Ravenswood Winery Tattoo Coming Out Party

By biteclub

A little body ink for a lifetime of free wine?* Seems like a fair trade to the folks at Ravenswood Winery. They’ll host their annual Tattoo Coming Out Party at the Sonoma winery from 122-4:30pm July 14 to see who’s taken the challenge of tattooing the company logo– the David Lance Goines circle of ravens–on their bods. And trust us, its a growing legion. Not up for the lifetime commitment? Airbrush artists will give you a temp version while you snap your fingers to grape-inspired poetry and sip zinfandel. Smooth.

Fourth Annual Tattoo Coming Out Party and Poetry Slam: July 14, 2012, 12-4:30pm, $15/$10 Club Members. 18701 Gehricke Road, Sonoma, 888-669-4679.

*Of course, there’s a catch to free wine for a lifetime. It’s available only in the tasting room, in person. Full details on the website, but seriously…I’d ask for all the fine print before getting a tattoo.

Tendejons return at Cocina

By biteclub

Healdsburg chef Mateo Granados is bringing back his wildly popular Tendejon dinners–communal outdoor gatherings focused around rotisserie meats, cocktails and seasonal side dishes. The events will be hosted on the back patio of his new restaurant, Cocina Latina, Wednesday and Thursday nights with suckling pig, lamb or whole roasted Yucatan-style chickens. Dinners are $35 per person and reservations are suggested. 214 Healdsburg Ave. at Mill St., Healdsburg, 707-433-1520.

Copain Supper Clubs

By biteclub

Corey Lee of Benu, Momofuku’s David Chang and Ken Tominaga of Hana Japanese will be in the kitchens of Healdsburg’s Copain Winery for a series of exclusive Supper Club dinners. Winemaker Wells Guthrie will bring out a selection of the winery’s highly coveted library and single vineyard wines to pair with the carefully crafted menus of James Beard award-winning chefs.

Tominaga’s July 14th menu includes sashimi of live East Coast scallops, Mendocino uni, Lobster chawan mushi with sturgeon caviar, Wagyu beef and Kindai bluefin tuna toro.

Corey Lee cooks September 2nd, Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson of Boulder’s Frascaon September 30th and David Chang December 14th. Supper Club ticket prices vary by event, starting at around $300.  To maintain the intimate nature of the dinners, seating is limited. Tickets must be purchased in advance by calling the winery at 707-836-8822.

Pizzando Preview with Liza Shaw

By biteclub


With all the wood-fired restaurants cropping up in Wine Country, it’s clearly a good time to be familiar with a Mugnaini. And there  are few who know their way around big ovens, 00 flour and a pizza peel like Liza Shaw.

The former A16 chef has been tapped to impart her doughy ways at the recently-opened Campo Fina, Reddwood as a consultant. But don’t expect the same pizzas at each spot. We chatted with Shaw, and she explained how she customizes the texture, dough and cooking time for each restaurant. For one, it’s a sturdy, lightly browned pie. For another a spongier crust and darker crust.

So far, BiteClub’s favorite is the pizza at her newest project–the forthcoming Pizzando with Spoonbar chef, Louis Maldonado. Crafted with imported flour, a two-day rise and a super hot 750 degree oven, they’re crispy and chewy at the same time with minimal ingredients. Crushed San Marzano’s, fresh mozzarella, torn basil, a little salt.

Want to check it out?  Spoonbar is previewing the pizzas and other menu items at the remaining  “Pizzando Pop-Up” dinners on Wednesday July 11 and Wednesday July 25.

Check out photos from the June 26 dinner: Tuna crudo with salsa verde, pickled carrots and mint, pizza Margherita, slow roasted pork ribs with lavender honey, spiced oxtail, and baked polenta.

Pizzando Pop Up at Spoonbar: 219 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-431-2202.

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Summer Abroad at Petite Syrah

By biteclub

Spend the summer abroad: Each Thursday throughout the summer, Petite Syrah (205 Fifth St., Santa Rosa) spins the globe for culinary inspiration.  On July 5, it’s a New England lobster boil, chowder and blueberry pie ($39pp), followed by menus from Argentina (July 12), Provence (July 19) and Rome( August 9) and more.  More details at syrahbistro.com or by calling 568-4002.

Porklandia: Zazu on the River

By biteclub

(CLOSED FOR WINTER)

 

Pork is a state of being, and getting there requires plenty of bacon. Zazu on the River (the newly re-imagined Bovolo) features a whole lotta porktastic goodness at the new S’wine Bar (52 Front St., Healdsburg). Co-conspirators with Davis Family Winery, owners John Stewart and Duskie Estes (aka the Kind and Queen of Pork) serve up Black pig bacon, maple bacon popcorn, chicharron peanut butter cups, and bacon toffee lollipops. Stay tuned for U Pick BLT’s later this summer. Open Friday through Sunday, 11:30am to 6pm.

Farm to Table Dinners 2012

By biteclub
Tara Firma Farms
Tara Firma Farms
Tara Firma Farms

With a backdrop as stunning as a farm or historic garden, it isn’t hard to make our local bounty pretty swoon-worthy. Add some top-talent chefs and you’ve got farm-to-table dinners without compare.

Weber Ranch
Petaluma’s Della Fattoria hosts a series of dinners at Weber Ranch each week from July 7 through mid-September. Dinner is served family style on a 25-foot table with platters of seasonal salads, pizzas, grilled meats and desserts made from the bakery’s pastry staff. $90pp and reservations fill up well in advance.  Details at dellafattoria.com or 763-0161.

Chosen Spot
Chef John Lyle presents a second year of Luther Burbank-inspired “Chosen Spot” dinners at the Luther Burbank home and garden in Santa Rosa on July 7, August 11 and Sept. 8. Five courses, $75pp, details at lutherburbank.org or 524-5445.

Quivira: Summer Farm-to-Table Dinner
Saturday, July 28th , 5pm – 9pm
$125 per person /  $105 Queue members
Guests get an in-depth look at Quivira’s Biodynamic farming practices and winemaking, complete with a multi-course wine and food experience prepared by local Diavola Chef, Ciara Meaney, using produce from the winery’s 1-acre garden. Meet Farm Manager Andrew Beedy, visit Ruby the resident feral pig and learn about biodynamic winegrowing philosophies from Winemaker Hugh Chappelle.

Want us to add yours? Email me or leave your comments below…

Big Bottom Bistro

By biteclub
Big Bottom Market
Big Bottom Market
Big Bottom Market
Big Bottom Market

Guerneville newcomer Big Bottom Market (16228 Main St.) has started dinner service Thursday through Saturday from 5-9pm. The menu has a number of Middle Eastern, African and Spanish dishes including lentil-walnut pate, Marcona almonds, a mezze platter with roasted red pepper hummus and yogurt salad, chilled cucumber soup with mint and yogurt, Moroccan Chicken tagine and apricot couscous. Executive Chef Tricia Brown also pulls out some American-style crowd-pleasers with pulled pork and bourbon-baked baked beans or green-chili turkey meatloaf.

Guatemalan Dinner at Jimtown

By biteclub

Jimtown Store (6706 Hwy 128, Healdsburg) hosts a buffet dinner featuring Pollo Jocon, a traditional Guatemalan chicken in green mole sauce, along with Rancho Gordo beans and rice, corn tortillas, pineapple empanadas, homemade tortillas and salsa and “palomitas and pepitas”,  a snack of popped corn and pumpkin seeds. July 12, 7:30pm, $25pp. A collection of hand-woven cloth will be available for purchase, and portions of the proceeds help AMIDI, an organization that helps Guatemalan women and girls. 433-1212 for reservations.