Quesabirria Plate at El Fogon Taco Shop in Santa Rosa on Friday, April 14, 2023. (Christopher Chung/The Press Democrat)
My buddy Ana is a serious quesabirria fan and swears that Mi Ranchito in Larkfield is the hands-down winner for her.
That’s a tall order, my friend, since I’ve had my share of these long-simmered beef tacos dunked into their chile-laden broth, stuffed with cheese and grilled to a bubbly brown.
I gotta say, I’m a die-hard fan of Galvan’s Eatery and Jalapeño Mexican Grill (both food trucks) for the drippy, messy, delicious versions that have stained many a shirt and may be the mystery stain on my car’s seat belt.
But I’m giving a giant thumbs-up to Mi Ranchito for the lacy bits of caramelized cheese, butter-soft meat, and grill-kissed quesabirria that arrive with a steaming cup of consommé, pickled red onion, tomatillo salsa and a naughty chile and tomato salsa that’s nuclear spicy.
I was immediately sold, not in small part due to their tidy presentation.
The flavors impressed, and I’ll be back for more, even though they insistently dripped down my shirt, just like their sloppy taco truck cousins.
Seismic Brewing Co. brewmaster Andy Hopper, left, talks beer with Seismic’s staff, Friday, June 28, 2019 prior to a soft opening of the brew pub at the Barlow Center in Sebastopol. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2019
Bite Club Question of the Week
You ask, I’ll find out. Send your queries on new restaurants, insider tips, or curious food-related goings-on to me at heather.irwin@pressdemocrat.com. I also love to hear where you think I should dine next.
This week, Dana asks: “I live in Sebastopol and drive past The Barlow pretty much every day. This week I’ve noticed some activity in the corner property that used to be Seismic Brewing. Do you have any idea what might be going into that space?”
Barlow owner Barney Aldridge said the space will become a burger, milkshake and ice cream spot called Cock Robin.
If you’re a Chicago native of a certain age, you may remember Cock Robin from childhood, as Aldridge did.
He said that, as a kid, he and his family, grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins used to hang out at the beloved hamburger stand until it closed in the 1980s.
Aldridge bought the trademark and hoped to bring some of his Midwest childhood to Sebastopol. No opening date but stay tuned for more details.
Omar Galvan delivers an order from the pickup window at Galvan’s Eatery in Santa Rosa. (Heather Irwin / The Press Democrat)
Over 40 food vendors will converge from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 5, when the Fork’n Good Food Festival returns to SOMO Village in Rohnert Park.
Hosted by the SoCo Market folks (who know how to assemble some tasty food trucks), the list of eats is frighteningly extensive. There are lots of familiar food slingers, including Bite Club-approved Api Hot Chicken, Buns y Garnachas, Galvan’s Eatery (you know where I’ll be), Lila’s Streetside Eats, Nellie’s Oysters, Tacos Don Pepe, The Real Chamoy, The Wurst, and War Pigs BBQ. On my list to try are D’Grobak (Indonesian street food), Chavas wood-fired pizza, Patayas Locas aguas frescas and Porchetta Toscana (Italian porchetta).
According to organizers, many vendors will offer $5 samples so you can cram even more food into your face.
Foggy morning at Bodega Bay via Pacific Coast Highway in Sonoma County, California, USA.
Every spring unveils an awakening along the rural back roads of Sonoma County. Vineyards striped in yellow mustard give way to pink flashes of plum blossoms as quilted patterns of wildflowers return to the fields in purple and gold.
As we thaw out from a long winter, the need to bask in the sun feels strong. Make a beeline directly to the source — where the crabs are harvested, the cheese is aged, and the vineyard cover crops flower. This is a time to celebrate life: bowlegged lambs playing king of the mountain, baby seal pups lumbering across a beach, a young kingfisher teetering on a telephone line.
These three spring drives delve into the bounty of the county. Compare clam chowders along the coast in Bodega Bay and Jenner, nibble on fresh cheeses amid the green pastures of west Petaluma, or take in budbreak and wildflower season in the sister valleys of Dry Creek and Alexander, just outside Healdsburg. Because spring is meant for exploration and discovery — and a meander along our rural country roads feels just right, right now.
Fueled by winter rains, wildflowers blanket hillsides all over the county in spring. (Tom Greco)
Wildflowers & Wine
Dry Creek Valley to Alexander Valley, Healdsburg
Dry Creek Valley, west of Healdsburg, is a place steeped in rustic highs and lows, where A. Rafanelli Winery sells coveted $140 Cabs while weeds grow through rusted farm equipment retired beside the road. Starting off on Highway 101 near Healdsburg, head west on Dry Creek Road, where “tractor crossing” notices give way to peace signs and placards reading “Eggs $5 a Dozen” are mounted on barns.
The landmark 1881 Dry Creek General Store is well-stocked with hearty takeout fuel for the road, from spicy chorizo breakfast burritos to the Bark Shark’s slow-cooked brisket sandwich. And no Dry Creek spring jaunt is complete without a trip to Preston Farm & Winery, where peach and plum trees are beginning to blossom, bees are buzzing in the mustard, and farmer Kristin Morrison looks forward to transitioning from a long winter in the greenhouse. The farm store sells everything from eggs and dried peppers to the popular Guadagni jug wine (a delicious Zin blend)— plus the farm’s own line of organic marigold and gourd seeds, sold “by the pinch.”
Along with Preston, Mounts Family Winery is the epitome of all that is salt-of-the-earth and unpretentious about Dry Creek Valley. Just ask winery dogs Lewie and Scrappy, who spend all day chasing after rabbits. This is the time of year when owner Lana Mounts enjoys watching their 50-year-old fig tree come to life near the tasting room. “As the buds open, the tree is laced with leaves that resemble butterflies,” she says. “It’s as if hundreds of green butterflies are perched on the branches.” Look for the winery’s April release of Grenache and Petite Syrah, along with rarer Rhône varietals Clairette Blanche and Counoise.
At the upper reach of the valley, past the dam at Lake Sonoma Recreation Area, take time out from eating and tasting for a stunning hike. The out-and-back trail from the Little Flat parking area to Bummer Peak packs a punch, tracking through oak and manzanita woodlands before topping out at unmatched views of the entire valley. It’s a fitting finish in Dry Creek before connecting over Canyon Road to Geyserville, the gateway to Alexander Valley.
Silver Oak winery in Healdsburg. (Silver Oak)
In Geyserville, you’ll face one of the toughest decisions of the day: Truffle fries and ten-layer lasagna at Catelli’s or prosciutto-and-funghi pie at Diavola Pizzeria. Rolling through on the weekends, keep an ear out for local musician Pat Simmons (not to be confused with the Doobie Brothers guitarist) playing keyboards in the parking lot next to Bosworth & Son western wear shop, where you can always score a sweet Stetson.
Wandering back toward Healdsburg via Highway 128, some of the best Alexander Valley lookouts are at Robert Young Estate Winery’s Scion House and from the sweeping deck overlooking the vineyards at Hanna Winery. A stop at Silver Oak is a must, not only for world-class Cabernet Sauvignon, but to marvel at one of the most sustainable wineries in the world. The vast solar array on the roof supplies energy, and underground tanks irrigate the 75-acre vineyard with harvested rain water.
Practically next door, Alexander Valley Vineyards never misses a chance to celebrate the March 15 birthday of valley namesake Cyrus Alexander each year with the release of their newest Cyrus Bordeaux blend. Spring is winery co-owner Harry Wetzel’s favorite time of the year. In a battle of floras, the hills turn a bright Irish green, he says, “but in many places the wildflowers actually overpower the green hues and turn the hills yellow. Not golden like the dried grasses of the summer, but mustard-yellow, purple, orange, and white.”
Preston Farm & Winery, 9282 W. Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, 707-433-3372, prestonfarmandwinery.com
Mounts Family Winery, 3901 Wine Creek Road, Healdsburg, 707-292-8148, mountswinery.com
The Bummer Peak Hike starts at the Little Flat trailhead at Lake Sonoma Recreation Area. 4.7 miles roundtrip with a moderate climb. Take Dry Creek Road to Rockpile Road. Park in the Little Flat lot, on the right just after you go over the bridge. alltrails.com
Alexander Valley Vineyards, 8644 Highway 128, Healdsburg, 707-433-7209, avvwine.com
Photo by John Beck.A bucolic scene along Chileno Valley Road. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)
Family Farms & Fresh Cheeses
Chileno Valley to Spring Hill Loop, Petaluma
Think of this breezy drive through low-lying pasturelands as a celebration of all things dairy, in a valley once settled by Chilean immigrants, where locals love their cheeses, their wines, and even their precious native newts. As you head out from downtown Petaluma on Western Avenue, the best morning pit stop is at the bright yellow, two-story Petaluma Creamery, which looks like it could play an old-timey hotel on the set of a TV western. Purveyor of all-organic Spring Hill cheeses, butter, and eggs, it’s also a great spot to pick up a panini or tri-tip sandwich for the road. And the garlic curds make ideal picnic poppers because you don’t have to slice them.
Or for a deeper dive into specialty sandos, like Frederick’s Chicabacon, Ray’s Delicatessen is just a few blocks down the road on the right.
Before you get to Chileno Valley Road, hang a quick right on Chapman Lane, where Rick and JoAnn Wallenstein run the Lavender Bee Farm. Make an appointment to visit the farm store and taste honeys and other products made from lavender, which starts to bloom around the first week of June.
Soon after turning left on Chileno Valley Road, you’ll hit the spring spectacle of green rolling hills and oaks leafing out at Helen Putnam Regional Park. The 216-acre preserve boasts six miles of trails, with panoramic views, picnic spots, and even a chance to wet a line for bluegill and bass in Cattail Pond.
Wheels of goat cheese rest in the Achadinha Cheese Company aging room. (Christopher Chung)Donna Pacheco with one of her newborn Nubian goats at Achadinha Cheese Company in Petaluma. (Erik Castro/for Sonoma Magazine)
Just down the road on the right, lies cheese heaven: The Achadinha Cheese Company, which takes its name from the tiny Portuguese town (say “Osh-a-deen-a”) where the owners, the Pacheco family, has roots. “Life is never calm during kidding season,” says Donna Pacheco, who looks forward to the spring arrival of baby goats. “The girls” on this 230-acre farm supplement their diet of lush spring grasses with brewer’s grain from Bear Republic and Russian River Brewing Company, producing milk for a stunning array of cheeses. Prep your taste buds for the nutty Cowpricious, aged on cedar planks; the ripe Portuguese Broncha, a Greek-style feta; and the yogurty kefir. And Achadinha has to be the only cheese company around to sell a DIY poutine kit in celebration of the gravy-drenched, late-night Canadian hangover food.
Further down the road, past Moreda Family Farms, you’ll start to see “Newt Crossing” signs just before Laguna Lake appears on the right. The signs are a testament to environmentally conscious locals who banded together as the Chileno Valley Newt Brigade to shepherd low-and-slow-moving California newts safely across the road to breeding grounds in the laguna. Along the way, don’t miss a chance to photograph the well-preserved and still-operating Laguna School, a one-room schoolhouse with a bell tower, built in 1906.
After turning briefly onto Tomales Road, head back toward town on the narrow, endlessly potholed Spring Hill Road, where Azari Vineyards sits tucked away. An appointment is necessary, but it’s definitely worth it in spring, when the plum and quince trees are blossoming, says Parichehr Azari, who makes fruit roll-ups from the bounty to give to wine club members. Born in Iran, Parichehr and her husband Kamal run the 35-acre farm, making their own olive oil and a delicate Pinot Noir (look for the new 2017 release) that captures the essence of the foggy Petaluma Gap appellation.
Looping back to Petaluma, you might be hungrier for more than just another scoop of lavender ice cream back at the Petaluma Creamery, though that’s always welcome. For something more substantial, check out hotspot Table Culture Provisions. Chefs Stephane Saint Louis and Steven Vargas dream up a new menu each day, making full use of the local springtime best.
Behold what might be the most Instagrammed road trip of all. Nearly every turn along this famous stretch of Highway 1 spotlights a jaw-dropping coastal vista — and don’t worry if you miss one, for there will always be another pullout just ahead.
Arrive in Bodega Bay in the morning for an early hike along the narrow straits of the Pinnacle Gulch Trail (check tides first). Hidden within the Bodega Harbour golf course subdivision, this trail is an often-overlooked gem of the regional park system. After, at the south end of Bodega Bay just as you enter town, Sonoma Coast Vineyards offers self-guided flights for two with pre-poured carafes. The winery has just released an excellent 2020 rosé.
Then, hungry from the morning’s jaunts, it’s time for a challenge — let’s call it the crab-n-clam taste test. First, split a bowl of clam chowder and a crab roll with a friend at Spud Point Crab Company, the tiny seafood shack across from Spud Point Marina on Westshore Road in Bodega Bay.
Then hop in the car and wind ten miles north to split the same combo at Cafe Aquatica in Jenner — and hold a Food Network-worthy debate over the winner. My money is on the Café Aquatica crab roll, with fresh Dungeness mixed with celery — and not too much aioli — on a bed of arugula, holding down a brioche roll with housemade pickles. It’s a tad more complex than its Spud Point doppelganger, which, while more abundant and bready, veers into the Thousand-Island-secret-sauce category. That said, I’m almost split on the clam chowder, with Spud Point literally tipping the scales with more butter and cream.
Carol Anello’s clam chowder at the Spud Point Crab Company on Bodega Bay. (John Burgess)Fresh wild salmon from Terrapin Creek restaurant in Bodega Bay. (Chris Hardy)
But by far the most creative and renowned cuisine is served at the only area restaurant to earn a Michelin star, is served at Bodega Bay’s Terrapin Creek Cafe. Tucked in a tiny strip mall along Eastshore Road on the way down to the marina, the 35-seat restaurant was closed this past winter. But chef Andrew Truong plans to reopen in mid-March, reviving his beloved charred octopus salads and lobster rolls. March is the time “we normally start seeing asparagus and English peas in the market,” says Truong, who prepares roast asparagus salads and lamb sausage with peas, feta, and mint. For spring, he also likes pan-roasted halibut with sautéed asparagus and mushrooms.
Along the drive from Bodega Bay to Jenner, two of the best beaches are Portuguese and Schoolhouse, which offer sandy expanses for kite flying, though definitely keep a look out for sneaker waves. And for a stellar vista not far out of Bodega Bay, turn right on Coleman Valley Road and head inland for about a mile. As the road plateaus, there are plenty of turnouts to look back at the big blue stretching out for miles.
On the left just before the bridge into Jenner, catch a popular weekend plant sale in front of the RV park. And in Jenner itself, across from Café Aquatica in the gas station parking lot, you can rent kayaks from Watertreks, which is a great way to see river otters, harbor seals, and sea lions up close.
Just north of downtown, the Jenner Headlands Preserve is a 5,630-acre coastal hiking paradise, with a mounted telescope for whale watching, a creek crossing, plenty of redwoods and Douglas firs, and, for the truly gung-ho, the chance to bag a major peak with the 7.5-mile round-trip hike up 2,204-foot Pole Mountain.
At the end of the day, kick off your hiking boots and relax with a glass of wine at River’s End, perched high on a cliff above Jenner. Before you leave, take a sunset selfie with a relic from the past in the River’s End parking lot — a rare working pay phone with one of the most epic views around.
Cloud virga punctuates a balmy colorful hike at the Bodega Head. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)
White Pinot Noir is rare, but its interest is definitely budding, especially among select winemakers in Sonoma and Mendocino counties, like Emeritus Vineyards. (Leslie Roberts/Emeritus Vineyards)
With a long career as a key varietal in the making of Champagne, Pinot Noir is no stranger to being stripped of its purple skin. The grape’s interior green flesh is traditionally pressed, fermented, and bubbled into one of the world’s most celebratory beverages.
But what would happen if the juice wasn’t filled with fizz? The answer is white Pinot Noir—a crisp, white oxymoron in a glass.
When red grapes are crushed, the heavily pigmented skins can be separated immediately from the pale juice to make a white wine. If the juice was left to briefly comingle with its skins, you’d have a rosé, and if left to fully macerate on the skins, you’d have a traditional Pinot Noir.
Because the grapes for a white Pinot Noir are generally picked earlier than they’d be if making a red wine, white Pinot Noir has a refreshing acidity that works well with many foods.
Winemaker Shalini Sekhar of Waits-Mast winery likes to capture the bright freshness of the wine by fermenting and aging it in stainless steel. She finds the intertwining aromas of fresh citrus and distinct red cherries to be intriguing.
“There is a hint of red fruit that stands out, even though it’s a white wine,” Sekhar said. “White Pinot Noir may seem like an intellectual exercise, but it makes some damn delicious wine.”
A bottle of Emeritus Vineyards Hallberg Blanc pinot noir in Sebastopol. (Christopher Chung / The Press Democrat)
Mari Jones, president of Emeritus Vineyards in Sebastopol, a longtime producer of well-regarded traditional Pinot Noir, had to convince her father, Chardonnay pioneer Brice Cutrer Jones, that a project with white Pinot was worth trying. “He’s always felt that all our wines should offer the best, highest expression of our vineyards, and he didn’t think a white Pinot Noir could do that,” explains Jones.
But during the 2017 harvest, her team came across some fruit they thought could make a delicious white. That first try was a success, and Jones has since released several other vintages. “The wine has all these things you would never associate with red Pinot Noir, like tropical flowers, white fruits and peach blossom,” she says. “It’s a serious wine that’s complex and interesting, but it’s also easy to drink.”
Sekhar agrees. “You can make a white wine from other red grapes, but I don’t think you get the same sense of it being a complete wine,” she says. “Pinot Noir is so expressive, so it’s not surprising that a white wine made with the grape would be equally so.”
Four White Pinots to Try
Emeritus Vineyards, 2022 Hallberg Ranch Blanc, Russian River Valley, $44: Crafted from nine Pinot Noir clones at Hallberg Ranch, this white Pinot Noir envelops the palate in layers of white peach, white strawberry, and lemon curd. On the long finish are notes of corn silk and ginger candy. Serve cool, not cold. emeritusvineyards.com
Maggy Hawk, 2022 White Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley, $60: Aromas of Rainier cherry, sea salt, and Bartlett pear precede a bright acidity that runs through the center of the palate. Flavors of apricot, lemongrass, and grapefruit rind lead to a long, lingering finish. maggyhawk.com
Waits-Mast, 2022 Pinot Noir Blanc, Filigreen Farm, Anderson Valley, $42: Pale gold in color with aromas of Meyer lemon and white nectarine and a hint of cumin. The structured, slightly fleshy palate offers mandarin orange pith and citrus fruit with electric acidity. waitsmast.com
Schug Estate Winery, 2022 White Pinot Noir, Carneros, $46: Barrel-fermented and aged sur lie for five months in neutral French oak. Flavors of stone fruit, honeysuckle, wild strawberries, and white peach followed by exotic notes of quince, kiwi, and orange zest. schugwinery.com
Though Occidental’s Stephanie Lee is the founder of a fast-growing skin care brand touted in Forbes and Cosmopolitan, she’s also well acquainted with the down-to-earth vibe of rural west county, where she and her husband are fixing up a house in the redwoods. “I got my first chainsaw for Christmas,” laughs Lee as she details the many wonders of Occidental’s old-timey hardware store.
Lee has always been a bit of an overachiever. Shortly after college, she rocketed to the White House as a member of the staff of first lady Michelle Obama, and later built a career in product development at a big-name cosmetics company in New York. But after navigating a mental health crisis, Lee left the city to travel the world for a year and recalibrate her goals, visiting 11 countries and 16 states.
She launched her business, Selfmade, (beselfmade.co) in 2020 to connect skin care products to current research into emotional well-being and resiliency. Living in Sonoma has been a boon to her creativity, as she and her husband build even deeper ties within their community.
Here are some of Stephanie Lee’s favorite Sonoma County spots:
“I go to Negri’s every single Friday. It feels like Cheers—like, hi guys,” says Lee. She usually has fettuccine with chicken and always, always orders Sandy Negri’s housemade cheesecake. “I like to think of myself as pretty much a professional dessert-taster now!” 3700 Bohemian Hwy., Occidental. 707-874-0301, negrisrestaurant.com
Negri’s restaurant in Occidental. (Beth Schlanker/Sonoma Magazine)Stephanie Lee, founder of Selfmade. (Savannah Ruedy)
Lee and her husband both volunteer at the nonprofit Occidental Center for the Arts. The center’s iconic Fool’s Parade will march through town every April. 3850 Doris Murphy Ct., Occidental. occidentalcenterforthearts.org
Lee and her husband have two dogs, so the nearby Grove of Old Trees is a favorite spot. “It’s very magical— the fact that the trees talk to each other underground and grow in fairy circles. It’s a reflective experience.” 17599 Fitzpatrick Lane, Occidental. landpaths.org
Lee first hit up Café Aquatica for a smoked salmon bagel when she and her husband were scouting the area before their move from New York. “There’s always someone singing on the stage, and there’s the river and the ocean beyond—beautiful.” 10439 Hwy. 1, Jenner. 707-865-2251, cafeaquaticajenner.com
Cafe Aquatica in Jenner. (Sonoma County Tourism)
On her zippy Vespa scooter, Lee loves two classic Sonoma spring drives. First, taking the back roads from Occidental through Graton to Healdsburg (Laguna Road to Trenton-Healdsburg Road to Eastside Road) past rolling vineyards and oak trees leafing out. And also, on the way out to the coast, she loves the green hills from Valley Ford to Dillon Beach. “I always take my family on this drive when they visit. It’s like what it would look like a hundred years ago.”
SANTA ROSA, CA – May 7 – Kentucky Derby Party 2022 on May 7th 2022 at Kendall Jackson Winery in Santa Rosa, CA (Photo – Drew Altizer)
If you can’t fly out to this year’s Kentucky Derby to experience all the excitement from the Churchill Downs grandstands, celebrating the event in Sonoma County might be next best thing. Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate and Gardens will be hosting what the winery calls the West Coast’s largest Kentucky Derby party on Saturday, May 4.
As part of the upcoming festivities, Kendall-Jackson will be turning its 4-acre culinary gardens, great lawn and alfresco patio into an ideal location to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Run for The Roses, according the the winery.
This is the fourth consecutive year that the winery will be hosting the event. This year’s party will include fashion contests, large-screen viewing of Kentucky Derby races, entertainment by Radio Gatsby and Wonder Bread 5, and derby-inspired Southern cuisine paired with award-winning Kendall-Jackson wines.
Kendall-Jackson Executive Chef Tracey Shepos Cenami will oversee the culinary offerings, which will include dishes from a variety of local restaurants such as Barbacoa Street Tacos with Mango Pico de Gallo from John Ash in Santa Rosa; Pork Sliders with Apple Slaw from Kin Smoke in Healdsburg; and Sweet and Tangy Grilled Maitake Mushroom Sourdough Toast with Whipped Lemon Crème Fraîche from Goldfinch in Sebastopol.
The Kentucky Derby hat contest will feature several local celebrities as judges, including lifestyle influencer Erika Altes; SF Giants reporter, producer, and TV personality Amy Gutierrez (a.k.a. Amy G) and ABC News Bay Area morning reporter Kumasi Aaron.
Noy Chanthavongsa of Mill Valley attends the Kentucky Derby party at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate and Gardens in Santa Rosa on Saturday, May 7, 2022. (Kent Porter/The Press Democrat)Kendall-Jackson played host to the largest Kentucky Derby party on the West Coast at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate and Gardens, Saturday, May 7, 2022 in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter/The Press Democrat)
The Santa Rosa winery has a unique and special connection to the Kentucky Derby and horse racing in general. Kendall-Jackson is the preferred wine of the Kentucky Derby and, as such, the winery will serve two limited-edition wines: the 150th Kentucky Derby Commemorative Label Mendocino County 2022 Chardonnay and Sonoma County 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon vintages. Retired American Thoroughbred racehorse Rachel Alexandra of the winery’s Stonestreet Stables is pictured on the commemorative label.
The Jackson family’s avid interest in the sport stretches back generations. Kendall-Jackson founder Jess Jackson’s enthusiasm for horse racing began as a young boy when, from atop his uncle’s shoulders, he watched legendary horse Seabiscuit win the 1938 Bay Meadows Handicap.
In 2005, The Jackson family opened Thoroughbred horse breeding and racing operation Stonestreet Stables, located on farmland in the Bluegrass hills of Lexington, Kentucky. Named the leading North American commercial breeder of Thoroughbred yearlings 10 times, Stonestreet has bred and raised a number of champions including Gamine, Good Magic, Lady Aurelia, Malathaat and My Miss Aurelia, as well as raced the Hall of Fame inductees Curlin and Rachel Alexandra. Jackson Family Wines chairman and proprietor Barbara Banke currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Breeder’s Cup.
Each year, attendance of the Kentucky Derby event at the Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate and Gardens has grown and the winery expects this year’s event to draw between 1,500 to 2,000 guests. Around 25 Kendall-Jackson staff members from the wineries hospitality, tasting room, marketing, communications, culinary and sales departments are involved in organizing the event each year.
Tickets for the event start at $175 and include complimentary food, a welcome drink and three complimentary drink tickets for full access to the festivities from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. kj.com/kyderby
Author and inspirational speaker Liz Murray will share her inspiring life story at The Press Democrat’s Women in Conversation event on May 2. (Courtesy of Liz Murray)
Author and inspirational speaker Liz Murray was raised in poverty in the Bronx, the daughter of drug addicted parents. It was a childhood marked by neglect, hunger and hardship. But there was also love.
“I grew up in a home filled with love. It just so happens that mom and dad were addicted to cocaine and heroin … We had drug addiction like a wrecking ball tearing through our family,” she explained in a video on her YouTube channel.
Murray’s home life became increasingly volatile. When she was 15, her mother died of AIDS-related complications. Soon thereafter, her father failed to pay rent and moved to a homeless shelter. Murray was left to fend for herself on the streets of New York City. She spent her adolescence sleeping on trains, on friends’ floors, on park benches, in hallways.
“At some point I realized that, in fact, I was homeless,” she said.
Against all odds, Murray managed to turn her life around. Her mother’s death became a turning point, inspiring her to go to high school where she excelled, eventually earning her admission — and scholarships — to Harvard University.
“When I lost everything, I was invigorated in this way where I realized my life was actually just a blank slate,” she said. “In that space, which came to me in a really painful way, this freedom opened up to really just declare, ‘Well, what do I want my life to be about?’ And what occurred to me first was really education.”
On Thursday, May 2, Murray will share her inspiring life story at The Press Democrat’s Women in Conversation event at Santa Rosa Junior College’s Burbank Auditorium. (Tickets are $40 and can be purchased online.)
Murray first detailed her story in her 2010 memoir “Breaking Night,” which instantly landed on The New York Times Best Sellers List.
“‘Breaking Night’ reads more like an adventure story than an addiction-morality tale. It’s a white-knuckle account of survival, marked by desperation, brutality and fear, set in the wilds of the Bronx,” wrote Tara McKelvey in a New York Times book review.
Since the publication of “Breaking Night,” Murray has made numerous public appearances and interviews, including on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Her life story was chronicled in the Emmy-nominated Lifetime television film “Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story,” starring Thora Birch, and she has been a speaker at events alongside Tony Blair, Mikhail Gorbachev and Dalai Lama, according to The Guardian.
The title of Murray’s memoir has a special meaning.
“‘Breaking Night’ is slang for staying up through the night until the sun rises, it’s when you see the first hints of sunlight coming through the sky,” she explained. “We saw the morning commuters on their way to work. We saw people on their way to school. We went to some diner and splashed water on our faces. And it was daylight.”
The 43-year-old author and mother of two is the co-founder of The Arthur Project, a youth mentoring organization, and continues to inspire others to rise above their circumstances by encouraging self-empowerment, education and resilience.
“What I’ve learned is that, actually, no one knows what’s possible until they do it,” she said. “And that’s what’s kind of cool about life, that’s what’s so beautiful — every single day is another chance.”
If you go
“Homeless to Harvard” featuring Liz Murray: An incredible true story of triumph against all odds.
When: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 2, 2024. Doors open at 5 p.m. Where: Santa Rosa Junior College Burbank Auditorium Tickets and information: $40, socowomenevents.com
I’m always up for a good dining deal, and I’ve found a couple to share. Plus, this week’s reader question.
Breakfast Happy Hour
Americana restaurant — best known for fastidiously sourced diner fare — offers a breakfast Early Bird menu from 8 to 10 a.m. daily at their Santa Rosa and Sebastopol locations.
Chef-owner Ryan Ramey and wife Samantha have dropped the prices on some of their bestsellers, including pancakes with vanilla cider maple syrup (so good you can drink it, and I did), Red Bird Bakery sourdough French toast, mini doughnut basket with housemade seasonal preserves, and a side buttermilk biscuit with or without country gravy. If you’re a sausage gravy fan, this is the gold standard.
We’re also fans of the thick, perfectly sweet waffle that happens to be gluten-free.
Yogurt parfait is on the Early Bird menu at Americana in Sebastopol. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)Chicken-fried chicken with gravy at Americana in Sebastopol. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)
The regular breakfast menu (served all day) is also available at regular prices. The chicken-fried chicken, smothered in country gravy and hash browns will keep you running on a full tank all day, along with the crab Florentine Benedict.
Mimosas are legit (none of that cheap Prosecco), with fresh hibiscus, grapefruit or elderberry juice.
The couple also owns Estero Cafe in Valley Ford. 205 Fifth St., Santa Rosa, 707-755-1548 or 162 N. Main St., Sebastopol, 707-827-3309, americanasonomacounty.com.
Love You, Las Palmas
This tiny taqueria tucked away between a car repair shop and a minimart isn’t fancy but always spectacular.
On a recent Taco Tuesday, I stopped by (after the gym) to pick up an enchilada and taco combo that perfumed my car for days.
The hefty meal includes a healthy scoop of beans, rice and a stuffed enchilada (the carnitas is my choice) doused in a chile-infused, heaven-sent sauce.
I spent extra for the shrimp soft taco, a side of guacamole and chips (worth it) and snacked on the whole shebang for several days, including breakfast.
The owners are former chefs from restaurants like Zazu, Zin and Michele Marie’s, so they know their stuff. Not surprisingly, La Palmas is a favorite of off-duty chefs, as well.
Not the sort of place you stumble upon, but a spot worth seeking out. 415 Santa Rosa Ave, Santa Rosa.
Jessica Crumpton heads to the oven with ham and cheese pastries in the baking class at the SRJC Culinary Arts Center. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
You asked
My question for the week comes from Mary: “I buy many incredible baked goods from the SRJC bakery, which features items created and made by JC Culinary Arts students. The offerings are outstanding. Could you feature their department and baked goods? I don’t think enough people know about them.”
The Santa Rosa Junior College Culinary Arts Program has a cafe and bakery while students are in session, giving them real-world experience with diners.
While the cafe is currently closed (it will reopen in the fall), the SRJC Alex Ling Bakery is open from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday and Friday.
What I love most about both experiences are watching students continually improve their craft over the semester.
Each week, you’ll find different offerings based on what they’re learning — evolving from muffins and bagels to croissants and other lacquered pastries to the kinds of sweet and savory pastries and pies you’d find in a high-end bakery.
As the students near the end of their year (they closed for the semester on May 17), you’re in for some special treats. 1670 Mendocino Ave. Santa Rosa. Limited on-site parking is available, but street parking is plentiful.
Edward Windsor, Lord Downpatrick (left) toured Sonoma County wineries such as Capo Isetta with Aristeia COO Caitlin Walker (second from right) in search of business opportunities for Downpatrick’s travel company Aristeia Travel. (Capo Isetta)
Lord Edward “Eddy” Downpatrick, second in line to the Dukedom of Kent and a godson of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, recently visited Sonoma County on a business trip for his travel company, Aristeia Travel.
Downpatrick’s Sonoma County sojourn with Aristeia COO, Caitlin Walker, was dedicated to scouting wineries in hopes of finding destinations for his travel company. He founded Aristeia in 2021 to organize bespoke tours and expeditions across the globe, spanning continents from Europe to Latin America. The company also offers experiences like whale watching and heliskiing (off-trail skiing where the skier reaches the top of the mountain by helicopter).
“Our clients are no longer looking for something akin to Disneyland. They want to see the real Wine Country, and meet the people who work tirelessly to make it what it is,” said Walker of their visit.
Downpatrick and Walker visited local wineries and tasting rooms such as Benziger in Glen Ellen, Sangiacomo and Gehricke in Sonoma, and Capo Isetta and DRNK in Sebastopol. They toured Capo Isetta’s underground caves, explored the terroir of the DRNK property, enjoyed a biodynamic vineyard tour and tasting at Benziger, and got to know the winemaking communities at Sangiacomo and Gehricke.
“I feel pride in the many blessings we have, one being the privilege to host Eddy and Caitlin,” said Bill Isetta, the owner of Capo Isetta. “It is a great honor having him meet some of the real icons in the Sonoma wine industry.”
Steve Sangiacomo of Sangiacomo Family Wines added, “His old-world perspective is completely aligned with our region that permeates history, passion, and authenticity.”
Downpatrick and Walker visited local wineries and tasting rooms such as Benziger in Glen Ellen, Sangiacomo and Gehricke in Sonoma, and Capo Isetta and DRNK in Sebastopol. (Capo Isetta)Downpatrick and Walker visited local wineries and tasting rooms such as Benziger in Glen Ellen, Sangiacomo and Gehricke in Sonoma, and Capo Isetta and DRNK in Sebastopol. (Capo Isetta)
An appreciation for Sonoma
Downpatrick also enjoyed his time in Sonoma County, expressing the connection he felt with the people and the land rather poetically.
“The name Sonoma seemed ever so fitting as we wandered amongst rows of vines that perhaps looked upon us as temporal visitors in their age-old, sunlit domain,” said the British lord. “It was here, amidst the clinking of glasses and the shared narratives of local vintners, that we found a profound connection—not merely through the tasting of wine but in the gathering of souls.”
In addition to the winery visits, Downpatrick participated in a dinner at the Swiss Hotel in Sonoma with over 30 of the region’s most influential wine leaders, including proprietors of wineries, wine ambassadors, winemakers, and industry sales leaders.
“Very lovely to be here; this is a beautiful part of the world. I don’t think many people from my part of the world know just how special this is. [When] they think of US wine, they think of Napa; I think Sonoma has a lot of hidden gems,” said Downpatrick.
A fashionable lord
Edward Windsor, Lord Downpatrick (or simply “Eddy,” as he prefers to be called) was born in London in 1988, the son of George, Earl of St Andrews and Sylvana, the Countess of St Andrews.
As a firstborn and the grandson of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, Downpatrick is second in line to the Dukedom of Kent. However, despite being a member of the British royal family as a second cousin once removed from King Charles III, his Roman Catholic faith has led to his exclusion from the line of succession to the British throne.
Downpatrick grew up in Cambridge, received his education at prestigious boarding school Eton College before pursuing studies in modern languages at Kebble College, one of the largest colleges at Oxford University.
Before founding Aristeia Travel, Downpatrick was a financial analyst at JP Morgan and then transitioned to the fashion industry in 2017 as the co-founder of FIDIR. The fashion brand specializes in outdoor apparel and accessories, featuring handbags to T-shirts, all inspired by the rugged landscapes of the Scottish Highlands.
Expanding his entrepreneurial ventures, Downpatrick established Aristeia Travel in 2021. And now he sees potential to grow his business in Sonoma County.
“This tour reinforced our belief in the transformative power of travel…The personal interactions in Sonoma will inspire our future travel offerings, aiming to bring similar meaningful experiences to our clients,” said Downpatrick.
