Page 434 – Sonoma Magazine

Cookie Baking Advice: How To Bake Perfect Cookies Every Time

December 2015

By biteclub

10 Commandements of perfect cookie baking

Want some cookie baking advice from someone who’s made hundreds and hundreds of recipes? After a whole lot of trial and error, I’ve learned over the years how to get consistently good cookies every time. Or at least most every time. Follow these steps, and you’ll be golden (brown).

1. Use Parchment or Silpats
Martha uses them and so should you. Parchment paper (or a silpat silicone sheet — though I prefer parchment) creates a barrier between the tray and the cookie, allowing for more even baking and less messy cleanup. You won’t need to grease the sheet, and the cookies will slide right off. Trust me, it’s a major time saver.

2. Use Fresh Spices
I cannot stress this enough. Spend a few extra minutes a get freshly ground spices. The stuff at the grocery store is okay, but you won’t believe the difference in flavors if you stock up on a few dollars worth of fresh cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and cardamom. Plus it makes your kitchen smell great.

3. Use Good Flour
The cheap stuff is just, well, cheap. Use unbleached, all-purpose flour. King Arthur’s is top notch.

4. Use Unsalted Butter, The Good Stuff
You don’t need to buy that really fancy artisan stuff for baking, but don’t cheap out either. i’ve used a variety of butters, and usually settle on Land ‘O Lakes as my go to. I’m more fond of Clover, of course — and snap it up when it’s on sale. Unsalted is the best choice for baking, since it won’t add extra salt to the final product. But frankly, it’s not tragic if you have to use it.

5. Room Temperature is the perfect temperature
We all know butter needs to be softened (if you’re in a hurry, you can nuke it for a few seconds in the microwave, but don’t melt it). But eggs work better in recipes at room temp, too. Don’t let them sit out too long, but if you can let them warm up a little, your ingredients will come together better.

6. Chill
Many recipes call for dough to chill for a few hours after mixing. That’s because the butter often gets very soft, and if you pop it into the oven right away, you get the “lace effect”, where the cookies just sort of become gooey, spread out messes on the tray. It’s a good idea to let most of your drop and butter-based cookies take a little time out in the fridge before you spoon ’em out.

7. Test Your Oven
I have a cheap oven that can be 50 or more degrees off from what I set it to. I’ve learned its quirks, but investing in a little oven thermometer isn’t a bad idea so you know exactly when you’re pre-heated and what the real temperature is.

8. Don’t Guess at measurements
Unlike cooking, baking is a science. Measurements need to be as precise as possible for the best effect. I’ve learned the hard way that guessing or throwing in an extra pinch or two doesn’t usually work out well. On that note, when measuring flour, lightly scoop it into the measuring cup then use a knife across the top to get a more accurate measure.

9. Stand Mixers Make Baking Easier
Not everyone can afford these monsters, but if you do a lot of baking, they are a sound investment. The power of a stand mixer allows you to really cream butters and sugars together and incorporate ingredients faster than using hand mixers. If it’s not in your budget, maybe a friend or relative will loan theirs out for a couple days. And while you’re at it, investing in a cookie scooper is a pretty awesome idea, too. They look like little ice cream scoops, and make spooning out drop cookies a lot easier and more uniform.

10. Vanilla matters
Oh, tell me you don’t use that horrible cheap stuff that’s mostly flavoring and alcohol. Buy expensive vanilla (and other flavorings) that are extracted from actual vanilla beans. Your cookies will taste much better. i promise.

Virgin of Guadalupe Pilgrimage in Sonoma County

December 2015

By Linda Murphy

Some 1,000 people will walk the 9 miles from Santa Rosa’s St. Rose Catholic Church to Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Windsor at 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 12, an act of devotion to one of Mexico’s most beloved religious figures.

On what likely will be a chilly early morning, the pilgrims will carry candles, roses, crosses and statues of Our Lady of Guadalupe — the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus — accompanied by horse-mounted riders and Aztec dancers. When the procession arrives well before dawn in Windsor, songs will be sung, Mass will be celebrated in a flower-filled church, and a breakfast of pan dulce (pastries), hot chocolate and coffee will be served.

Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe is the recipient of the adoration, a collective gratefulness for the miracles she and God have worked for followers. For some, it’s a plea for help with difficulties in their lives.

A dark-skinned, pregnant, colorfully dressed Mary is said to have appeared before a peasant named Juan Diego near Mexico City in 1531, asking that a church be built in her name. To convince the bishop to do so, Juan Diego delivered a miracle: his tilma, or cloak, imprinted with the image of the Virgin Mary and filled with roses that could not have bloomed at that time of year. The bishop believed, and the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe was built on the hill of Tepeyac.

Seen as a champion of the poor and an answerer of prayers, La Virgencita is celebrated year-round. On Dec. 12, Sonoma gives her extra attention.

St. Rose Catholic Church, 398 10th St., Santa Rosa,
707-542-6448, stroseonline.org

Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 8400 Old Redwood Highway, Windsor, 707-837-8972, olgwindsor.org

Christmas Bird Count at Sonoma Valley

December 2015

By Linda Murphy

Across Sonoma VALLEY on Dec. 30, folks will be counting birds, and they won’t include partridges in pear trees.

The California quail is far more likely to be spotted when the Sonoma Valley Christmas Bird Count sends out 25 or more teams to identify and count species, by sight and sound, as part of the National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count (CBC). Between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5, volunteers toting field glasses and scopes will fan out across North America to conduct the annual census. Once compiled, the data will help wildlife organizations assess the health of avian populations, and perhaps save those that are dwindling. CBC has been called one of the largest “citizen science” projects in the world.

In a 24-hour period, Sonoma Valley CBC volunteers will follow specified routes within an established 15-mile-diameter circle, in search of the more than 400 bird species known to winter in the county. All species are eligible: ducks, egrets, hawks, eagles, falcons, doves, owls, woodpeckers, chickadees, robins, finches, jays, shorebirds, even crows and hummingbirds.

On Dec. 27, the Western Sonoma County Bird Count will be conducted by the Madrone Audubon Society. Last year, the 48th annual event fielded 22 teams, with more than 134 volunteers identifying 185 species and 38,738 individual birds, according to group president Gordon Beebe.

Two counts are just for kids: Petaluma CBC4K and Sonoma CBC4K. Junior Birdmen (and Birdwomen) are taught by experienced adults to use binoculars and spotting scopes, identify species, and understand how vital it is to preserve them. There is lots of fun, too, and antsy kids have a reason to get outdoors during their holiday break.

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
dates and contact info

Dec. 27: West Sonoma County CBC, Gordon Beebe, gdbeebe@earthlink.net, madroneaudubon.org

Dec. 30: Sonoma Valley CBC, Gene Hunn, enhunn323@comcast.net, sonomabirding.com

Jan. 2: Petaluma CBC4K, Al Hesla, a.hesla@comcast.net

January: Sonoma CBC4K, visit
sonomabirding.com for actual date.

Healdsburg Author Gives Christmas Trees Flight

December 2015

By Meg McConahey

129_Blue, Blue Christm_opt — Photographs by Paige Green, excerpted from “The New Christmas Tree” by Carrie Brown, Artisan Books, copyright 2015.

To Carrie Brown, a Christmas tree is like a mannequin to a great designer — a naked shape just begging to be dressed.

Every Christmas for more than 20 years, the owner of the rustic and retro Jimtown Store on the outskirts of Healdsburg “concocts new flights of fancy” with her own tree.

“I love the idea of the Christmas tree as a vehicle to express individual style,” she said. “You’re literally hanging a theme on this classic icon.”

The inventive Brown dreamed up 24 different themed trees along with 100 crafty decorations for her new book, “The New Christmas Tree,” a cheerful take on an old tradition (Artisan Books, $29.95).

Some of the holiday rut-busting ideas are good enough to eat, from the Hansel and Gretel tree (with gingerbread-house fixings on the branches) to the Biergarten one laden with strings of popcorn, dangling bottle caps, pretzel hearts and old-fashioned German pickle ornaments. Then there are the far-out themes like the Galaxy tree, with handmade comets and shooting stars swathed in a Milky Way garland of gauzy tulle.

Purposely avoiding Martha Stewart and Pinterest to keep her ideas unique, Brown designed all the themes and decorations. She recruited her sister, Judy Brown, and Jimtown Store manager Haley Callahan to make ornaments and style the trees for photographer Paige Green of Petaluma. It all took place over four months in Brown’s studio barn, with Garlock Christmas Tree Farm in Sebastopol supplying fresh trees.

COVER. The New Christm_opt — “The New Christmas Tree,” a cheerful take on an old tradition (Artisan Books, $29.95).

Although she’s included step-by-step instructions and provided templates online, Brown said she hopes “The New Christmas Tree” will also serve as “creative fuel” for others’ own flights of holiday fancy.

“You might not make exactly what we have here,” she said. “But you might have the most amazing collection of jewelry or silver. It’s all about hunting and finding objects and putting them together in fun and creative ways.”

Top 100 Wines: Syrah & Petite Sirah

November 2015

By Sonoma Magazine Staff

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Francis Ford Coppola Winery
2012 Francis Coppola Reserve Wallace Creek Vineyard Dry Creek Valley Syrah
$38
Its deep purple color signals the dark, luscious plum, blackberry and black raspberry aromas and flavors. This powerful, flamboyant wine gets its complexity from subtle notes of black pepper, black tea, licorice and spicy oak. (LM)

Graton Ridge Cellars
2013 Russian River Valley Petite Sirah
$42
Full-bodied, beefy and leathery in a textbook Petite Sirah way, with well-ripened blackberry and blueberry fruitiness. Despite its palate
weight, it remains beautifully balanced and finishes juicy and long. Best of Class at the North Coast Wine Challenge. (LM)

Keating Wines
2012 Rockpile Dry Creek Valley Petite Sirah
$38
Full-bodied and cellar-worthy, this mountain grown Petite Sirah is tannic at first, of course, but softens in the glass to reveal cigar smoke,
leather, black pepper and blackberry. Outgoing and robust, it has a sly sophistication. (VB)

Donelan Family Wines
2012 Sonoma County Cuvée Christine Syrah
$48
From several high-elevation sites across Sonoma, this Syrah represents the best of both worlds, melding Old World meatiness with New World ripe fruit and juicy texture. An explosion of black currant meets white pepper to tremendous effect, making for an intriguing wine. (VB)

Ramey Wine Cellars
2012 Rodgers Creek Vineyard Sonoma Coast Syrah
$65
This spicy, black pepper-laced wine is a sophisticated and savory celebration of the grape variety, with blackberry, leather and dust. Supported by well-integrated, unobtrusive oak, it is soft and delicious now, with meaty undertones, but will intrigue even more over time in thecellar. (VB)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Petaluma Restaurant Bistro 100 is a top pick for hyper-local, comfort classics

November 2015

By biteclub

CLOSED

It has been almost a year since chef Garrett Adair opened his dream restaurant, Bistro 100. But the cozy cafe in Petaluma’s downtown Theater District feels like it has been there forever. Everyone knows everyone or, if they don’t, the bistro tables lend themselves to casual conversation and knowing nods of approval as a lusty plate of short ribs arrives.

“Oh, those are so good,” says a woman on one side, apologizing for the interruption. “Sorry, but we come here all the time, and those are just so good.” It’s an opening to ask about her cheesecake, and in turn a chatty dessert and coffee conversation about kids and taco trucks.

It’s that kind of neighborly vibe and approachable fine-dining that Adair mentally mapped-out for a decade while working as a caterer and private chef in Sonoma County. Combining that with stints at notable restaurants like 101 Main Bistro and Wine Bar in Sebastopol and the Michelin-starred Farmhouse Inn, Adair has hung his toque on upscale-everyday French-American cuisine.

Take the cabernet braised short ribs and truffle butter, tender beef rib meat taken off the bone, with garlic mashed potatoes and red wine sauce with black truffle butter ($29). This isn’t Wagyu, just a simple cut of meat that’s deboned, trussed and braised in red wine for hours, then dolled up with a few classy accessories: truffle butter and veal demi-glace.

Other good bets on the menu include:

Mushroom and Truffled Bruschetta Cream Canapés. Black trumpet, crimini and shiitakes with white cheddar, cream and herb aioli on a baguette ($9.50). These luxe vegetarian appetizers are one of the most-ordered dishes. For good reason.

Sonoma County Terrine at Bistro 100 in Petaluma

Sonoma “Country” Terrine. A barnyard mix of pork, lamb, bacon, ham and walnuts with herbs, brandy and tarragon creme fraiche ($10.50). Forget all about calories; it’s worth a splurge.

Poulet Forestieres and Potato Gratin. A pan-seared chicken breast with mushroom-chardonnay cream sauce cheese-tasic gratin. ($23).

Croque Monsieur. This is a grilled-cheese sandwich you’ll lay awake dreaming about. Pullman bread, Béchamel sauce, ham, Sonoma Dry Jack ($14, lunch only).

“We try to elevate the sense of casual dining to something more elegant,” said Adair, using high-end local ingredients sourced from within 100 miles (hence the name, Bistro 100).

If you’re rolling your eyes at the whole farm-to-table mantra, Adair shifts the focus to relationships he has forged with players like the fledgling Live Oak Farm in Petaluma, Green String Farm, F.E.E.D. Sonoma, Twin Dog Farms and Canvas Ranch.

“We’re talking the talk and walking the walk, with about 96 percent of our menu actually coming from within 20 miles,” he said.

That also includes wines from the up-and-coming Petaluma Gap wine region, a unique cool, coastal microclimate in the Sonoma Coast AVA (Cloud’s Rest, La Follette) and frequent winemaker dinners that sell out in hours.

“We like to work with the little purveyors, the stuff you can’t find in Safeway,” Adair said. Bistro 100 also has frequent beermaker dinners and stocks seven microbrews on tap.

You’ll find Adair spending plenty of time in the dining room on Friday and Saturday nights “expediting,” doing everything from garnishing plates to bringing them to your table and making sure the kitchen runs smoothly, while leaving the cooking to his kitchen staff.

During the week, he’s in the open kitchen, serving up everything from crepes to mussels.

Having weathered the perilous first six months of restaurant ownership, Adair says there are four things he has learned the hard way: Ambiance is just as important as a great dish (they’ve spent lots of time reducing noise levels); finding a cohesive staff is imperative (in the early days they had lots of turnover); fancy brushstrokes on a plate are nice, but real soul is what brings people back; and cooking is the easy part of owning a restaurant.

“When I stress out in the morning worrying about things, prepping polenta is a lot of fun,” he said. “I’m doing this on a dime and a lot of hope, but we’re here for the long haul.”

Bistro 100, 140 Second St., Petaluma, 981-8228, bistro100petaluma.com.

Open Tuesday through Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for lunch; happy hour 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.; dinner from 5 p.m. Closed Monday. Reservations recommended. $$-$$$.

Fernet Francisco: Sonoma is Falling in Love

November 2015

By Tina Caputo

Ben Flajnik has a new love, and her name is Fernet.

For those out of the reality TV loop, Flajnik was the season 16 star of “The Bachelor,” which in 2012 brought national attention to Envolve Winery, the Sonoma brand he co-founded. Flajnik has since moved on from his chosen “Bachelor” mate and the winery to create Fernet Francisco, an Italian-style herbal liqueur. Launched in April, the San Francisco spirit is a partnership of Flajnik, 32, and Max Rudsten, 31.

While the American masses have yet to embrace fernet, the bittersweet, aromatic, supposedly stomach-settling amaro is the darling of mixologists and sommeliers, particularly those in Northern California.

“I don’t think most people in the United States are used to drinking amaro, because it’s truly an acquired taste,” Flajnik said. “Max and I set out to make a very approachable spirit and help change that perception.”

Distiller Farid Dormishian vapor-infuses a core of botanicals, then blends in herbal infusions. Rhubarb root plays a starring role, supported by locally sourced bay leaf, chamomile, orange peel and spearmint. Unlike other fernets, Fernet Francisco has very little residual sugar. “The result is much less syrupy and can be the focus of a cocktail,” Rudsten said.

Drink Fernet Francisco straight up, on the rocks with an orange twist, with tonic and a slice of lime, or in the Fernetaboutit: 1 ounce Fernet Francisco, 1 ounce Green Chartreuse, 1 ounce maraschino liqueur and 1 ounce lime juice, served in a chilled cocktail glass.

“There is a much quicker turnaround time in distillation and macerating herbs for the fernet process. Wine can take years,” Flajnik said. “It’s much friendlier as a startup business, because you don’t have to invest as much money in inventories.”

Flajnik may have truly found his perfect match.

fernetfrancisco.com

Dine Out To Help Food for Thought’s HIV/AIDS Outreach

November 2015

By biteclub

Despite the rain and gloom, its a perfect night to eat lunch or dinner during today’s DINING OUT FOR LIFE, Thursday Dec. 3, 2015. This annual event benefits Food for Thought’s life-sustaining programs for individuals with HIV/AIDS in Sonoma County. All you have to do is eat lunch or dinner at a participating restaurant, and between 25 and 50% of your bill will be donated to the local food bank. More thank 75 local restaurants are participating, so it won’t be hard to choose. Find more details about the event and a full list of restaurants at diningoutforlife.com/sonomacounty.

Here is a complete list of restaurants…

Bodega Bay
Bay View Restaurant
Bluewater Bistro

Forestville
Backyard
Canneti Roadhouse
Corks Restaurant & Farm
Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant
Sunshine Coffee Roasters
Twist Eatery

Graton
Underwood Bar & Bistro
Willow Wood Market Café

Guerneville
Betty Spaghetti
boon eat + drink
Pat’s/Dick Blomster’s
Seaside Metal Oyster Bar

Healdsburg
Barndiva
Campo Fina
Dry Creek Kitchen
Mateo’s Cocina Latina
Ralph’s Martini House
Spoonbar!

Petaluma
Café Zazzle
Central Market Restaurant
Cucina Paradiso Restaurant
Dempsey’s Restaurant & Brewery
Old Chicago Pizza
Rafy’s Pizzeria
Risibisi Italian Restaurant
Wild Goat Bistro
Wishbone

Rohnert Park
Hana Japanese Restaurant

Santa Rosa
Bistro 29
Bruno’s on Fourth
Carmen’s Burger Bar
Dierk’s Midtown Café
Dierk’s Parkside Café
Gaia’s Garden
Ike’s Place
Jack and Tony’s Restaurant and Whiskey Bar
JoJo Restaurant & Sushi Bar
Khoom Lanna Thai Cuisine
Mac’s Deli & Café
Mombo’s Pizza
Monti’s Rotisserie & Bar
Pamposh Restaurant
Pizza Gourmet
Rosso Rosticceria + Eventi
Russian River Brewing Company
Sazon Peruvian Cuisine
SOCO Coffee
Sweet T’s Restaurant and Bar
The Pullman Kitchen
The Spinster Sisters
Yeti Restaurant

Sebastopol
BBQ Smokehouse & Catering
Eight Cuisine & Wine
Fork Roadhouse and Catering
Formosa Bistro
French Garden Restaurant and Bistro
Gypsy Café
Hole in the Wall Restaurant
HopMonk Tavern
K & L Bistro
Martha’s Old Mexico Restaurante
Mombo’s Pizza
Papas and Pollo
Peter Lowell’s Restaurant
Sonoma Wine Shop & La Bodega Kitchen
Sub Zero Ice Cream and Yogurt
Sushi Tozai
Taylor Maid Coffee
Vignette Pizzeria

Sonoma
HopMonk Tavern
Mamma Tanino’s Ristorante
Maya Restaurant
Saddles Steak House
The Plaza Bistro

Valley Ford
Rocker Oysterfeller’s

Windsor
Chinois Asian Bistro
Umé Japanese Bistro

Cheaper Options for Sonoma County Wines

November 2015

By Virginie Boone

The holiday season is here and it’s time to bring out the big guns, to splurge on worthy bottles for both gifting and to help soothe us on the chilly nights of approaching winter, with hearty fare on the table. With football on the tube, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and more to celebrate, this is no time for restraint.

If You Like…

Carol Shelton 2012 Rocky Reserve Florence Vineyard Rockpile Zinfandel ($35)

The maven of Zinfandel excels with this vineyard-designated wine, which shows why the Rockpile region is such a special place for the grape. Powerfully brooding in its aromas, the wine is smooth on the palate, offering a mix of red and black berries and leather. With excellent depth and weight, it strikes a balance between ripeness and restraint.

Sonoma County Dive Bars: 16 You Can’t Miss

November 2015

By biteclub

This is pretty much the only scene we can show you without making this an "M"-rated post at the Kozy Kar Bar in Santa Rosa. — This is pretty much the only scene we can show you without making this an “M”-rated post at the Kozy Kar Bar in Santa Rosa.

Sonoma County dive bars are the places we go for a solid gin and tonic served up without the distraction of atmosphere. They’re no-frills, no-judgement spots to forget your troubles, drink well tequila and maybe get a bit of advice from a guy with two teeth and smile a mile wide. He seems pretty happy, after all.

What we know from our years of of tippling at spots without cover charges, rap on the jukebox or bartenders willing to make any drink with more than two ingredients? Anyone’s welcome as long as you don’t act like an ass.

With that said, here are some of our favorite Sonoma County dive bars at varying ends of the pool — some you gotta dive a lot deeper to find, others are on the beaten path.

Santa Rosa

The Tipsy Triangle: Gary’s At the Belvedere (727 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa), 440 Club (435 College Ave.,Santa Rosa), Round Robin (616 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa)
If you think about the intersection of College and Mendocino Aves., you may notice that three of the four corners (okay, it’s an obtuse triangle) have bars. Hence the name Tipsy Triangle, referring to Gary’s at the Belvedere, the 440 Club and The Round Robin. These old-timers pre-date most of the people going to them by at least 20 years. Sometimes much more. There are lots of cool old touches in each, if you look closely (fire pit, secret upstairs rooms), but not too closely. Nearby Joey’s Pizza and Adels are the after-party fuel-up spots.

The Zoo: A friend once told me this dive bar was once a Hell’s Angels hangout, naturally proving its dive bar cred. You may or may not see any motorcycle gang members hanging around, but expect a no-nonsense crowd at this notoriously colorful dive. 527 Barham Ave., Santa Rosa.

The Wagon Wheel Saloon was used for interior bar scenes of the movie Phenomenon in 1996. Photo Pio Valenzuela.

The Wagon Wheel: Years ago, they offered one of the best deals in town that you never wanted to accept — a “Get Out of Jail” coupon. If you were booked at the nearby Sonoma County Jail in Santa Rosa, upon your release you could walk three blocks to the Wagon Wheel and flash your papers for a free drink. Unfortunately these days, that’s the stuff of legend, since the new owners have stopped the practice, but it’s still the best bar to hit when you’re sprung from the joint. 3320 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa (John Beck, Sonoma Magazine)

Kozy Kar Bar: 70s and early 80s-themed nightclub, complete with waterbeds, shag rugs, bad lighting, pinball machines, 8-tracks and Penthouse pinup “wallpaper” from that freewheeling, all-natural era. Tastelessly divey. 404 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa.

kozykar2 — Kozy Kar Bar van, where you can sit and watch adult movies and sip on a cocktail in Santa Rosa.

Fiorino’s Lounge: One of the few spots this deep into Rincon Valley, and you’ll still have to hunt it down inside the Montecito shopping center. The younger crowd has discovered its old-school charm, but you’ll still find some decent grub and cocktails inside. 585 Montecito Ctr., Santa Rosa.

Cotati/Penngrove

The Cotati Crawl is the Main Street of Sonoma State University drinking life, so expect lots of 20-somethings when schools in session.

Eight Ball: Probably the best neon sign of any dive bar in Sonoma County. Heavy sports, bar atmosphere, but solid drinking. 8 Charles St., Cotati.

Friar Tuck’s Pub: These folks love to party, making it one of the most lively, spirited, friendly spots in town. Plus, you can get deep fried raviolis at 1:30a.m. Of course its THE place to be for St. Paddy’s. 8201 Old Redwood Hwy, Cotati.

Spanky’s: I kid you not, I went to a Roller Derby team bake sale at this Cotati dive a few years ago. That kind of sums up the vibe. Live music, cold beer, good times. 8201 Old Redwood Hwy, Cotati.

Petaluma

The Buckhorn: Deer and elk heads hang from the wall behind the bar of this 1938 tavern which has become a top destination for Petaluma’s karaoke scene. Who knew? and located at 615 Petaluma Blvd. South, Petaluma.

Ernie’s Tin Barn: Lots of Sonoma folks drop in on their way to or from Petaluma and points south. Once a kind of rough can-of-beer joint, it has been yupped up a bit with outdoor seating, flowers, new tin siding since a truck plowed through the west end of the building, and excellent barbecue. Pints $1.75 on up. -Kathleen Hill, Sonoma Index Tribune

Healdsburg

John and Zeke’s: After closing the original location on the Healdsburg plaza, owners took over another downtown dive just blocks away. Still where the locals go to escape the tourists. 420 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg.

Bodega

Casino Bar and Grill: I really hate telling people about this place, because its one of the last dive bars that hasn’t been “discovered” by 20-year-olds or tourists. Fortunately, the regulars will stare you down pretty good if they think you don’t belong, especially during the week. What’s amazing is that one of Sonoma County’s best chefs serves up wildly creative dinners at this outpost for very local-friendly prices. 17000 Bodega Hwy., Bodega.

Sonoma

Blue Moon Saloon: A former “card room” and the scene of fights and general rabble-rousing, Blue Moon Saloon now has a fun paint job and a whole set of regulars, some of whom show up early in the morning. Sundays bring Sunday Blues music featuring loads of local musicians such as Stuart Sperring, Nick Cordellos, Sean Carscadden, Phil Herrschaft, Zakk Murphy, Ryan Tatarian, and Steen Berrig. Good drinks, good prices. In fact that is true of all of our “dives.” -KH

Steiner’s Tavern: Several years ago Steiners moved up the street from where Harvest Moon Café is now located to a bank building, and thankfully took its original swinging doors along. Steiners is the ultimate local dive bar that attracts a crowd that has been going there every day for decades – plus young almost hipsters, wedding parties, motorcyclists and general noise makers. Lots of deep fried foods, burgers, and even a good shrimp Louie salad on the menu all the time. -KH

Cloverdale

Harold's Dante Hotel courtesy of Yelp.com. — Harold’s Dante Hotel courtesy of Yelp.com.

Harold’s Dante Hotel & Bar on the corner of Railroad Avenue and S. East Street is something of a Cloverdale institution. Constructed of local redwood in 1888, it was originally known as the New Toscano. Although no longer used for lodging, it is still one of Cloverdale’s oldest businesses and holds the distinction of being the town’s longest running hotel. Today, it is operated strictly as a bar by Cort Amelung and his wife, Marilynn. In addition to attracting a lot of locals, the Dante is on the “must see” list for out of town visitors. It is also the one place where those who’ve grown up here want to go when they come home to visit. After 125 years, the Dante still looks pretty much the same, and according to the Amelungs, there are no plans to make any changes any time soon. – Mary Joe Winter, Cloverdale Towns Correspondent.