Ready for romance? We’ve hand-picked 10 of our favorite romantic dining spots in Sonoma County. So whether you’re popping the question, or just popping out for a first date, we’ve got a restaurant that will get both your hearts beating faster. (Plus, handy phone numbers to make those reservations. Which you’ll need, Romeo.)

Front Room Bar & Lounge at Vintner’s Inn
Ever play that game where you meet your partner at a bar and pretend to be strangers? If not, you just got a great idea for a romantic date. With luxurious leather sofas and glowing lamps around the wooden bar, the Front Room is a perfect spot to steal glances at each other, or send ridiculously pink cocktails to each other. If you’re not totally turned on within 10 minutes, at least you’ll get a good laugh (or a few phone numbers) out of the experience. 350 Barnes Road, Santa Rosa, 707.575.7350

Mirepoix
If you’re agreed that A) Anything French is romantic; B) Foods bathed in butter are equally romantic and; C) Just saying Coq au Vin makes you sexy, then this Parisian-style bistro just off the Windsor green is the key to your smooch-filled night. The space is small and intimate, the wine list extensive, and the atmosphere casual enough to not make your date feel any serious obligation. Plus, it’s run by a young husband and wife team who know a thing or two about keeping the fire burning in the kitchen. 275 Windsor River Road, Windsor, 707.838.0162

Cyrus
Champagne wishes and caviar dreams come true at Sonoma County’s most ultra-luxe restaurant. Think little carts wheeling around caviar and cheeses, waiters snapping to attend to your every need and food so pretty it seems a shame to eat. Be warned, you’ll pay a pretty penny for all that indulgence, but you did say for richer, didn’t you? (PS. Can’t afford dinner? Stop in for some dazzling drinks at the bar.) 29 North St., Healdsburg, 707.433.3311

Ca’Bianca
They say garlic is an aphrodisiac. Test out the theory with a little between-course-kissing at one of Santa Rosa’s oft-cited romantic eateries. Featuring dishes from throughout Italy, you’ll have plenty of excuses to twirl your fork suggestively or maybe even have your own Lady and the Tramp moment. Ca’Bianca, 835 Second St., Santa Rosa, 707.542.5800.

Zazu
Unassuming, and maybe even a little rugged from the outside, Zazu’s the roadhouse with a heart of gold. Serving up Wine Country comfort food with a gentle Italian flair, the menu is thick with braised, roasted, melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness. Expect to find fun, inexpensive local wines, elbow-rubbing banquet-seating and a smart, slow-food sensibility that can be enjoyed in everything from Birkenstocks to Blahniks. 3535 Guerneville Road, Santa Rosa, 707.523.4814.

Ravenous
A little wild, a little raucous, and always packed to the hilt, Ravenous isn’t perhaps the most secluded choice for lovers. But it may be one of the best for a little candlelit googling at each other, while sitting cheek-to-cheek (and we don’t mean your faces). A great value for Healdsburg with well-executed American bistro dishes around the $18 mark. Plus a whole lot of microbrews. Call it something for both of you, and let the public affection begin. 420 Center St., Healdsburg, 707.431.1302

General’s Daughter
Wine Country with a southern drawl. The charming Sonoma Victorian has recently reinvented itself as a favorite spot (possibly the only spot) to get daily foie gras specials along side nouveau “Lowcountry” grits and gumbo. Keep the spice alive by taking advantage of cozy nooks and lovebird seating throughout. 400 West Spain St., Sonoma, 707.938.4004.

Farmhouse Inn
If the quiet country drive to Forestville doesn’t get your Romance-O-Meter going, the warm glow of the Farmhouse Inn on a dark winter’s night should at least get a patter. Intimate almost to a fault, the restaurant is cozy and homey, with snappy service and a Cal-French menu that plays to the flavors of many regional wines on their extraordinary list. Plus, you can always sneak upstairs for a little overnight nookie. 7871 River Road, Forestville, 707.887.3300.

La Gare
Everything old is, well, still pretty tried-and-true at this favorite Santa Rosa institution that’s been a favorite of googly-eyed lovers from its opening in the late 1970s . From its way-classic French menu to the cozy, dimly-lit interior, La Gare won’t be denied. And hopefully, nor will you, loverboy. 208 Wilson St., Santa Rosa, 707.528.4355.

Willi’s Seafood & Raw Bar
Raw oysters on the half-shell are a specialty. ‘Nuff said. 403 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707.433.9191

Don’t think of this as faint praise. But after three days of sweating, coughing, sniffing and generally wishing to die, the first place that I could even think of eating was Arrigoni’s.

The downtown Santa Rosa deli is like an old friend. It’s predictably good, with an array of tasty meat-filled sandwiches (no, not yet, my stomach said). The mile-high tortes, stuffed with chicken or vegetables, also an always-solid choice (again, too soon). Salads are carefully prepared by the sturdy women behind the glass who, despite the long lunch lines, always take your order patiently. (no salad, today, please).

What drew me, after this bout of disease, was the promise of homemade soup and quiche. Call them the Dynamic Duo of Healing.

What most of us downtown regulars know is that the pot is always warm at Arrigoni’s. And though I’m never sure what exactly brings me back to this casual, red-check-tablecloth eatery, soup is probably among them. Selections change up daily, with minestrone being a pretty-much sure thing, but everything else depending on the luck of the draw. If you happen in on a lentil day, be happy.

Quiches also change up, but I can vouch for the mushroom and spinach. Despite its enormous height (overcompensation is a Arrigoni’s trademark), it’s still light and flavorful–at least to to my semi-delirious-palate. In either case, healing. Open for breakfast and lunch daily.

Arrigoni’s Delicatessen & Cafe, 701 4th Street Santa Rosa, (707) 545-1297

BiteClub is the first to admit its shortcomings. Taco trucks have never been my beat. But that doesn’t mean I’m not looking to expand my horizons.

Next week, BiteClub will feature the best mobile Mexican from throughout Sonoma County. But I need your help.

Are you a taco truck regular? Do you know the menu from Delicias Elenitas by heart? Can you suss out top tamales like a champ? Then be my guides.

Tell me your favorite stops along Sebastopol Road, Healdsburg, and the town of Sonoma. Know some hidden gems? All the better.

I’ll take your advice and hit the trucks with fork in hand. The best recommendations from you will be featured online. If you’re especially knowlegable, I may even take you with me.

Think you’re up to the job? Leave your comments below, or email me directly

And get out your hot sauce. Cause we’re gonna have some spicy fun.

Ad Hoc, Thomas Keller’s third Yountville restaurant is temporary no more.

The Chronicle reported yesterday that, after much speculation, Keller has decided to leave the homey, prix-fixe eatery intact. Sighs of relief from gushing fans were audible from throughout Wine Country. Our braised beef short ribs and pork loin aren’t going anywhere soon.

Housed in the former Wine Garden restaurant just blocks from Keller’s tony French Laundry, bistro-style Bouchon and Bouchon Bakery, Ad Hoc was to be a six-month experiment in casual, family-style dinners while he worked out the details for a Napa-style wine and burger bar.

Drawn by the $45 price-tag for dishes like roasted beet and frisee salad, braised beef short ribs (so tender you could cry), artisinal cheese plates and Americana deserts like chocolate brownies with whipped cream, Ad Hoc caught on like wildfire. You can’t go wrong with American comfort food. Critical praise only fanned the flame.

But charm isn’t just that Ad Hoc is good eats. Or that culinary wunderkind Thomas Keller is somewhere behind the scenes (he mostly consults on the menus, leaving Bouchon chef Jeffrey Cerciello to oversee the kitchen). Or that you can usually get a reservation the same week (but don’t try to walk in and get dinner on a weekend night).

It’s that even for a ‘temporary’ restaurant, everything is so Keller “so meticulously done. The wine list is an adventure, with plenty of casual wines by the glass and bottles topping out at $88. Many are under $50. The family-style plates are simple, yet utterly beautiful, nothing slopped on or thrown together. And despite the price, the staff is trained to be attentive and friendly, never to a fault, but treating diners like royalty, rather than cheapskates.

Word is that the restaurant will close briefly in the spring for a few facelifts and minor changes, but no major overhauls. And that’s good news to all of us who knew, from the very start, that the restaurant who’s name means, “For this purpose” couldn’t have be anything else.

If you go: Don’t expect French-inspired haute-cuisine or tiny plates. The portions are generous and the food is strictly home-style Americana. Also, make sure to call ahead for a reservation, no matter what you’ve heard. The reasonably-priced wine list gives diners the opportunity to experiment, so try something fun, like pairing each of the four courses with a different wine.

Ad Hoc, 6476 Washington St., Yountville, 707.944.2487

I want a recount.

In a devastating turn of events, Kettle Chips announced that Island Jerk has won the 2007 People’s Choice vote, narrowly shutting out Twisted Chili Lime and Dragon 5 Spice. As supreme chip of the year, the flavor (think barbecue meets allspice) will go into production this summer.

Call me crushed. My man, Royal Indian Curry, wasn’t even a contender.

Confused? For the past two years, Oregon-based Kettle Foods has offered a collection of limited edition potato chip flavors “this year it was jerk, chili lime, Dragon 5 Spice, chocolate and curry “through their website. Food freaks (like me) get all worked up over this and spend $20 just to taste these wacky snacks not offered to the general public. In the end, only one flavor is left standing, the rest relegated to a salty memory.

Like my man, Curry. Rest in peace, friend.

Kettle Chips at www.kettlefoods.com

Want to order your own 2007 People’s Choice Chips? Click here. Your Superbowl friends will be very impressed.

PS How come the UK gets flavors like Apple, Sage & Thyme, Crème Fraiche and Buffalo Mozzerela? Dude, I want those. Check out what our cousins across the pond like.

You locked the keys in the house this morning. A flock of birds christened the hood of your freshly-washed car. Your boss wanted that report two days ago. And your boyfriend failed to notice your new $200 hairdo.

Yes, there are bigger problems in the world, but right now, you’re not sure what they are. Time for a little tea.

Requiring us world-weary patrons to take a moment, sit back and relax, the newly-opened Infusions Teahouse in Sebastopol is an oasis of ohm. Let yourself be mesmerized by the wall of shining silver containers filled with exotic loose leaf teas. Take a seat on the puffy couch and meditate for a moment on everything from organic oolong to Earl Gray.

Overwhelmed? Owner and tea enthusiast Miki Shamir gently guides customers along, offering up suggestions and advice on the more than 100 infusions she has on hand.

But forget the tacky tea bags and paper cups. The real relaxation moment comes from infusing your own tea at the table. There’s no hurrying the steep. Breathe. Pour. Sip. Repeat. Problems dissolved.

Infusions Teahouse, 6988 McKinley, Sebastopol, 829.1181

Offering tea and small plates (many vegan) daily. Weekly music and poetry events in the evening. Check out infusionsteashop.com for more information, tea menus and events.

Get ready to bring home the bacon, it’s pork season.

Throughout the region chefs are celebrating their favorite cloven-hooved friends throughout January and February with special dinners that take advantage of, well, pretty much everything but the squeal.

Be a salumist, January 18
Chefs Franco Dunn and Dino Bugica from Santi restaurant in Geyserville will be teaching sausage, pancetta and salami making using centuries old Italian recipes at VIVA. If you can’t make the event, Santi sells its homemade sausage (given recent props by the New York Times) from its restaurant or Santi’s website. $80, 6:30 to 9:30pm, 7160 Keating Ave, Sebastopol, 824.9913.

Festa del Porco at Bovolo, January 20 and 21
Celebrating the feat of St. Anthony (the patron saint of butchers) Duskie and John host a nose to tail supper at their Healdsburg restaurant featuring their Black Pig Salumi, hogs head soup, belly and more. Again, if you can’t make the dinner, John sells his homemade salumi and bacon at the restaurant. Definitely worth a special trip. $65 per person, call 707.431.2962 to reserve your spot.

Dry Creek Kitchen’s Second Annual Celebration of Pigs and Pinot, January 24
Sample more than 50 pinot noirs paired with pork dishes, charcuterie, pates and other special creations from chefs Charlie Palmer, Michael Ellis, Corey Schreiber and Jean-David Daudet from Burgandy. $75, 6:30 to 9pm, 317 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg
Click for more information and other events during the celebration

Oliveto’s Whole Hog Dinners, February 6 – 9, 2007
This is THE event of the season for nose to tail eaters. From blood pudding to bacon ice cream, the restaurant pulls out all the stops with its extensive pork-tastic menu. If you haven’t done it at least once, make a point of going. This year, former Oliveto chef Paul Bertolli will be launching his new line of salumi during the event. Get the details at their website

Whimsical sushi rolls rank somewhere between Appletinis and sausage logs in my gastronomical repertoire. Which is to say, I avoid them at all costs. Unless they come with tater tots. Then, it’s a totally different story.

Mixing a little bit of wacky into its opening menu, Gohan gets the joke. Just a few days old, the ultra-modern sushi spot does straight-faced nigiri and sashimi along with a few ringers like the ‘Napoleon Dynamite Roll’, a tempura roll stuffed with eel, cream cheese and snow crab, garnished with, yep, Napoleon’s iconic lunchtime favorite, tater tots. “Its my favorite movie,” says baby-faced chef/owner Steve Tam with a shrug as he table hops between customers.

Already pulling in a solid lunch-time crowd into the sleek, Zen-inspired spot, er, in the middle of Petaluma’s Redwood Gateway Shopping Center (keep an open mind), Gohan’s sushi crew is turning out some red-hot fish. Frankly, I’m sad they missed out on BiteClub’s recent Sushi Smackdown, because I think they’d make a top contender.

A bit surprised that BiteClub had already sussed out his spot, Tam is apologetic about the still-limited menu (there is a full sushi bar, but entrees are still a bit slim). Call me less than worried.

If you go, best bets include the Gohan sushi bento, a bonanza of food for just $15 including miso and cucumber salad, three pieces of sushi, four pieces of sashimi, a California roll and Spicy Tuna Roll and a salad. Good eatin’.

Also try the ‘New style’ sashimi (a little on the pricey side), that includes several slices of sashimi with ponzu citrus or other sauces in an artistic arrangement guaranteed to impress your date. (You might also think about cuddling up next to the floating fireplace).

The menu also trots out Japanese standards like Chicken teriyaki and tempura for less adventurous eaters, along with beer and sake and a sinful green tea cheesecake.

But adventure is what makes life, well, bearable some days. And taking a chance on whimsical makimono that comes with tots? Well, that’s just the icing on the sushi.

Gohan Japanese Restaurant, 1367 McDowell #E-5, Petaluma (in the Kohl’s shopping center)

Puffing away quietly on the deck, the Red Rose Café’s Southern Pride smoker tells you all you need to know. Where there’s smoke there’s BBQ.

And where there’s BBQ, there’d better be a guy like Harold Rogers, throwing a dash of this and a dash of that into his recipe for serious southern sauce–sweet and spicy and rib-sticking–and guarded so closely that even his wife doesn’t know the recipe.

Soul food once again goes prime time in Santa Rosa as the Red Rose’s owners, Harold and Nancy Rogers, bring on southern-style home cooking not seen since Terry’s Southern BBQ vanished.

Raised in Arkansas, the Rogers know from BBQ, and collard greens, sweet potato pie, catfish, fried chicken and yams–all cooked from scratch. In fact, Nancy insists on getting her farm-raised catfish from the Southern ponds her family works. She just feels better knowing where it comes from.

Surrounded by family (their children, grandkids and extended family are all part of the mix), the Rogers recently moved up in the world from their former space in a bowling Sebastopol bowling alley that seated just 16. Remodeling the recently-vacated “Marbles” space off Piner road, Nancy said the couple made more than a few upgrades to the kitchen to get it up to their special soul-food-cooking-needs. Like the smoker, the special pressure cooker, and plenty of room for Harold to experiment with his recipes.

Best bets from the menu include the BBQ ribs, cooked on site with hickory chips; a meaty pull pork sandwich; Nancy’s pressure-cooked fried chicken and farm-raised catfish and, of course, a piece of homemade sweet potato pie.

And if you’re hankering for a big breakfast, Red Rose serves up liver and onions, biscuits and gravy, chicken wings and waffles, Louisiana hot links and chicken fried steak. You know, just a little something to tide you over until lunch.

The restaurant also accommodates lighter eaters, featuring tofu and tempeh scrambles and a Thai noodle salad for the waist-conscious. Hey, not everyone can put away a half-chicken, a bowl of greens and a slice of pie in a sitting. Pitiful, I know, but true.

In fact, there’s just one thing you can’t have at Red Rose, and that’s the secret to Harold’s secret sauce. But take one bite of that smoky sweet meat, and you’ll know all you need to know.

Red Rose Café, 1770 Piner Road, Santa Rosa, 95403
Open for Breakfast, lunch and dinner, Monday through Saturday, Sunday until 3pm.
www.redrosecafe.com