Five Dot Ranch Cookhouse will open at the Oxbow Public Market in Napa this June, making it one of a dozen food stalls and restaurants in the ever-expanding space.

Five Dot Ranch’s butcher shop has been a mainstay at the market, but the new Cookhouse restaurant (along with a smokehouse and to-go menu) will give non-local visitors a chance to experience Five Dot’s sustainable beef on-site. Coming soon: Breakfast rib sandwiches on a pecan waffle, corned beef hash, Reuben sandwiches with house made pastrami or corned beef, tri-tip sandwiches with tomato salsa, a “you pick it, we grill it” steak with bone marrow butter, burgers, barbecue..and the list goes on.

The Cookhouse will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

644 First Street, Napa, (707) 224-5550.

BiteClub got a first bite of The Naked Pig’s opening menu, and was an unabashed oinker in polishing just about everything on the plate.

There are just three tables inside (plus several more outside), making the experience quite intimate (you can also get take out).

Here’s what to get: Tip-top billing goes to the cheddar, chive and ham savory bread pudding ($12) a super-collider smash-up of flavors worthy of a Nobel prize ($12). We’re also huge fans of the green onion biscuit with honey, poached eggs, perfectly cooked bacon and tartly-dressed salad ($13).

Artisanal whisky caramel waffles ($11) are fluffy and moist with a boozy punch ($11). Lunch sandwiches are takes on lunchbox favorites like meatloaf ($13)and egg salad ($11), but with gourmet twists like Raymond bakery ciabatta, pastured eggs and homemade pickles and ketchup.

We won’t deny a bit of sticker shock on a few items, but foodists will appreciate owner Jason and Dalia’s curated list of purveyors that include small sustainable farmers and bakers. We’re always willing to pay a little more to support our friends.

Open 8a.m. to 3p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, 435 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa.

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Press St. Helena steakhouse and restaurant (587 St. Helena Hwy, St. Helean, 967-0550)has named Chef Trevor Kunk as its new exec chef.

What’s especially notable about the appointment? Kunk hails most recently from Blue Hill New York, one of the top restaurants in NYC, sourcing directly from Dan Barber’s legendary Blue Hill Farm in the Hudson Valley.

So, uh, he’ll be pretty familiar with the whole farm-to-table thing we do out here. Welcome to Wine Country.

With all the recent bad news about local meat processing, its heartening to know that a new generation of local butchers and processors are coming up the ranks. Sonoma County Meat Co., which opened in late May, 2014 (35 Sebastopol Ave., Santa Rosa) is a small USDA and state-­approved processor, butcher shop and meat CSA run by meat and culinary rock stars Rian Rinn and Jenine Alexander.

Unlike most commercial butcher shops, the couple can take in beef, chicken, rabbit, goat, lamb, pork and game for processing as well as cut-­and-­wrap (breaking down USDA-­approved animals slaughtered at places like Marin Sun Farms) and package it for sale at their store or for farmer’s markets and commercial sales.

Suffice to say, it’s a pretty big deal. They will also offer a meat CSA.

Check out their stuff at sonomacountymeatco.com.

While most of us were watching the former John and Zeke’s bar in Healdsburg for some signs of life from new owner Sam Young (Scout was supposed to open in March), he quietly opened Kozy Kar Bar in Santa Rosa. Now, that was a surprise. If you haven’t been to the sibling Kozy Kar Bar in SF, you’re in for a, well, new experience.

It’s a 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.

BiteClub hasn’t been inside the new North Bay Kozy Kar, but folks who have say it’s got more than a few adults-only features (we’ll leave it to your imagination).

The SF version has been both cheered and chided for its tastelessness.

We’ll see what Santa Rosa thinks.

Located in the former Epic, 404 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa.

On June 7, July 5, August 2 and September 6 2014, head to Cotati’s Suchernova Farm for a series of unforgettable outdoor summer dinners.

Each month, local chefs will prepare unforgettable multi-course meals from the day’s bounty, spotlighting the strong links between community farming and the pleasures of eating.

During the dinners, you learn about the 10-acre farms menagerie of animals, including Berkshire and Red wattle pigs; Scottish Highland cattle; cashmere, alpine and nubian goats; Navajo-Churro sheep along with laying hens, broilers (meat chickens breeds) and bees.

Organic  vegetables are grown using permaculture and biodynamic methods–taking cues from the earth and seasons–as well as creating an experimental aquaponics system that uses fish to provide nutrients to growing vegetables.

Want to get in on the action?

• $100/person. Space is limited & payment is required to reserve a space.

• Call to reserve tickets 707.992.0056

• All major credit cards accepted.

• BYOB alcoholic beverages not included

• Dress is casual

Farm tour & Dinner, 5:30-8pm, Suchernova Farm, 909 West Sierra Ave., Cotati, CA 94931

(PS. I can’t believe how badly I screwed up the first version of this. PC’s are such evil machines.)

Okay, so the news came out last week that Mark and Terri Stark’s Stark Reality Restaurants (Stark’s Steak and Seafood, Willi’s Wine Bar, Monti’s, Bravas, etc) had purchased the former Italian Affair restaurant in Santa Rosa.

BiteClub can confirm its been in the works for a long, long time, but the deal only became final in early April.

So here’s the rest of the story…

There’s been speculation for months that the Starks would be closing Monti’s in Montgomery Village and moving it to the space at 1055 Fourth St.

Wrong-O.

According to Terri Stark, they will be opening a NEW restaurant in the space (if you’re keeping count, that’s number six for them). Opening is slated for November. The couple are remaining tight-lipped about the menu concept, but are naming it Bird & Bottle.

Monti’s will be undergoing some renovation in “the near future” Stark said, but not closing or moving.

 

The first thing you notice in the cafeteria-style line at Jack’s Urban Eats at Coddingtown Center  is the carving station. And the mashed potatoes. Which were pretty much the first things you noticed when the location was Narsi’s Hof Brau. Oh, the irony.

But that’s pretty much where the similarities end. The new Sacramento-based restaurant has a modern, family-friendly feel with quick service, giant salads ($7.50 to $9.75), solid sandwiches (Reuben, pulled pork, tri-tip) and kid-appropriate chicken strips, mac and cheese and fries. Plus a self-serve digital soda machine with 150 flavor combinations (fun!)

Best bets include pesto mashed potatoes with gravy, Chinese chicken salad, the classic tri-tip sandiwch ($7.25) and turkey berry with roasted turkey, cranberry, provolone, apple relish and lettuce ($7.95) and Urban fries with blue cheese sauce, spicy chili oil and chili flakes ($3.50).

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Skip the mac and cheese unless you’re under 8 (in which case you’ll love it). Beer and wine available.

Don’t expect the French Laundry here, we’re talking lunch-worthy fast-casual or Mom’s-night-off dining. And, you know, when you want to channel the old Hof Brau.

342 Coddingtown Center, Santa Rosa, (707) 293-9852.

UDPATE: The news that Eiko Nakamura, a Napa restaurateur and BottleRock participant died over the weekend was shocking to everyone. Nakamura’s ex-husband is being held in connection with her death. The restaurant’s food stand closed on Sunday after her body was found. See the article here.

Jamming to the Cure can work up a hearty appetite. Fortunately for Napa’s Bottlerock festival-goers, there were plenty of snarf-worthy eats throughout the event grounds, and BiteClub hit most of ‘em. Representing Sonoma County and the Coast, Nick’s Cove, Gerard’s Paella, Ultra Crepes, Three Twins Ice Cream and Sprenger’s Tap Room. From Napa (and elsewhere), Angele, Morimoto Napa, La Condesa, The Thomas, Tarla, Napkins, Villa Corona, Smoke Open Fire Cooking, Eiko’s Jax White Mule Diner, The Q Restaurant, Il Posto, Fume Bistro, Bui Bistro, Ca’Momi, Oakville Grocery, Ristorante Allegria, Kara’s Cupcakes, Bacon Bacon, Curry Up…okay, my fingers are tired.

Best and Worst of the Weekend

My overall impression: Wow, there was some incredible food. But a lot of it was really overpriced (even for a festival). Having been at Bottlerock last year and Outside Lands the last three years, I’ve come to expect $8-$13 for pretty good sized plates of food. When that goes up to $20? Yeesh. The food trucks were among the most creative, fun and affordable eats. Restaurants suffered a bit from being entirely isolated inside closed tents, making them sort of personality-less. Here’s the shakedown (and yes, I’m biased).

Best overall: Tri Tip Trolley, Sonoma. My first visit to this Sonoma-based food truck was delicious despite the fact that I was approaching meltdown in the over-indulging department. The bowl was nearly a half pound of soft tri-tip with sauce and slaw. Plus: Glen Ellen Star ice cream (vanilla maple bourbon!)

Best Value: I was shocked at some of the food prices, especially in the restaurant area. And I think a lot of other people were too, because I didn’t see very long lines at any of them (aside from Sprenger’s Tap Room). Ultra Crepes had generous crepes for between $5 and $8.

Best Burgers: Me So Hungry, SF. This newcomer to the scene knocked it out of the park with really tasty beef sliders slathered with sauces like creme fraiche, and gorganzola cheese sauce. So Noms.

Best Gimmick Dish: Porky Fries, Bacon Bacon (SF): These seasoned french fries were drenched in bits of bacon, spicy pickled red peppers, shaved parmesan and (though we didn’t find any in ours), pork shoulder. Still delicious and still worth $9.

Second was Drewski’s pulled pork and macaroni sandwich. Yep, macaroni in the sandwich. It wasn’t very pretty, took forever to get and tasted good, but not great. But you gotta love the idea.

Biggest Regret (for not eating): Curry Up Now, SF. I was actually pretty stoked to get a peek at this South Bay Indian truck. But by the time I got there, I was in serious pain. I mean oh-my-god-I-ate-too-much pain. I’m looking forward to seeing them at Outside Lands.

Sexiest Truck: Pin Up Girl Pastries and Coffee Co. (Santa Rosa). Another last-minute find. Adorable gals dressed up in pin-up girl gear that was adorable rather than, well, uncomfortable. This mobile coffee cart whose motto is “death before decaf” launched just two weeks ago, and is most often set up at Airport and Aviation. Check out their website here.

Come On, Really? The most overpriced dish of the day was a tie. $20 for Ca’Momi’s arugula and mascarpone pizza and even more shocking, $12 for Morimoto’s California Roll.

It’s easy to take celebrity educator, chef and Sonoman John Ash for granted. The father of Wine Country cuisine, tireless author and world-traveling culinary teacher and proponent of sustainable seafood (as well as all-around nice guy), Ash garners crowds because he’s a always been a Chef’s Chef, not a schticky TV personality.

Last weekend, Ash was named Educator of the Year at the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Cooking for Solutions, a three-day event featuring more than 90 chefs (including Alton Brown and The Chew’s Carla Hall). BiteClub got a chance to attend Ash’s DIY smoked and cured salmon class, using sustainable Verlasso farmed salmon from Chile and catch up on his latest adventures, which include a recent trip to Japan with SRJC’s Mei Ibach, upcoming classes at Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, a three-day culinary adventure through Sonoma County and an upcoming demonstration on June 1 at the Windsor Farm Market, where he and Ibach will feature street foods of Asia and discuss Ash’s most recent book, Culinary Birds: The ultimate poultry cookbook (a James Beard Award nominee).

So here’s to John, whose always got a place in our heart and at our table. Find out more about John, and see his upcoming schedule at chefjohnash.com.