What’s New in Napa Valley: Where to Eat, Drink and Stay

By Dana Rebmann

A wet winter in Wine Country is paving the way for a beautiful spring. As hillsides turn emerald green and wildflowers emerge, Napa Valley is raising a glass to the warm days ahead and serving up new experiences to celebrate new beginnings. Here are a few trending places to sip, eat and stay right now.

New places to taste wine

Orin Swift Cellars

The ribbon has been cut at the new Orin Swift Cellars tasting room in downtown St. Helena. The new space is located in a bank building that dates back to the early 1920s and hosts private tastings in the old bank vault.

Orin Swift Cellars founder and winemaker David Phinney played a hands-on role in remodeling the historic bank building into a tasting room, opting to leave its beautiful old bones exposed and decorating it with vintage furniture and fine art (some of Phinney’s photographs also hang on the walls).

Visitors to Orin Swift Cellars can choose between four tastings: Rock, Paper, Scissors and The Vault. Rock ($45) is a standing tasting by the bar, Paper ($65) is a seated tasting, Scissors ($125) is hosted in the original Orin Swift tasting room next door and features rare, limited-production wines, and The Vault ($80) takes places in the old bank vault and includes magnums or library selections.

1321 Main St., St Helena, 707-968-3342, orinswift.com

Vault experience at Orin Swift Cellars in St. Helena
Vault wine tasting experience at Orin Swift Cellars in St. Helena. (Orin Swift Cellars)
The Gentleman Farmer Bungalow

In downtown Napa, a 1926 California craftsman has been transformed into The Gentleman Farmer Bungalow: The Studio for Gustatory Well-Being. The welcoming, homey space is dedicated to food and wine experiences, prepared by husbands and vintners Jeff Durham and Joey Wołosz.

Durham and Wołosz are the founders of small Napa winery Gentleman Farmer Wines. Visitors to their Napa bungalow will be able to sample their wines with multicourse meals inspired by the couple’s family recipes, such as roasts, rillettes and soufflés.

The six-course Gentleman Farmer’s Lunch ($250) is the signature experience, but guests can also book dinners ($450) or breakfasts ($90-$125) with a morning meditation guided by Wołosz in The Bungalow, or a 5K run with Durham along the Napa River.

1564 First St., Napa, gentlemanfarmerwines.com/experiences

Gentleman Farmer in Napa
Husbands and vintners  Joey Wołosz and Jeff Durham at the Gentleman Farmer Bungalow in Downtown Napa. (Gentleman Farmer)

New places to eat (and drink)

Slanted Door

Famed San Francisco Vietnamese restaurant Slanted Door has opened a Napa outpost. Fans of celebrity chef Charles Phan will recognize popular dishes on the dinner menu, including green papaya salad and shaking beef. But if it’s pho you are craving, plan accordingly — it’s only available at lunch.

The new Napa restaurant is housed in an 8,000-square-foot building, which used to house the Kitchen Collective, a private cooking club that closed in 2020. “It’s stunningly beautiful modern setting of glass walls, a 220-seat dining room and a glassed-in kitchen, all anchored by an elegantly finished, tree-studded dining courtyard was expensive, to say the least,” said food critic Carey Sweet in her review in The Press Democrat.

1650 Soscol Ave., Napa. Lunch 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., happy hour 3 to 5 p.m., dinner 5 to 10 p.m. daily. 707-287-1197, slanteddoor.com/napa

Wood fired wild head on prawns, silk road spices, shallots and olive oil at Slanted Door in Napa, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. (Erik Castro / For The Press Democrat)
Wood fired wild head on prawns, silk road spices, shallots and olive oil at Slanted Door in Napa. (Erik Castro / For The Press Democrat)
The Kitchen at Priest Ranch 

Tough decisions need to be made when dining at Yountville newcomer The Kitchen at Priest Ranch. Do you opt for the KPR Smashburger paired with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, or the Crispy Chicken Sando with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc? We recommend you go with a friend so you can order both. Oh, and don’t forget the fried house pickles. Did we mention breakfast is served all day and there’s a rooftop dining area?

6488 Washington St., Yountville. Open 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday to Monday. thekitchenatpr.com, 707-947-4017

Kitchen at Priest Ranch Chicken Sandwich
Crispy Chicken Sando at The Kitchen at Priest Ranch in Yountville. (The Kitchen at Priest Ranch)

New places to stay

Brannan Lofts

Calistoga founder Sam Brannan built 25 resort cottages in and around the Napa Valley town. Brannan Cottage Inn, built in 1862, has six rooms and the historic lodging books up quickly. The newly opened Brannan Lofts helps eliminate disappointment for Calistoga visitors.

The new accommodations are located above the Picayune Cellars & Mercantile on Calistoga’s main drag, Lincoln Avenue, just a stone’s throw from Brannan Cottage Inn. Brannan Lofts features five rooms, four of which have kitchenettes with induction cooktops, refrigerators, and dishwashers.

1440 Lincoln Ave., second floor, Calistoga. brannancottageinn.com

Brannon Lofts in Calistoga
Brannan Lofts is the new sister hotel property of Calistoga’s historic Brannan Cottage Inn. (Brannan Cottage Inn)

Coming soon to Napa Valley

The Stateline Road Smokehouse pop-up at the Oxbow has ended, but the restaurant’s permanent location in Napa is on track to open its doors in June. For barbecue fans dreading the wait, chef Darryl Bell will be serving favorites at BottleRock Napa Valley at the end of May.

Stateline Road Smokehouse in Napa
Stateline Road Smokehouse is preparing to open its permanent location in the Rail-Arts District of Napa. (Stateline Road Smokehouse)

After six long years of planning and construction, Signorello Estate is preparing to debut its new winery in June after the original buildings were destroyed by the 2017 Atlas Fire. The new state-of-the-art winery is built into a hillside and will reportedly operate 100% off the grid. Signorello plans to offer private, seated tastings, as well as tours of the estate using an electric golf cart; reservations will be required.

Materra Cunat Family Vineyards is nearing the completion of its new hospitality space. Along with a trio of tasting areas, the new venue will showcase the family’s vast collection of antiques, which ranges from Japanese items to classic cars. Keep an eye out for an opening date sometime in June.

Sebastopol’s Rialto Cinemas Kicks off Limited-Run ‘Dinner and a Movie’ Series

By Tina Caputo
Rialto Cinemas offers a selection of beer and wine and menu items such as bruschetta, paninis and other shareable dishes that can be ordered along side the usual movie fare of popcorn and candy at Rialto Cinemas in Sebastopol, California on Thursday, February 25, 2016. (Alvin Jornada / The Press Democrat)

Rialto Cinemas in Sebastopol is almost as well known for its onsite café as its eclectic, arthouse films. Now, the Sebastopol venue is taking its food-and-films concept to the next level with the “Dinner and a Movie” series.

Kicked off in February with a sold-out showing of the foodie favorite “Big Night,” the events run through October and feature a multi-course, sit-down meal before each movie. Tickets are now on sale for “Big Eden” on April 21, “The Godfather Part II” on June 9, “Diva” on Aug. 18, and “Rosemary’s Baby” on Oct. 13. All of the movies feature prominent food scenes that inspire the accompanying menus.

“It was actually sort of magical how it came about,” said Sonoma County chef and author Michele Anna Jordan, who creates the themed menus for each event. “In 2022, I heard that Francis Ford Coppola had restored ‘The Godfather’ to its original perfection. Then I saw that Rialto was going to screen it, and I thought, ‘Why don’t we do a dinner, since they have a café?’”

Excited about a potential collaboration, Jordan reached out to Rialto Cinemas owner Ky Boyd via email. “I didn’t hear from him right away, so I thought, ‘Oh god, I’m such a weirdo. He’s not going to respond,” Jordan said. “But then I got an apology message saying he’d been out of town. He thought it was a fabulous idea.”

That first successful “Godfather” event led to a second Rialto dinner in 2023 with “The Gleaners,” followed by the current Dinner and a Movie series. For the kickoff event last month, Jordan made 45 individual versions of timpano — the showstopping pasta “drum” showcased in “Big Night.”

Sit-down dinners are an ambitious undertaking for a small café kitchen, Jordan noted, yet it all comes together with the help of Rialto chef Noah Hoffman and the café staff. “The people who work at the Rialto are all so great,” she said. “I love working with Noah.”

Meals take place before each film in the theater’s upstairs lobby bar. “It’s the perfect place to do something like this because there are no people coming in to buy tickets for another movie,” Jordan said. “It’s just a beautiful space.”

Jordan is still working on dishes for the upcoming films, with final menus to be announced before each event. For “Big Eden,” she is currently planning a spring theme featuring grilled globe artichokes and a seasonal risotto. The menu for “The Godfather Part II” will include a pork belly porchetta served with warm potato salad.

Because a baguette with butter features largely in “The Diva,” Jordan noted, she will be serving baguettes with homemade butter. The meal will also involve a Grand Aioli — a Provencal-style spread of simply cooked vegetables and steamed seafood served with garlicky mayonnaise. Jordan said she has a surprise dessert in mind for the classic horror flick “Rosemary’s Baby,” along with a Turkish lamb course that ties into one of the movie’s early scenes.

Dinner and a Movie tickets are available online and at the Rialto Cinemas box office. Seating is limited to 40 dinner guests per event, and tickets cost $76.46 per person, including the film and gratuity. Dinner-only tickets cost $69.45, including tip. Wine and beer are available for purchase at an additional cost.

Rialto Cinemas, 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol, 707-829-3921, rialtocinemas.com

8 Favorite Breakfasts in Sonoma County

By Heather Irwin
Smoked Salmon Hash with house-smoked salmon, oven dried tomatoes, green onions and hash browns, two eggs any style and lemon horseradish sauce from J & M’s Midtown Cafe, Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024, in Santa Rosa. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)

As a symbol of renewal, fresh eggs get a lot of attention this time of year. Their sunny yolks and over-easy dispositions make them inescapable breakfast workhorses. Here are our favorite egg breakfasts. Click through the above gallery for more.

The Log Lifter

Buttermilk Biscuits and Gravy with Scrambled Eggs
Baker & Cook

Originating in 19th century lumberjack camps, this gut-stuffing breakfast warms the heart and fills the belly for a long day of timbering—or couch surfing. $18.

18812 Highway 12, Sonoma. 707-938-7329, bakerandcooksonoma.com

Greet the Meat

Midtown Corned Beef Hash
J&M’s Midtown Cafe

House-cured corned beef, crisp hash browns, and melted cheese lay a tasty base for gooey poached egg yolks that slowly drizzle over the beautiful mess. Chef’s kiss. $16.

1422 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. 707-545-2233, jm-midtowncafe.com

North Bay Vegetable Hash with seasonal vegetables, hash brown, goat cheese, two eggs any style and pesto from J & M’s Midtown Cafe Thursday, January 18, 2024 in Santa Rosa. (Photo by John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
North Bay Vegetable Hash with seasonal vegetables, hash brown, goat cheese, two eggs any style and pesto from J & M’s Midtown Cafe in Santa Rosa. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Lox & Latke Benedict with Caviar from Grossman’s Deli Friday, October 11, 2024, in Santa Rosa’s Railroad Square. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Lox & Latke Benedict with Caviar from Grossman’s Deli on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, in Santa Rosa’s Railroad Square. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)

Bling Your Benedict

Lox and Latke Benedict with Caviar
Grossman’s Noshery & Bar

This bougie breakfast substitutes crisp potato latkes and luxurious lox for the usual Benedict players. A schmaltz Hollandaise and caviar pile on the posh. $32.

308 Wilson St., Santa Rosa. 707-595-7707, grossmanssr.com

Hugs and Quiches

Deep Dish Quiche
Costeaux Bakery Cafe

The Godzilla of quiches, this mighty mountain of eggs, ham, bacon, cheese, and crust at this local institution absolutely crushes the competition. $15.

417 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. 707-433-1913, costeaux.com

Morning Nachos

Chilaquiles
La Texanita

Somewhere between crispy and soggy is the perfect texture of tortilla chips smothered in salsa rojo, cotija cheese, and onions, and topped with scrambled or poached eggs. Add carnitas if you’re feeling sassy. $20.

1667 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa. 707-527-7331, latexanita.com

Shakshuka with chickpea, fava and tomato stew at Pearl restaurant in Petaluma. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)
Shakshuka with chickpea, fava and tomato stew at Pearl restaurant in Petaluma. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)

The Mix Don’t Lie

Shakshuka
Pearl

The Arabic origins of this roiling red dish mean “mixed up,” but the piquant (not hot) combination of paprika, chickpeas, tomatoes, peppers, grilled Halloumi cheese, and baked eggs is more beauty than beast. $25.

500 First St., Petaluma. 707-559-5187, pearlpetaluma.com

Morning Motivator

Breakfast Sandwich
Americana

Greet the day with this easy, handheld traveler of a sando. Two overhard eggs, Estero Gold cheese, spinach, and housemade aioli on buttery toasted sourdough.

$15. 162 N. Main St., Sebastopol and 205 Fifth St., Santa Rosa. 707-827-3309, americanasr.com

Très Français

French Folded Eggs
Willow Wood Market Cafe

Velvety curds of steamed egg stippled with fontina cheese and basil will leave you wondering why Americans insist on overcooking and overstuffing this breakfast classic.

$16.75. 9020 Graton Rd., Graton. 707-823-0233, willowwoodgraton.com

Where to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Sonoma County

By Maci Martell
Meghan Tripp of Healdsbug, the Healdsburg St. Patrick’s Day princess, with her court, Ireland Heyfron, 7, left and Katelyn Filben, 6, right, on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)

Leprechauns and four-leaf clovers are waiting to be found by the lucky residents of Sonoma County on St. Patrick’s Day this year.

Local pubs, restaurants, wineries and other organizations have an assortment of celebrations planned for the holiday, including traditional Irish dinners, Celtic music and dance performances, St. Paddy’s-themed contests and more.

All events, dinners and celebrations are held on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, unless noted otherwise. Click through the above gallery for a peek at previous St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Sonoma County. 

Larson Limerick Contest, Feb. 8 to March 8

Sonoma’s Larson Family Winery is holding its annual St. Patrick’s Day limerick contest, open until Friday, March 8. Limerick entries must be about wine, grapes, Sonoma and/or the Larson Family. The winner will be announced March 10 and be awarded a $150 winery gift certificate, redeemable online or at the winery. The winning entry will be displayed at the winery during St. Patrick’s Day weekend. Enter your limerick online.

Larson Family Winery: 23355 Millerick Road, Sonoma, 707-938-3031, larsonfamilywinery.com

Petaluma Woman’s Club, March 14 and March 21

The Petaluma Woman’s Club will host two St. Patrick’s Day celebrations for women, with feasts and entertainment, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 14 and 6:30-9 p.m. on March 21. The celebration on March 14 is $25 and will include a traditional Irish meal and music by Mike Carini. RSVP by Saturday, March 9. The March 21 event, $30, will include an Irish feast and entertainment by Petaluma’s Keenan Irish Dancers. Prizes will be given for the best green attire and for the best Irish joke told. RSVP by Saturday, March 16. Email membership@petalumawomansclub.com to RSVP for either event. Please note: These events are open to all women, but are not co-ed. The Petaluma Woman’s Club hosts a variety of events throughout the year, such as a Crab Feed and an Italian Dinner, that are open to everyone. 

518 B St., Petaluma, 707-762-4271, petalumawomansclub.com

Perch + Plow, March 15-17

Santa Rosa nightclub Perch + Plow will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day all weekend long with a 21+ event, from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., March 15-17. Each night, resident DJs will play live music to dance to and there will be green cocktails for purchase. Cover charge at the door is $5 for women and $10 for men. VIP tables and bottle service will be available.

90 Old Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa, 707-843-3582, perchandplow.com

Dutton Estate Winery, March 15-17

For those looking for libations other than beer this St. Paddy’s Day, Dutton Estate will host a weekend-long “Leprechaun Tasting,” featuring estate wines and hard apple cider, at select times from noon to 3 p.m., March 15-17. The festive tasting will be paired with sweet and savory treats. Tastings are $55 per person, $35 for club members. Reserve on CellarPass.

8757 Green Valley Road, Sebastopol, 707-829-9463, duttonestate.com

Petaluma Elks Lodge, March 16

The Petaluma Elks Lodge No. 901 will host a St. Patrick’s dinner for members and guests starting at 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 16. Appetizers and a no-host bar will open at 5 p.m. and the corned beef and cabbage dinner starts at 6 p.m. The Petaluma-based Keenan Irish Dancers will perform for the evening. The event is $25 per person and tickets are presale only, with limited seating. Purchase tickets online.

2105 South McDowell Blvd., Petaluma, 707-763-0901, elks901.org

Leanna Lindsay takes part in the St. Patrick's Day parade in Healdsburg, on Tuesday, March 17, 2015. (BETH SCHLANKER/ The Press Democrat)
Leanna Lindsay takes part in the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Healdsburg. (Beth Schlanker/The Press Democrat)
Pat Davis died his beard green for the St. Patrick's Day parade in Healdsburg, on Tuesday, March 17, 2015. (Beth Schlanker/The Press Democrat)
Pat Davis died his beard green for the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Healdsburg. (Beth Schlanker/The Press Democrat)

Healdsburg St. Patrick’s Day Festivities

The city of Healdsburg will celebrate the holiday with a St. Patrick’s Day Parade starting at 7 a.m. on Healdsburg Avenue followed by a celebration on the Plaza. Don your festive greens to march in the parade starting at Sanderson Ford (453 Healdsburg Ave.), which will head around the Plaza and back. The festivities on the Plaza, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., will include live music, children’s crafts and Irish step dancing by the Shiloh Step Dancers.  

Downtown Healdsburg, healdsburg.gov

St. Patrick’s Day 5K

Fleet Feet will present its annual St. Patrick’s Day 5K starting at 10 a.m. at Old Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa. Irish dancers will kick off the holiday festivities with a performance at 9:15 a.m., followed by the Little Leprechaun Loop at 9:30 a.m. Post-race celebrations — including music, activities, beer or root beer, sponsor giveaways and a judged costume contest — will open as the first finishers arrive.

The chip-timed race is open to all ages and abilities, and participants will receive a commemorative finisher medal and mug. Proceeds from the race will benefit the Santa Rosa Recreation & Parks Scholarship Fund. Registration fees for the 5K are $20 for youth 12 and under and $55 for people 13 and up. Register on Race Roster. Morning registration and packet pick-up for racers will be held, starting at 8:45 a.m., at Old Courthouse Square.

Old Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa, srcity.org

John Gerhardt runs toward the finish line of the St. Patrick's Day 5K on Santa Rosa Avenue near Old Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa on Sunday, March 13, 2022. (Beth Schlanker/The Press Democrat)
John Gerhardt runs toward the finish line of the St. Patrick’s Day 5K on Santa Rosa Ave. near Old Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa. (Beth Schlanker/The Press Democrat)
Runner Zachery Woods runs along A Street during the St. Patrick's Day 5K in Santa Rosa, on Sunday, March 16, 2014. (BETH SCHLANKER/ The Press Democrat)
Runner Zachery Woods runs along A Street during the St. Patrick’s Day 5K in Santa Rosa. (Beth Schlanker/The Press Democrat)

The Goose & Fern

Santa Rosa’s new British pub Goose & Fern will host St. Patrick’s Day festivities, from noon to 11 p.m., with traditional Celtic music, corned beef and cabbage dinners, and plenty of Guinness.

116 Fifth St., Santa Rosa, 707-843-4235, facebook.com/gooseandfern

Murphy’s Irish Pub & Restaurant

The well-known St. Patrick’s Day celebration at Murphy’s Irish Pub will include the traditional Irish dishes and drinks on its regular menu as well as an evening of free live music. Sonoma-based acoustic band Wildflower Weed will kick off the music festivities at 2:30 p.m., Lynne O and The Riots will perform at 5 p.m. and the fairly new Sonoma supergroup Groove Incident will close the night, starting at 7:30 p.m.

464 First St. E., Sonoma, 707-935-0660, sonomapub.com 

Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley

The Sonoma Valley Rotary will host a “Luck o’ the Irish” raffle and St. Paddy’s Day dinner celebration from 4-9 p.m. at Sonoma Veterans Memorial Hall. Raffle winners can win up to $10,000 in cash. Raffle tickets are $50 each and can be purchased from Rotarians or at Crown Cleaners on Broadway in Sonoma. Tickets for a traditional Irish corn beef and cabbage dinner (vegetarian option available) are $50 each and include one glass of beer or wine. There will also be a cash bar for additional beverages. Proceeds benefit education and nonprofits in Sonoma Valley. Purchase dinner tickets online.

The Rotary Club is also sponsoring a Leprechaun Hunt — in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley, the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance and Kid Scoop News — until March 15 at participating Sonoma businesses. Kids can find and take pictures with the hidden leprechauns to win a prize. Check the Rotary’s Facebook page for updates on businesses participating in the Leprechaun Hunt.

For dinner/raffle: Sonoma Veterans Memorial Hall, 126 First St. W., Sonoma, sonomavalleyrotary.org

Salt & Stone

Kenwood’s Salt & Stone will serve a corned beef and cabbage dinner special on St. Patrick’s Day. Advanced reservations are recommended for holidays. Reserve on OpenTable.

9900 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood, 707-833-6326, saltstonekenwood.com

McNear’s Saloon & Dining House

McNear’s will host its 37th annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration from 3-5 p.m. at its downtown Petaluma saloon. The free event will include performances by the Petaluma-based Keenan Irish Dance School, with live music by San Francisco native singer/songwriter Jerry Hannan and his band. Irish food and drink specials will be available for purchase all day.

23 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, 707-765-2121, mcnears.com

Brewsters Beer Garden

Irish fusion band Celtifornia will perform live music from 1-4 p.m. at Brewsters Beer Garden for St. Patrick’s Day. 

229 Water St., Petaluma, 707-981-8330, brewstersbeergarden.com

Kiwanis Club of Windsor

Windsor’s Kiwanis Club is bringing back its corned beef and cabbage drive-thru dinners this year, from 4-6:30 p.m. at the Windsor Community United Methodist Church. The meal, which includes all the trimmings of a traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner, is $25. Proceeds benefit Kiwanis programs. Reserve and pay on EventBrite by 9 p.m. on March 12 for pickup on St. Patrick’s Day.

9451 Brooks Road, Windsor, 707-838-6898, kiwaniswindsor.org

Rio Nido Roadhouse

The roadhouse’s annual St. Patrick’s Day party for all ages will feature live music from Sonoma County-based blues and jazz band Spike Sikes and His Awesome Hotcakes from 1-4 p.m., with no cover charge. A $17 corned beef plate — which includes slow-cooked corned beef brisket with cabbage, carrots, red potatoes and housemade Irish soda bread — will be served all day starting at 1 p.m. until food runs out.

14540 Canyon Two Road, Rio Nido, 707-869-0821, rionidoroadhouse.com

Coast Kitchen

Coast Kitchen at Timber Cove Resort will host a St. Patrick’s Day dinner special starting at 5 p.m., open to hotel and non-hotel guests. The dinner will include smoked brisket, mashed potatoes and braised greens. Irish-inspired cocktails and beers will be available for purchase. Reserve your spot on Resy.

21780 Highway 1, Jenner, 707-847-3231, coastkitchensonoma.com

Catering

Sally Tomatoes, order by March 14 

Catering service Sally Tomatoes will have a St. Patrick’s Day menu for delivery. The holiday meal includes corned beef and cabbage, butter potatoes, carrots, Emerald Isle salad with green goddess dressing and housemade soda bread. The St. Patrick’s menu is $17.50 per person, with a 15-person minimum. Order by March 14 at the latest; delivery available March 11-17. Call to place your order.

1100 Valley House Drive, Rohnert Park, 707-665-9472, sallytomatoes.com

Treats 

Nom Nom Cakes

Bodega Bay-based Nom Nom Cakes has St. Patrick’s Day specials available this season, including green funfetti cake pops with gold sprinkles, almond flavored sugar cookies shaped as shamrocks and beer mugs, and “Luck of the Irish” chocolate cupcakes — filled with Irish whiskey ganache, frosted with Baileys buttercream and decorated with four-leaf clovers, gold sprinkles and gold-wrapped chocolate coins. Order online for delivery or pickup. 

390 Calle Del Sol, Bodega Bay, 805-350-0680, nomnombaking.com

Colorful Modern Ranch House in Petaluma Listed for $2 Million

By Karen Kizer

A beautifully updated ranch home in Petaluma has hit the market. The three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom home boasts an opened-up floor plan, handsome finishes, and clever design details. The 2-acre property also features a second home with one bedroom and one bathroom. The list price for both homes is $2,050,000. 

The Petaluma property’s owner, designer and artist Tegan Hoover, led the renovation of the 1975 home. Her aim was to enhance its sense of expansiveness, as well as its views. She achieved this by opening up the floor plan — a process which required removing many of the walls. The home now enjoys meadow views from nearly every room. Ample windows and recessed ceiling lamps bathe the living spaces in light. 

Hoover punctuated the look with vibrant colors dragged subtly throughout the house. The white walls were intended as a blank canvas for the splashes of color. The playful modern look mirrors Hoover’s own paintings, which hang on the walls. 

The kitchen has thoughtful details that support the squeaky clean, uncluttered aesthetic. The wood cabinets lack bevels, which tend to collect dirt. An electrical outlet inside one of the cabinets allow the coffeemaker to be hidden from view. There’s even a pull-out drawer with cutouts to hold compost bins—a favorite detail, says Hoover. The look is capped off with a generous slab of quartz, which waterfalls on each side of the eat-in kitchen island. 

A remnant slab of quartz serves as an elegant triangle countertop in the small bathroom. Hoover takes pride in the choice of an IKEA mirror hanging above it. A former commercial designer, she loves mixing attractive budget items with finer pieces.

Hoover created a handsome exterior with slate-colored stucco—a material called Exterior Integral Stucco that never needs to be painted. Accented by a pink doors and graphic-shaped succulent leaves, this ranch home truly sparkles.

Click through the above gallery for a peek at the property.

For more information about 200 and 202 Kuck Lane, contact listing agent, Marni Cunha, 707-338-2085, Compass Real Estate, 127 Fourth St., Petaluma, marnicunha.com

How to Create the Quiet Luxury Look in Your Home, According to Sonoma Designers

By Karen Kizer
A textured fireplace and gentle touches of color blend with the spectacular tranquility of the ocean views in this Bodega Bay home. Interior design is by Jessica Wichman of Zeitgeist Sonoma. Snyder Construction brought JMA Architecture’s design to fruition.(Tammy Horton Photography)
A textured fireplace and gentle touches of color blend with the spectacular tranquility of the ocean views in this Bodega Bay home. Interior design is by Jessica Wichman of Zeitgeist Sonoma. Snyder Construction brought JMA Architecture’s architectural design to fruition.(Tammy Horton Photography)

There is so much to love about maximalist home decor, including its layers of exciting colors and patterns. Minimalism is nice, too, with its restrained lines and focus on the essentials. But there’s a new trend in fashion that is now taking over home decor: quiet luxury.

Quiet luxury combines a few quality pieces (a handbag and a coat, or a sofa and a credenza) with a few layers of tranquil colors (such as beige, white and black). The goal is to create an intriguing but effortless look. In fashion, the layering of browns and creams has been described as latte dressing. And that’s, really, a good shorthand guide for creating a simple but sumptuous home design. 

Here we look at the work of a few Sonoma designers that falls into the quiet, but oh-so-beautiful vein. Click through the above gallery for details.

Where to Go Whale Watching on the Sonoma Coast

By Sonoma Magazine Staff
5/3/2014:A1: PASSING THROUGH: A pair of gray whales move north past Bodega Head on Thursday as they migrate to their summer feeding grounds off Alaska. The giant mammals have put on quite a show this week for visitors to the popular whale-watching spot that juts out into the ocean at the northern edge of Bodega Bay. PC: A pair of gray whales make their way north during their migration past Bodega Head on Thursday, May 1, 2014. (Christopher Chung/ The Press Democrat)

Twice each year, some 20,000 gray whales pass along the California coast as they swim south to breeding lagoons on the west coast of Baja California during winter months, then back to their summer feeding grounds in the Arctic’s Bering Sea in spring. The round trip for these sea giants is roughly 12,000 mile and is considered one of the longest among mammals.

If you’d like to witness this epic journey, the peak months for whale watching are January through May. If the weather is good, whales can be seen within a few hundred yards of coastal headlands. During spring migration, even little whales are a big deal, as the recently born calves cavort with their mothers on their way back to colder waters.

Click through the above gallery for prime whale viewing locations along the Sonoma Coast. For more winter adventures, check out our guide to local waterfalls. 

PLEASE NOTE: Always read and obey warning signs along the coast. Ocean conditions can change quickly, and the absence of a particular sign does not mean there is no threat of hazardous conditions. Always keep a safe distance to the ocean and be careful when looking through binoculars and taking photos.

15 Stunning Waterfalls in Sonoma, Marin and Mendocino

By Sonoma Magazine Staff
A waterfall awaits those who hike the easy 3.3 mile falls loop trail in Russian Gulch State Park just north of the town of Mendocino.

With its abundance of public parkland and open space, the North Coast is too full of gushing streams and cascading creek flows to mention them all. We’ve listed a few of our favorite waterfalls in the gallery above.

Maci Martell contributed to this article.

10 Things to Do on a Rainy Day in Sonoma County

By Jenna Fischer
Coffee and pastry from Flying Goat Coffee. (Jenna Fisher)

Stumped on what to do when it gets damp and gray outside? Click through the gallery for 10 suggestions on how to make even a rainy day a little brighter.

Cozy Sonoma Restaurants and Bars for Chilly Days

By Sonoma Magazine Staff
The build-it-yourself burger is served with a glass of Russian River Brewery’s Defenestration at Stark’s Steak & Seafood in Santa Rosa. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

On chilly, rainy days, when all you want to do is snuggle up by a crackling fireplace, head to these cozy restaurants, bars and tasting rooms in Sonoma County for a comforting meal and drinks. Click through the above gallery or see the list below for details, and share your favorites in the comments.

Stark’s Steak & Seafood, Santa Rosa: This classic steakhouse does cozy in retro style. You’ll get the Bogie-and-Bacall vibe right away. Manhattans, aged whiskies and absinthe are served by white-coated bar staff. The seats are leather and a baby grand sits in the corner waiting to tinkle out a tune or two. 521 Adams St., Santa Rosa, 707-546-5100, starkrestaurants.com

Monti’s, Santa Rosa: This Montgomery Village restaurant is a hot summer spot for wine and Mediterranean cuisine on the patio. During the colder months, a wood-burning rotisserie keep things hot, and gregarious bartenders keep guests in good spirits no matter the temperature. 714 Village Court, Santa Rosa, 707-568-4404, montismv.com

The Lounge at John Ash & Co at Vintners Resort in Santa Rosa. (Courtesy of Vintners Resort)
The Lounge at John Ash & Co at Vintners Resort in Santa Rosa. (Courtesy of Vintners Resort)

John Ash Front Room, Santa Rosa: The dark, clubby vibe of this hotel lounge is perfect for rainy-day drinks with friends. Cozy leather seats are prime real estate, but bar tables for two are a bit more intimate. 4330 Barnes Road, Santa Rosa, 707-527-7687, vintnersresort.com

El Dorado Kitchen, Sonoma: Escape the hustle and bustle of the busy dining room, and grab a seat in the farm-chic lounge. You’ll be warmed by the fireplace and cutely named cocktails such as the Coda Pendant of rye, apple schnapps, sugar, lemon and Angostura bitters. 405 First St. West, Sonoma, 996-3030, eldoradosonoma.com

The Restaurant at Dawn Ranch, Guerneville: Dawn Ranch’s new restaurant offers a true farm-to-table dining experience, with many of its ingredients grown directly on the property. Warm up by the fire after taking a stroll through the resort’s meadow. 16467 California 116, Guerneville, 707-869-0656, dawnranch.com

The dining room at Agriculture Public House at Dawn Ranch in Guerneville. (Greg Ceo Studio)
The dining room at Agriculture Public House at Dawn Ranch in Guerneville. (Greg Ceo Studio)
The restaurant at the Farmhouse Inn in Forestville. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
The restaurant at the Farmhouse Inn in Forestville. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Farmhouse Inn, Forestville: Farmhouse Inn houses an upscale, but surprisingly low-key Michelin-starred restaurant. The ambiance is sophisticated yet cozy, the Cal-French cuisine delicious yet unpretentious, the decor chic and the service snappy. And there’s a fireplace. 7871 River Road, Forestville, 707-887-3300, farmhouseinn.com/restaurant. 

Drake’s Fireside Lounge, Bodega Bay: Adjacent to the Drakes Sonoma Coast Kitchen at The Lodge at Bodega Bay, this pretty retreat woos with a large stone fireplace framed by gorgeous views of Bodega Head, Doran Beach and the Pacific Ocean. Life is nice when you’re bundled in your favorite sweater, supping on a juicy cheeseburger and sipping on a cocktail. 103 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, 707-875-3525, lodgeatbodegabay.com/the-fireside-lounge

The Matheson, Healdsburg: Enjoy a woodfired pizza fireside at The Matheson’s Roof 106. This buzzy rooftop bar in Chef Dustin Valette’s new restaurant complex has fire pits and a warm ambiance. 106 Matheson St., Healdsburg, 707-723-1106, thematheson.com/roof-106

Ram’s Gate Winery, Sonoma: Feel as though you’re in a mountain lodge while taking in the Carneros views. There are multiple tasting experiences and spaces to enjoy by appointment ($40-$160; some are seasonal and many offer food pairings), and each space is warmed by a roaring fireplace. 28700 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, 707-721-8700, ramsgatewinery.com

The veranda fireplace at Ram's Gate Winery in Sonoma. (Courtesy of Ram's Gate Winery)
The veranda fireplace at Ram’s Gate Winery in Sonoma. (Courtesy of Ram’s Gate Winery)
Lambert Bridge Winery on West Dry Creek Road in Healdsburg has a cozy tasting room with a fireplace, shown lit for the holidays. The winery hosts a number of holiday events, including a Wreath Making Class from 4-6 p.m. on Dec. 12. (Courtesy of Lambert Bridge Winery)
Lambert Bridge Winery on West Dry Creek Road in Healdsburg has a cozy tasting room with a fireplace, shown lit for the holidays. The winery hosts a number of holiday events, including a Wreath Making Class from 4-6 p.m. on Dec. 12. (Courtesy of Lambert Bridge Winery)

Lambert Bridge, Healdsburg: Specializing in Bordeaux varieties, Lambert Bridge also boasts a tasting room featuring a large fireplace, vaulted ceilings and a bar made of a single felled redwood tree. Glass walls provide a view into the barrel room. The Barrel Room Tasting Experience is $75 and includes four hand-selected wines. 4085 West Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, 707-431-9600, lambertbridge.com

Zina Lounge, Sonoma: It’s an unusual set-up, but all the more fun for being so different. Technically, Zina could be called a wine and food pairing, since you sit with an intimate group at a communal table in what is the Zina Hyde Cunningham Winery tasting room in the lobby of the Ledson Hotel on the Sonoma Plaza. The setting is fine-dining posh, trimmed in gleaming wood with a flickering fireplace flanked by leather couches. 480 First St. East, Sonoma, 707-996-9779, zinawinery.com

Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens Tasting Room, Santa Rosa: Visit this winery estate for a tasting of their sustainably-produced wines and a stroll through the gardens. On cold days, cozy up by the fireplace in the tasting room. The Estate Tasting is $35; reservations required. 5007 Fulton Road, Santa Rosa, 800-769-3649, kj.com

Lonnie Hayes, Heather Irwin, Maci Martell, Julie Fadda Powers and Carey Sweet contributed to this article.