Santa sure knows how to make an entrance. Whether it’s stealth-style through the chimney or via a sleigh, his arrival never fails to impress. Since magical flying reindeer sometimes need a break, Santa traverses Wine Country by other modes of transportation: tractor, boat, train — you name it. Click through the above gallery for details on where to see him in Sonoma, Napa and Marin counties this holiday season.
Did we miss one of Santa’s public appearances? Let us know in the comments below.
When I wrote about boba (or bubble tea) in 2016, it was a newish trend in Sonoma County. Now, it is slowly but surely becoming part of the zeitgeist.
Cold tea studded with chewy tapioca balls (boba) originated in Taiwan as an extension of traditional tea shops. Since its inception in the early 1980s, it has become a runaway success, popping up worldwide. In the US, Millennials and Gen Z have embraced the import, sold in a dizzying array of flavors and colors.
If you haven’t tried bubble tea yet, here’s the skinny: Take one part green, herbal or black tea; add a fruit flavoring (and possibly milk), then add the boba — small chewy bits at the bottom of the drink, usually made of honey, gelatin or tapioca with roughly the consistency of a gummy bear.
The liquid is usually mixed with ice and sealed with a thin plastic lid (so you don’t spill it). A wide straw is poked through the top, and you suck up both the tea and the boba through the straw (note: take it slow or you could choke, which is a true sign of a newbie).
Once you’ve got the hang of it, expand your horizons to more traditional flavors like red bean, taro, sour plum, rose or lychee. Some are sweeter, others less so, and most boba shops allow you to control how sweet you like your drink. Many also offer a variety of small snacks, from waffles and fried octopus to simple sandwiches and candy.
Though boba is not for everyone, it’s worth discovering, especially with so many shops to choose from in Sonoma County. Hint: Many bubble tea shops have delivery options, so check the websites or your mobile food delivery app. Here are a few favorites.
Quickly: This California-based chain was one of the first to bring bubble tea to Sonoma County (Surf City Squeeze at Santa Rosa Plaza also had it way back in the day). It’s become a little run-down inside, I’ll be honest, but it remains an SRJC favorite. 1880 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, quicklyusa.com.
T4Tea for U: A great lunch spot, T4Tea offers poke bowls and bubble tea. Classic Taiwanese flavors like winter melon and rose aloe are good choices. 2280 Mendocino Ave., Suite 3c, Santa Rosa, thet4.com.
ShareTea at Simply Vietnam Express: It is a little embarrassing just how often I stop by this Cleveland Avenue spot for Vietnamese iced coffee and/or bubble tea. This locally-owned Vietnamese restaurant offers ShareTea, a large Taiwanese chain. Here, you can pick your sweetness, flavorings and boba — from super sweet kiwi to a more Americanized coffee and ice cream version. This is the most assembly-lined process, though it can be time-consuming for the staff behind the counter during busy lunch and dinner hours. 3881 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa
Zero&: This is the ultimate bubble tea destination. Most are made with natural fruit and fruit juice (the Strawberry Marble has half a pound of strawberries). Two Grapeful is almost too pretty to eat, a luxuriously layered beauty with fresh grapes, jasmine green tea, grape jelly and sea salt cheese foam — think savory whipped cream, not cheddar. Ube Taro is another winner. 1071 Santa Rosa Plaza, Suite 1021A, Santa Rosa, zeroand.com.
Teaspoon: It is a clean, ultra-modern bubble tea shop where you’ll find groups of giggling teens, milk teas and other drinks. My fave: The Ladybug with passionfruit and green tea. 2060 Santa Rosa Ave., Suite B1, Santa Rosa, teaspoonlife.com.
Bubbles Boba Tea: One of the few locally-owned (as opposed to franchised) bubble tea locations. It’s kawaii to the extreme, with adorable gifts and a sad kitty face on the lid of your drink. My fave is the Chili Mango with lime, mango, a honey-Taijin swirl and mango popping boba. Also, try the White Tiger featuring vanilla milk with brown sugar stripes, crunch creme brulee topping, and brown sugar boba. 954 Gravenstein Highway S., Sebastopol, bubblesbobatea.com.
Savor Vietnamese: A stupendous variety of milk tea, slushies and fruit tea boba. Paradise Lime has pineapple bits, lime juice and black or green tea. I like rainbow jellies with fruit teas. While you’re there, pick up a noodle bowl or one of their excellent banh mi. 4275 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa; newly-opened in Windsor at 8970 Brooks Road S., savorvietnamesecuisine.com.
ThirsTea: A giant selection of teas in numerous flavor combinations. Passionfruit slush with grass jelly is a personal favorite. Excellent banh mi, as well. 6585 Commerce Blvd., Rohnert Park.
Teaside Bubble Tea: The former Sunny’s Boba in downtown Santa Rosa has become Teaside — though it looks pretty much the same inside and is still locally owned. They have tons of fun flavors, like the Pink Flirty (lychee rose slushie), the Ying-Yang with vanilla and chocolate black milk tea, or the East Meets West (mango lychee and jasmine iced tea with lychee and mango jellies). 519 Fourth St., Santa Rosa (available for delivery on DoorDash).
Sweet Straw Sonoma: Napa-based bubble tea company Sweet Straw is totally Instagram camera-ready. The narrow shop has an ivy wall with neon lettering saying “Boba yes, you maybe” where you can pose with your Thai iced tea with tapioca pearls. 201 W. Napa St., Suite 27, Sonoma. Also at 2552 Jefferson in Napa, sweetstrawteabar.square.site
Sonoma’s creatives know how to bring magic to our community at the holidays, from caroling and toy drives to cozy afternoons with books and hand-knitted sweaters. The offerings at local independent boutiques run both wide and deep, whether your December wish list includes a pepperberry-studded wreath, a flashy red bass guitar, or something delicate and sparkly. Here are some of our favorite ways to shop local this season.
Whether your holiday home needs a complete plant makeover or a simple shot of green alongside the tree, Broadway’s House of Botanicals offers a luxurious take on the world of indoor plants. Owner Lewis Deng, who also runs BotanyZhi in Santa Rosa, stocks everything on the indoor plant spectrum, from large and exotic to tiny and easy to keep alive. While some picks do require specific and delicate care, Deng likes to say that caring for a plant is a way of caring for yourself, too. Once one of the super-friendly employees helps select a plant for the care and light conditions that suit best, there is a gorgeous array of cache pots and vessels to place it in, including many that look straight off the set of a high-design photo shoot. If you like, pair a plant with one of their richly scented candles for a perfect gift. Done and done.
520 Broadway St., Sonoma. 707-501-7379, hofbsonoma.com
In 2022, husband and wife Buzz and Janen Korth opened their first “modern mercantile” in Santa Fe, and that October, they brought a second Maison Smith to Healdsburg. As an interior designer who grew up immersed in the art and culture of New Mexico, Janen Korth has a talent for spotting unique pieces and makes regular international trips to source for the store. From European linens to vintage pottery to 18th-century antique furniture from Mexico, Maison Smith has that worldly, well-traveled look fully dialed in. There are also pieces from local designers, including Charlene Court, who uses gemstones and bone collected by her late father to create vintage-inspired jewelry. The store is just a short walk north of the Healdsburg Plaza, where shoppers can step in for a wine tasting before or after shopping—although, jokes Buzz, “actually, we prefer people drink first, because they tend to buy more.”
459 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. 707-756-5002, maisonsmith.us
“Being in a small town and a town that is diverse has always been really important to me,” says owner Michael Rex, who has assembled a thoughtful selection of art books, fiction, nonfiction, and kids’ books with BIPOC and queer characters at his bright, cheery shop a short walk from the bridge. Part unofficial Guerneville visitor center (“I think we just look like a good place to stop in and ask questions,” says Rex) and part gathering spot, Rex hosts author events and teaches ESL language classes. He stocks the store for the holidays with boxed cards, pen and art sets, traditional Mexican-style tin angels from a local artist, and Sonoma-themed coffee-table books—he’s also booked the Areté mistletoe singers for caroling on December 16. Our favorite detail? A vintage typewriter, preloaded with holiday letter paper and set out on a table, with pre-stamped envelopes nearby so bookstore browsers can type out and mail a free holiday greeting. It’s these thoughtful, community-building touches that make this bookstore such a gem.
14045 Armstrong Woods Rd., Guerneville. 707-604-7197, booksletters.com
Celebrating with Michael Rex, Russian River Books & Letters
Standout gifts: I purchased these really cool lights from a maker in London. They’re very simple; they’re a light that’s in the shape of a hardcover book, with a USB charge—you can lay it flat, you can stand it up, you can do all kinds of things with it. They look really nice on your bookshelf. “Braiding Sweetgrass” is a book that I always recommend to people as a gift. I always do a lot of great children’s books, which are always very, very popular, and I do a lot of letter-writing materials, pen sets , calligraphy sets and then give that with some really nice paper, putting things together in a nice little gift package.
Local favorites: I’m going to name my competition, The Poet’s Corner in Duncans Mills. It’s a lovely place and they have a lot of really great gift books, too. We have a lot of Christmas fairs, so I go to those in our little churches and community centers—there’s a great one at the Monte Rio Community Center. And I’m on the board of the chamber of commerce, and we’re going to try to do a Christmas market this year.
How to unwind at the holidays: I adopted a dog a couple months ago. His name is Archie, he’s 1 year old, and he’s huge, part Labrador and part Pyrenees! He comes with me to work each day—now he’s a shop dog. So for me to unwind is just taking a nice walk through the redwood trees with Archie. Or I love to go to Goat Rock. I never get tired of it, it’s amazing.
Gretchen Crebs is the fourth generation of her family to run a business in downtown Geyserville’s historic Bosworth & Son building. Back in 1904, the building was home to a mortuary run by her great-great grandfather, and later, the family’s business interests moved into clothing and hats (one section of the building is still dedicated to a small local history museum). These days, Bosworth’s is known for its unique western apparel, including Wrangler jeans, Minnetonka moccasins, and cowboy boots from legendary brands like Dan Post, Olathe, and Lucchese. Particularly popular at the holidays is the lineup of fur felt hats, which are water resistant and naturally antibacterial. “Hats are very popular the last few years, thanks a lot partially to the TV show ‘Yellowstone,’” says Crebs. Bosworth’s is also one of the only places around still offering specialty hat steaming and shaping services. The festively decorated shop is also a must-visit either before or after Geyserville’s famous holiday tractor parade, always the first Saturday after Thanksgiving.
21060 Geyserville Ave., Geyserville. 707-857-3463, bosworthandson.com
Owner Mick Kopetsky started out selling compost and mulch and later made a name for himself selling hard-to-find starts of heirloom melons, tomatoes, and rare Italian herbs. At the beginning of winter, gardeners visit the nursery for tender escarole and puntarelle starts—the showstoppers in warming dishes like Italian wedding soup or puntarelle alla Romana. Inside, there’s a beautiful array of garden tools and gifts for people who love to get their hands in the dirt. The showroom is overflowing with durable handmade quilts, botanical plates, Henry Dean glassware, Danish watering cans, colorful seed packets, and handmade beeswax taper candles. Delicate everlasting wreaths made in-house are accented with foraged red pepperberries and lacy air plants. And bountiful tabletop displays of pine cones, seed pods, greens, and berries look like holiday jewels under handblown glass cloches. One of the more unusual gifts? A perennial caper bush, Capparis spinosa, to grow for its pretty (and delicious) caperberries.
1531 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. 707-433-4327, mixgarden.com
Remember when a 50-cent allowance seemed like a treasure? A time machine effect takes over upon entering downtown Sonoma’s Tiddle E. Winks, a 50s-style five and dime with walls of old-fashioned candy (alas, not a penny anymore, but just as fun to shop), collectibles, stickers, and more, with something quirky or wondrous to see at every turn. There are Sonoma-themed souvenirs, like wine glasses and mugs, plus throw pillows shaped like San Francisco cable cars, Karl the Fog ornaments, and even college-town themed dish towels for those whose school spirit has never left. “That was my vision—a little bit of everything,” says owner Heidi Geffen. “I really do think we have something for everyone.” Geffen and her team even offer a service to help folks fill their holiday stockings: just let them know the age of the recipient and a price point, and they’ll put together a fun little collection of wonders. 115 E. Napa St., Sonoma. 707-939-6933, tiddleewinks.com
There’s a wonderfully unpretentious community vibe with a bright red Fender Squier Stratocaster electric guitar leaning on the edge of a bike rack and a handwritten Black Lives Matter sign presiding over a rack of colorful bicycle jerseys. The name of the shop is an homage to the New York City Subway F/G stop located at the corner of Bergen and Smith streets in Brooklyn, where owner Ron Murdock-Perriera lived before moving to California a couple years back. His friendly shop focuses on selling commuter bikes and bicycle repair, and he offers sleek accessories that will smooth out any commute, from to-go canteens to bike bells to phone holders. Young and old riders alike can get all their needs sorted, from a jolt of espresso to a bit of conversation to chilling out and watching whatever bike race might be playing up on the TV. Murdock-Perriera believes that the best bicycle shops should have the feel of a neighborhood barber shop—a place to gather, and a place where everyone is welcome.
7 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma. 707-774-6111, smithandbergenbicycles.com
Celebrating with Ron Murdock-Perriera, Smith & Bergen Bicycles and Repair
Standout gifts: Definitely helmets and lights. Second to that will be children’s bikes, and in third place are e-bikes. There’s a big demand for commuter-style e-bikes. [On the horizon…] E-bikes are going to be recharged just in the way EV cars are being recharged, with regenerative braking where the power goes back into the battery. I feel that will help with our energy consumption a little bit too. We’re not constantly charging the e-bike and pulling from the grid. We’re able to put back some of that power into the e-bike.
Local favorites: I love gifting people really nice coffee. A friend of mine owns a really nice roaster and coffee shop here in Petaluma called Super Coffee Roasters. Second to that—it really does revolve around food—I’ll buy people little variety packs of treats from Water Street Bistro or Stellina Pronto. I love gifts, food is my love language, and I love gifting people food!
How to unwind at the holidays: I do most of my riding in Petaluma. I am looking forward to—and I don’t know if it’s gonna happen, but— more bike paths and streets with bike lanes that actually connect to each other.
It’s a cottagecore dreamland at this tucked-away housewares and toy shop, with warm lighting, inviting tablescapes, and a comfy couch with layers of colorful pillows. The store is filled with cloth napkins, candles, and dishware perfect for garden parties once the weather warms, plus sustainable toys and thoughtful kid costumes from Sarah’s Silks for all kinds of backyard adventures. Owner Emily Lynch puts up a “Please Touch” tree decorated with felt ornaments so kids can play with the holiday decorations without fear of breaking anything—and parents can relax a bit. “It’s fun to see kids be able to interact with this season in a way that they’re not normally allowed to,” Lynch says of the specially decorated tree display.
25171 Hwy. 116, Monte Rio (also at The Barlow, 6780 McKinley St., Sebastopol). 707-5200679, acornshop.co
The oversize, stuffed white sheep dog standing guard outside the California Luggage Co. will be donning a red Santa hat this holiday season, after greeting customers at the store on Fourth Street for nearly a decade. If you have a wanderer in your family, the downtown spot is great for gifts, with hundreds of options for luggage and other travel accessories. Especially popular are wine carriers—owner Bernie Schwartz estimates 15% of customers are wine travelers. Schwartz has been running the business for 43 years—a blessing, he says. “If you like people, retail is a gas. It makes you a Zen Buddhist. It’s a moment-to-moment reality. You have an interaction that’s meaningful and authentic, and then you’re on to the next person.”
609 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. 707-528-8600, califluggage.com
In 2021, mother and daughter Laural and Lily Reid moved their “commonplace shop,” named for poet Walt Whitman, from Petaluma to a historic, sunlight-flooded building in Penngrove. The idea of a commonplace shop comes from the early colonial practice of using “commonplace books” to record notable bits of information or inspiration—almost like an analog Pinterest board. “They would write anything educational, interesting, or useful to them,” Laural explains. “So this is like my commonplace book—my commonplace shop.” The minimalist, eco-friendly store actually fronts two businesses: Good Gray, with housewares, books, stationery, and art supplies, and Apprentice Studio, with Lily’s hand-knitted sweaters plus jewelry and apparel. During the holidays, Laural adds paper crafts, origami kits, ornaments, and cards to the shelves, along with thoughtful displays of books and chocolate in the Icelandic holiday tradition of staying up late on Christmas Eve to eat chocolate and read together. The old-timey business is plastic free, with price tags and receipts written out by hand.
9591 Main St., Penngrove. 707-755-4535, goodgray.com
Celebrating with Laural and Lily Reid, Good Gray
Standout gifts: Lily: “My knit sweaters are great gifts because they’re handmade and they’re usually limited edition. They’re made locally, and the biggest part of my collection comes out in the fall.” Laural: “We get advent calendars and candles that are really special — calendars done by British artist Angela Harding and advent candles from Denmark. We get a special collaboration with our candle person, who makes essential oil beeswax candles. Books always make great gifts because we have that tradition, reading together as a family. We’ll have beautiful chocolates and hot chocolate to go along with the books. We also sell a lot of art supplies, watercolor sets, brushes, and sketchbooks.”
Local favorites: Lily: “Ethical Clothing in Petaluma, the Antique Society in Sebastopol, Chelsea, Yankee Girl, and Pennyroyal in Petaluma.” Laural: “I’m so busy here, I don’t shop a lot anymore. We’re not real ‘gifty’—it’s more about giving together. I find a book for everybody in my family and mostly get them through here, but also find some at Copperfield’s Books in Petaluma.”
How to unwind at the holidays: Laural: “We go see the Chanticleer Choir at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Petaluma.” Lily: “I like to knit and watch movies. People think I wouldn’t want to be knitting anymore, but that’s when I get to knit for myself.” Laural: “We’re like, ‘Yay, we get a week off!’ And then we realize we have to do inventory and we sort of crash because we’re exhausted. But we like to go to Pearl restaurant for breakfast during the holidays. I do like to go to the beach or take a walk at Bear Valley at Point Reyes.”
If you or someone you love wonks out on the craftsmanship of a medium-format Hasselblad or an early-80s Canon A-1 (the film camera of choice for many budding photographers), you may already know about this tiny, beloved camera shop and tintype portrait studio in the downtown Sofa District. But you don’t need to be a professional to admire minute, analog controls and precisely machined moving parts, not to mention the satisfying click of a hard-to-find vintage lens into a camera body. Gifts for enthusiasts include playful Polaroid and Fuji instant cameras, high-quality Ilford film (stored cold for a longer lifespan), magazines and books, shooting cubes and reflectors, and darkroom supplies to start developing film at home. “People will show up and say, ‘I’m so-and-so’s mom or boyfriend, and they said you would know what I should get them,” said owner Jeremiah Flynn in 2020. “We’re that kind of shop.”
441 Sebastopol Ave., Santa Rosa. 707-544-4800, jeremiahsphotocorner.com
For what you would pay for a mass-market designer handbag you could get an Adelle, cut and crafted by the artist in her Windsor leatherworking studio and sold in a jewel box of a shop, tucked away at the end of a long entryway in what locals know as “the old bank” on Plaza Street. Adelle Stoll sells 10 styles of leather bags, plus housewares, leather jewelry and cuffs, playful vintage glassware, handblown ornaments, and other accessories. The purses have understated personality: the round Cloverdale style, cut from a single piece of full grain leather; The Fitch, a smart crossbody with a saddlebag look; and The Healdsburg, a dressy baguette bag with a signature brass clasp (Stoll makes much of her own hardware, too). Stoll also creates bags in gorgeously hued German wool felt, and for winter, adds shearling to some styles for cozy adornment.
119 Plaza St., Healdsburg. 707-291-4484, adellestoll.com
Loud and Clear serves as a hub for local musicians and a gathering spot for the community at the holidays. “It’s a time when people are buying things, like beginner instruments, for gifts,” says owner Neville Hormuz. “Acoustic guitars are what we sell the most of.” Hormuz has a long history in Cotati and in local music circles—he was a longtime employee at Cotati’s popular Zone Music store. After it closed in 2010, Hormuz and his wife Marie took over the business with help from some of their coworkers and changed the name to Loud and Clear. A year ago, he bought the 100-year-old Odd Fellows Hall on Old Redwood Highway, remodeled it, and moved in. The store holds music camps for aspiring musicians and nearly every month, they host events to restring instruments for $15, including strings, with proceeds going to area nonprofits. “When people come here, they get friendliness,” says Hormuz.
8000 Old Redwood Hwy., Cotati. 707-665-5650, loudandclearmusic.com
From Napa natives and twin brothers Justin and Ryan Channels, California Roadshow is a local spot for rare sports trading cards and all kinds of other sports memorabilia. The brothers have been collecting baseball cards since elementary school and started making real money in high school selling trading cards on social media. Though roughly half their business is done online, the brothers designed their Sonoma card shop, which opened last June, with its community of customers in mind—sports are on the screen, and there’s plenty of seating to hang out and shoot the breeze. Whether you’re an experienced collector looking for the rare stuff or a total newbie looking to dip into collecting and trading, the Channels brothers can help—not to mention that they can answer seemingly any question about any rare sports collectible practically on the spot. For the holidays, they can help find a gift for any sports fan within any budget, including trading cards and store gift cards—“the one card everyone collects,” jokes Ryan.
750 W. Napa St., Sonoma. 707-231-1097, roadshowcards.com
Down the street from the Petaluma Seed Bank and within spitting distance of Cucina Paradiso, Estuary’s wide storefront windows and deliciously tall ceilings entreat shoppers to step inside. On offer is a beautifully curated lineup of sustainable housewares plus rustic-luxe denim and blouses, often made locally or from women-run companies. Pretty, felt-covered soaps from Fiat Luxe (washcloth, loofah, and soap all in one) and candles with exotic top notes of Sicilian verbena and Bulgarian rose make lovely small gifts, especially wrapped in vibrant sheets of Linna wrapping paper. California-made artisan ceramics recall the quiet, sturdy elegance of Heath, and cult-favorite Blackwing pencils are great for keeping ledgers, sketching, or holding a top-knot together when all the hair ties seem to have run off.
120 Petaluma, Blvd. N., Petaluma. 707-231-9125, shopestuary.com
Former Tesla marketing executive Jessica Switzer Green wanted to buy a wool blanket—a comforting piece to send away with her daughter to college. Instead, she wound up with a new career when she discovered fine American-made wool blankets were nearly impossible to find. From her own little mill, and showroom in The Barlow, Green now looms and sells beautiful bespoke blankets produced with natural dyes and largely sourced from Sonoma County grown wool (she’s partial to the long wool from rare Wensleydale sheep). While the bed-size blankets are definite investment pieces, there are gifts at all price points, from “porch blankets” to warm the knees, scarves, silk-lined eyeglass cases, and laptop cases wrapped in wool. White wool piled at the door offers a snowy effect. Some items will be wrapped and ready for shoppers on the go and gift wrapping is free.
6780 McKinley St., Sebastopol. 707-244-3330, jgswitzer.com
Celebrating with Jessica Switzer Green, J.G. Switzer
Standout gifts: I go to Rust for clothes (in The Barlow). My daughter loves anything in that store—it’s dressy, tailored, and stylish. I go to Beekind to get honey presents and stocking stuffers like beeswax candles in cute shapes. Their honey is extraordinary. I’ve also hit up Homebody Refill in Sebastopol, on the square. The owner is very anti-packaging and earth friendly. I get refillable soaps for my own home, but she has a lot of fun gift-giving stuff like on-the-go utensil sets.
How to unwind at the holidays: My husband and I love going exploring. Our recharge dates usually include day outings. A favorite family destination is Donum Estate. They have one of the most beautiful outdoor sculpture collections in the world. I also go to Region, a wine tasting bar here in The Barlow with 100 different wines. They have a beautiful outdoor lounge and heat lamps.
Relaxing at home: We like nothing more than to hang out on our porch with a porch blanket and sip wine. We have sheep, two mini donkeys, and a mini horse. I love animals—it’s one of my joys. That’s why I love making fabric out of sheep wool—because it’s like sharing sheep with the world. They have a great gift to give to us, with what they carry around all year, waiting to be shorn in spring.
Oh, how the tails wag at the holidays, as pups stand in the middle of the aisle, sniffing out toys and treats and hundreds of other interesting-smelling things at this old-timey feed store. Grounded deep in the county’s ag culture, Western Farm Center is a Sonoma original, with a warehouse of shavings and bulk livestock feed, chicken coops and rabbit hutches. Inside, there are gifts for all kinds of pets and their people, from rolled-leather puppy collars and sturdy stoneware food dishes to gauntlet-length beekeeping gloves and natural fleece chew toys—anyone else see the humor in a long-handled doggie toothbrush in their holiday stocking? Small pets like parakeets and sometimes hamsters live in the back corner, along with everything you need to keep them well and happy, and the store hosts an annual Santa Paws event, where your pet can get its picture taken with Santa to benefit Canine Companions for Independence.
21 W. Seventh St., Santa Rosa. 707-545-0721, westernfarmcenter.com
Let your inner child out to play at The Toyworks, where a pair of 4-foot-tall medieval Playmobil figures guard the entrance to the store. Inside, you can spin the giant three-dimensional labyrinth, pick out the perfect pair of dress-up angel wings, find a new Calico Critters family to add to your collection, or get your hands on the latest Lego or Playmobil set. The Goehring family has been operating toy stores in Sonoma County since 1977 and opened the Sebastopol store in 1985 to bring more high-quality, European toys to local shoppers. The store is now run by the Goehrings’ son, Jon, who keeps the whimsical spirit of the toy shop alive.
6940 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol. 707-829-2003, sonomatoyworks.com
Three generations of the Leoni family run this shop, a nostalgic reminder of the days when you could hit downtown Petaluma for everyday necessities from a friendly local shopkeeper. You can pick up an appliance, a cookie sheet, utensils or a new pan, including beautiful stainless steel and copper Hestan cookware from Italy. Sprinkled among the utilitarian kitchen supplies are beautiful bijoux: sparking Juliska glassware with canework trim, classy handforged barware and serving pieces by designer/artist Jan Barboglio, and timeless Swedish crystal votives. There are even pretty picks for babies, like an heirloom Santa bib and tiny cotton beanies with animal designs. Keep an eye out for random gems like whimsical clay chickens imported from Europe—on the third day of Christmas, give your true love three (ceramic) French hens.
120 Kentucky St., Petaluma. 707-762-9611, ileoni.com
Cruising down Bodega Highway, you’ll feel like the ingénue in a Hallmark movie when you stop at this tiny boutique to peek at all the beautiful sparkly things. Goldsmith Erin Cuff’s jewelry shop and art gallery, in a former gas station directly adjacent to Wild Flour Bread, has beautiful exposed wood beams and a wood-burning stove in the corner. Guests can take in the displays of fine jewelry from local designers— including Cuff’s own designs—plus ceramic dishware by Sonoma County native Zoe Dering and leather bags from HH Dry Goods. Try a spritz of fragrance from Kismet Olfactive (the poems on the bottle are beautifully transporting) and muted, desert landscape prints from Tucson artist Scout Dunbar. “I wanted my shop to be approachable but still elevated,” Cuff said. “We sell super-high-end stuff, but we also sell things that are under $100. I wanted to cater to a lot of different price points.”
142 Bohemian Hwy., Freestone. shopcochineal.com
Celebrating with Erin Cuff, Cochineal
Holiday picks: We have these beautiful silk eye masks that a friend makes that are really popular. The brand is called The Ziran, and they’re a good price point. The masks are made out of beautiful Chinese silk with really fun colors and prints, and everybody just loves them. For jewelry, I think local Talking Tree jewelry from Gina Pinzari in Camp Meeker has amazing pieces—solid gold with rich textures and beautiful stones. Her work is a higher price point, so that would be a really, really special gift. Lingua Nigra does gold-plated jewelry and fun, big statement earrings. And fragrances from Kismet are also super popular as a gift.
Local favorites: I love Good Gray in Penngrove because it’s right by my house. In the past, I’ve bought watercolor sets for my husband because he loves to make me watercolor cards for my birthday. And then I also love going to Pennyroyal in Petaluma, on American Alley. The owner makes leather bags and some jewelry. I love her stuff. I love the shoes they carry as well.
How to unwind at the holidays: I like to garden as a hobby. This is the first year I’m going to be trying to do some stuff besides, like, kale. I haven’t put anything in the ground quite yet, but I have some squash and winter veggies I’m hoping to plant. I like to just try to relax and spend time with friends and family, have bonfires—but honestly, I try not to do too much during the holidays because it’s a lot for a small business owner.
Does Santa surf? We’ll leave that to the elves, but no matter what size wet suit the jolly man wears, he can find everything he needs at this local surf shop. The original location along Bodega Highway in the town of Bodega stocks boards, gear, wet suits, flip-flops, and a terrific lineup of graphic sweatshirts and hoodies, designed and printed in-house. The second location, a few miles away in Valley Ford, stocks even more and is perhaps the only surf shop anywhere in a former bank—the 1892 Dairyman’s Bank, vintage vault and all. In Valley Ford, you’re steps away from the heartiest breakfast at the coast, the huevos rancheros at Estero Café. Both spots are the kind of locals places where you’re sure to run into someone you know, and folks hang out to shoot the breeze. Gear advice, ding repair, lessons, and rentals as well, since 1986.
17191 Bodega Hwy., Bodega and 14435 Hwy. 1, Valley Ford. 707-876-3032, northernlightsurf.com
There’s a great story behind the launch of this destination record store: friends Gabriel Hernandez, Jon Del Buono, and James Florence played in a rock band together, but when Covid shut down their performance schedule, they started selling records out of the back of a pickup truck. Fate led them to their brick-and-mortar shop and a completely new career, though they’re still working musicians as well, and continue to host punk and rock shows at the store. Vintage vinyl and new releases make terrific gifts for music lovers, and the store also carries band T-shirts, posters, and other memorabilia. The dollar-record section has odd, obscure finds, plus there’s a whole wall of rare, classic collectorquality vinyl, like an original box set from local punk rockers Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. Look for new and used gear, too—launch a music-obsessed teen into the DJ world with a BackGroove turntable and speaker set for under $300, a great deal.
1010 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma. 707-776-6187, raindogrecords.net
Celebrating with Gabriel Hernandez, Rain Dog Records
Holiday picks: I’m into house music, and one of my favorite DJs, Danny Tenaglia, just put out a single called “The Brooklyn Gypsy,” so that would be cool, and he’s coming out with a compilation soon, too. We have music action figures—like I’m looking at a Devo action figure here—and we have lots of official band T-shirts, like Wu-Tang Clan or Black Flag or Nirvana “In Utero.” You can come in and spend a dollar in the dollar section or go for the rare collector stuff, which can be several hundred. We also do lots of soundtracks, especially horror and sci-fi.
Local favorites: I love Nostalgia Alley here in Petaluma—they have a really great vibe in there. It’s full of stacks of fun arcade video games and other vintage stuff and they’re just really helpful—it’s a really cool place to be. I also like Goblin Bros., which sells all kinds of board games and vintage ones, too. They’re right across the street from the Mystic Theatre.
How to unwind at the holidays: I’m a drummer, and I just moved here in 2017 from New York, but my business partners, James and Jon, are Sonoma locals, Santa Rosa and Petaluma, so they know all the good places. I love Dillon Beach—sitting out there on the beach and just staring at the ocean. It’s so beautiful.
Interior designer Gina Gutierrez was tapped by Real Simple magazine to design the kitchen in their 2022 idea home, and her Sebastopol shop has quickly become an in-the-know destination for home accessories, throws, candles, books, chocolates, and more. Gutierrez and her team can whip up a custom stocking or gift basket to make the holidays cozy, and they do the prettiest gift wrapping, with simple papers embellished with dried flowers and ornaments for the tree. Holiday finds here include gorgeous terra-cotta and cement planters, Sebastopol-made apothecary products, Southwest-inspired Beyond Borders blankets and throws, and organically shaped cheese boards from Nightwood Studio. Earlier this year, Gutierrez partnered with her good friend, floral designer Jennifer McClendon of JenniFlora, to offer bouquets and centerpieces in store, also great for the holidays.
961 Gravenstein Hwy. S., Sebastopol. 415-501-0024, storiahome.com
Knife expert Zack Cohen’s great grandparents started this shop for all things knife-related in 1979 (“my mom had me in a booster seat while she worked,” says Cohen), and the familyowned store remains a treasure trove of gift ideas for people who love to cook. There’s no better place to shop for kitchen knives, including well-known chef brands like Wüsthof and Zwilling, plus extremely rare, hand-forged, single-bevel Japanese knives, each signed by the artist who hammered it into being. Knives purchased here come with inhouse sharpening services, and many local chefs won’t take their knives anywhere else (the Cohens will sharpen knives purchased elsewhere for a small fee). There are all kinds of gifts, including sturdy Opinel mushroom knives with built-in brushes, Remington Boy Scout pocketknives, Buck hunting knives, Gingher sewing scissors, and Staub stock pots. Cohen’s father, Dylan, often guestlectures to culinary students at nearby Santa Rosa Junior College, and the family stocks affordable knife kits for student chefs just starting out.
555 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. 707-542-6433, sonomacutlery.square.site
By the team of Sara Edwards, Meg McConahey, Peg Melnik, Emma Molloy, Abigail Peterson, Kathryn Styer Martínez, Dan Taylor, and Rebecca Wolff.
News that someone is taking over the Jimtown Store in Healdsburg has spread through Sonoma County faster than butter melting on a hot griddle. But it may be a little too soon to count those chickens, according to Michelle Wood, the owner of Dim Sum and Then Sum catering. She confirmed that she is hoping to reopen the iconic barn as a deli and cafe — once she signs on the dotted line.
With the sale still pending, Wood said she hopes to revive the general store’s history, “with my spin on it.” Sandwiches and salads would return, along with Asian fusion dishes and dim sum on Sundays, along with to-go frozen meals, she said.
It wasn’t cooking, however, that first brought the lab manager turned caterer to Jimtown. Instead, she said, she fell in love with the historic way-stop as a cyclist. With few choices in the area for food, Jimtown was a popular oasis for riders who sipped and snacked midride until it closed in 2019.
After pivoting to full-time catering in 2021, Wood has become known for her handmade dumplings, steamed buns and spring rolls inspired by her family’s Chinese cooking. Her event menus, however, span a range of cuisines including Wine Country and Mexican.
Jimtown founder Carrie Brown, who opened the store in 1991 with her late husband, John Werner, expressed relief and happiness at the potential sale.
“It’s been a long time coming,” she said.
Brown shuttered the one-of-a-kind gourmet cafe and gift shop in 2019 due to rising costs and the destructive wildfires in the area. Her next role, she said, will be as a champion and supporter of the new owner.
The Highway 128 outpost first opened in 1893 to serve as a post office, general store and meeting place for residents of the Alexander Valley, according to the Jimtown website, which remains active. It became an offbeat destination for visitors who enjoyed Brown’s eclectic collection of toys, candies and housewares. Neighbors met for sandwiches and Brown’s famous Chain Gang Chili and to share local gossip.
“There were other people (interested in Jimtown), and Carrie chose me. I am so grateful to her,” Wood said.
More details to come, when the sale is final.
On rainy days atop Sonoma Valley’s Madrone Ridge, a contemporary home designed by Field Architecture gets a large-scale water feature. Two streams of rainwater flow down from the roof — one at the front of the house, one in the back — into river rock basins. From the inside, the home’s glass walls offer views of both streams of rainwater at the same time.
“The whole house becomes this celebration of the first rain of the season,” says lead architect Jess Field.
The design — reflecting “the symbiotic relationship between water and earth” — is both practical and aesthetic. The water is released slowly from the rock basins into the ground, which, according to Field, moistens the soil at a rate slow enough to prevent run-off and erosion. The falling water also creates what Field calls an “interplay” between the structure and nature.
“Each house (we design) is a case study for how we can deepen our relationship with the world outside and our world inside,” he says.
While the 4,920-square-foot Madrone Ridge home is a single geometric structure, it’s made up of three pavilions joined by transparent breezeways. Field designed it with a “glove-like” floor plan with the separate “fingers” of the home spreading out and nature filling in the gaps around the living areas.
The natural setting guides Field’s design process. His father, also an architect, inspired this approach — he designed a Johannesburg dwelling in 1972, named the Miller Home, built around the rocks on the site so that they didn’t have to be moved. “No boulders can be moved or touched by any man-made structure,” said Field’s father.
Field positioned the Madrone Ridge home in relation to the sun’s path to create “great places to trap” its movement. The breakfast nook enjoys morning sunlight as does the landing of the stone and wood stairway, where the homeowners like to have a cappuccino and the family dog likes to nap. The dining room is best place to take in the sunset.
Field brought more natural elements inside the home with the help of Pope Valley ceramist Kelly Farley, who crafted tiles with glaze mixed with iron-rich soil from the site. The result is stunning rusty-brown bathroom tile.
Field designed the copper-clad home so that it allows for taking in distant views of the valley and the surrounding landscape and more closeup views of the textures of mature oak and madrone trees, as well as the garden with its flowers and hummingbirds.
Much like an interior designer might mix different textures, colors and patterns to make a home stand out, Field uses natural elements to bring beauty inside — nature is both his muse and his medium. Click through the above gallery for a peek inside the Madrone Ridge home.
A cacophony of turkey voices floods the air late in the afternoon at 4-H leader Catherine Thode’s family farm in Sebastopol.
Here, more than 75 turkeys, resplendent in plumy coats of silver, charcoal, cocoa, and emerald, greet visitors with a throaty yelp—half song, half giggle. Wattles wobble and long necks crane in curiosity as they call in loud unison: Hello, yup! Hi, yup! Welcome, yup!
Their eager greeting is one of the many marvelous things about the birds, says ninth grader Ella Bartolomei. As members of Thode’s 4-H group, Ella and her brother Nico, a high school junior, have raised turkeys of their own for several years on their family’s rural property in Forestville.
“I like the way the turkeys sound,” Ella says, of the 49 American Bronze and Narragansett breed birds she and her brother have raised from chicks this year. “They not only say ‘gobble,’ but they respond when you say ‘gobble,’ too. It’s really entertaining to listen to them mock you all day.”
Nico, meanwhile, appreciates their magnificent style. “They’re prehistoric looking, like little dinosaurs,” he says. The Bronze turkeys he raises have iridescent jade, copper, and ebony feathers and flashes of patriotic red, white, and blue across their necks and snoods (the snood is the fleshy bit that dangles over the beak of male turkeys). “They’re cool animals, and it’s fun to watch them strut around. I especially enjoy when the toms flaunt their tail feathers and change their face colors to impress the ladies.”
Ultimately, the majority of the birds raised by these local students end up as Thanksgiving birds, part of a program to increase the number of heirloom-certified turkeys available locally and provide alternatives to grocery store standard Broad Breasted White turkeys. A few of the birds raised by the students may become part of breeding programs in an effort to propagate and preserve rare, heirloom breeds of turkey. The program requires a lot of work for 4-H and FFA members, yet embracing the boutique birds is a beloved mission for them all—a way to celebrate tradition and history.
Catherine Thode has been the lead coordinator for the heirloom turkey project for nearly two decades, working with Slow Food Russian River. It can be an expensive undertaking, she acknowledges, as the heirloom-certified turkeys dine on organic feed specially formulated to standards from the Livestock Conservancy, a national group that advocates for heritage livestock and poultry breeds. Each bird is a special bird, banded on an inner wing, so a purchaser is guaranteed where it came from.
The students pay for (or hatch their own) turkey poults and are responsible for feed and supplies. In turn, the sale proceeds go to the young farmer who raised the birds. This year, due in part to a more than 13% increase in the cost of the locally milled organic grains, the 4-H heritage turkeys are priced at $12 a pound.
Sebastopol siblings Hannah and Nolan Perry started raising turkeys with Thode’s 4-H group after stepping up from chickens. The siblings are now experienced turkey farmers, bringing six Bronze and four Bourbon Red birds to market for 2023. “Being responsible for the well-being of animals means you have to prioritize them, and check on their food, water, health, and safety, even when it doesn’t fit into your schedule,” says Hannah. She also loved learning how her turkeys can have such individual personalities Nico Bartolomei is proud that his diligence has paid off. “When I started doing the project, I lost many birds to predators,” he says.
“I kept modifying their run, and trying heavier
duty netting on top of their outdoor space until we finally had a year without losses.
It taught me that the best things take time to do. I also now know just how much time, resources, and commitment it takes for one animal to go from an egg to someone’s plate.”
As the turkeys grow, the 4-H kids find themselves forming opinions about the world they want to live in. Ella Bartolomei has discovered that “growing food humanely and organically” is very important to her. Nolan Perry has grown to appreciate where his food comes from, but he also says picking up the day-old poults from the Thode farm and watching them grow is simply a lot of fun. “When they’re older, they’re so fun to be around,” he says.
“Their gobbling is like a laugh track.”
Heritage breeds bring more natural flavor, with rich, robust dark meat, says heritage foods advocate Michael Dimock, who founded Slow Food Russian River and, more recently, Roots of Change, which focuses on regenerative agriculture and making healthy food accessible to everyone. Dimock has purchased a Sonoma County heritage turkey every year since the project’s launch and finds the students’ birds superior to other breeds of turkey.
Heirloom turkeys are raised outdoors, which leads to more defined muscle texture and leaner, more flavorful meat. “They cook much faster, so they’re juicy, and have so much more flavor that they don’t need anything else,” he said. “I just stuff them really full with herbs like rosemary and sage, and a bunch of different fruits like apples, oranges, and pears. They taste like joy.”
To reserve a heritage turkey from one of Catherine Thode’s 4-H students, it’s best to plan up to a year ahead, as the students have capacity to raise just a few hundred birds each season. For more information on the Sonoma heritage turkey project, visit heritageturkeyproject.com.
If the 4-H birds are spoken for, you can still support thoughtful, small-scale agriculture with a boutique Broad Breasted bird, raised on a healthier diet and with humane values like room to roam. Here are more sustainable picks for your Sonoma holiday table.
Diestel Family Ranch
The Tuolumne County farm raises turkeys on a vegetarian diet without hormones, antibiotics, or growth stimulants. Order to pick up at Oliver’s Markets, Whole Foods, and Fircrest Market. diestelturkey.com
Shelton’s Natural Foods Market
Select from free-range, organic, and heritage turkeys raised by Mary’s Free Range Turkey in Fresno County. Order ahead to pick up at 428 Center St., Healdsburg, 707431-0530, sheltonsmarket.com.
Sonoma County Meat Co.
During the holiday season, you can find Diestel turkeys at this shop that deals exclusively in all-natural, California-raised, sustainable meats. 35 Sebastopol Ave., Santa Rosa. 707-521-0121, sonomacountymeatco.com
Tara Firma Farms
A limited number of sustainably-raised turkeys are offered by this regenerative, family-run farm. 3796 I St., Petaluma. 707-765-1202, tarafirmafarms.com/csa
Victorian Farmstead Meat Co.
Free-range, hormone-free birds from local farms. Order to pick up at Sebastopol Community Market Butcher Shop, 6762 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol. 707-332-4605, vicfarmmeats.com
A new build in Santa Rosa’s Fountaingrove neighborhood with great views, sleek design elements, a butler’s pantry, a pool house and an attached accessory dwelling unit is currently listed for $2,745,000. The home has five bedrooms and six and a half bathrooms on 5,067 square feet.
The home’s builder, Daniel Stewart, who is the co-owner and operator of Stewart Construction Service in Rohnert Park, thinks that all new homes should include accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in order to address housing needs and meet the preferences of families who want to live with multiple generations under one roof.
“California has a housing shortage. House prices will not stop skyrocketing until the supply problem is solved. ADUs are one way. The local and state governments have made it easier to add ADUs to a new or existing lot,” he said, adding that the extra living space can also provide an additional source of income.
“When my wife and I bought our first house in 2004, it had a small ADU. The income from that ADU was the only way we could afford the house,” Stewart said.
The Fountaingrove home’s ADU is accessible via an outdoor stairway and an entrance inside the pool house. This second unit has a great room that combines the kitchen, dining and lounging areas, while the bedroom is separate. The attached dwelling can be closed off from the rest of the home through a locked door.
The butler’s pantry is attached to the main kitchen and has ample forest green cabinets and a countertop. It also includes laundry facilities. Click through the above gallery for a peek inside this home.
For more information on 3817 Sedgemoore Drive, Santa Rosa, please contact listing agent Regina Clyde, Sotheby’s International Realty, 793 Broadway Sonoma, 707-529-8504. ginaclyde.com
Petaluma does up the holidays in style, anchored by the gorgeous, circa-1924 Hotel Petaluma, which goes all-out with vintage-inspired holiday decor (in past years, they’ve even made it “snow”).
Click through the above gallery for a few favorite places to visit in this charming city.
The iconic Petaluma Lighted Boat Parade will kick off the holiday season downtown along the Petaluma River on Saturday, December 9 at 5:30 p.m. petalumadowntown.com
The community ceramics center Kickwheel Sonoma offers pottery classes and is the design studio for ceramicist Andrew M. Kontrabecki. 5400 Old Redwood Hwy. N., Petaluma. kickwheelsonoma.com
Learn why Petaluma has been nicknamed the “Hollywood of Northern California” on a free, self-guided tour of local film sites featured in “American Graffiti,” “Peggy Sue Got Married” and other popular movies. Petaluma Visitors Center, 210 Lakeville St. 707-769-0429, visitpetaluma.com
The Barber Cellars tasting room, located on the ground floor of Hotel Petaluma, and its sister distillery, Barber Lee Spirits, are right downtown. The distillery’s Absinthe Blanche won best of class at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Barber Cellars recently opened a European-style cheese market. At the Petaluma Cheese Shop, guests can order delicious dishes like a cheese sandwich (which changes weekly), a bowl of burrata with warm focaccia, and a melted Alpine cheese blend served with potatoes, sausage and pickled vegetables. 112 Washington St., Petaluma, 707-971-7410, petalumacheeseshop.com, barbercellars.com
Port-style fortified wines are the specialty at Bill and Caryn Reading’s Sonoma Portworks, along with liqueurs, brandies and sherries including the popular hazelnut-infused Duet. 613 Second St., portworks.com
Founded by former Kosta Browne winemaker Garry Brooks, Brooks Note focuses on elegant Sonoma County Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. 426 Petaluma Blvd. North, 707-981-8470, brooksnotewinery.com
Stop at Stellina Pronto, a quaint Italian cafe, for a coffee and sweet brioche bun to start your day before strolling past hidden street art along downtown alleyways. 23 Kentucky St. 707-789-9556, stellinapronto.com
Eat like a local at Lunchette. The smoked trout salad with preserved lemon vinaigrette, roasted beets, pickled raisins and cashews is a perennial favorite, along with warm grain bowls and slices of Roman-style pizza al taglio. 25 Fourth St. 707-241-7443, lunchettepetaluma.com
For a farm-to-table dinner, make reservations at Central Market for wood-fired pizzas, oven-roasted vegetables, and handmade pasta. Chef Tony Najiola stops by every table to make sure diners are happy and well fed. 42 Petaluma Blvd. N., 707-778-9900, centralmarketpetaluma.com
Tina Caputo contributed to this article.
Skip the cooking and dishes this year by letting local chefs prepare your Thanksgiving feast, giving you extra time to spend with family and friends. More than 40 Sonoma County restaurants, bakeries and grocers are offering special holiday meals and treats for dining in, takeout or delivery.
Make reservations and preorder meals early, as space and menu items are limited and sell out fast.
John Ash & Co.
A three-course prix fixe Thanksgiving dinner for dining in, as well as a prix fixe kids’ menu and a Front Room a la carte menu. The first course is a choice between autumn salad or butternut squash soup. The second course options consist of roasted Heritage turkey with giblet dressing, gravy and cranberry sauce; pan-seared salmon with mushrooms and spinach; roasted pork tenderloin with sweet potato gnocchi and roasted Brussels sprouts; vegan portobello Wellington, and grilled Angus beef filet with maple-glazed vegetables and garlic whipped potatoes. Dessert is a pumpkin and cinnamon mousse with candied pecans and bourbon caramel.
The kids’ menu includes a first course of mixed greens salad with ranch dressing or a fruit salad with honey yogurt dip; a second course of either penne marinara, salmon filet, petite Angus filet steak or roasted heritage turkey with traditional fixings; and a housemade gelato with pumpkin snickerdoodle for dessert. The adult menu is $95 per person and the kids’ menu is $45 per person. Reserve on OpenTable.
4350 Barnes Road, Santa Rosa, 707-527-7687, vintnersresort.com/john-ash-co
Flamingo Resort & Spa
Buffet-style Thanksgiving feast for parties up to 12, served in the ballroom. The buffet menu includes seasonal chop salad, butternut squash soup, buttermilk biscuits, slow-cooked prime rib, maple-brined turkey, wild mushroom ravioli, olive oil poached shrimp, sourdough stuffing, roasted sweet potatoes, caramelized Brussels sprouts, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, mezcal cranberry sauce and more (with items subject to change based on availability). Sweets include pumpkin pie, pecan pie, chocolate mousse tart and Meyer lemon cheesecake. $75 for adults and $35 for children. Reserve on Tock.
2777 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-545-8530, flamingoresort.com
The Bird (formerly Willie Bird’s)
Thanksgiving takeout (Nov. 19. is the last day to preorder). Entree items and sides can be purchased separately. Full meals include roast turkey with stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce; 8-ounce prime rib with mashed potatoes, gravy and sauteed vegetables; smoked ham with mashed potatoes, gravy and sauteed vegetables; or vegetable lasagna with garlic bread. There’s also a family turkey dinner that serves eight to 10 people and includes a 12 to 14-pound whole roasted turkey, five pounds of stuffing, five pounds of mashed potatoes, one quart of gravy, one pint of cranberry sauce and dinner rolls. Order online. Meals delivered cold with reheating instructions provided. Pick up from Nov. 21 through Nov. 23.
4776 Sonoma Highway, Santa Rosa, 707-542-0861, thebirdrestaurant.com
Stark’s Steak & Seafood
Takeout Thanksgiving dinner for two, available for preorder now. Also open 2-7 p.m. on Nov. 23, serving regular dinner menu alongside a classic Thanksgiving meal with all the fixings. The takeout menu for two ($145) includes creamy tomato soup, arugula and endive salad, butter roasted turkey with giblet gravy and pomegranate-cranberry sauce, and sides of mashed potatoes, broccolini, roasted cremini mushrooms, and chorizo sausage and blue cheese stuffing. Dessert add-ons include spiced apple cake and pumpkin cream cheese pie. Order online by Nov. 17 for pickup from noon to 9 p.m. Nov. 22-23.
521 Adams St., Santa Rosa, 707-546-5100, starkssteakhouse.com
La Gare French Restaurant
Dine in or takeout prix fixe Thanksgiving dinner. Choice of entrees include pumpkin ravioli, Angus prime rib au jus, oven-roasted turkey with all the fixings and wild Alaskan salmon filet in a beurre blanc sauce. All meals are served with Franco American French bread, creamy butternut squash soup and butter lettuce salad with Dijon vinaigrette, as well as a choice of pecan pie or spiced pumpkin pie with chantilly whipped cream. Call 707-528-4355 to preorder meals or reserve a spot on OpenTable. Order meals by Nov. 21 for pickup 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
208 Wilson St., Santa Rosa, 707-528-4355, lagarerestaurant.com
Pascaline French Bistro & Patisserie
Thanksgiving takeout menu, for pickup at the Sebastopol-based patisserie’s new Montgomery Village location. The holiday menu includes vadouvan-spiced butternut squash velouté, a golden beet and arugula salad, cornbread, potato gratin, green beans, maple glazed roasted baby carrots, mushroom fricassee, orange cranberry sauce, Pacific salmon coulibiac, slow-roasted pork loin, pumpkin pie cheesecake and bourbon pecan tart. Order items online or at the cafe prior to pickup. Place order by 4 p.m. on Nov. 19 for pickup 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 22.
1021 Hahman Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-303-7151, pascalinepatisserieandcafe.com
Safari West
Enjoy a Thanksgiving feast on the Sonoma Serengeti, with two seatings; at noon and 3 p.m. The menu includes fresh dinner rolls, tiger prawn cocktail, butternut squash soup, spinach salad, sauteed green beans, French bread stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, bourbon glazed sweet potatoes, maple glazed ham, roasted turkey with housemade cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and pecan pie. Menu is subject to change. $75 for adults, $30 for children ages 4 to 12 and free for toddlers under 4. Reserve online.
3115 Porter Creek Road, Santa Rosa, 707-579-2551, safariwest.com
Salt & Stone
A dine-in a la carte Thanksgiving menu includes raw and cooked oysters and shared plates along with three courses to choose from. Choice of appetizers include butternut squash bisque, French onion soup, kale salad, little gem Caesar and butter lettuce salad. Entree choices include Diestel Ranch turkey, crispy skin salmon, cauliflower gnocchi, Dungeness crab cioppino, gulf prawn and scallop tagliatelle, and Dijon and herb roasted Angus beef prime rib. Dessert choices include pumpkin cheesecake, apple galette, butterscotch bread pudding, flourless chocolate ganache torte, raspberry zinfandel sorbet and Kentucky bourbon butter pecan gelato. The menu for children under 10 ($20) includes a choice of a turkey dinner, cheeseburger with fries, housemade shell pasta in a meat sauce or noodles with butter and cheese, plus a drink of choice and vanilla bean ice cream with chocolate sauce for dessert.
9900 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood, 707-833-6326, saltstonekenwood.com
Les Pascals Patisserie
Closed on Thanksgiving Day but open Nov. 22 for dining in and takeout with seasonal menu items. The Thanksgiving menu includes various baked goods such as pumpkin brioche, cranberry bread, hazelnut and chocolate chip cookies, apple pie, pumpkin galette, honey cake, pumpkin macaroons and assorted fruit tarts.
13758 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen, 707-934-8378, lespascalspatisserie.com
Glen Ellen Star
A Thanksgiving dinner package, for pickup 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 23 , that serves eight people. Package includes a whole Diestel Ranch roast turkey, maple glazed cranberry-orange sauce, chicory salad, Parker House rolls, buttermilk mashed potatoes, housemade gravy, sourdough-mushroom stuffing, caramelized Brussels sprouts with brown sugar bacon marmalade and pumpkin pie. $60 per person, plus tax ($480 for full dinner package for eight people). Preorder online.
13648 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen, 707-343-1384, glenellenstar.com
the fig cafe & wine bar
Dine in, three-course Thanksgiving dinner served from 1-6 p.m. Menu includes Acme Bread Company bread with house-cultured butter for the table; starters of poached pear salad, fig and arugula salad or parsnip and apple bisque; entrees of roast turkey breast, braised short ribs, pan-seared flounder or roasted mushroom risotto; and dessert choices of cinnamon apple crisp with vanilla mascarpone or pumpkin cheesecake bar with salted caramel. $62 per person, with $15 optional wine pairing. Reserve on Resy.
13690 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen, 707-938-2130, thefigcafe.com
the girl & the fig
Dine in, three-course Thanksgiving dinner served from noon to 8 p.m. Menu includes Acme Bread Company bread with house-cultured butter for the table; starters of shaved apple salad, glazed squash salad or mushroom and celery root bisque; entrees of roast turkey breast, sauteed flounder, short rib au poivre or roasted mushroom ragout; and dessert choices of chocolate pecan tart, profiteroles with pumpkin ice cream or cranberry-pear crumble bar with vanilla ice cream. $68 per person, with $16 optional wine pairing. Reserve online or call for more information.
110 W. Spain St., Sonoma, 707-938-3634, thegirlandthefig.com
Wit & Wisdom
Dine in or takeout three-course prix fixe Thanksgiving dinner. The first course is a choice of king crab and endive Caesar salad, butter lettuce salad with goat cheese and herb vinaigrette, butternut squash soup with duck confit, and ricotta gnudi with sunchoke puree and truffle glaze. Second course choices include lobster pot pie, petrale sole in a lemon caper sauce, Heritage turkey breast with sourdough stuffing, and prime beef New York strip in au poivre with cream spinach. A trio of Thanksgiving sides includes Brussels sprouts, green bean casserole and pomme purée. The dessert course is a choice of pumpkin pie served with vanilla gelato, carrot cake sundae with Fiorello’s maple butter pecan gelato, or Basque-style cheesecake with salted caramel and spiced apple compote. $97 per person. Reserve online.
At The Lodge at Sonoma Resort, 1325 Broadway, Sonoma, 707-931-3405, witandwisdomsonoma.com
Benicia’s Kitchen
Dine in for a buffet-style Thanksgiving meal served from 12:30-7 p.m. The buffet menu includes Thai-spiced butternut squash soup, fresh seafood and mezze displays, seasonal farmers market salad bar, roasted Mary’s turkey, maple glazed salmon, Japanese pumpkin squash ravioli, Snake River Farms wagyu picanha, traditional sides and dessert choices of vegan chocolate caramel tarts or Sweet Pea Bake Shop’s fresh baked pies (pumpkin, French apple and chocolate pecan). Reserve on OpenTable.
Located in The Lodge at Sonoma Resort, 1325 Broadway, Sonoma, 707-931-3405, thelodgeatsonoma.com/dine/benicias-kitchen
El Dorado Kitchen
Open Thanksgiving Day for dining in during breakfast and dinner hours with an a la carte menu of holiday classics. The holiday menu includes Caesar salad, truffle fries, butternut squash soup, pan-seared crab cakes, turkey with all the fixings, sauteed petrale sole, veggie risotto, braised short rib, pan-roasted salmon, tiramisu, pumpkin pie and more. Reserve on OpenTable.
405 First St. West, Sonoma, 707-996-3030, eldoradosonoma.com/el-dorado-kitchen
The Depot Restaurant
Dine in for a three-course Thanksgiving dinner from 2-6 p.m. Menu includes chicory salad, roasted butternut squash soup, turchetta (turkey porchetta) with green beans and mashed potatoes, braised short ribs with cheesy polenta, risotto with roasted vegetables, pumpkin crostata and tortino al cioccolato (warm chocolate cake with red wine sauce). $65 per person. Email info@depotsonoma.com to make a reservation.
241 First St. West, Sonoma, 707-938-2980, depotsonoma.com
Layla at MacArthur Place
MacArthur Place’s Layla restaurant will serve a special three-course prix fixe Thanksgiving meal from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. for dining in. First course choices include crab cake, pumpkin bisque, artisanal greens and roasted beet salad. Entrees include slow-roasted turkey breast, beef tenderloin, steelhead trout, cauliflower ravioli and butternut squash, all served with complementing sides. Desserts include chocolate cloud cake, bruleed pumpkin pie with cream cheese whip, and apple crepes with citrus caramel and pecan crumble. $110 per adult and $35 per child. $45 for optional wine pairings. Reserve on OpenTable.
29 E. MacArthur St., Sonoma, 707-938-2929, macarthurplace.com/food-drink/layla-restaurant
Santé at Fairmont
Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn’s Santé restaurant will serve a buffet-style Thanksgiving dinner from 1-7 p.m., with wine pairing options available. The feast will include a seafood station with dishes like Pt. Reyes oysters and pastrami smoked salmon; a cheese and charcuterie station featuring Della Fattoria sourdough, assorted local cheeses and cured meats; mains of slow-roasted Diestel turkey, Bassian Farms prime rib, stuffed lamb leg and roasted Alaskan halibut (vegan entrees available upon request); sides such as candied yams, sourdough stuffing and bacon glazed Brussels sprouts; and fall desserts such as pumpkin pie, sweet potato tres leches and apple pie cinnamon rolls. $149 per adult and $39 per child under 12. Reserve on OpenTable.
100 Boyes Blvd., Sonoma, 707-939-2415, fairmont.com/sonoma/dining/sante
Sonoma Grille and Bar
Dine in, three-course Thanksgiving dinner from noon to 8 p.m. The first course includes a pumpkin and ginger soup, seasonal watercress salad and crispy polenta with rock shrimp. Main course options include roasted turkey breast with fixings, New York Angus steak, baked flounder roulades and gnocchi in a black truffle cream sauce. For dessert, there’s tiramisu, chocolate torte and pumpkin cheesecake. $70 per person. Reserve on OpenTable.
165 W. Napa St., Sonoma, 707-938-7542, sonomagrilleandbar.com
The Depot Hotel and Restaurant
A three-course prix fixe menu. Choice of appetizers include chicory salad with persimmons, pomegranate molasses vinaigrette, shaved goat cheese, or roasted butternut squash soup with brown butter mascarpone cream, aged balsamic, fried sage. The main course is a choice of ‘turchetta’ with garlic mashed potatoes, herb butter green beans and cranberry mostarda sauce; braised short ribs with three cheese polenta, sauteed Brussels sprouts leaves, roasted baby carrots, veal jus gremolata; or a vegetarian risotto with roasted baby carrots, butternut squash and Brussels sprouts. For dessert, there will be pumpkin crostata with spiced mascarpone whipped cream, candied pumpkin seeds, or tortino al cioccolato with warm chocolate cake, vanilla ice cream, red wine sauce. Reserve online.
241 First St. W., Sonoma, 707-938-2980, depotsonoma.com
Della Fattoria
Thanksgiving specials for pickup from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 22. Special menu items include Della crouton stuffing, dinner rolls, floral centerpieces, pumpkin tart, apple braid, bread pudding, bourbon pecan tart and lemon olive oil cake. There will be other items in the shop on Nov. 22 that are not available for preorder. Reserve holiday selections online.
141 Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma, dellafattoria.com
Pete’s Henny Penny
Takeout Thanksgiving dinners with all the fixings. Meals include a turkey dinner ($25.95), lamb shank ($27.95), roast pork dinner ($21.95) and prime rib ($37.95). Dinners include soup, salad, yams, veggies, stuffing, gravy, mashed or roasted potatoes, cranberry sauce (for turkey dinners) and dinner rolls with butter. Desserts will be available. Call 707-763-0459 to preorder takeout dinners. The restaurant will be open 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day for dine-in, with a limited menu after 11 a.m. on a first come, first served basis.
4995 Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma, 707-763-0459, peteshennypennys.com
Cafe Bellini
A Thanksgiving Day special will be served from noon to 7 p.m. Menu includes an oven-roasted turkey with garlic mashed potatoes, turkey gravy, herbed stuffing, baby carrots and cranberry sauce ($28), or oven-roasted, herb-crusted prime rib with au jus, garlic mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables ($34). Apple pie and pumpkin pie will be available for dessert.
100 S. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma, 707-774-6160, thecafebellini.com
Stellina Pronto
Thanksgiving items for pickup. The savory menu includes brioche buns, wild mushroom bisque, focaccia stuffing, butternut squash risotto, sweet potato gratin, creme fraiche mashed potatoes, caramelized Brussels sprouts and pancetta-wrapped turkey breast porchetta. Sweet items include pumpkin pie, apple pie, assorted cookies, pumpkin cheesecake, maple pecan tart, chocolate ganache and caramel tart, pistachio almond cake and poached pear frangipane tart. Order online for pickup 9 a.m. to noon on Nov. 21 or Nov. 22.
23 Kentucky St., Petaluma, 707-789-9556, stellinapronto.com
Bacchus Restaurant & Wine Bar at the DoubleTree
Dine in a la carte Thanksgiving dinner menu. Starters include oysters, stuffed mussels, Caesar salad, harvest salad, burrata with roasted fall squash and Brussels sprouts in a secret sauce with ricotta salata. Entrees include pumpkin gnocchi in a creamy brown butter sage sauce and buttermilk-brined Diestel Ranch turkey with giblet gravy, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, baked sweet potatoes, cornbread chorizo stuffing and cranberry bourbon chutney. Desserts include assorted gelatos, pumpkin or pecan pie, brown butter cake with cranberry-apple compote and basque cheesecake with white chocolate and pumpkin spice drizzle. Find menu with prices and reserve a spot on OpenTable.
1 Doubletree Drive, Rohnert Park, 707-584-5466, hilton.com/en/hotels/rlsc-dt-doubletree-sonoma-wine-country/dining
Dry Creek Kitchen
Dine in for a three-course prix fixe Thanksgiving meal from 2-7 p.m., with optional wine pairing. First course choices include hamachi tartare, ricotta and greens gnudi, local greens salad with orange vinaigrette, grilled chicories with smoked date jam or Devil’s Gulch Ranch rabbit country pâté on rye toast. The main course is a choice of Mary’s turkey with mushroom bread pudding and black truffle gravy, sweet potato scarpinocc, pistachio-crusted halibut, maple-brined pork tenderloin or Painted Hills prime New York strip steak. Additional sides ($16 each) include pomme purée, herb roasted sweet potatoes and Blue Lake bean casserole. Dessert is a choice of apple streusel cheesecake, chocolate peanut butter bar or pumpkin spice mousse bomb. $110 per guest and $55 for children under 12. Reserve on OpenTable.
317 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-431-0330, drycreekkitchen.com
Spoonbar
Spoonbar, h2hotel’s restaurant, will have a dine-in, three-course Thanksgiving feast, with vegetarian and kids’ options, from 2-7 p.m. The first course is a choice between Dungeness crab bisque, yellowfin tuna crudo and little gems lettuce salad with buttermilk dressing. For the main course, choose from a turkey with cornbread stuffing, braised beef short ribs, herb baked salmon or lentil-stuffed heirloom squash. Dessert, served buffet style, includes pumpkin pie, pecan bars, Sebastopol apple tart and chocolate dipped profiteroles. The kids’ menu includes a choice of rigatoni with butter and Parmesan, a cheeseburger with fries or roasted turkey breast with mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry relish; plus dessert. $79 per person and $35 for children under 12. Reserve on OpenTable or call 707-433-7222.
219 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-433-7222, spoonbar.com
Goodnight’s Prime Steak + Spirits
Dine in for a three-course Thanksgiving feast. Choice of appetizers includes roast butternut squash bisque, Chalk Hill Farm estate bibb salad, Parker House rolls with cultured butter, or burrata with grilled sourdough and roasted bell pepper and kalamata olive tapenade. Entree choices are herb roast prime rib, whole cauliflower muhammara, roasted rolled turkey gremolata or lemon-thyme olive oil poached halibut. Rib-eye and filet mignon are available as add-ons for $30 each. Family-style sides include pecan-glazed yams, mac and cheese, Yukon Gold potato purée and maple syrup roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon. Dessert is a choice of sweet potato pie, apple pecan cake or banana bourbon tiramisu. $95 per guest and $45 per child under 6. Reserve on OpenTable or call 707-543-1000.
113 Plaza St., Healdsburg, 707-543-1000, goodnightsrestaurant.com
The Madrona
The restaurant at The Madrona will have a dine-in prix fixe Thanksgiving dinner. The menu includes housemade chips and dip, Gruyere gougeres and petite radish with cultured butter to share for the table; garden salad and roasted vegetable tarte flambé for starters; an entree choice of truffle risotto with kabocha squash or sage roasted turkey with gravy, stuffing, potatoes and glazed carrots; and pumpkin bread pudding for dessert. $165 per person. Reserve on OpenTable.
1001 Westside Road, Healdsburg, 707-395-6700, themadronahotel.com/dine-drink
Chalkboard
Dine in for a three-course, family-style Thanksgiving dinner from noon to 6 p.m. Menu includes an estate salad, Parker House rolls, confit turkey breast, fried turkey leg, bone-in beef rib, pomme purée, cornbread dressing and vegetable and wild mushroom casserole. Wine pairings, cranberry cocktails and cheese and charcuterie boards are available as add-ons. $125 per person. Reserve on OpenTable or call 707-473-8030.
29 North St., Healdsburg, 707-473-8030, hotellesmars.com/chalkboard.htm
Little Saint
Fully plant-based Thanksgiving feast or a la carte items for pickup. The vegan Thanksgiving bundle ($300) includes a celery root pithivier main dish served with mushroom gravy, sourdough stuffing, baked sweet potatoes, glazed Brussels sprouts, roasted winter squash, Yukon Gold potato gratin and cranberry sauce. Desserts include choice of apple pie, pecan tart and pumpkin tart. Main, sides and desserts can be purchased a la carte. Order deadline is Nov. 17 for pickup between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. from Nov. 20-22. Order on Tock.
25 North St., Healdsburg, 707-433-8207, littlesainthealdsburg.com
Costeaux French Bakery
Thanksgiving baked goods for pickup. Items include panettone, croissants, morning buns, pecan pie, pumpkin cheesecake, cinnamon walnut bread, pumpkin cranberry muffins and pound cake, a festive cookie plate, a dozen potato dinner rolls (rolls only available for pickup on Nov. 22) and more. Order online.
417 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-433-1913, costeaux.com
Piacére Ristorante Italiano
Dine in Thanksgiving menu, indoor or outdoor patio seating, from 3-8 p.m. Dinners include roasted turkey with gravy, slow-roasted Angus prime rib and braised jumbo lamb shank. All entrees are served with Franco American sourdough bread, mixed green salad or New England clam chowder, garlic cauliflower mashed potatoes, sauteed mixed vegetables, housemade stuffing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. $49.95 per person. Reservations are required due to limited seating. Call 707-894-0885 to reserve a table.
504 N. Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale, 707-894-0885, piacereristorante.com
Flour Girl
Thanksgiving treats and goods for pickup. The holiday menu includes bourbon pumpkin pie, maple pecan pie, apple crumb pie, chocolate espresso cream pie, chardonnay-infused yellow cake with sweet chestnut paste and chocolate ganache, Thanksgiving-themed sugar cookies from Delici.Uso and a six-pack of take-and-bake buttermilk biscuits (plain or herbed). Also available to order: locally made extra virgin olive oil and festive chrysanthemum bouquets from Seven Moons Farm. Order online or email goodies@myflourgirl.com. Pickup from 3-6 p.m. on Nov. 22 at the Flour Girl shop behind Plank Coffee in Cloverdale.
227 N. Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale, myflourgirl.com
Farmstand and Farmhouse Restaurant at Farmhouse Inn
Farmhouse Inn’s two restaurants will serve Thanksgiving dinners. The fine dining Farmhouse Inn Restaurant will serve a dinner crafted by its new chef Craig Wilmer and team, at $275 per person. Reserve on OpenTable.
The cozy Farmstand will have a family-style Thanksgiving dinner. The prix fixe menu includes a winter greens salad with cranberry vinaigrette for the first course, winter vegetable gratinata or cappellacci di zucca and consommé for the second course, and winter mushroom lasagna or confit of Bartolomei heritage turkey with gravy for the main course. Sides include pomme purée, Brussels sprouts and Yorkshire pudding, and for dessert there will be pumpkin pie and panettone with sabayon. $125 per person. Reserve on OpenTable.
7871 River Road, Forestville, 707-887-3300, farmhouseinn.com
Muir’s Tea Room
Vegan Thanksgiving fare for takeout. A la carte items include mini pumpkin pasties, mushroom tarts, “sausage” rolls, cornbread, traditional stuffing, chunky mashed potatoes, butternut squash mac and cheese, housemade tamales and enchiladas with roasted veggies, cookie assortment boxes and dessert platters with fall goodies, such as pecan sandies, pumpkin pie bars and chocolate hazelnut spread linzer cookies. Orders close Nov. 17; pick up 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 22. Order online.
330 S. Main St., Sebastopol, 707-634-6143, muirstearoomandcafe.com
The Lodge at Dawn Ranch
Dine in, three-course Thanksgiving meal with seatings from 1-5:30 p.m. The menu includes brioche Parker rolls and pumpkin soup for starters. Choice of mains are roasted turkey, baked ham, grilled trout or sauteed lion’s mane mushrooms. Shareable sides (choose three for the table) include roasted yams, creamed corn, braised greens, mashed potatoes, seared little gem, and cranberry and huckleberry stuffing. Dessert is a choice of pecan pie with cinnamon ice cream or a pumpkin spiral with creme fraiche. $75 per person. Reserve on OpenTable.
Dawn Ranch also has a “Thanksgiving Escape Package,” from Nov. 22 to Nov. 25, that includes a stay at a newly renovated luxury cabin and a Thanksgiving Day dinner for two at The Lodge.
16467 Highway 116, Guerneville, 707-869-0656, dawnranch.com
Timberline
Dine in for a Thanksgiving buffet or takeout holiday meal. The buffet menu includes citrus chardonnay roasted turkey, glazed ham, house-rub prime rib, cornbread stuffing, sweet potato casserole, macaroni and cheese, green beans almondine, creamed sweet corn, molasses bread rolls, cranberry orange sauce and a holiday dessert table. $75 per adult and $35 for children under 12. Seatings are at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.; call to reserve. The takeout menu consists of the same items as the buffet menu (with choice of protein or combo of two to three), with a pumpkin pie in lieu of a dessert spread. $65 per meal. Call to place order; pick up 2-6 p.m. on Nov. 23.
16440 Fourth St., Guerneville, 707-604-7617, timberlineattheriver.com
Dinucci’s Restaurant
Dine in five-course Thanksgiving dinner, served from noon to 7 p.m. Menu includes an antipasti plate, minestrone soup with Franco American Bakery sourdough, a Waldorf salad or garden green salad, beef and spinach ravioli in a Bolognese sauce, and a main course of roasted turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, candied yams and a side of cranberry sauce. Pumpkin pie with fresh whipped cream will be available for dessert. $45 per person. Reserve online or call 707-876-3260.
14485 Valley Ford Road, Valley Ford, 707-876-3260, dinuccisrestaurant.com
Rocker Oysterfeller’s Kitchen + Saloon
Dine-in, family-style Thanksgiving feast. The menu features an Estero Gold pimento cheese ball with toasted pecans and rustic crackers for an amuse-bouche; an autumn harvest salad with toasted fennel vinaigrette for the first course; for the main course, a Cajun brined and smoked Diestel Ranch turkey, mashed potatoes, sherried giblet gravy, cornbread sausage dressing, maple candied yams, Cajun fried Brussels sprouts, Grand Marnier-spiked cranberry sauce and Parker House rolls; and pumpkin pie with vanilla-bourbon whipped cream and pecan pie with rum raisin ice cream for dessert. $75 per person. Reserve on Eventbrite.
14415 Highway 1, Valley Ford, 707-876-1983, rockeroysterfellers.com
Coast Kitchen at Timber Cove Resort
In addition to a “Friendsgiving Celebration” held at Timber Cove a week prior to Thanksgiving (Nov. 13-16), Coast Kitchen will serve a three-course prix fixe dinner at 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Start with seafood chowder, roasted squash salad or fresh local dressed oysters. Entrees are a choice of roasted turkey breast with gravy, garlic mashed potatoes, wild rice and andouille sausage, and cranberry sauce; squash risotto with Parmesan, baby kale and spiced pumpkin seeds; or southern halibut with bacon, shallots, chicory and celery root purée. Sides, served family-style, include garlicky green beans, Brussels sprouts in a sherry-bacon vinaigrette and brown butter roasted sweet potatoes. Dessert is a choice of a pecan apple pie and pumpkin cheesecake dessert duo, or seasonal gelato or sorbet. $79 per person and $35 for children 12 and under. Reserve on Resy.
21780 Highway 1, Jenner, 707-847-3231, coastkitchensonoma.com
The Tides Wharf & Restaurant
Dine in Thanksgiving a la carte specials. Menu includes butter leaf salad with goat cheese and cranberry vinaigrette; pumpkin ravioli in brown butter and sage; pesto linguine with jumbo prawns; pan-seared halibut in lobster sauce with rice and seasonal vegetables; roast turkey with gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables and cranberry sauce; pumpkin pie with whipped cream and pecan pie with vanilla ice cream. Call 707-875-3652 to reserve a table.
835 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, 707-875-3652, innatthetides.com/tides-wharf-restaurant
Nom Nom Cakes
Thanksgiving desserts for pickup. Holiday specials include turkey cupcakes, various fall pies, fall cookie kit, spiced pumpkin bread and Thanksgiving variety packs, which include a pumpkin cake roll, apple crisp cupcake and pecan tarts. Order online; all online orders must be placed three days in advance. Pick up from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 22.
390 Calle Del Sol, Bodega Bay, 805-350-0680, nomnombaking.com
Americana and Estero Cafe
An “everything but the bird” Thanksgiving fixings preorder for pickup from Estero and Americana chef Ryan Ramey and team. The menu includes dinner rolls from Village Bakery, fall salad, whipped potatoes, turkey gravy, sourdough stuffing, maple pecan yams, cranberry sauce and green beans with almonds. Allspice cookies, butternut squash soup and wine by the bottle are available as add-ons. $100 for meal for two to three people and $175 for meal for four to six people. Order online. Pick up from noon to 3 p.m. at Santa Rosa location and from 1-3 p.m. at Sebastopol and Valley Ford locations on Nov. 22.
205 Fifth St. Suite A, Santa Rosa, 707-755-1548; 162 N. Main St., Sebastopol, 707-827-3309, americanasr.com; and 14450 Highway 1, Valley Ford, 707-876-3333, esterocafe.com
Sonoma County Catering Co.
A Thanksgiving feast for pickup includes roast turkey or honey-glazed ham, Sonoma greens salad, garlic rosemary mashed potatoes with a side of turkey gravy, roasted seasonal vegetables, a classic stuffing, housemade cranberry sauce and fresh focaccia. Feast is $169 and serves six to eight people. Pick up cold on Nov. 22 (with heating instructions) or hot on Thanksgiving Day. Order online or call 707-694-3772.
707-694-3772, sonomacountycatering.com
Suncraft Fine Foods
Thanksgiving dinner for delivery and pickup. Menu options include cheesy pull-apart sourdough round, spinach Parmesan puffs, goat cheese-stuffed roasted cremini mushrooms, organic baked yams, fall harvest salad, mushroom and herb stuffing, creamy mac and cheese, a turkey dinner with fixings, vegetarian stuffed acorn squash, apple galette, spiced rum pumpkin pie and more. See details and individual prices online. Call 707-343-6016 or email feast@suncraftfinefoods.com to place order by Nov. 15 for delivery or pickup on Nov. 22. Deliveries are limited within Sonoma Valley to Oakmont.
Sonoma, 707-343-6016, suncraftfinefoods.com
Petaluma Market
Whole Thanksgiving dinner for delivery (within Petaluma city limits) or pickup. Meal includes a choice of free range turkey (12-14 pounds) or Caggiano gourmet ham (6-8 pounds), served with stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, candied yams, garlic almond green beans, dinner rolls, orange cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. $200 per dinner. A 48-hour notice is required. Pickup times between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.
210 Western Ave., Petaluma, 707-762-5464, petalumamarket.com
Sally Tomatoes
Thanksgiving dinner and a la carte items for delivery or pickup. Holiday menu includes roasted turkey with gravy, salad, green bean casserole, portobello mushroom stuffing, Yukon Gold mashed potatoes, apple cider-glazed sweet potatoes, cranberry chutney and pumpkin cheesecake. Pick up order on Nov. 22 or until noon on Nov. 23. A ready-to-serve party delivery offer is available from Nov. 16 to Nov. 22 for a minimum of 15 people ($17.50 to $22.50 per person) and includes all the necessary utensils. Order online.
1100 Valley House Drive, Rohnert Park, 707-665-9472, sallytomatoes.com
Community Market
A fall feast menu with classic and vegetarian Thanksgiving options for pickup. Choice of mains includes roast turkey, black Angus chuck pot roast and wild rice pilaf-stuffed squash. Starch and vegetable sides include stuffing, potato gratin, sauteed kale, candied yams, herby quinoa, mashed potatoes, caramelized Brussels sprouts, roasted root vegetables and more. There’s also classic and vegan gravy by the quart and pints of cranberry sauce, creamy horseradish sauce and pecan gremolata. $170 for classic meal and $150 for vegetarian meal. Each meal comes with about a 5-pound main, choice of two starch and two vegetable sides (2 pounds per side) and choice of two sauces. All items are refrigerated, ready to heat and serve. Email order or any questions to geoffrey@cmnaturalfood.com.
6762 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol, 707-407-4020; and 1899 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-546-1806, cmnaturalfoods.com
Oliver’s Market
Complete and a la carte holiday dinners for pickup. The complete dinner ($170, serves six to eight people) includes a whole Diestel Ranch turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, vegetable medley, cranberry sauce and pull-apart rolls. Whole pies are available as add-ons. The a la carte holiday menu includes these items plus prime rib, baked ham, a vegan roast, vegetarian stuffing, candied yams, roasted Brussels sprouts, herbed green beans, vegan scalloped potatoes and assorted fruit pies. Order online. Pick up any day 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (pick date and time when placing order). The store will be open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
Locations in Santa Rosa, Windsor and Cotati. oliversmarket.com
Whole Foods
Thanksgiving meals or a la carte items for pickup. Holiday menu selections include roasted or oven-ready whole turkeys, mashed potatoes, herb stuffing, roasted harvest vegetables, green bean casserole, lemon-herb asparagus, macaroni and cheese, cider-roasted Brussels sprouts, cranberry orange sauce, soups and salads, dinner rolls, appetizer platters and assorted pies. Whole turkey feasts are priced at $100, $400 and $540, serving four to 12 people. Order by Nov. 21 at the latest; pick up Nov. 17-Nov. 23.
Locations in Petaluma, Sonoma, Santa Rosa and Sebastopol. wholefoodsmarket.com
Raley’s
Thanksgiving dinners and a la carte items for pickup or delivery. Full dinners include either a fully cooked spiral glazed ham or roasted turkey (Diestel or Butterball), served with sides such as stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, cheesy mashed potatoes, green beans almondine, Brussels sprouts and butternut squash. Dinners are $70 to $150, serving two to four or six to eight people. Order online now for pickup or delivery Nov. 19-23.
Locations in Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa and Windsor. raleys.com
Safeway
Holiday meals and a la carte items for pickup. Thanksgiving fare includes various party trays (with cheese, charcuterie, fruit and/or veggies) and three Thanksgiving dinners. The home-style turkey dinner includes a 10-12-pound fully cooked turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce ($70, serves six to eight people). The ham dinner includes a 6-8-pound fully cooked spiral ham, spiced apples, scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole and mashed sweet potatoes ($80, serves eight to 10 people). The prime rib dinner includes a 3-4.5-pound fully cooked prime rib roast and the same sides as the ham dinner ($100, serves five to six people). Order online for pickup during normal hours any day through Nov. 22 or from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23.
Multiple locations in Sonoma County. safeway.com
Dry Creek Kitchen was a long shot when Charlie Palmer opened the restaurant 20 years ago in Healdsburg.
Long before it became a culinary mecca, the rural town was considered too far from Santa Rosa, where headliner chefs like Josh Silvers at Syrah and John Ash at his namesake restaurant were the star attractions.
And Palmer was a wild card from the East Coast whose most recent project was a Las Vegas-based outpost of his lauded New York City restaurant, Aureole. The highlights were “Wine Angels,” bodysuit-clad women levitating on wire harnesses inside a four-story glass tower filled with 10,000 bottles of wine. Named one of the Best Chefs in America by the James Beard Foundation in 1997 and featured in Julia Childs’ Cooking With Master Chefs program in 1993, Palmer wasn’t afraid of the limelight.
But soon after Dry Creek Kitchen opened, longtime restaurant critic and current Press Democrat contributor Jeff Cox blessed the fledgling eatery.
“Dry Creek Kitchen is a major restaurant for this region. It adds to the cachet that makes the Wine Country a tourist destination,” he wrote in 2001. Cox was peevish, however, about Palmer’s slogan, that using fresh, local products prepared with classic French technique was “progressive American cooking.”
Wine Country cuisine was founded on those same pillars and already pervasive in the region. “This isn’t anything new for the fine restaurants of Sonoma and Napa counties. John Ash started doing this nearly 20 years ago,” Cox wrote.
Even so, the seed-to-table ethos aligned with Palmer’s agricultural upbringing in a small upstate New York town. California chefs like Ash and Alice Waters, who were obsessively sourcing from local farms and artisan producers, intrigued him. Palmer’s vision — whether called progressive American or Wine Country cuisine — is a through line for Dry Creek Kitchen.
Since opening the Healdsburg restaurant, Palmer has built a culinary empire with restaurants in New York; Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada; and Washington, D.C. He’s earned more than a dozen Michelin stars. Though he’s remained a guiding light at Dry Creek Kitchen, a litany of talented chefs including Dustin Valette (of restaurants Valette, Matheson and Roof 106); Mateo Granados (of the now-closed Mateo’s Cocina Latina); and Scott Romano (of Spago and Aureole) executed — and often put their spin on — Palmer’s vision.
But as Healdsburg’s restaurant scene exploded with exciting new players like SingleThread, Cyrus and Brass Rabbit (which closed in 2020) and its notable executive chefs moved to other projects, Dry Creek Kitchen’s light dimmed. Though its award-winning wine list and classic menu rarely disappointed, it seemed staid compared to higher-profile restaurateurs and shiny new kitchens. Diners can be a fickle lot.
That’s changing with a significant renovation to the dining room and the recent addition of Executive Chef Shane McAnelly.
Palmer, who now spends much of his time at home in Sonoma County, wants to raise the restaurant’s profile and reinstate some of his original vision, which has faded over the years. He’s also bringing in fresh, new ideas from McAnelly.
After a brief detour east, McAnelly has returned to his old stomping grounds in Healdsburg. He led the kitchens of Chalkboard and Brass Rabbit (both backed by wine mogul Bill Foley) and then joined the Bricoleur Vineyards’ culinary team. Throughout that time, he developed strong relationships with area farmers and producers, something he missed while working in North Carolina.
“The most important thing for me is that our chefs want to be where they are,” Palmer said. “Healdsburg is a sleepy town, and that’s always been a challenge. Shane has a lot of history here, and his knowledge of the area is far above anyone who’s started here.”
After several phone calls between the chefs, McAnelly returned to Sonoma County. “I guess I was convincing,” Palmer said.
“I’m just happy to be back and working with Charlie and back in the community,” McAnelly said. “I’m at a place in my career where I have a fresh outlook on things, and I’m pushing our team and the best dining experience I can deliver.”
Two years ago, the restaurant moved from a traditional menu to three- and five-course prix-fixe menus. The three-course menu is $75 per person; the five-course tasting menu is $135, with wine pairing an additional $80. The restaurant offers a three-course Sonoma Neighbor menu on Thursdays for $55. The change allows chefs to focus on a set menu and diners to have a congruent experience with specific wine pairings and set courses.
That style seems to work for McAnelly, as it allows creativity around clear parameters. When he arrived in September, the changes to the Dry Creek Kitchen experience were already apparent.
On a recent visit, a Pacific halibut with tiny slices of zucchini painstakingly laid like scales atop the fish was stunning. But the preparation is more than tweezer acrobatics; the thin dimes of squash hold in the moisture of this lean fish. McAnelly surrounds the sous vide-poached protein with a rich beurre blanc, butter-braised leeks, saffron-fennel puree and petite end-of-summer vegetables. Already, the fish course has switched up to salmon with red wine-braised cabbage and honeynut squash with a mustard emulsion. By the time this story is published, it may have changed again.
“I only bring in ingredients I’m passionate about,” McAnelly said. On the day of our interview, he had been to Russian River Organics and went to Seven Moons farm in Sonoma later in the day.
“It’s important to think of the menu as ever-changing,” Palmer said. “It will always be presented differently; as it gets colder — braised duck or confit. In summer, it’s nice to let the protein shine and pair with something that makes sense.”
Expect some preparation of duck, beef and fish on the menu perennially, along with pasta — a passion of McAnelly’s.
Vegetarian options are plentiful and include dishes like radish toast with black truffle yogurt butter, roasted beet salad with burrata, squash agnolotti with brown butter and mushrooms or cauliflower a la plancha. A matsutake mushroom dish with umami broth was another stunner that, despite its simple presentation, was savory and rich with flavors amped up like a Metallica concert.
Pastry chef Taylor Kelley creates whimsical desserts like a pumpkin spice mousse bomb with vanilla beans, espresso chantilly and ginger crème Anglaise.
Only one dish remains unchanged on the menu: the Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar, made with dark chocolate, peanut butter mousse and chocolate praline sauce.
“We’ve taken it off a couple of times, and there is a revolt,” Palmer said.
Though Dry Creek Kitchen has received only one Michelin nod — a single star in 2007 — Palmer hopes to get the restaurant back on the Michelin inspector’s radar.
“Shane and I talked a lot about what we want (Dry Creek Kitchen) to be, and we want to make it the quintessential one-star Michelin Wine Country-centric restaurant. It takes a lot of thinking about what that entails,” Palmer said.
To receive a single star, according to Michelin’s rubric, a restaurant must be “very good in its category,” have a high-quality menu and prepare cuisine to a consistently high standard. Though seemingly a reachable goal, Barndiva and Cyrus are the only Sonoma County restaurants to hold one star.
Michelin inspectors usually look for outstanding cuisine, excellent service and, especially in Wine Country, an impressive wine list.
Dry Creek Kitchen has the largest selection of local wines “in existence,” with an extended cellar of about 2,000 bottles and many rare varietals, according to Palmer. A new wine room in the restaurant holds 700 bottles within temperature-controlled glass walls and has become a functional part of the dining room. Wine Angels are not included.
Service remains both professional and relaxed.
“It’s important that the service is very friendly and accommodating. The hardest thing to do is really execute well with a really friendly smile on your face, and that’s what makes it special,” Palmer said.
McAnelly and Palmer don’t see Dry Creek Kitchen becoming a once-in-lifetime experience for diners, but somewhere people can come frequently.
“(Dry Creek Kitchen) has evolved, and I think in a good way,” Palmer said. “It continues to, first and foremost, the restaurant that I envisioned 20 years ago as the quintessential Wine Country restaurant. It was important to me, and still is, to embrace what’s happening in Sonoma County.”
Dry Creek Kitchen is at 317 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-431-0330, drycreekkitchen.com. Open for dinner 5-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 5:30-9 p.m. Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday.
