loss-leaders that represent good will. Safeway can make far more money on its house brands and mass-produced consumables from companies like Frito-Lay and General Mills than it can from small batch spaghetti sauce made in Sonoma.

That’s the reality we’re living in, where small grocers get snapped up by bigger grocers, where small production companies get snapped up by international conglomerates, and where we all want chicken that costs 99 cents a pound.

So farewell to G & G. Sonoma County won’t be the same without you.

In Time for The Holidays, Dungeness is Back in Bodega Bay

November 2016

By Mary Callahan

There’s a bite to the air in the mornings now, a turning of seasons that brings to mind cozy gatherings and holiday feasts. And this year, unlike last, it appears there will be fresh, succulent Dungeness crab on the table as the centerpiece of the celebration.

In Bodega Bay, the fishing fleet has been readying for the Nov. 15 opener, with hopes pinned on hauling in tons of the delectable crustaceans from Thanksgiving through the new year and beyond.

That wasn’t the case last year, after an unprecedented, four-and-a-half-month delay kept boats tied at the docks, the harvest suspended over health concerns raised by a massive toxic algae bloom off California.

This year, cooler water and promising test results are buoying expectations for a bountiful haul of Dungeness in California ports.

At Fisherman’s Cove, enjoy a crab sandwich with some local crafts beer at on of the communal tables overlooking the bay. (yelp.com)

Go to Bodega Bay and see the state’s $60 million crab fishery in action: Crab boats coming and going, stacked high with the big metal traps, or pots, used in the catch. You can buy your crab there at one of several outlets, or at your local grocer or fishmonger.

“Being in Sonoma County, we are spoiled with the best crab on the planet,” said Todd Davis, meat and seafood coordinator for Oliver’s Markets. “When our Dungeness locally is running, it’s the best out there. Nothing compares.”

If you’re really in the mood, grab an outdoor table at Spud Point Crab Co or Fisherman’s Cove. and feast on a crab-filled menu in sight of the working men and women who make it all possible.

“They’re kind of excited,” said Lorne Edwards, president of the Bodega Bay Fisherman’s Marketing Association.

3 Sparkling Wines for The Holidays

November 2016

By Julie Fadda Powers

Jayme Powers, owner of SIGH bubble lounge in Sonoma. (Photo by Chris Hardy)

If there’s one thing Jayme Powers wants wine drinkers to know, it’s that Champagne and other sparkling wines are for every day — not just special occasions. But as the holiday season approaches, no one can deny that they become top of mind.

Powers, owner of SIGH bubble lounge in Sonoma, has long loved sparkling wine. The title on her business card is bubble boss, her customers are bubbleheads, and her tasting room offers carefully selected choices from around the world.

So, boss, what to serve for the holidays?

“If you’re looking for something that’s more approachable, to drink on a daily basis, try the Anna de Codorniu Brut Rosé ($22) from Spain,” she said. “Its packaging is eye-catching, too.

“For the middle price range, I suggest Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs ($48). It’s a delicious, Pinot Noir-driven sparkling wine from one of the most historic wineries in Napa Valley.”

To impress even the most discerning wine connoisseur, Powers recommends the Lelarge Pugeot Quintessence ($72), from a small Champagne winery in France that grows its own grapes. “It’s from one of my favorite producers, and it isn’t found in most stores,” she said.

To dress up the glass a little more, “Add a little pomegranate juice and float a few seeds.”

SIGH offers fizz by tasting flight, glass and bottle. Cheese plates and beer “for the people who don’t like sparkling wines” are also available.

29 E. Napa St., Suite C, Sonoma, 707-996-2444, sighsonoma.com

Bravas Bar De Tapas for authentic Spanish tapas in Healdsburg

November 2016

By biteclub

After a trip to Spain, restaurateurs Mark and Terri Stark decided to bring the concept of true Spanish tapas to Sonoma County, opening Bravas bar de Tapas in late 2012.

Now well-established in the Healdsburg restaurant scene, the expansive patio is a year-round draw for Sangria, cider, wine and cocktails with served with bites of paper-thin Iberico ham and Manchego cheese, tuna belly salad, mushroom escabeche, bacon-wrapped dates with blue cheese and Marcona almonds.

The tapas menu is expansive, so come hungry.

Spanish for “cover”, tapas originally referred to slices of bread, meat and cheese served atop a glass of wine or sherry to keep the flies out of your cocktail (or so the legend goes).

Now it’s anything served on a saucer-sized plate — from sushi to nachos. And folks, that ain’t tapas.

At Bravas, it is best to order a few cold tapas and a few warm, along with bocadillos (or little sandwiches). That’s the whole point, sharing and tasting with your fellow eaters. We love roasted red beets with cinnamon, goat cheese toast, duck meatballs, long-cooked pork cheeks, foie gras with orange marmalade and the required Patatas Bravas–fried potatoes with spicy tomato sauce and aioli.

Heartier dishes cooked on a flat griddle called a plancha include Monterey Calamari with lemon ($10.50), fresh Gulf prawns ($15), skirt steak with red onion marmalade, pimenton chicken thighs and smother pork riblets.

Family-style plates — appropriate for several eaters –include a whole crispy skin Mt. Lassen Trout ($32), Tomahawk coffee-crusted certified Angus beef ($72) and fried chicken with mumbo sauce ($28)

It’s a menu filled with brassy, bold flavors that do the cha-cha through your mouth and leave no question that you’ll need a breath mint or two before getting familiar with friends or co-workers. In a good way.

A departure from the usual Wine Country lineup, the basic building blocks of the menu (shrimp, pig ears, fried duck eggs, Dungeness crab, sardines, skirt steak, seafood ceviche) are ingredients the Starks have a proven track record of cooking to perfection at their other restaurants (Willi’s Wine Bar, Willi’s Seafood, Monti’s, Stark’s Steak and Seafood and Bird and Bottle).

Jamon in!

Bravas Bar de Tapas, 420 Center St., Healdsburg, 707-433-7700, starkrestasurants.com/stark-restaurant/bravas-bar-de-tapas.

Lauded as…
One of the top 20 tapas restaurants in the U.S.” –Travel + Leisure

“Top 100 Bay Area Restaurant, 2013, 2014, 2015” — San Francisco Chronicle