Rumor is that Lady Gaga has wine making on her mind.
The pop star visited Sonoma County in late February with boyfriend Taylor Kinney, spotted from Geyserville to Sonoma noshing at local restaurants. But some say the real reason for her visit: To start a vineyard.
According to Brit pub, The Sun, Gaga sees owning a vineyard as an investment when her pop-idol days are over. The platinum chanteuse apparently loves spending gobs on expensive wines, cooking and drinking “six or seven bottles of red wine” over dinner with friends.
Perhaps no one’s told her that the best way to make a small fortune in the wine biz is to start with a large one.
Move over Mr. Coffee, there’s a better way to brew the perfect cup.
Coffee experts at Sebastopol’s Taylor Maid Farmswill teach you brewing methods using the Hario v60, Aeropress and French Press as well as insider info on espresso roasts, coffee taste profiles, the structure of an espresso shot and basic milk-steaming skills.
Consider yourself a Barista-in-training.
$25 fee includes 1 can of coffee, 20% off all home espresso equipment, 10% off all home brewing equipment, as well as all the lattes and cappuccinos made during class.
Sign up at the store (7190 Keating Ave., Sebastopol) or by calling 707-824-9110.
Spring brings with it the promise of new hope. And that’s good news in the restaurant world. As buds begin to break, a fresh crop of chefs and restaurateurs are putting the final touches on local eateries and watering holes featuring everything from haute burgers and bacon-wrapped tater tots to Cajun po’ boys, wacky sandwiches and New Orleans-meets-Lebanese dining.
Here’s the tally of restaurants and bars bursting onto the spring and summer scene, and beyond.
Santa Rosa
Now open, O’Connor’s City Tavern: Just in time for St. Pat’s, the former John Barleycorns got a facelift and a new menu that’ll have Irish eyes a smilin’. Owner Dan O’Connor continues his mom’s much-loved local cooking traditions with made-to-order burgers (his secret is a mix of pork and beef); tasty sandwiches, fries, bangers and mash and bacon-wrapped tater tots. Don’t miss Mom’s Potato Salad, a much-coveted recipe he won’t reveal. O’Connor plans to start a weekly Irish Sunday supper in the coming weeks. Kids are welcome in the restaurant area, but the vibe is more pub than cafe in the later evening hours. 2700 Yulupa Ave.
Flipside Bar and Burger: This hotly-anticipated burger bar from the owner of Rendez Vous Bistro in Santa Rosa is in private previews for the next several weeks but should finally open to the public in late March. Located next to Third St. Ale Works, restaurateur Nino Rabbaa has been perfecting the menu — focused on gourmet-style hamburgers — with his new staff. Rabbaa said he plans to invite 50 of the restaurant’s Facebook fans for preview dinners. The space is likely to be a summer favorite, with a newly constructed patio and large glass panels that open the front to the outside. 630 Third St.
Ike’s Place: The popular SF sandwichery best known for their “dirty sauce” creatively-named sandwiches (the Lizzy’s Lips, Spiffy Tiffy, Fat Bastard, Pizzle) has been “coming soon” to Santa Rosa since sometime in 2010. But just when we thought all hope was lost, they’re fast-tracking it to opening at the at the gated-off S&S Market spot at 1780 Mendocino Ave. Look for a spring opening as soon as March.
Sprenger’s Tap Room: In the grand tradition of many a pub, Sprengers is selling Mug Memberships. For $125 (until March 10), members get a personalized 28oz mug (left at the bar) refilled throughout the year for the price of a 12-ounce pint plus $1. Expect 32 beers on tap when the Brickyard Center hangout opens in mid-March, along with burger and fries-style pub fare.
Mr. Hofbrau: Narsi Samii takes over the former Santa Rosa Junior College Cafe and Bakery at the Brickyard Center, continuing the tradition of his former carvery and sandwich spot at Coddingtown. He shuttered his Narsi’s Hofbrau in March 2010 after a losing his lease. After two years of legal tousles with mall owners, he and his brother, Sam Samii, hope to open their new venture by mid-March.
Under construction, BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse: Late fall or early winter is the anticipated opening date for BJ’s at the renovated north entrance of Coddingtown Mall. The national chain eatery will have a capacity for approximately 280 guests, and feature signature deep-dish pizza, handcrafted beer and of course, the Pizookie. Whatever that is.
In development, Boudin/SF: A 4,000 square foot restaurant and bakery is slated for construction at Montgomery Village, replacing the former Copperfield’s bookstore. The SF-based bakery and restaurant chain, Boudin/SF will move into the newly constructed location, along with a 1828 square-foot ACRE coffee shop. A heat patio and covered patio are part of the designs.
Healdsburg Louisiana Legacy: Popular Cajun cook and farm market staple Rob Lippincott is planning a brick and mortar at 60 Mill St., the former Johnny’s spot. He’s hoping to serve up everything from his signature beignets to po’ boys and gumbo at the off-Plaza location. Look for a late spring or early summer opening.
Now Open, Bergamot Alley: Former flour + water sommelier Kevin Wardell recently opened a combination wine shop/wine bar in a former antique shop just off the Healdsburg square that’s anything but stuffy. Featuring (gasp!) only wines from Italy, Spain, Morocco, France and Greece, Bergamot pays homage to locals with a variety of California craft beers on tap or in a cooler. Peek into the Wine Porn room, featuring a swoon-worthy collection of rare wines, listen to some vintage vinyl, and expect a nibbling menu to debut in early March with bites from local restaurants including Scopa, Zazu and Diavola. Open until 1am Monday through Saturday. 328A Healdsburg Ave.
Now Open, Healdsburger: Recent purchase by sports exec David Alioto has this former A&W Drive-in charming locals with made-to-order burgers, freshly cut fries and homemade milkshakes. Aluminum serving trays and neatly-dressed staffers are reminiscent of St. Helena’s Gott’s Roadside (formerly Taylor’s Automatic Refresher). 48 Healdsburg Ave.
Shuffles and Changes to Come: Staff change-overs at Spoonbar bar have the town atwitter. Rumors of a forthcoming chef from San Francisco are swirling, but Hotel Healdsburg General Manager Aziz Zhari isn’t talking yet. He has confirmed that the new toque starts in late March, so expect news of exactly who will be taking over the Mediterranean-themed menu in the next few weeks. Meanwhile, Scopa’s Ari Rosen is still remaining mum on his new restaurant concept, though a toque has been hired. And the new owners of John and Zeke’s Bar say they’re not planning to make any changes to the popular watering hole. The bar lost its lease earlier this year.
Ari Weiswasser
Sonoma & Glen Ellen Glen Ellen Star: Ari Weiswasser, an alum of French Laundry, Daniel and Picholine, is finalizing the menu for his wood-fired oven, rustic Italian-style restaurant. Preview dinners are impressive, including dishes like wine-braised short ribs with mustard flowers and ricotta gnocchi with orange blossom honey and pine nuts. Look for a spring opening, 13648 Arnold Dr., Glen Ellen.
Crisp Bake Shop: The big buzz around Sonoma (other than Lady Gaga’s recent sighting) is this forthcoming bakery and cafe in the old Artisan Baker’s space at 720 West Napa St., Chef Moaya Scheiman partners with pastry chefs Andrea Koweek and Christina Strickland to create “modern renditions of classic American baked goods.” Slated for a mid-March opening, they’ll be open from 6am to 2pm daily with morning pastries, lunch sandwiches, cakes, cookies and confections as well as offering specialty wedding and occasion cakes.
Pop-ups and trucks
There’s no slow-down in impromptu dining around the north bay.
Area food trucks continue to pull into weekday locations around Santa Rosa and Sebastopol (Truckin’ Thursday at O’Reilly Media, 1005 Gravenstein Hwy North), but will become increasingly visible as the weather warms. On the horizon: Wheel Food and Family Fun at Finley Park. Beginning March 15, the trucks pull up to the park from 5-7:30pm (third Thursday of the month) for dinner and music, with portions of the proceeds going to Santa Rosa Parks and Recreation programs.
March also marks the anticipated return of Park-n-Eat at Sonoma County Regional parks. Tuesday evenings, a group of trucks will pull up for al fresco dining at Spring Lake. On Thursday they’ll be at Ragle Ranch Park. Stay tuned for more truck sightings, including news of several new trucks on the horizon.
Chef Maria Vieages and her crew are working on a top-secret pop-up dinner slated for late March inside a local restaurant. We can’t say where just yet, but she’s planning a combination New Orleans and Lebanese-style dinner. King of the SoCo Pop-Ups, Chef John Lyle, has secured the Luther Burbank Home and Gardens for another series of his “Chosen Spot” dinners, anticipated for later this spring.
This ain’t no pansy cook-off. The first annual ‘Wich hunt during the very exclusive invite-only Craft Cup at Battle of the Brews is an iron-fisted sandwich brawl in which local chefs compete to construct the ultimate carbohydrate-protein-carbohydrate creation.
CONFIRMED PARTICIPANTS
– Zin Restaurant
– Kin Restaurant
– Jackson’s Bar and Oven
– La Rosa Tequileria
– Chicago Style Hot Dogs
– Brasserie Restaurant at Hyatt Vineyard Creek
– The Farmer’s Wife
– Healdsburg Bar & Grill
– Peloton Catering
– El Coqui Puerto Rican Restaurant
– Hopmonk
– Chef John Lyle, Chosen Spot
– Joey’s Pizza
– Street Eatz Mobile Kitchen
– Sheana Davis, Epicurean Connection
– Rendez Vous Bistro
– Original Superburger
– Pearson and Co.
– The Culinary Institute of America, Greystone
– Rocker Oysterfeller’s
– Boathouse Sushi
– John Ash & Co.
– El Coqui
Chief ‘Wich
– Heather Irwin
Judging:
– Chef John Ash
– Clark Wolf, Author and Food Consultant
– Ike Shehadeh, owner Ike’s Place
– Gabe Meline, The Bohemian
– Laurie Figone, Cooking with Laurie Figone
From Dagwoods to sliders, artisan BLT’s, heroes, hoagies, banh mi, and beyond, the only constraint is being able to fit into the eager maws of our judges and fans. Oh, and taste incredible, because there will be no awards just for showing up. We’re looking for off-the-charts, taste-bud exploding, meat-tastic (or alternative proteins), brain-bending creations that really showcase your talent.That’s you, right?
Okay then, here’s the Deal…
What do I have to provide?
About 150-200 sandwich “bites” in addition to your competition ‘wich. Easy peasy.
Ugh…so this costs me money? Wait! Here’s what you get…
The event takes place at during the exclusive, invite-only Craft Brew at Battle of the Brews (held at the Fairgrounds). We’re expecting about 200+ at the Craft brew portion of the program and several thousand for the later event. You’ll be invited to promote yourself/your restaurant at the later event for no charge. In addition, the ‘Wich event and results will be promoted on BiteClubEats.com as well as on several local radio stations.
Plus, there’s the whole karma thing. Battle of the brews is one of the largest fundraisers for at risk youth in Sonoma County, raising over $1,000,000 over the past 15 years. All donations are tax deductible. Thanks, IRS!
And did we mention that we have a number of sponsors we’re lining up to help keep costs to a minimum — but hey, there’s no reason you can’t splurge if you’re so inclined. Who’s Judging?
Heather Irwin and some other local food folks. You know, the Fooderati types. We know how to shower chefs with lots of love.
Can restaurants, owners, grocery stores, etc. donate food?
Why, yes! We would love that.
How do I ask more questions or get more info?
Email me at heather@biteclubeats.com.
*This is not really an amateur competition. You’ll need to have a catering license and a professional kitchen to be included. You can nominate someone, however, for me to go after…
Mob Hit #3: El Rinconcito Yucateco
3935 Sebastopol Road Santa Rosa
(707) 526-2720Date: Feb. 24, 2012, 12:30pm
Mobsters: 22 in attendance | Join the Mob
On the Tab:
Conchita Pibil: Melt-in-your mouth bits of juicy pork
Black Mole: “Dammit, we forgot this again!”
Fish Tacos: “Excellent”
Pork and Cabbage Sandwich: “It reminded me of the sandwiches we had in Mexico City”
Poc Chuc: “Not as good as usual, but hey, there were 22 of us and one cook in the kitchen.”
Pork Tamales: “Some of the best I’ve had”
Shrimp Ceviche: “Most Photographed Dish”
Shrimp Tostada: Mixed reviews. “It tastes sweet, like ketchup. I don’t like ketchup.”
Bacon-wrapped Shrimp: “I think I got the best thing here.” “Hey, who stole my shrimp? Heather….”What’s this? The NoshMob is a not-so-secret society of passionate eaters who descend on under-discovered restaurants each week. We share plates, friendships and views of the restaurant and invite you to share your experiences — either this week, or in the future — in the comments below.
Overall: Outdoor patio is a best bet for large groups. Authentic Yucatan cuisine depends on the day and how busy the kitchen is. Clearly there’s a great deal of care put into signature dishes like Conchita Pibil, Black Mole and Shrimp Ceviche. Tamales are stuffed full and tender. Overall, a Mob winner. “I will be going back too try it again,” said one mobster.
BiteClub Review In A Nutshell:Leave the English to Spanish dictionary at home, because panuchos, cochinta pibil , prickling fresh salsa and rellenos negro are international signs of a serious cook in the kitchen. No matter what your native tongue. What I can rave about first-hand are the fried panuchos (a sort of skinny pupusa filled with mashed black beans and fried up crispy) capped by savory pickled onions, cabbage and avocado and a special habanero sauce; Poc Chuc, slivers of pork seasoned with black pepper; and meltingly tender cochinta pibil, a spicy, oily slow roasted pork marinated in citrus that blows the pants off any pulled pork you’ve ever eaten. With chips, salsa, rice and more black beans than any human should consume, the feast set me back a paltry $30. Full Review
Can someone please go eat the Black Mole and tell us about it, though? Apparently the mole is no more. Bummer.
Did you bomb Valentines? Here’s your chance for a do-over…and a gift certificate for Restaurant Week!
Maybe the love bug infected you with a nasty virus instead of romantic gestures of adoration? Or perhaps Cupid’s aim was off? Maybe you’re just not a natural Romeo (or Juliet).
Whatever happened, your Valentine’s Day was more of a downward spiral than a trip to Paradise.
Give me your sob of a V-Day FAIL and what a perfect date would have looked like instead. I’ll award one gift certificate to a Restaurant Week participant Tuesday-Thursday. (You can use the gift certificate whenever you’d like).
Tuesday’s Winner: Olive and Vine, Sonoma $25
Wednesday’s Winner: Forchetta/Bastoni, Sebastopol, $25
Thursday’s Winner: Agriculture Bar & Kitchen, Guerneville, $50
Friday’s Winner: Jackson’s Bar & Oven, Santa Rosa, $25
Fine print: You are welcome to request a specific gift certificate in your post, but winners are going to get what they get. Because hey, it’s a contest and you’re getting something for nothin. If you don’t win, please don’t whine about it. That is really irritating. Here are the complete rules.
Visiting Wine Country with boyfriend Taylor Kinney, Gaga supped on Catelli’s legendary 10-layer lasagna, kale salad and the Rabbit Bolognese Saturday night. For dessert, staff created a treat that featured the words, “We Heart Gaga” written in chocolate. A kitchen tour and several pix with staff and visitors were icing on the cake.
Catelli’s co-owner Domenica Catelli has been consulting with Gaga’s parents, Joe and Cynthia Germanotta, on their new Italian restaurant, Joanne, in NYC. A friend of co-owner, Art Smith, Catelli spent New Year’s Eve at Joanne, where she met Gaga.
“She is so awesome. I have a great relationship with her family and her mom. They’re a very loving Italian family,” said Catelli.
When Gaga asked where to go the following day for lunch, Catelli sent her to Sonoma’s Girl and the Fig.
There, she and Kinney dined on mussels, beet salad, fig salad, a Croque Monsieur with egg, steak frites and a Fig Kiss cocktail late Sunday afternoon. Word is she and Kinney sat at the bar and ordered several cocktails, including a special concoction made with blood oranges.
The county’s abuzz with rumors that Gaga could be house-hunting in the area, but insiders are keeping their poker faces on this one.
With the future of the Santa Rosa Original Certified Farmers Market in flux, about 200 market vendors and customers packed into the Veterans Memorial Hall on Saturday to discuss its fate with the new board of directors.
Reading from a three-page prepared statement, board secretary Lesley Brabyn of Salmon Creek Ranch said the board, installed Jan. 28, had been blindsided by the county’s recent decision not to renew the market’s longtime lease.
Throughout the morning, news that the market had lost its lease buzzed from stall to stall, with customers mostly confused and vendors trying to piece together what information they could.
At stake is the continuation of the county’s popular year-round farm market. Each week in the parking lot of the Veterans Memorial Hall, nearly 100 vendors offer meat, cheese, produce, baked goods and crafts on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
For the time being, that will stay the same. But come July, a new market operator is slated to take over.
County officials said Friday that a new entity, Redwood Empire Farmers Markets, had signed a new, more expensive lease and would run the market starting July 4.
In the sometimes contentious hourlong meeting Saturday, board representatives said they weren’t given time to let members vote on a proposed 167 percent fee hike. They said the county’s Regional Parks Department had rushed into leasing the space to a new operator without “due process.”
Brabyn also said that a lawsuit filed against the market and individual board members by Gleason Ranch owners had been a major distraction to pursuing the lease. “Rent could have probably been resolved if resources not been distracted by this lawsuit,” she said.
In questions from the audience, concerns included who the new market managers would be, whether the market could stay in its current location and, if not, where it might move to.
Brabyn said that the board had begun looking for possible new locations in Railroad Square or possibly at the Fairgrounds near the jockey club, but ultimately hoped the county would rescind its decision not to renew their lease.
The board made only brief reference to the new operators, Redwood Empire Farmers Markets. The fledgling group, made up primarily of former and current market vendors, was in attendance.
Spokesman Rob Cary said all current vendors would be invited to apply for the new market. During the meeting, several individuals expressed hope that the two markets could work together, but Braybn said “quite a few vendors have no plans to operate under new management.”
For their part, vendors expressed concern about negative publicity and how it might affect the market’s popularity.
“I’m worried about how customers are going to see the conflict. If you upset the customers and they have a bad taste, they won’t come. And then no one here will be successful,” said Shannon Hoffmann of Crumb Hither, who has been at the market for three years.
Market customer Irema Sivcevic said she wants to see continuity. “I see a thriving market. I like how it is running, and I like the uniqueness of the market. That is what I want to keep. For the politics, I don’t care,” she said.
Longtime market participants noted that management upheaval at the market isn’t new.
“This market has forever been in discord. This is not the first or the last time,” said Ross BeVier, a longtime vendor. “As long as there is a democratic process, there is going to be dissent.”
Sonoma County has decided not to renew its lease with the Santa Rosa Original Certified Farmers Market.
After months of negotiations, financial reports and public showdowns over a proposed rent hike at the Santa Rosa Veteran’s Hall, Sonoma County Regional Parks officials have accepted a new entity, The Redwood Empire Farmers’ Markets, as tenant. They will begin operations at Veteran’s Hall in Santa Rosa in July 2012.
According to Regional Parks Director Caryl Hart, whose department oversees the operation of the Veteran’s Hall, “I had a space and a set price for it. The (Redwood Empire Farmers Markets) wanted to pay the full amount.” She said that the current market lease expires on June 30, 2012.
At issue was a proposed rent increase beginning in July that would nearly double the current annual fees of $23,875 paid by the market for the use of the Veteran’s Hall parking lot on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Market manager Paula Downing balked at the increase, claiming that the $57,660 annual rental price proposed by the county would end up hurting local farmers and the market. For the past 10 years, the Santa Rosa Original Farmers Market paid a significantly discounted rate — up to 75 percent lower than what would normally be asked — to use the lot at Brookwood and Maple avenues. That’s added up to more than $156,000 in rent breaks, according to records.
However, financial records submitted by Downing to show the market’s income and expenses, and ultimately its need for continued subsidies by the county failed to convince officials.
“This is very valuable public space and there is a lot of demand for it. We’ve given a lot of concessions, and as a landlord it was clear to me that (the existing market) was not interested in doing business with the county,” Hart said. “The new group has the space reserved and have put down the deposit.”
The new market organization is a collection of current market vendors, farmers and community members, according to spokesman Rob Cary, former Sebastopol Community Center Director. The group is in the process of formalizing its board of directors, bylaws and certification, but Cary said he hopes to make the transition seamless for the public.
“The new market will continue (on Wednesday and Saturday) at the Veteran’s building without interruption, under new management. The stall rates will remain the same as they currently are. We want to have a smooth transition for everyone,” said Cary. Downing will be invited to apply for the new market manager position and Cary said there will be no fee increases for the vendors of the Redwood Empire Farmers’ Markets to offset the rent increase.
For Downing, the changeover amounts to a coup. In a blog post on the farm market website, she announced early Friday that the county had, “unilaterally and arbitrarily terminated the market’s lease negotiations and announced that they have made arrangements with another farmers market” without her official knowledge. She has asked the public and current vendors to meet at the Veteran’s Hall at 1:30pm on Saturday, Feb. 25 to discuss the future of the current market. “Not only has the rent been raised substantially, but some of our members/vendors…are bidding on this space in hope of replacing the market with a market of their own!” claimed a flier Downing passed out at last Saturday’s market.
Downing hopes to keep interest alive in maintaining the current market leadership and possibly changing the county’s mind about the space. “I’ve done enough politics to know that it’s never over and not to give up hope,” she said. Downing also said she is looking at possible new spaces for the existing market in Santa Rosa. “This is very emotional. I feel really sad. I feel like I have responsibility to these (vendors and farmers).”
An undercurrent to much of the upheaval is a public feud inside the market that’s been simmering since 2010. A number of vendors called for the firing of Downing from the market, ultimately removing her and installing a new board of directors. Weeks later, however, Downing and the original board were reinstated. After the tousle, several vendors alleged retaliatory acts by Downing, including the owners of Gleason Ranch who filed a pending lawsuit against the market in 2011. Former and current members of the market, including the owners of Gleason Ranch, have been supportive of the creation of the Redwood Empire Farmers’ Market.
Regardless of the history, for the county, a tenant means a new start.
“This is a fresh opportunity,” said Hart. “From my perspective it would be best if everyone could come together and stop all the acrimony. The number one interest of the county is a market that provides healthy local food in a vibrant and positive way,” said Hart. “Sometimes change is good.”
Rumor is that Lady Gaga has wine making on her mind.
