Whisk yourself to the tropics, at least for the afternoon, during Woodenhead Winery’s Hawaiian luau on Sunday August 12 from 11am to 3pm. In addition to wine tasting, food writer Michele Anna Jordan prepares a feast of Spam musubi, Kalua pig with cabbage, Korean barbecued ribs, potato and macaroni salad, green papaya salad and more. Competition includes best Aloha shirt or dress and best Hawaiian dinner plate (the event is BYO-plate to keep things green). Faith Ako sings and hula dancers do their thing. Tickets $75 per person and reservations are required by calling 707-887-2703 or zina@woodenheadwine.com. woodenheadwine.com.
Thousands of rabid, screaming fans head to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park this weekend to stuff their faces at Outside Lands. Oh, and maybe listen to some music.
Music headliners range from Metallica and Skrillex to Stevie Wonder and the Foo Fighters, but BiteClub’s there for the 55 restaurants, 16 breweries, 49 wineries, and countless food trucks, chefs and culinary wonderments that have become a signature of the gastro-music event. Spread over several acres, this year’s big food and drink draws include the new Beerlands, where Bear Republic, Firestone Walker, Lost Coast, Magnolia Gastropub, North Coast, 21st Amendment and others serve up 32 brews; and Outside Lambs, where Chef John Fink of The Whole Beast curates a lineup of lamb-centric pop-ups featuring Michael Mina’s RN74 and Bourbon Steak House.
Chocolands gathers sweet-pushers like Epic Cookies, Kara’s Cupcake, Candybar and Sharon’s Chocolate Shop in the quiet McLaren Pass, where sugar junkies can mainline cupcakes, s’mores and cookies. Taste of the Bay Area 2012 expands throughout three fields adding newcomers Bacon Bacon, Belly Burgers, Hapa SF, Seoul on Wheels, Nojo, Eat Le Truc and Bun Mee. Returning faves Namu, Farmerbrown’s Little Skillet, American Grilled Cheese Kitchen, 4505 Meats and Straw skip the usual fest-food and ramp up mini restaurants serving out-of-the-box dishes including Tonkatsu sandwiches, schwarma snow cones, Korean tacos, and hazelnut crunch cupcakes.
Adding a touch of class is the Wine Lands tent with 120 different wines. Local Wine Country faves include Long Meadow Ranch, Ridge, Robert Sinskey, Preston of Dry Creek, Copain, Simi and House Band Wines. Check out the full list of purveyors and foods (with notes on 2011 faves and where I’ll be this year), in addition to my report on last year’s Outside Lands food fest. And let me say right now, I am sincerely hoping to pick up my Crack Bar habit again at Brass Knuckle catering.
"I'm fueled by Crack!" Brass Knuckle's Crack Bar from 2011
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A Taste of the Bay Area: 55 Restaurants
Orange: New, Must Try Green: Favorite of 2011
4505 Meats – 4505 Classic Cheeseburger, Fried Chicken YumYum
American Grilled Cheese Kitchen – Classic Grilled Cheese Sandwiches Andalu – Crispy Mac-n-Cheese, Corn with Smoked Pimenton
Asqew Grill – Fresh Grilled Skewers, House-made Salad; Sides
Azalina’s – Malaysian Chicken and Vegan Nachos Bacon Bacon – Spicy Pork Fries, Root Beer Floats
Best In Show – Evergood Hot Links, Evergood Hot Dogs Big Chef Tom’s Belly Burgers – Pork Belly Burgers, Almond Cumin Slaw Brass Knuckle – Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dogs, Watermelon Mint Agua Fresca
Bun Mee Vietnamese Sandwich Eatery – Vietnamese Sandwiches
Del Popolo – Margherita, White and Pepperoni Pizzas
Earthly Delights – Philadelphia Cheesesteaks, Parmesan Fries Eat Le Truc – Thai Curry Pork Tacos, Beet Salad
El Huarache Loco – Quesadillas, Huaraches and Gorditas Endless Summer Sweets – Gourmet Funnel Cakes
Event Specialists – Churros, Soft Pretzels Farmerbrown’s Little Skillet – Fried Chicken & Waffles Full Belly Farms – Organic Melon, Peaches and Juices Hapa SF – Lumpia “Shanghai” Spring Rolls, Sisig Tacos
Homeroom – Gilroy Mac and Cheese
Kara’s Cupcakes – Gourmet Cupcakes
Let’s Be Frank – 100% Grass-Fed Beef Hot Dogs
Little Village Produce – Smoothies, Coconut Chais
Living Greens – Organic Juices, Shots and Tonics Loving Cup – Rice Pudding, Blue Bottle Hot and Iced Coffees
Luella – Ricotta and Artichoke Sandwiches, Pork Bacon Chili with Cheddar
Maverick- Cincinnati BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Milk Shake Werks – Milkshakes, Ice Cream Sandwiches
Mission Minis – Mini Cupcakes Namu Gaji – Short Rib Tacos, Chicken Thigh Tacos
New Ganges – Samosas, Chicken Curry Plate, Indian Vegetarian Plate Nojo – Tonkatsu Sandwich, Cucumber Salad Nombe – Karaage (Japanese Fried Chicken Thigh Nuggets) Odango (Fried Rice Balls)
Pacific Catch – Hawaiian Poke, Baja Shrimp Ceviche
Philz Coffee – Customized Blends made one cup at a time Pica Pica – Arepas, Yucca Fries
Q Restaurant and Wine Bar – Tater Tots with Chili Lime Aioli
Rosamunde’s Sausage Grill – Beer Sausages, Nuernberger Bratwurst
Sabores del Sur – Empanadas and Award-Winning Alfajores
Sataysfied – Chicken Satays, Fried Noodles
Señor Sisig – Sisig Nachos and Fries Seoul on Wheels – Korrito, Pot Stickers, Kimchee
Spicy Pie – Gourmet Pizza Slices, Cookie Pie
Split Pea Seduction – Farm-to-Fork Soups, Salads and Sandwiches Southern Sandwich Co. – Mesquite Chicken Sandwich, Texas Beef Brisket
Southpaw BBQ and Southern Cooking – Smoked Beef Brisket, Texas Beef Brisket, Collard Greens
Straw – Falafel and Shwarma Snow Cones, Sweet Potato Tots
Tacolicious – Carnitas Tacos, Beer and Shot Braised Chicken Tacos
The Little Chihuahua – Fried Plantain and Fajita Burritos
The Pizza Place – Personal Pizzas, Meatball Grinders Those Fabulous Frickle Brothers – Green Tomatoes, Fried Pickles
Three Twins – Organic Ice Creams
Up & Under Pub and Grill – Steak and Portobello Sandwiches
Whisk on Wheels – Choripan, Empanadas
Woodhouse – Shucked and BBQ Oysters, Chowder
Outside Lambs The Whole Beast – Whole Roasted Lamb Gyros, Lamb Mulligatawny (Indian curry stew), Lamb Poutine, Moroccan Mint Iced Tea Bourbon Steak House DC – Lamb Sausage Hotdogs (in partnership with 4505 Meats) with sweet and hot peppers on an Acme hotdog roll Bourbon Steak House SF – Lamb Kefta Meatballs with All-Star Organic Farms Cucumber and Fennel-Yogurt RN74 – Grilled Brentwood Sweet Corn with Lamb Sausage Crumbs and Cotija Cheese (vegetarian & vegan options available)
Chocolands Candybar – Guittard Hot Chocolate with Homemade Marshmallow, Frozen Guittard Chocolate with Whipped Cream
Delessio Market & Bakery – Chocolate Dipped Caramel Corn
Epic Cookies – Gourmet Cookies, Milk Chocolate Milk
Guittard Chocolate – Chocolate Bar Tasting Duo Kara’s Cupcakes – Chocolate Gourmet Cupcakes
Sharona’s Chocolate Shop – Chocolate Dipped Rice Crispy and Brownie, S’mores, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup
Beer Lands: 16 Breweries in total; 32 beers poured
21st Amendment – Hell or High Watermelon (Watermelon Wheat), Back in Black (Black IPA)
Anchor Brewing – Steam (Common Beer), Summer (American Wheat) Bear Republic Brewery – Racer 5 (American IPA), El Oso (Amber Lager)
The Bruery – Mischief (Belgian Golden Strong), Humulus APA (Extra Pale w/Bett)
Drake’s Brewing – 1500 Pale (Pale Ale), Amber (Amber Ale) Firestone Walker – Pivo (Pilsner), Double Barrel Ale (Extra Special, Strong Bitter)
Heineken USA – Newcastle Summer (Citric Blond Ale), Amstel Wheat (Pure Hefeweizen)
Iron Springs Brewery – Chazz Cat Rye (Rye Amber), JC Flyer (American IPA)
Linden Street Brewery – Urban People’s Common (Common Beer), Burning Oak (Black Lager)
Lost Coast Brewery – Great White (Belgian White), Downtown Brown (Brown Ale)
Mad River Brewing Company – Extra Pale (Pale Ale), Jamaica Red (Red Ale) Magnolia Gastropub and Brewery – Proving Ground (American IPA), Kalifornia Kolsch (Kolsch)
North Coast Brewing Company – Scrimshaw Pilsner (German Pilsener), PranQster (Belgian Strong Golden Ale)
Pacific Brewing Labs – Squid Ink (Black IPA), Nautilus (Hibiscus Saison) Sierra Nevada Brewing Company – Outside Lands Saison (Saison), Kellerweis (Hefeweizen)
Speakeasy Ales & Lagers- Big Daddy (American IPA), Payback Porter (Porter)
Wine Lands: 49 Wineries, 120 Wines Poured
* BiteClub Faves
August West
Banshee
Big Basin Vineyards Bonny Doon Vineyard
Brander Caymus Vineyards Chappellet
Claypool Cellars Copain
Faust
Free Flow Wines, Simi, King Estate, Cultivar, Rowland Tebb, and Darcie Kent on tap
Gamling & McDuck Gloria Ferrer Hess Collection
Hobo Wine Company House Band Wines in a pouch
Idell Family Vineyards J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines Kermit Lynch with a selection of his famous European imports Long Meadow Ranch Medlock Ames
Meiomi Wines
Mer Soleil Vineyard
Miner Navarro
Olabisi Orin Swift Cellars
Palmina Preston of Dry Creek
Qupé
Verdad
Ridge Vineyards Robert Sinskey
Saintsbury
Santa Rita Winery
Scribe
Saldo
Summer of Riesling 2012
The Scholium Project
The Prisoner
Tres Sabores
Turley Wine Cellars
Villa Creek Wind Gap
Wines of Portugal with Sommelier Eugenio Jardim
We’re plotzing over kugels and latkes. Congregation Shomrei Torah hosts the county’s first Jewish Food Festival from 10am to 3pm Sunday, Aug. 19, 2012. On the menu, corned beef sandwiches, potato latkes, lox and cream cheese on bagels, sweet and savory noodle kugel, and chocolate egg creams. No word on kreplach or Matzoh ball soup, but maybe the bubbes will indulge us. 2600 Bennett Valley Rd. Free admission.
A preview dinner at Julia’s Kitchen showcasing the forthcoming food at The Thomas/Fagiani’s at the Thomas, with a planned opening date of August 8, 2012.
Cafe 522 quietly closed over the weekend in Sonoma, less than a year after opening. Despite positive critical reviews, (along with some not-so-spectacular Yelp reviews) owners have sold the business to Chef Rudy Mihal.
Reached by phone, Mihal (formerly of Odyssey) says plans to take over the space on Aug. 1, 2012 with a soft-opening slated for late August. He’s bringing a front of the house manager from the Michael Mina group, and hopes to transform the restaurant into contemporary American eatery.
No word on the name yet, but Mihal assures BiteClub the black truffle and short rib burger (minus the foie) is coming back.
The restaurant has seen a whirlwind of owners in the last four years, first as Shiso, then as Lokal and most recently as 522. Stay tuned for details.
America’s Meat Guru, also known as local meat legend Bruce Aidells, will hosts a meaty discussion at the bucolic Windrush Farm in Petaluma on Aug. 5, 2012. He’ll give a preview of his forthcoming book, The Great Meat Cookbook, helping cooks of every level create meaty recipes that are big on flavor without necessarily beating up your budget.
Part of Berkeley’s original Gourmet Ghetto, he’ll share stories about the people and places that helped define how we eat today. With him will be Michele Anna Jordan, best known for her popular columns about the food and wine lifestyle in the Press Democrat.
Yanni’s Sausage Grill will be serving sausage, along with Lagunitas beer and wine. Readers Books will have Bruce and Michele’s books for sale and for signing.The event is offered on a sliding scale, from $40 to $60, free for children 12 and under and is a benefit for the Sonoma County Book Festival. Tickets are available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/258915
Nope, this event isn’t actually about eggs. It’s an a celebration of BBQ cooking on a strange-looking contraption called The Big Green Egg. Confused? Part barbecue, part smoker, part ceramic cooker, these odd-looking grills have a huge following of barbecue enthusiasts who cook up everything from pizzas to meatloaf on their Eggs.
For the second year, Stumptown Brewery in Guerneville (15045 River Rd., Guerneville, 869-0705) hosts an Eggs on the River Eggfest (August 4, 2012), a cookoff with 18 of the Eggs fired up and ready to cook onsite. It’s BYO food with amateur eggists doing their thing from 10am to 4pm. Throughout the day, check out demos and snack on food made by contenders. More details and registration at winecountryeggs.com . Tickets $20 per person, $35 per couple.
Sonoma State grad Adam Williams and Leah Heyman are bicycling 4,500 miles across the USA from Maine to California to raise awareness about sustainable lunch programs and connections between organic farms and public schools. On August 1, Cotati’s Redwood Café will welcome FoodCycle to Sonoma County, and give Adam and Leah a chance to talk about what they’re doing and why, and to share their adventures on the road.
The riders started on April 21 in Brunswick, Maine and holds a degree in Environmental Studies from SSU. Find out more about their journey at http://foodcycleus.com/. For updated details on the time and event, visit http://www.facebook.com/redwoodcafe.cotati
Redwood Cafe, 8240 Old Redwood Hwy., Cotati, 795-7868.
Sonoma’s best-known coastal wineries (think Littori, Merry Edwards, Paul Hobbs, Peay and LIOCO) gather for the West of the West Wine Festival August 3-5, 2012.
Held in Occidental, the three day event will feature some of the most acclaimed Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays and Syrahs on the market today.
Most of the events are sold out, but a few tickets remain for welcome dinners and the Sunday grand tasting. Other wineries include Flowers, Anthill Farms, Heintz Ranch, Marimar Estate, Siduri, Hirsch, MacPhail, Patz & Hall, and Wind Gap. Star-studded enough for ya?
The news comes on the heels of the sale of the historic property that’s been home to the restaurant since it opened in 2008. Once owned by the daughter of General Mariano Vallejo, the two-story building is being purchased by Darius Anderson, owner of Kenwood Investments and the Sonoma Index-Tribune. Anderson has also recently purchased Ramekins Culinary School and Event Center, located next door, and reportedly plans to use the properties jointly. He takes over October 1, 2012.
Estate’s lease originally ran until 2013, but Bernstein and managing partner John Toulze decided to close Estate in the wake of the sale and refocus on their other restaurants, including a new Sonoma event space called Suite D. “It’s very bittersweet,” said Bernstein. There is no current plan to reopen Estate elsewhere currently, “but who knows” says Bernstein. “I don’t think we’re done with Italian,” she said.
“We appreciated the opportunity to steward the historical Sonoma property at 400 West Spain Street and know it will now transition into good hands with Darius Anderson,” said Bernstein. Exec Chef and Managing Partner John Toulze will continue working at the Fig properties and on a successful salumi program he started at Estate.
Estate will continue serving dinner Wednesday through Saturday beginning at 5pm and Sunday brunch from 10am to 3pm. 400 W. Spain St., Sonoma, 707-933-3663.
Whisk yourself to the tropics, at least for the afternoon, during Woodenhead Winery’s Hawaiian luau on Sunday August 12 from 11am to 3pm. In addition to wine tasting, food writer Michele Anna Jordan prepares a feast of Spam musubi, Kalua pig with cabbage, Korean barbecued ribs, potato and macaroni salad, green papaya salad and more. Competition includes best Aloha shirt or dress and best Hawaiian dinner plate (the event is BYO-plate to keep things green). Faith Ako sings and hula dancers do their thing. Tickets $75 per person and reservations are required by calling 707-887-2703 or zina@woodenheadwine.com. woodenheadwine.com.
