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.

It seems Facebook is screaming for ice cream (and pie) as Healdsburg’s Noble Folk Ice Cream and Pie Bar prepares to open this week. With nearly 600 LIKES in a single weekend, BiteClub’s got a sneaking suspicion that owners Ozzie Jimenez and Christian Sullberg are about to have another hit on their flour and sugar-covered hands.

The twenty-somethings have become Healdsburg’s favorite cupcake pushers since opening Moustache Baked Goods in late 2011. Cause if you’ve had one—or twelve at a sitting (no judgement)—you’ll pretty much do anything for your next frosting fix. They’re that good.

Noble Folk is a natural progression for the two, expanding their bakery repertoire and their real estate with inspired house made ice creams and heritage(ish) pies.

On the ice cream menu: Black sesame and coconut, cardamom, blackberry rosemary, Japanese purple yam and juniper honey.

Opening pies include strawberry ginger, blueberry plum thyme, walnut maple and apple caramel pies. Noble Folk puts a twist on the traditional by using some unusual ingredients like farro, bolero and buckwheat flour (from nearby Front Porch Farm) and a “single origin pie” that is crafted entirely from Front Porch’s leaf lard, fruit and locally milled flours.

And what goes better with pie than coffee? Especially Stumptown Roaster’s cold brew (all the rage with the cool kids). If you’re like me, you’re often jonesing for a cuppa after 6pm, and la-de-da, they’ll be open ’til 9pm.

Expect to pay about $5.50 for a slice and $3.50 for a scoop. This isn’t Baskin Robbin’s, after all.

116 Matheson St., Healdsburg, (707) 529-2162. Open daily from 12pm to 9pm.

Okonomiyaki has arrived in Santa Rosa.

Oko-whaaaa, you may ask? One of Japan’s most comforting, homestyle foods, okonomiyaki is a savory pancake filled with vegetables, seafood, pork belly, or in literal translation: “Whatever you like, grilled”.

Think pancake meets frittata meets latke.

Popular from Tokyo to Hiroshima, each version is inspired by regional ingredients. And so it is at Oko Loco, a fledgling pop-up stand at Santa Rosa’s West End Market (Sundays from 10a.m. to 2p.m.) serving a California-style version of the pancakes filled with local cabbage, kale, onions, mushrooms, chard, mustard leaf, beet, broccoli slaw and potatoes. The okos go loco with the addition of sweet teriyaki sauce, habanero mayo, lemon veganaise, bacon, avocado or a fried egg.

Inspired by a friend’s delicious Facebook post about authentic Japanese okonomiyaki, owners David, Michelle and son/cook Rory Keip, began developing their own version over several months, with a panel of gourmet tasters. Aka Rory’s friends. BiteClub’s take? Great hot, but even better cold.

They’ll run you $5 each or 2 for $9, making them a steal of a deal and a heck of a Monday lunch.

Created by Financesonline.com | Alex Hillsberg |

Noms, Jamba Juice. Check out the release below. Long story short…get a juice at Coddingtown, and 20% goes to VOICES Youth Center, a Sonoma County non-profit that provides health, education and employment services to youth transitioning from foster care.  There will also be a raffle for Jamba Juice Gift Cards with the proceeds going to the VOICES program.

Jamba Juice® Announces Grand Opening of New Coddingtown Mall Location

Sat., May 17^th, 2014

20% of Sales at Grand Opening Event will be donated to VOICES Youth Center

Kids From the Voices Program will raffle off Jamba Juice Gift Cards 1-4 pm

EMERYVILLE, CA, (May 15, 2014) – Jamba Juice Company, a leading healthy, active lifestyle brand announced today the brand’s continued expansion in the Santa Rosa market with the opening of a Jamba Juice® store at Coddingtown Mall on May 2, 2014. The new location is the second in Santa Rosa, and the 9^th store for Jamba® franchise partner One Whirld, Inc. To celebrate the opening, the Coddingtown store will be offering free samples and will donate 20% of sales on May 17, 2014 to VOICES, a Sonoma County non-profit that provides health, education and employment services to youth transitioning from foster care.  There will also be a raffle for Jamba Juice Gift Cards with the proceeds going to the VOICES program.

“We’re thrilled to open our Coddingtown Mall location and to make Jamba’s exceptional smoothies and fresh-squeezed juices more readily available to residents of Santa Rosa and the surrounding area,” said Vicki Pedersen, President of One Whirld, Inc. “This store continues the exciting revitalization of Coddingtown Mall, and will have a positive impact on the local community both through our better-for-you beverage offerings, and the school and non-profit fundraising opportunities that we’re eager to support.”

The partnership between VOICES and the new Santa Rosa Jamba Juice® will extend beyond the Grand Opening celebration, where VOICES teens will be on-site to provide information on the programs. One Whirld, Inc. will continue host Giveback Days to raise awareness of this important cause, and to partner with VOICES in its employment assistance programs for at-risk youth.

Pedersen continued, “VOICES is addressing an important local need, and we look forward to supporting its mission long after our Grand Opening.”

Hours of operation for the new Santa Rosa location are Monday through Friday 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Need something besides the newspaper (or your daily to-do list) to read at lunch? Chipotle’s got you covered.

In clever, hipster style, the ubiquitous Mexican grill is printing original essays, quotes and humorous thoughts by 10 “thought leaders” on its cups and bags, starting this week. With, of course, Etsy-esque artwork that’ll make Starbucks green with envy.

Who, might you ask, would be influential enough to tap for this project? Turns out its a who’s who of intelligencia  including Jonathan Safran Foer, Pulitzer prize winning reporter Sheri Fink, Malcolm Gladwell, experimental psychologist Steve Pinker, Toni Morrison and a few less, well, erudite (but equally entertaining and thought-provoking) Hollywood types including Judd Apatow, Bill Hader, and (BiteClub fave) Sarah Silverman.

One of my favorites “thoughts: is by Bill Saunders: “Hope that, in future, all is well, everyone eats free, no one must work, all just sit around feeling love for one another.”  Eating free is especially tempting!

Hey, at least its a little more entertaining than the quotes on the bottom of In ‘N Out cups. (Cue thunder striking me down). 

Wanna see more? Check out the Chipotle website at http://cultivatingthought.com/