Just a quick find before I jet off to the islands-

Steamed pork buns are a love ’em or hate ’em kind of thing. All puffy, white and doughy, they’re a bit like eating a pillow stuffed with meat. There’s a certain nursery-like comfort to them, as well, though. When done right (and they rarely are), they’re a steamy, sweet-savory treat that has no real English translation “other than a sort of pork-filled jelly doughnut.

I’ve had a tough time finding them fresh in the North Bay. Sadly, Asia Gourmet, which routinely brought them in from the city, recently closed its doors. In a stroke of good luck, however, I stumbled on Jade BBQ on Santa Rosa Ave.

The spot’s been there just a few months, serving up the usual take-out Asian fare, along with hamburgers, fish ‘n chips and a few BBQ items. What’s more interesting, however, is their steamed pork buns and duck special. For $14.99, you can get half a crispy duck with a complement of plumy Hoisin sauce and four fresh steamed buns.

The duck’s a bit fatty, but hey, it’s duck. Chopped into mostly bite-sized pieces, you get a breast, leg and wing with plenty of crispy, sinful skin. Be warned, the buns are addictive.

Aloha!

Jade’s BBQ, 2790 Santa Rosa Ave, Santa Rosa, (707) 527-8536. Open Monday through Saturday.

After months and months and, well, months of the good life in Wine Country, BiteClub needs a little break. I’m headed to Maui for a week of tropical drinks, beaches and all the Spam I can possibly avoid–leaving the store to you guys.

I’ve lined up a couple of foodie friends to weigh in while I’m gone, but I’m still looking for a handful of the area’s forklifters to share their favorite restaurants.

So, if you’re up to the task (no money involved, just my undying gratitude), send me your best efforts for possible inclusion in this week’s special Guest Blogs. The best three or four will be posted while I’m away, thrusting YOU into the culinary spotlight.

Now, keep in mind, I can smell a rat a mile away. Submissions that are overly fawning or obviously written by the chef ain’t gonna make it. You’ll also need to include your name and email so I can get back to you if I have any questions.

Bon appetit and Aloha!

Submissions must be sent to hirwin@pressdemo.com.

Check out my day at the Artisan Cheese Festival (scroll down if you can’t see it)

With 40 flavors on the menu, Del Secco’s gelateria’s has the scoop on Sonoma County’s sweet tooth. The recently opened Rohnert Park shop features exotic sorbet and gelato (kind of like ice cream, but creamier) flavors including blood orange, cantaloupe, gingerbread, 50-50(think Creamsicle) and snowflake--a mixture of white chocolate and coconut.

The gelato’s not made onsite, but by the uber-popular, flavor-savvy Gelateria Naia folks from the East Bay. Hungry yet? Grab a spoon.

Del Secco’s, 6285 Commerce Blvd., Suite 308, Rohnert Park, 585.1100, open daily.

Is 420 Mendocino Avenue cursed when it comes to restaurants? After spending months on an interior redesign, the short-lived Vivere has closed its doors. The spot never seemed to gain traction due to some strange staffing choices, inconsistent reports on the food, the lack of a liquor license and well, we’ll call it the curse of 420. The spot is up for lease, along with neighboring BarCode. What’s downtown coming to?

Check out my review of Vivere.

BiteClub’s been on a burger quest lately, with varying degrees of success. The latest grill: Healdsburger in (you guessed it) Healdsburg.

BiteClubbers had a few comments about this new(ish) burger spot after the Gayle’s post, so I figured it might be worth the 20 minute trek north to check things out.

First sign that things might go wrong was a nearly deserted restaurant during what should be a noon-time crush. The second uh-oh was a dissatisfied customer (one of only two people in the restaurant) complaining about his $8 burger. But the biggest skidout was ordering a $9 gorgonzola burger and having the cook throw a frozen patty on the grill. Ouch.

Overall, the burger wasn’t exactly awful and the sweet potato fries were passable. I’d probably order it again for $5. But for $9? I’m gonna have to put this one in the deep freeze.

Healdsburger, 48 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 473.9604. Open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner.

It’s been a slow couple of weeks on the restaurant opening front, so BiteClub’s opening the lines to you.

1. What are your most burning, yearning questions? Where to get the best sweet potato fries? Best Club sandwich? Tops in tiramisu? Chiles rellenos? Tell me. You’ll get an answer.

2. What restaurants are crying out to be called out? Is there an old standby that you’d like to see BiteClubbed? Is there a new spot in your neighborhood that I haven’t found yet? Do you have a favorite lunch spot that begs to be recognized?

Here’s your chance to get it all off your chest. I’m listening…

Santa Rosa’s downtown Korean BBQ, Nhabee Cafe, has recently been replaced by a new Ethiopian/Eritrean eatery, Abyssinia. Injera fans have been left hungry after the departure of Santa Trata Cafe several months ago. Stay tuned.

Abysinnia, 913 Fourth St., Santa Rosa

Change is never easy to swallow, but it goes down especially hard when it involves your favorite lunch.

In January Santa Rosa’s classic burger joint, Gayle’s, was sold by owners Gayle and Doug Dowling after nearly thirty years in the biz. Their tried-and-true formula was simple: honest burgers, fries and onion rings served up in red plastic baskets around an old school lunch counter. Pies were homemade, as were the milkshakes. Folks from the neighborhood packed the place and the waitresses greeted regulars by name.

Recently re-opened under new ownership, at first blush, not much appears to have changed. In fact, aside from a fresh coat of paint, new fixtures and the conspicuous absence of the giant menu hanging above the grill, the place feels pretty much like it always has. Milkshakes are still made the old-fashioned way–with ancient looking Hamilton Beach mixers, milk and ice cream. The pie rack still has fresh-made pies (from Mom’s). The burgers are still fried up to order and the King Burger is still a charbroiled half-pounder with all the fixings.

So, now for the changes. Hold on to your napkins, I promise you’ll be okay.

The name has changed slightly from Gayle’s Superburger to The Original Superburger– the “original” having something to do with the current owner’s girlfriend’s family having run the restaurant way back in the day. Works for me. The menu’s also changed up to include several new burger creations including the St. Helena Avenue (a burger with BBQ sauce, bacon, cheddar and onion rings, $7.95), the Montecito Avenue (with bacon, Jack and guacamole, ($7.95), the McDonald Avenue (with mushrooms and warm Gorgonzola, $7.95) and, the Town and Country ($8.95), two mini-sized versions of any of the burgers on the menu. Great for indecisive folks. Extra work for new owner/grillmaster Bill, who’s manning the flames solo. That means that when things really get hopping, you may want to grab a paper and settle in.

Also on new to the menu are Schwarz dogs, kosher weenies made in San Francisco, served straight up or with corned beef, cheese and kraut. Kids get top billing, as well, with their own menu of mini burgers, toasted cheese or (and honestly, I want one of these) toasted peanut butter, bananas and jam for $3.

Which is not to say there aren’t a few kinks to work out. BiteClub’s heard from you, and not everyone’s singing the new Superburger’s praises. Doing my own recon well after the lunch crush passed, I waited a good long while for a “medium” burger that was almost raw on the inside. I’m not afraid of pink meat, but I was afraid the thing might start mooing. I’m willing to chalk it up to opening week jitters because the staff was practically falling all over themselves to fix their snafus.

Hey, not everyone can work a grill like Doug and Gayle. But served up with a nice glass of fresh Meyer lemonade and a smile, a little change can be a good thing.

We’ll see how things pan out over the next few months.

The Original Superburger, 1501 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 546-4016. Open 11am to 8pm Monday through Thursday, 11am to 10pm Friday and Saturday, closed Sunday.