Set to open May 7 is Seed, a vegan/raw foods restaurant located in the former Cafe Saint Rose space. In the kitchen will be Jerri Hastey, formerly of Passages alternative healthcare and a certified raw foods chef.

If you’re not familiar with raw foods, they’re, uh, raw. The idea, in a nutshell, is that cooking food kills all the good stuff (namely enzymes), so nothing is heated past 116 degrees. Instead foods are consumed in their natural state or “sprouted” for easier digestion. A crazy idea? In the last few years, a entire food community has sprouted up around the idea of translating uncooked fruits, veggies and grains into a type of hyper-healthy cuisine. Locals may remember the hulabaloo a few years ago about Roxanne’s, an attempt at haute-raw cuisine in Larkspur which was a bit ahead of its time. Since then, the movement has gained a foothold around the Bay Area–its most popular posterchild being Cafe Gratitude in San Francisco.

Hastey plans to serve lunch and dinner Wednesday through Saturday. Seed,
465 Sebastopol Ave., Santa Rosa.

I’m about the least political person on the planet. I head for the hills when discussion starts to veer toward candidates, “anti” anything or involves sweaty, shouting people. Not that I don’t have the utmost admiration for the advocates among us. I’m just more of an eater than a fighter.

So while Richard Gere, Ani DiFranco, Bono and countless others among you fight the good fight, BiteClub chooses a quieter, more delicious way to make a stand. Like, how about I spend a thoughtful afternoon eating daal, saag paneer, momo, tikka masala and naan at Himalayan Tandoori and Curry House? It’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make over and over (and over) again for the betterment of humanity…and in support of the cuisine of our friends from Tibet.

Want to join my crusade? Here’s the deal: Hidden in a Sebastopol strip mall, the year-old restaurant has flown way below the radar of most foodies. Relying mostly on word-of-mouth advertising, Tibetan owner Rajehh Moktan promptly won over local vegans with his brown rice, veggie tandoori, daal bhat (lentil soup) and meatless curries. No small feat in Sebastopol. But that’s only a small part of the equation.

Omnivores can sink their teeth into lamb or seafood tandoori; a rich, creamy chicken tikka masala (which is naked without a dab of mango chutney) or the ultra-rich saag paneer curry with homemade cubes of cheese, fresh spinach, onions, spices and tomato sauce. To sop up every last dribble of sauce–and believe me, you’ll want to–head straight for the garlic cilantro naan bread. Pace yourself as you dive into the half-moons with crisp edges and a soft middle studded with butter, herbs and garlic.

Manning the kitchen is Rajehh’s cousin (also from Tibet) who cut his teeth at Sonoma’s Taste of Himalaya and Rohnert Park’s Shangri-La after having owned his own restaurant back home. Having never trekked through the Himalayas, the food’s authenticity is better left to experts. I have however, watched Anthony Bourdain choke down yak meat in Nepal, and will venture to guess that Rajehh’s take is probably more suited to American tastes. Note: If you’re planning to be a hero, be warned that “spicy” can mean some serious heat. Mild or medium is a safe bet, though Raj says they strive to make chicken taste like, well, chicken no matter how hot you want it.

If you’re keeping to mostly Tibetan-influenced dishes, steer toward the meat (or veggie) momo–filled dumplings that have much in common with potstickers. The restaurant serves them up with a tomato and cumin sauce that packs a punch. Fill up on daal bhat curry with rice and vegetables and mixed pickle chutney.

The rest of the menu borrows heavily from the cuisine of Nepal’s Indian neighbors–not too surprising for a nation that survives mainly on lentil soup, rice, pickles and yak, uh, products (including butter and cheese). In Tibet, sustenance beats out complicated preparations and exotic spices. In India, not so much. Hindi influences show in kabobs, curries, masalas and vindaloos, as well as the desserts of gulab jamun (sweet, fried dough balls) and Kulfi (a sort of Indian ice cream).

Call it food inclusionism and make your own stand. Power to the Paneer.

Himalayan Tandoori and Curry House, 969 Gravenstein Hwy So, Sebastopol, 707.824.1800. Open for lunch from 11am to 2:30pm Monday through Saturday, Dinner from 5pm to 9pm Monday through Saturday. Closed on Sunday.

Hospital food, I’m here to tell you, is every bit as awful as you’ve heard. Having just spent four days and nights in the pediatric ward, BiteClub would have traded a bed pan, four grape drinks, a slightly used IV bag and a several luxurious nights on the floor for a real hamburger. The distance between jubilant relief and ungrateful revulsion is only a hospital meal away.

Having recently been sprung (everyone is fine, thank you), it became mission critical to readjust my cholesterol and fat levels to their previous levels. Stat. Enter Big Boy’s Buns and Burgers.

Around since 1963, it’s got a local following that borders on rabid. Larkfield locals frequently line up at the walk-up windows, waiting patiently for their half-pound Big Boys and beer-battered onion rings for as long as it takes.

Worth the wait? Let me lay out the pros and cons. On the plus side are fresh patties, crisp fixins (tomatoes, lettuce and pickles), J-Lo sized buns and, of course, the special sauce. Minuses: An almost mess-free burger in need of a juice transfusion and a poor burger to bun ratio–too much of a good thing (in this case the bun) isn’t always a good thing. Other minor annoyances included a lack of toast on the undersize of aforementioned bun and a serious lack of grilly goodness. Hey, those little crackly, crunchy bits off the spatula are what I’m here for.

The thick-cut fries and onion rings at Buns and Burgers are highly respectable companions, served up with plenty of salt. If you’re going all out, I recommend indulging in a small order of each, or the chili-cheese fries if you really want to get that old heart beating triple time. Also on the menu is the bacon, ham and cheese burger, bbq cheese burger with onion rings, patty melt with swiss and grilled onions, fish and chips, chili cheese dogs, BLT sandwiches and daily specials (today’s was pastrami).

Don’t miss handmade ice cream shakes so thick you’ll get a headache from sucking the straw. Just for good measure, take home a quart of co-owner George Fiori’s minestrone soup, passed down from a special family recipe for generations. People swear by the stuff.

Despite the imperfections, its a hard act to follow, especially for the newcomers at Thumbs-Up Burger down the road in Windsor. Prior to our health fiasco, BiteClub and family stopped in for dinner, along with about half of Windsor. Already a popular spot on weekend nights, the deli-style restaurant serves up a decent burger in a hurry though it lacks serious inspiration. Paper plates and a lack of napkins make for a messy meal. Clearly they’re still in start-up mode, and we’ll give them a lilting thumbs-up for effort.

Overall, I’ve still got a soft spot for the now-defunct Chippery’s Jesse James burger as the ßmeasure against which all burgers are, uh, measured in my all-beef patty world. But who can complain, really, after a week of Jell-O and beef broth?

Big Boy’s Buns and Burgers, 406 Larkfield Shopping Center, Santa Rosa, (707) 546-6835, open daily from 7am to 7pm, Friday and Saturday until 8pm.

Thumbs Up Burger and Deli, 8465 Old Redwood Highway, Suite 300, Windsor, 707.837.7443. Open Monday through Sat., 6:30am to 9:30pm; Sunday 6:30am to 8:30pm.

PS. BiteClub wants to give a special shout-out to the awesome ER and pediatric staff of Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, including Rick, Gloria, Penny and all the super cool folks to made our stay comfortable–including bringing me the food that I’ve been so ungrateful for. Regardless, Miss Lucy and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts. If you ever find yourself stuck in the hospital, may I recommend take-out from Sushi To Dai and Sea Thai Bistro which my man McNibs mercifully brought me during my incarceration. Thanks McNibs!

The Bauer has spoken. Each year, the San Francisco Chronicle food critic bestows his blessings on a lucky 100 restaurants (see who they are) as “the best” of the year. In 2008 only four made the grade in Sonoma County. On the list: Rosso, Cyrus, Cafe La Haye and the Farmhouse Inn. That’s it.

Really? Come on now. Sure, Rosso and Cyrus are undeniably stellar restaurants well worth the kudos. Cyrus has achieved transcendency in both service and putting it on par with any top restaurants in the country. The humbler Rosso has impressed locals with its consistency, great woodfired pizzas, commitment to organic/sustainable ingredients and wine program–all at a reasonable price.

And okay, I can’t begrudge the Farmhouse Inn with its enviable wine program and consistently respectable food, but consistency can sometimes be a bit dull. What’s got me scratching my head, however, was my intense disappointment with a seriously lackluster recent meal at Cafe La Haye. Is it really better than The General’s Daughter? Better than Syrah? Better than Santi? Better than Cafe Saint Rose? Better than Willi’s or Stark’s Steakhouse?

But the choices are a little less surprising when you consider that only 19 are new to the list–less than one-fifth. The remaining 81 have been on the Top 100 previously, many for multiple years–some clearly for too many years. Is nostalgia playing too big a part in these decisions?

Because while I respect and admire Mr. Bauer, there isn’t a decent restauranteur, especially previous winners, who don’t recognize him in an instant. They know who all the critics are, no matter how anonymous they try to be, making me wonder how truly objective any of us who eat and drink for a living can truly be. Or how accurate our experiences. It’s nearly impossible not to get attached (and even make excuses for) to a restaurant or a chef you’ve had especially fond experiences with. And dismiss someone who burns you even once. That’s the painful truth.

Which isn’t to say that Bauer doesn’t get it right a lot of the time. It’s a fascinating read to see who got bumped in 2008. Odyssey in Windsor got the boot (though it seemed to be a close call, and I’ve too heard of some inconsistency), as did Dry Creek Kitchen (which got a scathing diss). It’s also rather shocking, considering the fact that they probably knew (or should have known) that Bauer was in the hosue.

It’s a tough call, I can attest, to try and narrow to a brief list the best of the Bay Area. I’d struggle to come up with 100 Best Restaurants just in Wine Country. How do you compare the best spot for burritos and chiles rellenos with a three-star foie gras and microgreens spot? Maybe its worth a try…

So tell me. Who would you nominate for a Wine Country’s Top 100 Restaurants list?

It’s a bit depressing driving around Santa Rosa these days, with every other storefront seemingly FOR LEASE. I hear endless frustration from folks in the food biz about ridiculous rents and increasing food costs. I’m get bummed seeing folks like Mark Malicki move out of town while yet another Panda Express or Taco Bell open for business. I see hopeful local restaurateurs decide to wait it out rather than dive in. And, worst of all, I’m finding myself cautiously pessimistic when eager folks do decide to take the plunge.

Sadly, we’re all the hungrier for it.

It is, I suppose a sign of the times. The cost of living is just too high for many young chefs to take a chance in Wine Country. It’s too high for most of us, really. Even as a devout foodie, a casual $40 dinner gives me a much more serious pause than it used to. And a $150 dinner gives me serious hives. I’m even reconsidering my morning bagel. Are we in for worse? Let’s hope not.

But, okay, enough with the glass-is-half-empty laments.

Despite my kvetching, there are a few glimmers of hope on the horizon. Philadephia-chefs Matt and Sonjia Spector are busy remodeling the former Stomp spot (1457 Lincoln Ave.), with an expected opening date in June for their small-plates spot, named JoLe. The couple are the former owners of Matyson, a popular American bistro in the City of Brotherly Love. Though the spot has struggled, despite a string of solid chefs throughout the last few years as Mount View Restaurant, Catahoula and Stomp.

Another Philly addition is also in the works in Santa Rosa. On the value side of the coin, The Cheesesteak Shop is setting up camp in the Stony Point Plaza at 740 Stony Point Road near Taco Del Mar. Hold on to your grilled onions! More details to come.