The National Heirloom Expo in Santa Rosa, Sept .6-8, 2016
If you have any kind of green thumb or, you know, eat food and care about the planet, the National Heirloom Expo is for you. Hosted by Baker Creek Seed is all that a fall harvest fair should be in a remarkably wholesome and earnest way. From learning about seed saving and why planting heirloom vegetables is so amazing; but also to learn about the environment and our food system from national and international speakers. Plus, there’s the gourd tower.
Bright Bear Bakery in Petaluma features luxe pastries, cronuts, croissants and morning buns in Petaluma. Photo: Heather Irwin/PD
The buzz about this incredible little bakery got out fast, as news of cream-filled cronuts (a cross between a croissant and a donut that’s too decadent not to eat), morning buns and fresh breads made the rounds.
The Cronut: Bright Bear Bakery in Petaluma features luxe pastries, cronuts, croissants and morning buns in Petaluma. Photo: Heather Irwin/PD
Bright Bear Bakery isn’t easy to find, but a pilgrimage is worth the effort, as long as you’re early. The chickpea scramble with sweet potatoes and harissa (vegan) is great no matter what your diet, and a breakfast focaccia with ham egg and cheese is perfect when paired with a chocolate croissant, luxe cream cheese danish and cranberry scone. And did we mention their twice-baked croissants? These little beauties get stuffed with lemon curd and strawberries, then rebaked for a crispy, buttery sweet treat.
Bright Bear Bakery in Petaluma features luxe pastries, cronuts, croissants and morning buns in Petaluma. Photo: Heather Irwin/PD
You’ll go overboard ordering here, but when exactly have your co-workers turned up their noses at fresh muffins and coffee?
Strawberry dessert at Revival Restaurant in Guerneville at the Applewood Inn. Photo: Heather Irwin
CLOSED
Strips of seaweed dangle like party streamers high above the industrial burners in Chef Ben Spiegel’s Guerneville kitchen. Foraged that morning in the cold coastal waters of Northern California, the green leaves have been dried to inky black by ambient heat from the stove. On the kitchen counters are dried sea beans, and beneath his knife, an entire Marin halibut that looks as if it has just jumped out of the water.
This is Revival Restaurant, the restaurant Spiegel and restaurant visionary Crista Luedtke hope will be just that, a new chapter in the life of a once-great Guerneville restaurant.
Whole fish at Revival Restaurant in Guerneville at the Applewood Inn. Photo: Kelly Puleio
A love letter to the fish, fowl and fields of West County, Revival has the potential to redefine farm-to-table and sea-to-table dining in a very real way, not only by serving the food from this unique part of Sonoma County but by weaving a story into every bite.
Revival Restaurant: Rising from the ashes
Herb Garden at Revival Restaurant in Guerneville at the Applewood Inn. Photo: Heather Irwin
After nearly a year of neglect, the restaurant at Applewood Inn was in need of a makeover. The carefully planted gardens had gone to seed after the sale of the property, and the kitchen had been abandoned since the former management abruptly closed, just eight months after opening it.
“This place just had so much potential,” said Luedtke, who was tapped to manage the restaurant by the inn’s new owner, Ric Pielstick of EpiSoul hospitality group. As owner of the popular Boon Hotel, Boon Eat + Drink,El Barrio and Big Bottom Market, all in Guerneville, the 43-year-old has transformed the face of this historic river logging town, bringing a new cache and destination-worthiness.
Like her other projects, Luedtke saw the potential to bring new life to a Guerneville treasure.
“I couldn’t say no. I’m just so in love with what’s happening here,” said Luedtke, who serves as Revival’s business manager, chef, designer and bartender.
Fresh melon and lemon cucumbers at Revival Restaurant in Guerneville at the Applewood Inn. Photo: Heather Irwin
The urgent need for a chef who shared her passion led her to Spiegel, who moved to Sebastopol in 2014 after stints in Scandinavia and at Washington’s Lummi Island Inn and the highly acclaimed NYC restaurant, Skal. Looking for a life change, the east coast native found a calling in coastal cuisine, learning to forage, preserve and seek out micro-regional products for his menu. Products like seaweed.
“It’s a narrative about what’s being harvested,” said Spiegel, with quiet intensity and an infectious earnestness. “We wouldn’t have seaweed on the menu in the Midwest,” he said. “There’s just a moral responsibility here at Revival. It’s a decadence based on the origin of the products.”
If that all sounds a bit highfalutin, it’s understandable. Too many bad restaurants have tried to co-opt the ideals of showcasing pristine local products, and too many snooty chefs have ostracized locals who want a great meal on a Wednesday night that won’t set them back a week’s wages.
Interior of Revival Restaurant in Guerneville. Photo Kelly Puleio
But Spiegel and Luedtke are trying to carefully walk a line that offers many dishes under $15 (entrées are $22 and up), a forthcoming locals’ night and a bar menu. This is their backyard, after all, and Luedtke knows that locals are a key clientele. She and Spiegel also are creating food that’s profound, delicious and unique, with a focus on the craft, quality ingredients and hours of painstaking handwork in the kitchen.
“We reprint the menu daily, because some small nuance has changed,” said Luedtke. “But really, we’re just trying to make delicious food.”
And that’s what will make Revival worth making a pilgrimage.
Cocktail at Revival Restaurant in Guerneville at the Applewood Inn. Photo: Heather Irwin
Time to make the caviar
Three prep cooks with black plastic gloves carefully harvest salmon roe from tongue-like skeins of eggs. It’s ridiculously painstaking work using a fine mesh, salted water and the patience to tease out a few ounces of caviar. The brilliant orange eggs will be part of tonight’s menu, topping raw beef from Napa’s Five Dot Ranch, served with smoked tomato and cheese-cured egg yolks ($18).
Anchovies at Revival Restaurant in Guerneville at the Applewood Inn. Photo: Kelly Puleio
Meanwhile, another prep cook eviscerates finger-length anchovies with a quick pinch and twist, their silver scales flashing in the light. Typically used as bait, these plentiful fish will get a more heroic memorial at Revival. They will be fried, tossed with slices of citrus and served with a gribiche (or cold mayonnaise-style sauce) made with seaweed, pickled plums and eggs that Spiegel calls “greenbiche.” The surprisingly mild and tender fried fish is as approachable as a puppy and much easier to dunk in the savory green sauce.
Revival isn’t just about seafood, however. There’s plenty on the menu that showcases the farmers and ranchers of the region. At the moment, slices of perfectly ripe heirloom Ha’ogen melon are paired with plentiful lemon cucumbers, mint and a bit of whey, as in “curds and whey,’ the watery by-product of cheesemaking that adds just a hint of creaminess. It’s summer in a bowl ($6).
Anchovies at Revival Restaurant in Guerneville at the Applewood Inn. Photo: Heather Irwin
Smoked duck or a simple flat iron steak, served off-center on a white plate, are both luxurious and simple ($29), not overcomplicated with heavy sauces or sides, just simple spigarello broccoli leaves.
As delicious as they are, each ingredient has been carefully curated as part of the story that Spiegel and Luedtke want to tell about West County.
The story of food
For all the hipster jokes about precious pickle pedigrees and heirloom hamburgers, there are those who truly care about how that beautiful piece of radish actually got on their plate.
“Food has to tell the story,” said Luedtke. “So much goes in to it, and that gets lost if we don’t tell it.”
That means hearing about the restaurant garden, which is filled with edible flowers, greens and fruit trees. Or the laying hens, the herb garden just outside the door, the cultured cream in your panna cotta, or the farmer who brought in Gravenstein apples this morning.
Spiegel frequently walks through the dining room, sharing insightful tidbits about the aspic used in the halibut crudo (made with bones that would otherwise be thrown away), or why most things on the menu include something fermented, a skill he learned in Scandinavia’s limited growing seasons.
“We have no attachment to the ingredients. When it’s done (for the season), it’s done,” he said. “Except broccoli, and that never goes away.
“This (menu) is a narrative about what’s being harvested and knowing where food comes from. Chefs can change tastes, and as we move from a protein diet to using more produce from around us, it’s so much more sustainable,” he added. “We’re trying to contextualize the food based on what’s around us.”
Halibut at Revival Restaurant in Guerneville at the Applewood Inn. Photo: Kelly Puleio
Most important, though, the food has to taste good. “I’m very particular, and this food feeds my soul,” Luedtke said, eating a bowl of seascape strawberry sorbet with fig leaf vinaigrette, parsley oil and Genoise cake. “I just love to eat food that’s so beautifully done, so simply prepared, and from right here,” she said.
Revival at the Applewood Inn, 13555 Highway 116, Guerneville, (707) 869-9093, eatatrevival.com. It’s open for dinner at 5:30 p.m. Thursday through Monday, closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Lifestyle blogger and celebrity chef Ayesha Curry will take the stage on October 7th as part of the Sonoma County Women in Conversation series. (Photo by Rebecca Chotkowski)
Four inspirational women — a former vineyard worker who now owns her own winery, a busy mom turned lifestyle blogger and cookbook author, and the frozen chicken mavens who caught President Barack Obama’s attention — will appear in Santa Rosa this fall as part of the Sonoma County Women in Conversation series that resumes tonight.
Amelia Morán Ceja, president of Ceja Vineyards in Sonoma, leads off the series at 7 p.m. Thursday. She will be followed by Bay Area superstar Ayesha Curry on Oct. 7 and Serafina Palandech and Jennifer Johnson, co-owners of Hip Chick Farms in Sebastopol, on Nov. 10. Get tickets here.
Amelia Morán Ceja leads off the Sonoma County Women in Conversation series tonight, at 7 p.m. (Courtesy Photo)
“Our goal is to spark ideas, encourage more collaboration and ultimately develop a stronger voice surrounding topics of interest to local women,” said Karleen Arnink-Pate, chief revenue officer for Sonoma Media Investments, which is producing the series. “We hope these conversations will build a stronger community of Sonoma County women who support and inspire each other.”
Sonoma Media Investments owns The Press Democrat, as well as the Petaluma Argus-Courier, Sonoma Index-Tribune, North Bay Business Journal, Sonoma Magazine and LaPrensa Sonoma.
Amelia Morán Ceja emigrated to California in 1967 to join her father in the vineyards, and in 1999 she and three siblings founded their own winery, which produces wine from vineyards in Napa and Sonoma counties. She was the first Mexican-American woman to become president of a winery, and has gone on to produce more than 140 videos in which she prepares Mexican food and pairs it with wine.
Ayesha Curry arrives at the Autism Speaks to LA Celebrity Chef Gala at Barker Hangar on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP)
Ayesha Curry is the mother of two and wife of Golden State Warriors basketball star Stephen Curry. She has made a name for herself with “Little Lights of Mine,” a series of videos about food and family she posts on her YouTube channel. This fall, she also will debut “Ayesha’s Homemade,” her Food Network show, and “The Seasoned Life,” a cookbook published by Little, Brown and Co.
Hip Chick Jennifer Johnson earned her chef’s chops at Chez Panisse in Berkeley and as a personal chef for philanthropists Ann and Gordon Getty. With her partner Serafina Palendech she created a line of easy meals made from humanely raised chickens. They’re now distributed nationally to stores that include Oliver’s Markets, Whole Foods, Sprouts and Target. The innovative pair have been featured in Food & Wine and Fortune magazines, and were invited to cook for President Obama.
Hip Chick Farms owners Jen Johnson and Serafina Palandech. (Courtesy Photo)
With a lineup that includes Keb’ Mo’, Sheila E., Chaka Khan and more, the 40th annual Jazz & Blues Festival is looking at another stellar weekend of music and river life, Sept. 9-11. (Photo by Conner Jay)
Clear your calendars, we’ve got some fun for you this week. Experience “Broadway Under the Stars” when Transcendence Theater presents their season closing gala celebration this weekend. Discover local grown music at this year’s American Roots Music Festival. Kick back in the river for the Russian River Jazz & Blues Festival. All this and more is in our list of things to do.
FRIDAY, Sept. 9
Movies in the Park: Embark on an adventure with the Lost Boys, Tinker Bell and a grown up Peter Pan when Howarth Park presents an outdoor showing of “Hook,” starring Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman. The free event offers pre-show entertainment, with the movie starting around 7:45 p.m. Vendors are available with food for sale. Find out all the details at pd2go.net/HowarthMoviesInThePark.
Howarth Park presents an outdoor screening of “Hook,” starring Dustin Hoffman and Robin Williams on Friday, Sept. 9.
Broadway Under the Stars Gala Celebration: Closing out their season, Transcendence Theater presents a 3-night event packed full of powerhouse performances, community tributes and sentimental reflections. If you haven’t made it out to the Winery Ruins at Jack London State Park for this performance under the stars, this weekend is your last chance for the year. Picnicking starts at 5 p.m., and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. Find out more at transcendencetheatre.org. (Sept. 9-11)
Russian River Jazz & Blues Festival kicks off Saturday at Johnson’s Beach in Guerneville, with a Wine Garden, water activities, plenty of food choices and a great live music lineup. (Photo by Alvin Jornada)
SATURDAY, Sept. 10
American Roots Music Festival: In its 3rd year, this Bodega festival pays homage to locally music artists, delicious food and tons of family fun. From 2-9 p.m. Saturday, the afternoon will feature plenty of acoustic music from bands like The Dixie Giants, Frankie Boots & The County Line, Sonoma Aroma and more. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Tickets are $25, and kids under 10 are free. Find out more at facebook.com/BeOutsideMore.
Beer in the Plaza: This Saturday, enjoy unlimited tastes from a variety of local brewers when Soroptimist International of Healdsburg presents its 30th annual Beer in the Plaza. Taking place 2-6 p.m., the event raises funds for women and girls locally and around the world. Tickets are $45-$50 general admission, $20 designated driver and $15 for under 21. 5 and under is free. Find out more at sihealdsburg.org/beerintheplaza.html.
Russian River Jazz & Blues Festival: With a lineup that includes Keb’ Mo’, Sheila E., Chaka Khan and more, the 40th annual Jazz & Blues Festival is looking at another stellar weekend of music. The event takes place at Johnson’s Beach in Guerneville, with a Wine Garden, water activities and plenty of food choices to accompany live music performances. Tickets are $55-$190. Find out more at russianriverfestivals.com. (Sept. 10-11)
Multi-platinum recording artist Gavin DeGraw plays at the Green Music Center on Sunday. (Courtesy Photo)
SUNDAY, Sept. 11
Gavin DeGraw at GMC: The multi-platinum recording artist of song, “I Don’t Want to Be,” will perform live this Sunday at the Green Music Center in Rohnert Park. Tickets to the 7 p.m. show are $30 for lawn seating, and $45-$65 for indoor. Find out all the details at gmc.sonoma.edu.
Other upcoming events:
Petaluma Arts Association puts on the 59th annual Art in the Park on Saturday, Sept. 10. (Courtesy Photo)
Friday, Sept. 9
Victims Family: Hardcore punk and jazz band, 7 tonight, Phoenix Theater, Petaluma. $10. Benefits musician Guthrie Lowe. 762-3565, thephoenixtheater.com.
‘The Big Meal’: Left Edge Theatre comedy, opens 8 tonight, continues through Sept. 25, Luther Burbank Center Studio Theater, Santa Rosa. $25-$40. 546-3600, lutherburbankcenter.org.
Saturday, Sept. 10
Carl Hiaasen: Copperfield’s Books and Sonoma County Library host ‘Razor Girl’ author, 7 p.m. Saturday, Central Santa Rosa Library. Free. copperfieldsbooks.com.
Boston Rocks: Noon-3 p.m. Saturday, Village Court, Montgomery Village, Santa Rosa. Free. 545-3844, mvshops.com.
‘Art in the Park’: Petaluma Arts Association art show and sale, live music and food, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Walnut Park, Petaluma. Free. petalumaarts.org.
Wanda Sykes: Stand-up comic and ‘Alpha House’ and ‘Black-ish’ actress, 8 p.m. Saturday, Luther Burbank Center, Santa Rosa. $49.50-$59.50. 546-3600, lutherburbankcenter.org.
David Grisman Bluegrass Experience: Bluegrass/acoustic jazz band, 7 p.m. Saturday, Long Meadow Ranch, St. Helena. $65-$75. 963-4555, longmeadowranch.com.
Sunday, Sept. 11
‘A Love of Wonder’: Pianist and vocalist Tammy Hall performs Stevie Wonder songs, 4 p.m. Sunday, Queen’s Lane Gardens, Petaluma. $30-$35 includes picnic. 763-8920, cinnabartheater.org.
‘Celebrating Fountaingrove’s Nagasawa’: Wine, appetizers and program on Kanaye Nagasawa’s role in Fountaingrove’s history, 4-7 p.m. Sunday, Paradise Ridge Winery, Santa Rosa. $45. 579-1500, sonomacountymuseum.org.
Wendy DeWitt: Boogie woogie and blues, 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Village Terrace, Montgomery Village, Santa Rosa. Free. 545-3844, mvshops.com.
Monday, Sept. 12
Dave Barry: Pulitzer Prize-winning and New York Times- bestselling humorist, 7 p.m. Monday, Copperfield’s Books, Montgomery Village, Santa Rosa. Free. 578-8938, copperfieldsbooks.com.
Tuesday, Sept. 13
Pat Metheny: Jazz guitarist, with blues and swing, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Weill Hall, Green Music Center, Rohnert Park. $30-$50. (866) 955-6040, gmc.sonoma.edu.
Wednesday, Sept. 14
Will Durst: ‘Elect to Laugh!’ one-man comedy show, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Main Stage West, Sebastopol. Sold out. 823-0177, mainstagewest.com.
Thursday, Sept. 15
Frobeck: Funk-rock band, ‘Rockin’ the River’ outdoor concert series season finale, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Guerneville Plaza. Free. rockintheriver.org.
Avett Brothers: Folk, bluegrass and southern rock band, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Weill Hall and Lawn, Green Music Center, Rohnert Park. $45-$65. (866) 955-6040, gmc.sonoma.edu.
Ron ‘Tater Salad’ White: ‘Blue Collar Comedy’ cigar-smoking comedian, 8 p.m. Thursday, Luther Burbank Center, Santa Rosa. $64. 546-3600, lutherburbankcenter.org.
Kenny Metcalf’s ‘Tribute to Elton John’: ‘Concert Under the Stars,’ 5:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Village Court, Montgomery Village, Santa Rosa. Free. 545-3844, mvshops.com.
Friday, Sept. 16
‘50 Years of Dirt’: Country rock with iconic Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 16, Weill Hall and Lawn, Green Music Center, Rohnert Park. $25-$65. (866) 955-6040, gmc.sonoma.edu.
‘Zootopia’: Comedy adventure, ‘Movies in the Park’ season closer, dusk Sept. 16, Howarth Park, Santa Rsa. Free. Bring low-back chairs or blankets. bit.ly/1DCVlLy.
‘Baskerville’: Sherlock Homes mystery, opens 8 p.m. Sept. 16, runs through Oct. 9, Spreckels Theatre, Rohnert Park. $16-$26. 588-3400, ci.rohnert-park.ca.us.
Saturday, Sept. 17
“At Twilight” with North Coast Ballet California: Enjoy artistic samplings of local foods and beverages, live music and performances by the North Coast Ballet California. $55-$65. 21-plus. 7-9 p.m. Petaluma Arts Center. pd2go.net/AtTwilight
‘Artistry in Wood’: Sonoma County Woodworkers Association exhibit opening, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 17, History Museum of Sonoma County, Santa Rosa. Runs through Oct. 9. $7-$10. 579-1500, sonomacountymuseum.org.
The B-52s: Party band, summer concert series season finale, 5 p.m. Sept. 17, Rodney Strong Vineyards, Healdsburg. $84-$129. 431-1533, rodneystrong.com.
EarleFest: Lucinda Williams plus six bands, 2 p.m. Sept. 17, SOMO Village Event Center, Rohnert Park. Benefits Earle Baum Center of the Blind. $55. somoconcerts.com.
Glendi International Food Festival: Ethnic food and beverages, live music, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sept. 17, noon-6 p.m. Sept. 18, St. Seraphim Church, Santa Rosa. $5. 584-9491, glendisantarosa.com.
Old Grove Festival: Poor Man’s Whiskey hootenanny band, 5:30 p.m. Sept. 17, Armstrong Woods Redwood Forest Theater, Guerneville. Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods benefit. $10-$75. stewardscr.org.
Sunday, Sept. 18
Latino Heritage Month Fiesta: Outdoor event with authentic food, music, games and activities, 1-7 p.m. Sept. 18, Luther Burbank Center, Santa Rosa. Free. 800-7512, lutherburbankcenter.org.
Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally: Music and comedy, strong adult content, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 18, Weill Hall and Lawn, Green Music Center, Rohnert Park. $25-$65. (866) 955-6040, gmc.sonoma.edu.
Paradise Ridge Winery. (Photo Courtesy of Paradise Ridge Winery)
The annual USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards are currently being announced, and two Sonoma County wineries were voted among the top 10 in the category of “Best Tasting Room.” Paradise Ridge Winery in Santa Rosa (with tasting room in Kenwood) took home the 5th spot, followed by Dry Creek Vineyards in Healdsburg on 6th.
The two Sonoma County wineries competed against a pool of 20 nominees, chosen by a panel of wine experts. The top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.
At number 5, Paradise Ridge Winery was the number one California tasting room among the top 10, followed by Dry Creek Vineyard in Healdsburg, LXV Wine in Paso Robles, Municipal Winemakers in Santa Barbara and Bluxome Street Winery in San Francisco.
Dry Creek Vineyard tasting room in Healdsburg. (Photo Courtesy of Dry Creek Vineyard)
Combining “great wines” with a “great space,” Paradise Ridge Winery and Dry Creek Vineyard received the following descriptions from USA Today:
“The tasting room at Paradise Ridge Winery’s Russian River Valley Estate enjoys sweeping views of the Russian River Valley, as well as space to sip al fresco on an expansive outside deck. It’s particularly stunning at sunset, glass of wine in hand.”
“Dry Creek Vineyard was the first new winery built in the Dry Creek Valley following the end of Prohibition, and today, the Healdsburg tasting room pours some of the best Fumé Blancs and Zinfandels from California. Guests can also purchase wine from the tasting room to enjoy on the winery’s lovely picnic grounds.”
The top 10 winners in the category Best Tasting Room:
Fall is right around the corner, but backyard entertaining is still in full swing. Whether you’re hosting a mid-morning brunch or an early evening cocktail hour, it’s time to update the outdoor décor to make it festive for the season.
Here are some of our favorite ways to make this happen…
Let Your Porch Welcome Guests
When guests are coming over, your front porch will set the mood for the festivities to follow. This porch, decorated with autumn flowers and pumpkins, will welcome your visitors with a cozy fall feeling. (Image via countryliving.com)
If you’re lucky enough to have a sizable porch, some throw pillows in an autumn hue will accentuate the colors of your flower arrangements. (Image via heinspiredroom.net)
Wreaths have a history dating as far back as ancient Greece, and have been used to announce the changing seasons, holidays, and harvest times. This hand-made Indian corn wreath helps usher in fall and looks great both inside and outside. (Image via hgtv.com)
Another example of a harvest wreath, created with wheat husks and local foliage. It makes a lovely centerpiece for any outdoor table and takes less than 30 minutes to create. (Image via lynchcreekwreaths.com)
Create this look: Village Art Supply, 715 Hahman Dr, Santa Rosa, villageartsupply.com.
Go Out of Your Gourd
You don’t necessarily need to plant pumpkins or gourds – simply arrange a colorful selection in your garden to create a seasonal tableau. (Image via designerlandscapesllc.com)
Gourds can also serve as table decoration when hosting an outdoor picnic or meal. (Image via photos.hgtv.com)
Get these gourds: Calabash – A Festival of Gourds, Art, and the Garden (Sunday, October 2, 2016), 6550 Railroad Avenue, Forestville, fftfoodbank.org.
Show That Fall is For The Birds
Fall is the time for cleaning and restocking your bird feeders. Many species begin to flock and head toward warmer climates at this time of year – keeping your feeders filled will ensure that your backyard becomes a popular pitstop. (Image via birdfeeders.com)
You don’t need to invest a lot of time or money into a bird feeder. Simply hollow out half of a pumpkin, fill it with birdseed, and hang it from your favorite tree. Side note: this would only feed the birds for one day, and you can expect squirrels to help themselves to a few snacks – so remember to refill the feeder the next day. (Image via audubon.org)
Learn what to feed the birds: Wild Birds Unlimited, 71 Brookwood Avenue, Santa Rosa, santarosa.wbu.com.
Let Your Lights Shine
Autumn means that the days are getting shorter. Some well-placed lights in backyard trees will brighten up the night and create a twinkling, magical space for an outdoor cocktail party or romantic dinner. (Image via waplag.net)
These woven, wooden globes have strings of lights entwined throughout, creating a visually interesting addition to the yard. (Image via highwayswest.com)
Hay bales are a sure sign of the impending winter; when the weather puts an end to grazing days and the hay is plentiful. Here in Sonoma County, hay bales are a welcome winter sight, and can add a rustic touch to your outdoor decorations. (Image via digsdigs.com)
While you don’t need to display the whole crop to show that fall is here, these hay bales help create a cheery platform for this ‘gourd-geous’ collection. (Image via homefinder.com)
Taste of Sonoma, the centerpiece of the three-day Sonoma Wine Country Weekend, welcomed food and wine lovers Saturday to the bucolic MacMurray Ranch Estate Vineyards in Healdsburg for the 12th year under near-perfect weather conditions.
The buzz this year is that changes are afoot for Sonoma County’s largest charitable event, produced by the Sonoma County Vintners and the Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Alliance. Last year, the organizers gave away $3.5 million to charities from a gross of $5.5 million from the weekend.
Jean Arnold Sessions, executive director of the Sonoma County Vintners, hinted that the event’s date and location will be different next year but kept those details under wraps until an announcement Sunday.
“Labor Day has been tough for a lot of people coming, because they are on family holidays,” Sessions said. “And MacMurray Ranch has done it for so many years. It’s a chance to move around Sonoma County.”
As usual, there were plenty of refreshing bites and sips, such as the spicy watermelon gazpacho served up by Chef Darren McReynolds of the Pullman Kitchen in Santa Rosa, paired with a Dutton Estate Sauvignon Blanc.
MacMurray Ranch (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
One of the benefits of attending is you can try food and wine from the entire county, without having to drive around in your car.
“What’s not to like?” asked John Carr of San Francisco, returning for his fifth year at the event. “The food and the wine is wonderful, the crowds are not overwhelming, and the scenery is great. You can stop at the Jimtown Store and Rodney Strong in one day.”
While there were a few babies in tow, Christine Rios of Napa and San Francisco was the only one who carried her dog, Princess Snowflake, in a shoulder bag while tasting through the appellation tents.
“This is super high class, the most un-country Wine Country event,” she said. “There’s a lot of attention to detail — the signage, the lay out, the people. It feels very open and casual, but the preparation was not casual at all.”
The event sold out Friday, with an estimated 2,500 tickets purchased and a crew of 400 volunteers, who worked all week to get ready for the chefs, the winemakers and the guests to arrive.
Ticket holders started streaming through the gate at 11 a.m., but many of the 200 wineries and 85 chefs participating in the event had arrived at the ranch much earlier.
Peter Janiak, executive chef of Seghesio Family Vineyards, started smoking 140 racks of St. Louis-style pork ribs at 1:30 a.m. Saturday. He served them up with the Seghesio Cortina Zinfandel and a side of wipes for greasy fingers.
Most folks started the day in the Bubble Lounge, where Gloria Ferrer sparklers were served alongside fresh oysters and other tasty bites. The lines snaked out the gate early in the day but eventually eased up.
“This is one of the premier wine and food events in the world,” said Gary Kozak of Santa Rosa, as he snagged the very last oyster in the Bubble Lounge and slurped it up. “Sorry folks. This is it. C’est la vie.”
Experienced tasters, like Krista Wilcox of Davis, arrived early with friends and had her itinerary already sketched out.
“We start in the Bubble Lounge, then we do beer,” she said. “Then we go through the tents, left to right, and meet back at the bubble lounge to rehydrate.”
This year, in addition to the four appellation tents devoted to the Alexander, Dry Creek, Sonoma and Russian River Valleys, there was a fifth tent for wineries sourcing from the Sonoma Coast.
Claire Ramey, daughter of well-known winemaker David Ramey of Ramey Wine Cellars, was pouring a syrah and a chardonnay, both sourced from the Sonoma Coast. But like many, she was sipping a refreshing rosé from Sidecar, to keep the heat at bay.
Although the temperatures only peaked in the low ‘80s, it was warm enough to send others to the Marketplace to line up for a cold brew.
“We’re just mixing it up,” said Ally Collombini of Santa Rosa, while standing in line for a Pliny the Elder from Russian River Brewing Co. “We’re keeping it real and fresh. And hydrated.”
In the Alexander Valley tent, Tim Vallery, chef at Peloton Catering of Healdsburg, was also sipping a Pliny while serving up bites of compressed watermelon with shrimp ceviche, panna cotta and crispy prosciutto to pair with the Trione Sauvignon Blanc.
“This dish is great on its own,” he said. “But when you pair it with the wine, it really highlights the wine.”
Over in the Dry Creek Valley tent, Executive Chef Scotti Romano of the Dry Creek Kitchen crafted some handmade cavatelli pasta that was smothered in a duck and guanciale Bolognese sauce, to pair with a Mauritson Zinfandel.
“Acid and tomato and fat goes so well with the zin,” said Clay Mauritson, owner and winemaker of Mauritson Wines. “I don’t think there’s anything more classic than zin and duck,”
Like other winemakers, Mauritson attended the Taste despite being knee-deep in harvest, with a fifth of his crop already in. Compared to last year’s challenging harvest, when many varietals ripened at once, this year’s harvest looks to be more spread out, due to the weather.
“Leading up to harvest, we have had one of the best six to eight weeks ever,” he said. “The potential for the quality is unbelievable. We can measure the phenolics — the tannins and color — and right now they are off the chart.”
Kate MacMurray, a spokesperson for MacMurray Estate Vineyards, spent the day pouring wine in the Russian River tent and waxing poetic about the ranch where her famous father, actor Fred MacMurray, used to fly fish in the Russian River.
“It’s the last celebration before harvest,” she said of the signature event. “It’s a transition from summer to fall…. One door is closing, and one is opening, but we’re all connected.”
Hosting a Labor Day barbecue for carnivores, vegans and everyone in-between? Tip: Be politically correct by including a few vegan wines in your line-up. (See below.) Vegan wines are produced without any animal products.
The wines listed range in price from $15 to $60, and you’ll win points from your vegan friends with the first three.
Alexander Valley Vineyards, 2014 Sonoma County Merlot, 14%, $20. Vegan. This is a smart buy for the budget-minded. It has notes of cherry, plum, herbs and spice. A seamless merlot that will pair well with meat and veggie burgers.
Alban Vineyard Patrina, 2013 Alban Estate Syrah, 15.5%, $43. Vegan. A meaty syrah that stands up to the rich flavors in a meat or a Portobello burger . Notes of white pepper and bacon. Lovely.
Thumbprint Cellars, 2013 Bacigalupi Vineyard Pinot Noir, 15.2%, $60. Vegan. This pinot has tasty red fruit – wild strawberry and cherry – bright acid and a hint of toffee. Firm tannins. Nice length. It’s a good vegan option because it marries well with a veggie or Portobello burger.
Siduri, 2013 Sierra Mar Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir, 14.4%, $51. This rich pinot is weighted to red fruit and it has a streak of racy black pepper spice. This sassy pinot makes for great Labor Day fun, whether solo or paired with grilled meats.
Trentadue Old Patch Red Sonoma County Red Blend, 13%, $15. This is a juicy blend that has bright red fruit, crisp acidity and snappy spice. This will show well with either a burger or a vegetarian option. It’s a steal for the price.
Sonoma County fall vineyard. (Photo by Kent Porter)
Say goodbye to stuffy ballrooms, powerpoint presentations and rubber chicken lunches, there’s a new kind of conference in town.
Fall vineyards in Sonoma County. (Photo by Kent Porter)
Harvest Summit, a one day invitation-only “innovation field trip,” is set to launch in Sonoma County on November 4th. Serving up a blend of farm-to-table bites, artisanal drinks and avant-garde conversations in a countryside setting, the Sonoma County summit aims to ignite interaction and ideas that will have a social impact.
“We recognize a great need for leaders to get out of their silos and learn from each other,” said Jessica Kilcullen, co-founder of Harvest Summit. “We also believe in the psychological benefits associated with being outside – fresh air leads to fresh perspectives.”
The inaugural Harvest Summit will take place at a private farm estate in Knight’s Valley, just outside of Healdsburg, and will be host to an eclectic mix of participants: from media, tech and entertainment entrepreneurs to environmental leaders; from makers, writers and artists to award-winning chefs and winemakers.
Harvest Summit participants will begin the day with guided meditation, followed by a breakfast provided in partnership with Alvarado Street Bakery (Petaluma) and Taylor Maid Farms Coffee (Sebastopol). After a “Big Barn” kickoff, the agenda features a combination of interactive small group discussions and presentations on a variety of topics, including “innovation acceleration,” “mindfulness,”“the future of food,” and “virtual reality.” The summit will also include an “innovation discovery zone,” to showcase new products and inventions.
The summit speaker list features notable names such as Steven Aldrich (CPO, Go Daddy), Dale Dougherty (CEO, Maker Media), Nancy Duarte (CEO, best-selling author), Douglas Keane (Chef célèbre), Mike McGuire (CA State Senator), Daniel Meyer (COO Global Good Fund), Bill Price (CEO, Head High Wines, former co-founder TPG), Joy Anne Sterling (Partner/CEO, Iron Horse), Dustin Valette (Chef/Proprietor, Valette) and Jon Sebastiani (Founder/CEO, Sonoma Brands).
“Innovation has become a giant buzzword,” said Bill O’Connor, Innovation Strategist at Autodesk and speaker at Harvest Summit, “but the goal here is to go beyond the warm and fuzzy anecdotes and vague generalities that dominate the current innovation dialogue… Engaging with leaders from divergent fields can expose my blind spots and help me see things differently. I think that has the potential to be transformative.”
For more information and to request an invite, visit harvestsummit.com
Sonoma Magazine is a media partner of Harvest Summit.
