Best Happy Hours in Sonoma County

September 2015

By biteclub

Happy Hour at Brew happens twice daily. Photo, Heather Irwin.

Happy hour has gone legit — even upscale — in Sonoma County with craft cocktails, gourmet small bites and crowds looking to mingle and mix rather than simply get loaded on PBR and mozzarella sticks.

Once the sole refuge of sports bars and low-brow eateries, top shelf restaurants are now drawing crowds with deep discounts on many of their regular menu items (usually in petite form) from the hours of 3-6p.m. with hopes that you’ll stick around for dinner, or at least some top shelf booze.

And it seems to be working.

Though there are hundreds of great happy hours from Cloverdale to Petaluma, not all are created equal. Here are some favorites with a combination of great food, drinks and crowds that will make your post-work hours happier — at least for an hour or so.

Haute Happy Hours: Upscale restaurants where you’ll find well-heeled movers and shakers enjoying a martini or three.

Stark’s Steak and Seafood
There’s no denying that Stark’s is the Grand Pubah when it comes to Santa Rosa’s happy hour scene. Packed to the gills most nights, It’s the perfect storm of top-notch bites well under $5, well crafted drinks and a clubby, steakhouse atmosphere. Rather than trotting out nuked chicken strips and Bud lights, they roll out inspired tapas and sides from their steakhouse menu — tuna tartar taco ($1.75), prime rib banh mi, $5; potato skin fondue, sweet chili chicken wings and truffle fries for $3.95 and a quarter-pound burger with caramelized onions and truffle aioli for a thrifty $5. Plus a $2.50 Beefeater martini, Lost Coast Blonde Ale ($2.75) selected wines, $5 margaritas on Monday and Tuesday, along with several other old school cocktails for $5 and $6. Monday through Saturday 3-6pm. 521 Adams St., Santa Rosa, 546-5100.

The Starks’ other restaurants also feature some impressive happy hours, including Bravas Bar de Tapas’ “Locals’ 420 Hour” with gin and tonics, sangria, beer, goat cheese tostadas, duck meatball bocadillos, Spanish flatbread and cider braised chorizo and shishito peppers all for the mind-bending price of (you guessed it), $4.20. 420 Center St., Healdsburg, 433-7700.

Front Room at John Ash & Co.
Sink into a leather seat and nibble on tasty small plates while kicking back well-crafted cocktails. Here, you can steer clear of the bro-crowd, rubbing elbows with the hotel’s chic clientele, politicos and pinstriped professionals. Wednesdays’s “Crush the Rush” includes complimentary appetizers from 5:30-6:30pm along with $2 off all cocktails, $4 wine/beer/weekly cocktail. On Saturday it’s Pizza and Pinot from 6-9p.m. with $10 pizzas and a featured $10 pinot of the month. Sunday you can build your own burger and fries for $10. Front Room Happy Hour; 4-6p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; 5:30 to 6:30p.m. Wednesday and from 3-6pm Friday through Sunday. 4330 Barnes Road, Santa Rosa, 527-7687.

Central Market
An amazing deal from one of Sonoma County’s best chefs, Tony Najiola. But it’s literally an hour, so you can’t dawdle. And chances are you’ll want to stay for dinner. $1 oysters, $5 wines, $3 beers and free pizza at bar Monday through Thursday from 5-6p.m., 42 Petaluma Blvd., Petaluma, 778-9900.

Barndiva Studio Bar
We won’t lie, this isn’t a cheapo happy hour. This is a Wine Country experience. But sipping cocktails and bistro bites inside this eclectic gallery of performance and visual art is a must-do in Healdsburg. Chef Ryan Fancher’s restaurant vision has been adapted to a more casual bistro model with small plates of charcuterie and other apps, Barndiva has opened up the beautifully curated space to sip craft cocktails and be one of the beautiful people. Open from 3p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, 237 Center St., Healdsburg.

Hipsters and the Tinder Tribe: Young professionals on the prowl scooter, Uber and bicycle to these trendy spots.

Oso
Mole braised short rib tacos, Korean buffalo wings and Sangria at one of Sonoma’s hippest new eateries. Plus, we hear they’ve finally got some outdoor patio space. Happy hour Monday through Thursday from 5-6:30p.m.,. 9 East Napa St., Sonoma, (707) 931-6926.

Chalkboard
Chef Shane McAnelly uses his happy hour menu to playfully explore cuisines and dishes that might not make it to his regular menu. Currently he’s stoked on Fillipino cuisine and his 4:30-6:30p.m. menu includes rock shrimp and avocado lumpia, chicken adobo, tamarind braised pork ($6). The theme extends to inspired drinks like Paquiao Plum Punch (with Batavia Arrack, an historic sugar-based spirit), Singapore Sling, plus beer and wine. They’ll be visiting Spain, next, so stay tuned. 29 North St., Healdsburg, 473-8030.

Spoonbar
Sit and watch the world—or at least Healdsburg—go by at this open-air eatery inside the H2Hotel. Miyagi oysters, fermented chili glazed chicken wings, grilled chorizo skewers ($5), crafty cocktails like the Blind Tigers (St. George Absinthe, Benedictine, Aperol, lemon, yuzu, hibiscus, $6), wines ($6) and Death & Taxes, Proving Ground IPA ($4). Monday through Thursday, 5-6p.m., 219 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 433-7222.

Brew
We love the laid back, inclusive vibe of this combo coffeehouse and pub. Sip on pour-overs and cold-brewed coffee from SF’s Ritual Roasters (the owner are coffee fanatics), local microbrews and ciders that change frequently, along with wine and tea. Their TWO happy hours are from 4-6p.m. and 8-10p.m. daily with $1 off beer and cider on tap (and also wine by the glass). 555 Healdsburg Ave., Santa Rosa,

Epicurean Connection
Sheana Davis’ cozy gourmet shop and bistro has one of the chillest happy hours we know of, with beer or wine, local cheese and crostini and chef-made tapenade for $10. 3-6p.m. Tuesday through Friday. 122 W. Napa St, Sonoma, 935-7960.

The Villa
This popular Happy Hour on the Hill is a mix of old-timers and youngsters who both appreciate a bargain. And a shrimp cocktail. There’s nothing fancy here, but the view is spectacular, and you can get a Bud Light, fried calamari and mozzarella sticks or a pizza for a song. From 3:30-6p.m. grab some retro-cool eats including the aforementioned shrimp cocktail, spaghetti and meatball, fried zucchini and even a straight up hot dog start at $2 and top out at $5. Bud, Coors, PBR and wine are $2. 3901 Montgomery Dr., Santa Rosa, 528-7755.

BroHour: Favorites of the beer and spirits crowd for whom happy hour is just a warm-up

Seared
Folks in Petaluma give a hefty thumbs up to this relative newcomer downtown. They’ve doubled their happy hour on Friday and Saturday (4-6p.m. and 9-10p.m.). The menu is extensive, with filet mignon skewers, pork belly banh mi, salt and pepper calamari, citrus cured salmon, mac and cheese, tacos and the ultimate beer food, onion dip and chips. All are $6 and under. Drinks include the George Clooney margarita, whisky punch, rye martini, wine and beer from $2.50 to $7.

La Rosa Tequileria
Welcome to Sonoma County’s favorite margaritaville. Tequila-drinks and approachable Mexican fare make this an easy choice for kicking back with a few friends from 4-6p.m. daily. House margaritas and shots, $5; well cocktails and microbrews ($4). Cheese nachos, quesadillas, hot dogs, ahi tostada and other mini bites for $3-$5. 500 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 523-3663.

Belly Left Coast Kitchen
When isn’t it happy hour at this downtown Santa Rosa restaurant? They’ve got food and drink specials from 3-6p.m. Monday through Friday, with your best bet being Taco Tuesday from 2p.m to close with solid tacos and an impressive collection of craft brews. The rock star vibe and beer-centric drink list makes for plenty of fist-bumping fun. 523 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, (707) 526-5757.

Maya Restaurant
Not just nachos, but “Really Good Nachos”, along with tacos, sliders and margaritas from 4-6p.m. Monday through Friday. 101 E. Napa St., Sonoma, (707) 935-3500.

Did we miss one of your favorites?

Taste of Sonoma 2015: An inside guide

August 2015

By biteclub

Wine Country Weekend (Sept. 4-6, 2015) is Sonoma County’s biggest harvest party of the year, and everyone’s invited. The three-day extravaganza includes dozens of winery parties, Sunday’s big dollar wine auction, a starlight dinner at Coppola Winery, and best of all, the MacMurray Ranch smorgasbord of food and wine, Taste of Sonoma 2015. With some 200 wineries and restaurants pouring and serving their finest, even longtime attendees tend to look like Golden Ticket winners walking into a Willy Wonka factory of bubbly, wine, foie gras and pork belly.

Here’s what you gotta know before you go, because we don’t want you ending making drunken snow angels on the lawn of actor Fred MacMurray’s family ranch. Trust us, it happens.

Go Early: This is one event you don’t want to show up late to. Parking and traffic get hairy, it gets really hot, and you’ll be sweating it out in longer lines for that little one-ounce pour and nibble. Best bet: Hit as many restaurant stations as possible (fuel and a solid base for all that wine) and the handful of wineries you want to spend time chatting with early on. Enjoy the afternoon at a slower pace, making sure to hydrate like crazy.

The Restaurants: Get up close and personal with more than 60 Wine Country chefs as they serve nibbles and participate in cooking demos. This isn’t a Happy Hour buffet, so be mindful of how much you take (we see you stuffing food into your purse) and skip over food that doesn’t interest you. Newcomers this year: Applewood Inn, Patisserie Angelica, Ramen Gaijin, SubZero Ice Cream, Pullman Kitchen, Mark and Terri Stark’s Stark Reality Restaurants,Vignette Pizzeria and Woodfour Brewing.

Get Schooled: Cooking demos from top toques happen from noon to 3:30 p.m., including the baking gurus of Moustache Baked Goods, Boon Eat + Drink’s Crista Luedtke, mac ’n cheese lollipops with Feast Catering’s Jesse McQuarrie, Paella with Jose Castaneda and Chef Mark Stark, chef/owner of Bravas, Willie’s Wine Bar and Stark’s Steakhouse (to name a few).

The Wine: There are three main tents, divided up by appellations. Again, this isn’t happy hour, so sip, don’t guzzle (unless its water). Aside from that, make sure to keep your glass handy and don’t be afraid to spit.

Bubble It Up: The Gloria Ferrer Bubble Lounge always has great food and lots of sparkling. It also gets filled up fast, so don’t dawdle in making your way.

Don’t Forget the Marketplace: I like to hit the various vendors from the Sonoma County Marketplace later in the afternoon, as folks swarm the wine tents. Plus, its the only place to get beer (Bear Republic, Moonlight, Lagunitas, St. Florian’s, Third St. Aleworks, Woodfour), coffee, cheese and other tasty treats that many folks miss altogether.

Pace Yourself: If you hit it hard the first day, the rest of the weekend is a giant hangover. Do what the pros do, and pace yourself — there’s plenty to eat and drink. If you’re feeling buzzed, take a break. If you’re stuffed, sit in the shade for a bit.

Be comfy: Biggest rookie mistake at Saturday’s Taste of Sonoma? Heels. Chances are you’ll be doing plenty of walking on uneven surfaces (grass, rocks, bricks, etc) and twisting your ankle is a bummer. Wear platforms or, even better, flats. Also, wear something comfy and cool with a sweater or jacket for the evening. And a hat. You’ve got to have a hat for the late-summer Sonoma sun.

Bring a pen and business cards: You never know who you’ll meet. From ranchers and chefs to high-end winemakers and Sonoma celebrities, its good to have a way to reconnect.

More details online at sonomawinecountryweekend.com.

Win Taste of Sonoma Tickets 2015

August 2015

By biteclub

THIS CONTEST IS OVER. CONGRATS TO CAROL. Your local food knowledge rivals mine.

Want to eat and drink your way through the Appellations of Sonoma County? We thought so.

BiteClub is giving away two tickets to Taste of Sonoma, part of the 2015 Wine Country Weekend extravaganza.

One winner will get the golden tickets to hobnob with the food and wine elite, sample small bites from dozens of our best restaurants, sip from hundreds of bottles of primo local wine (along with beer and cider), watch food demonstrations, wander around MacMurray Ranch and smile in wonderment at this place we call home.

Here’s what you have to do to enter: I want to know the absolute must try dishes of Wine Country. That can be anything from the Fig Salad at The Girl and the Fig, or chicken livers at Ralph’s, to oysters on the coast and fresh peaches from Dry Creek Peach.

Add your suggestion to the comments below. I’ll choose my favorite suggestion, which will be featured in an upcoming article on Wine Country eats, and you’ll get two tickets for Saturday’s event. Entries submitted by email or on my Facebook page will not be considered. You have to submit a comment.

Want to know how to survive the event? Click here for more details on Taste of Sonoma.

The Fine Print:
1. YOU MUST BE 21 TO ENTER. This is a 21+ event, so your guest must be of age as well.
2. I’ll need a viable email address to let you know if you’ve won.
3. Winner will be chosen at 5pm, Thursday, Sept. 3 and notified. Winners must respond by 1pm on Friday, or forfeit their tickets.
4. See full rules here.

McDonald’s Totally Fails with response to McWhopper Proposal from Burger King

August 2015

By biteclub

No one likes a party pooper, especially a self-righteous one. We’re talking to you, Steve Easterbrook, CEO of McDonalds.

In the spirit of peace (and really good PR), Burger King recently launched a very public an effort to bring the two fast food chains together for World Peace Day on Sept. 21.

The one-day truce involved collaborating on a Whopper/Big Mac mashup called the McWhopper, sold only at a special pop-up restaurant in Atlanta (a diplomatic half-way point between McDonald’s Illinois headquarters and BK’s Florida headquarter).

Patrons would pay for the hybrid burger by “declaring their own truces” on paper tray mats. Adorbs.

Win-win, right?

But in a PR flub of #epicfail proportions, Easterbrook cooly dismissed on the tongue-in-cheek idea on the McDonald’s Facebook page.

Wait, what?

That was one of the most tone-deaf responses we’ve ever heard. Don’t you have people to stop you from saying stupid stuff like that? Hint: The internet now hates you (and no, “likes” don’t mean people like your response).

Here’s where McDonald’s missed a huge opportunity (and BK won)–because exactly how many of us actually knew that there was such a thing as World Peace Day? We do now. And how many of us are planning to do anything meaningful to celebrate it? (Bumperstickers don’t count, nor do Facebook “likes” of someone else’s heartfelt action).

Burger King got that. Their PR effort (and trust us, there were several agencies involved, so it’s not all unicorns and rainbows) focused on making a very serious movement approachable in a fun and doable way.

The McWhopper website described the stunt as an attempt “to get the world talking about Peace Day.”

Mission accomplished. And PS, I now really like the BK brand a lot more.

Sorry, Mr. CEO who makes a $1.1 million salary annually, but for the average person, eating a burger and contemplating peace for a few minutes with their friends and family is “meaningful” and just might “make a difference”. It’s an actionable, feel-good step that we’ll talk about and enjoy. I know that a lot of my “teachable moments” with my kids happen at the table, organically, no matter what we’re eating.

So we say, next time, think small, Steve. And don’t McChicken out, because a McWhopper sounds pretty good, especially with a side of Peace.

Hazel Restaurant | Occidental

August 2015

By biteclub

Gorganzola pizza Restaurant in Occidental. Photo Heather Irwin.

An 800-degree wood-fired oven isn’t for the faint of heart. Burning embers, live fire and blistering surfaces can be a logistical challenge, especially in a busy restaurant where pizzas, braised octopus and short ribs commingle inside not one, but two searingly hot wood-fueled ovens.

But they’re also the muscle of Jim and Michele Wimborough’s new Occidental restaurant, Hazel. Left by the previous owners of long-time French restaurant, Bistro des Copains, the ovens are being pressed into service for everything from house made sourdough loaves to whole braised branzino, perfectly-cooked pizzas, and every so often, pastry chef Michele’s chocolate chip cookies.

Schnitzel at Hazel Restaurant in Occidental. Photo Heather Irwin.

Far from the buzz of San Francisco, Berkeley and east Oakland, where the chef-couple worked at high turnover urban restaurants like Zut! Tavern, SF’s Boulevard, upscale Greek restaurant, Kokkari, and Zuni Kitchen, the Wimboroughs are settling into the country life in West County. With their hearts set on raising their fourth-grade son in the quieter reaches of Sonoma County, the couple fell in love with Occidental on a birthday trip for Jim. When the owners of the beloved Occidental eatery Bistro des Copains announced their retirement, the couple pounced on the spot.

Scallops at Hazel Restaurant. Photo: Heather Irwin.

“We just feel grateful that we get to live here, get to be part of this community,” said Michele.

After several months of renovation, Hazel restaurant opened in July to plenty of local fanfare — one of only a handful of eateries between Sebastopol and the North Coast. Already, local reviewers on Yelp are calling it “a new West County classic.”

Short Ribs with Polenta at Hazel Restaurant in Occidental. Photo Heather Irwin.

The Food: A creative mix of rustic Mediterranean and California cuisines, Tzatziki and grilled eggplant spread with pita olives and feta ($11) are menu-fellows to citrus-cured scallops with grapes, radish, lime and Calabrian chili ($9). And it works perfectly, tied together by hyperlocal ingredients and bold Mediterranean flavors.

“We want to keep it really simple,” said Jim. “Something everyone can understand and enjoy,” he added, saying that dishes like the sweet and savory eggplant dip that’s a simpler cousin to baba ganoush with smoky eggplant and the addition (in this version) of raisins are inspired by his time at Kokkari. For the tzatziki, a creamy cucumber dip, Jim uses Kefir cheese from Greece, giving it an almost sour cream-like bump.

Hazel Restaurant in Occidental. Photo Heather Irwin.

You’ll find that many of the dishes featured on the menu are best-sellers from their past restaurants while, as Jim said, they feel out the locals to see what resonates. “People eat a lot more meat here than in Berkeley,” he said. “I thought I would be making a lot more vegetarian dishes, but everyone and their mom orders the ribeye ($29),” said Jim. Surprisingly, he added, whole Branzino (head, bones and all, $26) is also popular. “It’s a really cool dish that shows off what we can do with our oven,” he said.

Pita with eggplant at Hazel Restaurant in Occidental. Photo Heather Irwin.

More must-try dishes:

– Polenta with anything: After a family field trip to their neighbors at Valley Ford Cheese, the Wimborough fell in love with their Fontina-style Highway One, especially when a batch was a bit “funkier” that the usual aged cheese. “It adds to much flavor,” he said. We say: Cornmeal is almost an afterthought to this cheese and butter-laden side that will make you swoon. Piled with braised short ribs ($25), its almost too good to be legal, with plenty to share with your dining partner, I mean, if you’re generous like that.

– Roasted Octopus ($11): Braised in red wine and rosemary, then seared, its tender and flavorful with white beans, grapefruit, orange, fennel and olives.

Roasted octopus at Hazel Restaurant in Occidental. Photo Heather Irwin.

– Mushroom Pizza ($14): A newcomer to the menu, roasted crimini mushrooms are blended into a sauce, with maitakes, Brie and truffle oil. Thicker than Neopolitan-style pizza, the fermented dough has plenty of crisp without the burnt taste. Valley Ford Gorgonzola with caramelized onions, walnuts and fig balsamic ($13) could benefit from some prosciutto, but maybe that’s just us.

– Pork Schnitzel ($24): A forearm-sized schnitzel, of pounded pork that’s breaded, fried and served atop smashed potatoes with creme fraiche and bacon braised cabbage. Grab n Anderson Valley Boont Amber ($5) and you’ll wonder where the oompa band is hiding.

Branzino at Hazel Restaurant. Photo: Hazel Restaurant

– Roasted Bronzino ($26): The couple get this white-fleshed fish prized from the Mediterranean daily. A simple roast, with potatoes, leeks, tomatoes and white wine keep this dish really effortless.

– Sourdough Bread Pudding ($8): Desserts, breads and pastries are also made in house by Jim’s wife, Michele. If it’s Friday, it’s Pie Day, so grab whatever she’s cooked up. We loved the sourdough bread budding with Bourbon caramel, chocolate, bananas and whipped cream, made with leftover sourdough she’s baked in the back oven. Most popular? The Hazel Sundae with salted caramel, hot fudge, whipped cream, candied almonds and Amarena cherries, ($8)

Pot de Creme at Hazel Restaurant. Photo: Heather Irwin.

If you go: Free corkage on Thursday nights if you bring a local bottle. The restaurant will begin serving brunch within a few weeks (call first), with Jim’s Great Grandma Hazel’s cinnamon rolls (she’s the restaurant’s inspiration and namesake). Located within stumbling distance of the popular bike route along Occidental Road, it will no doubt become a favorite morning ride refueling spot.

Oh, and remain calm if you hear the air raid siren wailing across the street. It’s just the local fire alert system, which locals are used to (but no doubt will have you looking like a deer in headlights). You know, unless it’s coming from the kitchen. Thing is, after eating at Hazel, we’re pretty confident the Wimboroughs have their live fires well under control.

Corn Pizza at Hazel Restaurant. Photo: Hazel Restaurant

Hazel Restaurant: Open daily from 5p.m. to 10p.m.; 3782 Bohemian Hwy, Occidental, (707) 874-6003, restauranthazel.com. Reservations recommended.

Taste of Petaluma

August 2015

By biteclub

Taste of Petaluma: Eating + shopping = love. Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015 is the annual dining stroll through downtown Petaluma.

Local shops pair up with more than 60 of Petaluma’s finest chefs, food purveyors, wineries and breweries for a concentrated taste of what’s great in Petaluma. Best bets to check out: Bistro 100 (140 Second St.), Wishbone (at the Phoenix Theater), Sauced BBQ (151 Petaluma Blvd. South), Seared (170 Petaluma Blvd North).

More details at tasteofpetaluma.org.

Sonoma Native Aaron London Wins Bon Appetit Best New Restaurant 2015

August 2015

By biteclub

AL's Place wins Bon Appetit Best Restaurant 2015, tapping Sonoma County native Aaron London for kudos. Photo courtesy of AL's Place (alsplacesf.com) — AL’s Place wins Bon Appetit Best Restaurant 2015, tapping Sonoma County native Aaron London for kudos. Photo courtesy of AL’s Place (alsplacesf.com)

Don’t try to get a table anytime soon at Aaron London’s SF restaurant AL’s Place. The Graton native’s Mission eatery was named the best new restaurant in the country by Bon Appetit magazine on August 19, and reservations for the next eight weeks? Booked. The phone? Busy. And no doubt lines of eager hopefuls will snake around the blocks for weeks.

(London on Istagram celebrating the win for Bon Appetit Best New Restaurant 2015)

https://instagram.com/p/6jJk-Ml7PJ/?taken-by=alsplacesf

“To fully appreciate our restaurant of the year, step inside the obsessive, fanatical, and wildly creative world of Chef Aaron London. Trust us, it’s worth the trip,” wrote Bon Appetit’s Restaurant Editor, Andrew Knowlton.

Earlier this year, London opened his namesake San Francisco restaurant, AL’s Place, with a focus on regional produce and seafood (other meat dishes are categorized as “Side dishes”. With even more attention being focused on plant-powered eating these days, it’s not a huge surprise that London’s quirky vision and omnivorous POV got some serious attention despite competing with hundreds of restaurants both nationally and from around the Bay Area —called “The Best Food City in the Country” by Bon Appetit.

Knowlton uses words to describe dishes like the 96-hour brined fries as “Genius!” and “Bonkers!”, adding “What deal with the culinary devil had chef Aaron London made in exchange for being able to produce such off-the-charts, flavor-rich creations? How was it coming from just three cooks working in a kitchen the size of a walk-in closet?” (Here’s a link to the menu).

London got his big break at Napa’s Michelin-starred vegetarian restaurant, Ubuntu, where he took over the kitchen following Jeremy Fox’s unexpected departure in 2010. London was named a Rising Star Chef in 2011.

Hailing from Sonoma County, London turned to cooking after a “run-in with the law” resulting in house arrest when he was 14, according to who tapped the 32-year-old London for the honor. (London has been mum on exactly what happened, but rumor has it his parole officers were fed well by the young chef.)

His early restaurant career, however, was less impressive. “Eventually, he started cooking at Mixx, a since-closed bistro in Santa Rosa where, in his own words, he “showed creativity but lacked discipline.” During one rough night on the line, the chef gave him some advice: “Stop sucking so much.”,’ said the Bon Appetit article.

So congrats to our local boy done good. Just don’t forget your friends in the North Bay…maybe you could save us a couple seats?

Here’s the Hot 10 List of Restaurants named by Bon Appetit.

Heritage Public House Brewery and Gastropub

August 2015

By biteclub

Heritage Public House in Santa Rosa: BBQ Brisket Sandwich. Photo Heather Irwin

CLOSED

Long story short: Heritage Public House Brewery and Gastropub has great pub grub—now.

But the story behind the story? It wasn’t always that way.

In April veteran chef Josh Silvers took over the kitchen of the Santa Rosa bro-pub which had great beer, but somewhat lackluster dining. With 24 taps and their own recently-launched brewery, Bloodline Brewing, food wasn’t really the point.

That’s changed.

Heritage Public House in Santa Rosa: Burrata Panzanella Photo Heather Irwin

Despite some early fumbles taking over the 3-year-old pub’s management, kitchen and interior, Silvers has found his groove. With newly-trained staff, in addition to a focus on the up-and-coming Bloodline beers made onsite, Heritage Public House (1901 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, heritagepublichousesr.com) is worth a second look. Here’s why…

Heritage Public House in Santa Rosa: Smoked Chicken with sweet potatoes and greens. Photo Heather Irwin

Smoked Rocky chicken with bacon braised greens and maple sweet potato smash ($17.95): Silvers isn’t a subtle when it comes to big flavors. While you may think “fall” for this dish, the smoked chicken is juicy and smoky and perched atop a pile of ‘taters that should come with a warning: Butter overload. They’re nutso good, any time of the year.

Heritage Public House in Santa Rosa: Fried pig ears. Photo Heather Irwin

Pig Ears, For Real ($9): Pig ears done wrong aren’t fun. But done right? Heaven. “It’s just a carrier for salt and fat,” Silvers said of the thinly cut strips of toothsome pig ear that come with lime aioli for dipping. Crispy, and perfect with a hoppy beer.

Burrata & Panzanella with heirloom tomatoes ($12.95): Summer perfection on a plate means a creamy ball of fresh mozzarella, crunchy bread and ripe summer tomatoes fresh off the vine.

Brisket Sandwich Heritage Public House in Santa Rosa: Photo Heather Irwin

Open faced slow smoked brisket with crispy onion straws on Texas Toast ($14.95): We were heartbroken on an earlier visit when this screaming marquee of awesomeness failed to live up to the hype. This triple-threat sandwich is finally ready for its close-up, with melty sweet brisket, crispy onion straws piled on top, and thick, buttery Texas Toast as the base. Potato and cole slaw are picnic perfect.

Heritage Public House in Santa Rosa: Bone Marrow Photo Heather Irwin

Bone Marrow ($12.95): A newcomer to the menu under the “Odd Things” category, beef bones are roasted, split, and served with slices of toast and salt. An acquired taste, perhaps, but when you know, you know.

Heritage Public House in Santa Rosa: Malt Ice Cream. Photo Heather Irwin

Malt ice cream with peanuts and caramel ($7): Sweet malt (part of the brewing process) mixed with ice cream, caramel and peanuts. Think sundae with a beery twist.

Heritage Public House in Santa Rosa: Puffed Rice Mac and Cheese. Photo Heather Irwin

“Puffed Rice” Mac and Cheese ($7.95): Another initial miss, now a hit. Buttery Rice Krispies are given a quick toast atop Josh’s killer mac and cheese. The man knows mac and cheese, and everybody know it.

Heritage Public House in Santa Rosa: Salmon with corn relish and mashed potaotes Photo Heather Irwin

Pork belly with lentils ($13.95): Pork is Josh’s oeuvre, transcending trends. So when he does pork belly, he does pork belly. Paired with black lentils you can almost believe you’re eating healthy.

Heritage Public House in Santa Rosa: Brewer's Fries Photo Heather Irwin — Heritage Public House in Santa Rosa: Brewer’s Fries Photo Heather Irwin

Brewer’s Yeast Fries ($7): No. Frozen. Fries. Ever. You won’t find bags or boxes of frozen fries in any of Josh’s kitchens. He’s a bit of a nut about fresh Kennebec fries. That can mean some fluctuation in quality, by its very nature, but ours were crisp enough to stand up to the bowl of aioli we pretty much decimated.

Heritage Public House in Santa Rosa: Nectarine shortcake Photo Heather Irwin

The beer: Nice-price sippers like the California Livin’ Kolsch ($5), Beach weather saison (15oz $4) and Hay-Fuh Hefeweizen ($6) are perfect for the patio.

A mea culpa (priceless): It’s a rare chef who will admit a stumble, big or small. But ultimately it’s his neck on the line, and Josh doesn’t mince words when it comes to the close shave he got in taking over an existing kitchen and staff. Now, the bugs are worked out, and the food is worth another look. I’ll put my neck out on that one.

Heritage Public House in Santa Rosa: Shishito Peppers Photo Heather Irwin

Heritage Public House Brewery and Gastropub: Open daily from 11:30a.m., 1901 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, heritagepublichousesr.com.

Heritage Public House in Santa Rosa:Gypsy Girl Sausage Photo Heather Irwin

Markets Con Mucho Mas

August 2015

By Diane Peterson

Albina Rodriguez holds a papaya for Luz Falcon and her 2-year-old daughter, Sofia, to smell at Castañeda’s Marketplace in Windsor. (photos by John Burgess)

Brassy mariachi music and vibrant piñatas, big tubs of guacamole and salsa, carne asada marinating in citrus juice and chicken smoking on the grill. Sound like a Sunday afternoon fiesta?

Actually, it’s the everyday shopping experience at Mexican markets all over the region, from traditional neighborhood tiendas including El Brinquito Market & Meat in Sonoma to large Latino supermarkets such as Rancho Mendoza in Santa Rosa. They offer a wide range of products, from marinated beef and chicken to more specialized items such as dried chiles, tres leches cakes and frozen, tropical fruits from Central America.

At Castañeda’s Marketplace in Windsor, shoppers are greeted by colorful, hand-painted murals alongside mounds of fresh produce and unusual herbs including fresh epazote and yerba santa (also known as mountain balm and sacred weed).

Once a shopping destination largely for Latinos, local Mexican markets now appeal to a wide range of cooks seeking exotic ingredients to spice up their dishes.

“What we have is a lot of ethnic stuff that’s hard to find,” owner Jose Castañeda said. “We also have the 20-pound bags of flour and 50-pound bags of cranberry beans. In the bulk section, we have maize for posole, beans and rice.”

In the La Cocina taqueria at the rear of the market, Castañeda serves paella dinners at 5 and 7 p.m. every Saturday, which include tapas, salad, sangria and dessert. The former high-tech salesman also serves a free breakfast for veterans on Saturdays.

Ruben Altamirano decorates a tres leches cake at Lola's Market in Santa Rosa. — Ruben Altamirano decorates a tres leches cake at Lola’s Market in Santa Rosa.

The restaurant, which has long, wooden tables, also serves traditional Mexican items and some hybrid dishes that blend different foods from Mexico with those from around the world. The “chiladillas,” for example, combine the body of a quesadilla with the sauce of an enchilada.

Although he is a native of Michoacan, Castañeda is a big fan of Oaxacan food and tries to get as many ingredients as he can from that mountainous region south of Mexico City.

“It is so diverse and the food is unlike the rest of Mexico,” he said. “It’s a huge surprise.”

To help people learn how to use unusual Latino ingredients, Castañeda has started giving cooking classes at the marketplace, showcasing everything from the different kinds of dried chiles to unusual cuts of meat, such as pork feet.

Local Mexican markets now appeal to a wide range of cooks seeking exotic ingredients to spice up their dishes.

“Toward the end of September I start the holiday cooking series, where we focus on tamales and the holiday foods,” he said. “On our Facebook page, there are how-to videos, and that seems to help people, too.”

“I probably shop here twice a week,” said Shari Quick of Santa Rosa, while perusing the overflowing produce aisle at Lola’s Market on Santa Rosa’s Petaluma Hill Road. “Even if I don’t speak Spanish, they are always able to help me, and they are very friendly. It’s a good alternative to Safeway.”

Meanwhile, Lea Barron-Thomas was picking up lunch at the prepared foods counter at Lola’s, which included cooked beans, chiles rellenos, chicken mole, salsa and tortillas.

Butcher Freddy Castañeda fills the meat counter at Castañeda's Marketplace in Windsor with traditional Mexican cuts of beef. — Butcher Freddy Castañeda fills the meat counter at Castañeda’s Marketplace in Windsor with traditional Mexican cuts of beef.

“If I could pick one food to eat every day, it would be tacos,” the Santa Rosan said. “If you put something in a taco with salsa, it’s delicious.”

Because it’s so close, chef Liza Hinman of The Spinster Sisters in Santa Rosa often shops at Lola’s for the restaurant kitchen’s needs, but when she’s cooking for her family, the Healdsburg resident stops by the Lola’s store on Healdsburg Avenue, Panaderia Costa Chica across the street or Casa del Mole just north of the Plaza.

“My husband and I both love to cook,” she said. “I like to make a red posole with the dried chiles, and he likes to do a braised pork stew with the chiles.”

Jose Ojeda grills 400 chickens each weekend at El Brinquito Market & Meat in Sonoma.

The unusual items on Hinman’s shopping list include dried hibiscus to make agua fresca fruit drinks for parties, sour limes for cocktails and fresh garbanzo beans in the shell.

“You can roast the garbanzos in the shell, and they kind of steam,” she said. “We pass them with lime zest and sea salt. It’s like Mexican edamame.”

Most of the Hispanic markets also house a taqueria, where hungry folks can sit down for ceviche or pick up a rotisserie chicken with rice, beans and tortillas to go.

Sonoma resident Bryan Jones, chef at St. Francis Winery in Santa Rosa, likes to stop at El Brinquito Market & Meat in Sonoma, where the intoxicating aroma of grilled chicken wafts across Highway 12 on weekends.

“Inside, there is a large meat counter that sells Mexican-style cuts of meats,” he said. “They make their own chorizo and morcilla (Spanish blood sausage), which is amazing … and there’s a taqueria in back. But you go there on weekends for the famous grilled chickens.”

Farm to Fermentation Festival 2015

August 2015

By biteclub

Beer, chocolate, cheese, kvass and more fermented foods than you can shake a mason jar at. Farm to Fermentation Festival 2015.

(Check out Farm to Fermentation Festival founder Jennifer Harris in this awesome show, Spoiled To Perfection. They’ll be at the event.)

Farm to Fermentation Festival 2015 : Bigger and badder (meaning gooder) than ever, this celebration of all that ferments happens Aug. 22 at the Finley Center in Santa Rosa.

Taste and learn about homemade miso, turmeric fermentation, beet kvass, cheese, chocolate (now we’ve really got your attention) along with VIP tastings of local craft beers and ciders.

Tickets are $50 for VIP (includes Libation Lounge); $30 for general admission. Special classes range from $18 to $45. More details online at farmtofermentation.com.

Want to get more involved in the fascinating (and good for your gut) world of fermentation? Jennifer Harris hosts a monthly meeting of fermentation education and enthusiasm at the Sebastopol Grange. Find out more at farmtofermentation.com/learn/