Craig Stammler Memorial @ The Mystic

By biteclub

Regrets on not announcing this sooner, because I know that Craig was well known to many in the food community:

Restaurateur (Bella Luma Caffe) and well-known Petaluman Craig Stammler died suddenly on April 22, 2012. Friends, family and community gathered at the Mystic Theater to celebrate his life. Stammler, who worked with wife Melanie at StarStruck Boutique and most recently at LoCoco’s Cucina Rustica in Santa Rosa was 50.

Sign the guest book
Read the full obituary

Photographer and friend Will Bucquoy shares his photos…

 

[sh-slideshow-post id=”23828″]

Burger Shack at Spring Lake?

By biteclub


Just a week after opening his new burger cafe in downtown Santa Rosa, Flipside and Rendez Vous restaurant owner Nino Rabbaa tells BiteClub he’ll also be opening a burger concession at Spring Lake Park this summer.

Though an official announcement from the Regional Parks has yet been made, insiders confirmed Rabbaa’s intent to take over the concession stand near the swimming pond. That may sound like small potatoes, but Spring Lake averages more than 600,000 visitors each year, with 300,000 folks visiting nearby Annadel Park.

What’s even more intriguing? There’s discussion of a possible construction of a cafe/restaurant inside the park being explored. The concession, which typically runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day, will join a fleet of food trucks who pull up to Spring Lake’s boat ramp each Tuesday from 4p.m. to dusk throughout the summer.

Rosso Petaluma

By biteclub
John Franchetti and Kevin Cronin of Rosso Pizzerias will go in different directions.
John Franchetti and Kevin Cronin of Rosso Pizzerias will go in different directions.

The new outpost of Rosso Pizzeria and Wine Bar opens Monday, May 14, 2012 in Petaluma’s Theater District.

Think again if you’re expecting a carbon copy of the Santa Rosa restaurant. It’s more like an evolution, said co-owner Kevin Cronin.  The 25-item menu includes some familiar favorites (calamari fritti, housemade burrata, margherita pizza) but ventures into new territory with a dedicated latteria (a cheese bar) featuring Ramini buffalo mozzarella, braised leeks with burrata and stretched-to-order mozzarella. “In Petaluma, we’re reflecting the focus on cheese and dairy,” said Cronin.

Also added to the menu are dishes including tripe, Italian Surf and Turf (roasted pork belly with Drake’s Bay crispy oysters), a Clam Pie with Manila clams, a smoked brick chicken pizza and a piadini (flatbread) Po Boy with oysters, remoulade, romaine, shaved fennel and bacon vinaigrette.

Gluten-free pizzas are available. Because no one should have to miss out on this opening. 25+ wines by the glass, plus beer. No dessert, cause they don’t do that.

Rosso Pizzeria Petaluma, 151 Petaluma Blvd S., Petaluma

[sh-slideshow-post id=”23745″]

Wednesday Night Market Food Preview 2012

By biteclub


Though many mark summer’s start and finish line by the bookends of Memorial and Labor Day, the opening of the Wednesday Night Market signals the season in Santa Rosa.

This year, the Santa Rosa Downtown Market (best known as Wednesday Night Market) kicks off May 9 at 5p.m., lasting until 8:30p.m. in downtown Santa Rosa (Fourth St. between Mendocino and D St.). This year, the market will move a bit further eastward, with the wine tasting area near Flavor Bistro and four live stages.

Though there’s plenty to see, hear and do, BiteClub’s main mission is the food. Here’s your cheat sheet to new vendors, along with recommendations for old favorites…

New
Republic of Paradise: Sebastopol-based caterers serve up beef adobo(!), jerk tofu and chicken wraps, humba pork buns (pork stewed in cinnamon, star anise and soy), flan.

Cochon Volant: Chef Rob Larman’s mobile bbq has been turning up throughout Sonoma County, but rarely in Santa Rosa. The former La Poste (Sonoma) toque makes a mean sauce.

Real Cool Frozen Treats: Don’t call these popsicles. Chef Maria deCorpo’s frozen ice pops are made with Meyer Lemon, carrot ginger and other exotic flavors. She’s adding dessert sandwiches featuring Screaming Mimi’s strawberry ice cream as well.

Zoup Street Noodle: Vietnamese and Thai flavors infuse noodle soups and pho.

Taste of Louisiana: Jambalaya, chicken gumbo, shrimp Creole and hot links.

Ana’s Catering: Mexican favorites

Returning
Street Eatz: The market’s only food truck
Rosso Pizzeria: Wood-fired gourmet pizzas
Ultimate Souvlaki: Bobby the Greek’s gyros and Mediterranean eats
Lata Indian: Authentic curries and vegetarian options
Nellie’s Oysters: BBQ oysters
Mommy’s Yammys: Eclectic Mediterranean eats
Dad & Son’s BBQ: Tasty bbq
Ralph’s, Chicago Style Hot Dogs: Courthouse Square legend, Ralph’s and new(ish) cart king, Chicago Style Hot Dogs both serve up wieners with serious street cred.

Plus: Pink Elephant cotton candy, Harvey’s mini donuts, Thai House, Cold Stone Creamery, Ralph’s, Mary’s Pizza Shack, Hullabaloo Pretzels, Johnny Garlic’s, Kettle Corn, Mom’s Apple Pie, RCC Lemonade, Snowie, Fancy Funnel Cakes, Vero’s, California Thai, Pasta King

James Beard Foundation Book Awards

By biteclub

They’re the most important food writing awards of the year — The annual James Beard Foundation Awards for cookbooks, journalism and media.

This year, few surprises, with Nathan Myhrvold’s $600+ epic cooking masterpiece, Modernist Cuisine taking the prize for Cookbook of the year. Amanda Hesser’s Food52 won for publication of the year, along with Gastronomica. Locally, Heidi Swanson (101cookbooks.com) won in the “Focus on Health” category with Super Natural Every Day, and Paula Wolfert won for her book, The Food of Morocco.

Congrats to all the winners.

2012 James Beard Foundation Book Awards

Cookbook of the Year

Modernist Cuisine
Nathan Myhrvold with Chris Young and Maxime Bilet
 (The Cooking Lab)

Cookbook Hall of Fame

Laurie Colwin
Home Cooking and More Home Cooking

American Cooking
A New Turn in the South: Southern Flavors Reinvented for Your Kitchen
Hugh Acheson (Clarkson Potter)

Baking and Dessert

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home
Jeni Britton Bauer
(Artisan)

Beverage
Bitters: A Spirited History of a Classic Cure-All, with Cocktails, Recipes, & Formulas
Brad Thomas Parsons
(Ten Speed Press)

Cooking from a Professional Point of View
Modernist Cuisine
Nathan Myhrvold with Chris Young and Maxime Bilet 
(The Cooking Lab)

General Cooking

Ruhlman’s Twenty
Michael Ruhlman
 (Chronicle Books)

Focus on Health

Super Natural Every Day: Well-Loved Recipes from My Natural Foods Kitchen
Heidi Swanson (Ten Speed Press)

International
The Food of Morocco
Paula Wolfert (Ecco)

Photography

Notes from a Kitchen: A Journey Inside Culinary Obsession
Artist/Photographer: Jeff Scott 
(Tatroux)

Reference and Scholarship

Turning the Tables: Restaurants and the Rise of the American Middle Class, 1880-1920
Andrew P. Haley 
(The University of North Carolina Press)

Single Subject
All About Roasting
Molly Stevens 
(W.W. Norton & Company)

Writing and Literature 

Blood, Bones & Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef
Gabrielle Hamilton 
(Random House)

2012 James Beard Foundation Journalism Awards
Publications of the Year
Amanda Hesser
Food52

Darra Goldstein
Gastronomica

Cooking, Recipes, or Instruction
Anna Thomas
EatingWell
, “The Soup for Life”

Environment, Food Politics, and Policy

Ben Paynter
Fast Company
, “The Sweet Science”

Food Coverage in a Food-Focused Publication
Saveur
James Oseland

Food Coverage in a General-Interest Publication

Lesley Bargar Suter
Los Angeles, 
”Chinese Food in L.A.,” “It’s Time for Breakfast in L.A,” “Food Lovers Guide”

Food Culture and Travel

Fuchsia Dunlop
The Financial Times, 
”Global Menu: Kicking Up a Stink”

Food-Related Columns

Lettie Teague
The Wall Street Journal, 
On Wine: Lettie Teague: “Drink, Memory: How to Remember that Wine;” “In Praise of the One-Cabernet Lunch;” “May I recommend: Lessons of Great Sommeliers”

Group Food Blog
The Salt: NPR’s Food Blog
Maria Godoy
npr.org/blogs/thesalt

Health and Well-Being
Maureen O’Hagan
The Seattle Times, 
”Feeling the Weight: The Emotional Battle to Control Kids’ Diet”

Humor
Brett Martin
GQ, 
”The Hangover Part III”

Individual Food Blog
Poor Man’s Feast
Elissa Altman
, Poormansfeast.com
 “Craving the Food of Depravity”

Personal Essay
Cal Fussman
Esquire.com
, “Drinking at 1,300 Ft: A 9/11 Story About Wine and Wisdom”

Profile
Susan Choi
Food & Wine
, “The Spice Wizardry of Lior Lev Sercarz”

Visual Storytelling
Landon Nordeman
Saveur, 
”Soul of Sicily,” “BBQ Nation,” “Heart of the Valley”

Wine, Spirits, and Other Beverages
Sarah Karnasiewicz
Imbibe
”Fizzy Business”

Craig Claiborne Distinguished Restaurant Review Award
Alan Richman
GQ
”The Very Tasty Liberation of Paris,” “I Heart SF,” “Diner for Schmucks”

MFK Fisher Distinguished Writing Award
John T. Edge
Saveurm 
”BBQ Nation”

2012 James Beard Foundation Broadcast Media Awards

Radio Show/Audio Webcast
Fear of Frying: Culinary Nightmares
Host: Nina Barrett
Area: WBEZ
Producer: Jason Marck

Special/Documentary (Television or Video Webcast)
A Matter of Taste: Serving Up Paul Liebrandt
Network: HBO
Producers: Sally Rowe, Rachel Mills, and Alan Oxman

Television Program, In Studio or Fixed Location
Chopped
Host: Ted Allen
Network: Food Network
Producers: Linda Lea, Dave Noll, and Vivian Sorenson

Television Program, On Location
Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern
Host: Andrew Zimmern
Network: Travel Channel
Producer: Andrew Zimmern

Television Segment
CBS News Sunday Morning
Host: Martha Teichner
Network: CBS
Producers: Lauren Barnello, Jon Carras, Edward Forgotson, Patrick Lee, and David Small

Video Webcast
eatTV with Jamie Tiampo
Eattv.com
Host: Jamie Tiampo
Producers: Suzanne Glickstein, Jimmy McCoy, and Jamie Tiampo

Media Personality/Host (Television or Video Webcast)
Host: Ted Allen
Show: Chopped
Network: Food Network

 

Luxe Bacon Dinner

By biteclub

Bacon beckons at St. Francis Vineyards on May 19, when the Sonoma Valley winery hosts it’s Luxury Bacon Dinner. It’s a porktastic voyage that includes a bacon-stuffed roulade of beef, chicken fried bacon and gravy, smoked bacon tamari and banana bread with bacon lardons for dessert. 100 Pythian Road at Hwy 12, Santa Rosa.

Chosen Spot Dinners Announced

By biteclub

After the sell-out success of last year’s Chosen Spot dinners, the 2012 series will be held at the horticulturist’s own stomping grounds: The Luther Burbank Home & Gardens. Chef John Lyle makes it his mission to use Burbank-inspired local ingredients and create menus that go beyond the usual wine & cheese dinners. $75 per person, held June 9, July 7, August 11 and Sept. 8, beginning at 5:30p.m. Reservations at lutherburbank.org.

BJ’s Opening

By biteclub

Coddingtown’s newest restaurant tenant, BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, is slated to open May 14, according to staff. The restaurant will be doing preview dinners the next several weeks for media, friends and family. Prepare to get your pizookie on.

Heritage Public House

By biteclub
Heritage Public House /WB Photography
Heritage Public House /WB Photography

Lots of folks asking me about “Heritage Public House”, which is actually the renamed Hopyard at Vintner’s Square.

The new space features a revolving lineup of California craft brews Thursday through Sunday (ie: Moylan’s Kilt Lifter, Ruth McGowan’s Monster Brown Ale, Triple Voo Doo Brewing Inception). They’ll also be hosting comedy, music and open-mic nights and have local food trucks serving up food . The name flip happened after owner Dino D’Argenzio discovered the Hopyard name was copyrighted by a Pleasanton brewery. Heritage Public House better reflects “paying homage to the history of the craft brewing industry of our Golden State.” said D’Argenzio.

Vintner’s Square is a rehabbed retail center thats evolved into a self-contained winemaking center housing D’Argenzio, Krutz and Sheldon wines along with Squires Cigar Shop and Lounge and the Wineyard Tasting Room.

Hours: Thursday-Saturday, 4-10pm; Sunday noon to 6pm. 1305-A Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa.

Goose and Gander open

By biteclub

St. Helena’s Goose and Gander, in the former Martini House location, opened Tuesday (4/24/12)— earlier than expected (a rarity in the restaurant world). In the kitchen is Kelly McCown, a Martini House vet. Bar manager and mixologist Scott Beattie, who recently departed Healdsburg’s Spoonbar, continues his love affair with seasonal, artisanal cocktails at the new venue. Early word on the menu is American comfort, with braised meatballs, duck confit and bone marrow as apps; a burger with duck fat fries, ricotta gnocchi and pork chops for entrees, and a precious lineup of soups, sides and salads. 1245 Spring St., St. Helena.