Page 95 – Sonoma Magazine

Today Is National Hot Dog Day. So Pair Pinot with Gourmet Wieners in Sebastopol

July 2023

By Heather Irwin

Whamola wieners at Claypool Cellars in Sebastopol. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)

Even if you’ve never heard of the band Primus (or the South Park theme song), we still encourage stuffing your face at the giant hot-dog-shaped wiener cart at alt-rocker Les Claypool’s wildly wonderful wine tasting room near Forestville.

Known as Pachyderm Station, Claypool’s tasting room serves serious pinot noirs with an imaginative selection of gourmet wieners, each named after family members.

Choose from the Colonel’s Choice (sauerkraut, stone-ground mustard and pepperoncini); Iowan Gal (Ranch dressing, barbecue sauce, cheddar and corn chips); Leenie’s Weenie (Frank’s Red Hot sauce, blue cheese dressing and crumbled salt and vinegar chips); or Cage’s Caveman (Sweet Baby Ray’s barbecue sauce, dill pickle chips and crispy fried onions).

Each Niman Ranch dog is served on a Dutch Crunch roll from Franco American Bakery. $7.50 each.

Open noon to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday. 5425 Gravenstein Highway N., Sebastopol, 707-820-1263, claypoolcellars.com, purplepachyderm.com

Forestville’s Farmhouse Inn Gets a New Chef. Again

July 2023

By Heather Irwin

After more than a year of false starts at Farmhouse Inn in Forestville, co-owner Catherine Bartolomei sits across from me as we dine from the new six-course tasting menu from chef Craig Wilmer. She’s enthusiastic about the former Coi and Petit Crenn chef now heading the kitchen of the luxury hotel.

The current menu includes complex seasonal dishes, two favorites being a ladder of perfectly stacked spring peas interspersed with tiny basil leaves and a rangpur lime emulsion, and a strip loin of beef from Snake River Farms. Sommelier Jared Hooper pairs the dishes with humor and a passion for offbeat wines.

Chef Craig Wilmer of Farmhouse Inn in Forestville. (Farmhouse Inn)

Wilmer, who worked for many years with chef Erik Anderson (Coi, Truss, Barndiva), has settled into the kitchen over the last four months following the brief tenures of chefs Trevor Anderson, Daniel Beal and Jeremy Cabrera. Despite the prior chaos, Wilmer seems at home in the space and will hopefully elevate the food to its former critical acclaim.

Once considered one of the hottest reservations in Sonoma County, the restaurant went through a series of chefs after the departure of longtime culinary director and chef Steve Litke in late 2021. Litke oversaw the restaurant from its inception, retained a Michelin star for 14 years and made the dining spot a destination.

The Farmhouse Inn is an international darling of travel magazines and Instagrammers for its luxurious, modern guest accommodations and quiet location. It’s been owned by the brother-sister duo Catherine and Joe Bartolomei since 1999. The tasting menu is $225 per person, with wine pairings an additional $125. 7871 River Road, Forestville, 707-887-3300, farmhouseinn.com

This $25 Million Vineyard Estate Is the Most Expensive Property Listed in Napa Right Now

July 2023

By Karen Kizer

The home has nearly 7800 square feet of total living space and sits on 56 acres overlooking the Oak Knoll District AVA. (Paul Rollins / Sotheby's International Realty) — The home has nearly 7800 square feet of total living space and sits on 56 acres overlooking the Oak Knoll District AVA. (Paul Rollins / Sotheby’s International Realty)

A 56-acre vineyard estate with 7,766 square feet of living space is currently on the market for $25 million. It is currently the most expensive property listed in Napa.

Construction of the 4,950-square-foot main residence, which overlooks the Oak Knoll District of the Napa Valley American Viticultural Area, was completed in 2002 by owners Betsy Moulds and her late husband, Steve Moulds, of Moulds Family Vineyards. It was designed by notable local architects Ed Keiner and John Kasten, and crafted by builder Dale James and landscape architect Jack Chandler. The interiors were designed by Erin Martin of Martin Design in Napa, who handpicked every piece of furniture for the home.

The main residence has three bedrooms and two bathrooms and features vaulted ceilings with exposed wood beams, wide-plank hickory-pecan floors and a great room that opens to a covered 2,022-square-foot deck that can accommodate 100 guests, according to the listing.

Martin, who said she “was given free rein to run with [her] ideas,” chose a neutral color palette for the interiors of the home to create a blank canvas that would help showcase the many artifacts the Moulds had collected during their travels.

In addition to the main house, the sprawling estate incudes an additional 7,322 square feet of entertainment areas, including an entertainment barn, a two-bedroom guest house and a two-bedroom apartment.

Views from the main residence include the property’s own nine-acre Cabernet vineyards. For new house owners interested in making wine, there’s an area for processing grapes and a wine cellar.

Click through the above gallery for a peek inside the home.

For more information on this home, contact Hillary Ryan of Sotheby’s International Realty – St. Helena Brokerage, 707-312-2105, 707-200-2488, 1229 Adams Street, St. Helena, hillary.ryan@sothebys.realty, sotheybys.com

4 Bay Area Spots Added to Michelin List of ‘Best Value’ Restaurants

July 2023

By Heather Irwin

Mabel’s Gone Fishing (San Diego) is among 10 California restaurants that have been added to Michelin’s Bib Gourmand list. (Eater BNR)

A week before the much-anticipated reveal of California’s 2023 Michelin star winners on July 18, the international restaurant guide disclosed an amuse-bouche of 10 new Bib Gourmands — restaurants offering good food at a good value.

According to the news release, Michelin inspectors have chosen 143 California Bib Gourmands this year, including the 10 new additions. Frustratingly, none of the shiny new Bibs are in Wine Country — not in Sonoma nor Napa counties, nor north of the Golden Gate Bridge. But four of the newcomers are in the Bay Area: Bansang (San Francisco, Korean cuisine); Bombera (Oakland, Mexican cuisine); Petiscos (San Jose, Portuguese cuisine); and Snail Bar (Oakland, contemporary cuisine).

“The inspection team and I are very excited about these ten restaurants joining the wide array of Bib Gourmand restaurants already in the great state of California,” said Gwendal Poullennec, the International Director of the Michelin Guides.

Other newcomers to the Bib Gourmand category this year are Carnes Asadas Pancho Lopez (Los Angeles, Mexican cuisine); Cobi’s (Santa Monica, Asian cuisine); Eat Joy Food (Rowland Heights, Taiwanese cuisine); Mabel’s Gone Fishing (San Diego, seafood); Maligne (Seaside, Californian cuisine); and Villa’s Tacos (Los Angeles, Mexican cuisine).

The complete list of Bib Gourmand restaurants will be available on July 18, along with the California Michelin star list, following the live ceremony in Oakland.

We’re not entirely sour grapes about the whole thing, though. Despite having no Wine Country restaurants debut on the Bib Gourmand list this year, last year eight local restaurants maintained their Bib Gourmand status, including Healdsburg’s Chalkboard; El Molino Central, Valley Bar + Bottle and FolkTable in Sonoma; Khom Loi and Ramen Gaijin in Sebastopol; Stockhome in Petaluma; and Glen Ellen Star in Glen Ellen.

Like this year, there were no new additions to the Bib Gourmand list from Sonoma County in 2022.

While the stars remain the restaurant world’s most coveted awards, being selected a Bib Gourmand by Michelin inspectors is also an honor and can put a restaurant on the map. To be considered for the Bib Gourmand category, restaurants must serve two courses, a glass of wine or dessert for around $40 or less — a tall order in California.

Today, the Michelin Guide comprises a series of guidebooks and announces awards annually across countries, regions and cities — there’s a Michelin Guide for France, but also one for Paris. In the United States, awards are announced in cities like New York City or Washington, D.C., and statewide, in the case of California.

The Michelin guide, launched by French tire company Michelin in 1900, began awarding stars to fine-dining establishments in 1926. In 1955, it introduced a second designation for restaurants deemed a good value by Michelin inspectors. It became known as Bib Gourmand in 1997 and was indicated in the guidebook with an image of the tire company’s mascot, “Bibendum,” also known as the Michelin Man.

Pair Wine and Vinyl at Pop-Up Record Sale in Petaluma

July 2023

By Tina Caputo

Damien Carney of Avinage, with his wife Shree Starkman, in Petaluma. (Tina Caputo)

Wine and vinyl make a fantastic pairing; just ask Damien Carney, the owner of Avinage wine shop.

On Sunday, July 30, Carney is teaming up with Petaluma’s Rain Dog Records for VINYL, a pop-up record sale at his downtown Petaluma wine shop. Offering thousands of used LPs for sale, the event will also feature North Bay record vendors RadioThrift, Think Records, Spinning Threads, and Half Tone Sound.

The all-day vinyl fest will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Avinage’s mezzanine level. A live DJ will spin records throughout the day as attendees comb through the music offerings.

For Carney, the event is a chance to utilize the store’s upstairs space in a fun and interesting way while bringing new people into the shop. He’s also a bit of a record fanatic.

“I always play vinyl in the store and I thought it would be fun to have a pop-up record thing,” he says. “I’d gotten to know the guys at Rain Dog a little because I go there a lot to shop, so I asked them if they’d be interested in a collaboration.”

Though the Avinage permit doesn’t currently allow Carney to pour wine in store, he will be selling bottles to go at the event and recommending wines to pair with customers’ vinyl purchases.

Avinage, 15 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma. 707-774-6080, avinagewines.com

Where to Buy Vinyl in Sonoma County

Can’t make it to the Vinyl event? Check out these local record stores for a rotating selection of new and used albums throughout the year.

RadioThrift

This funky Santa Rosa shop offers an array of used LPs, vintage clothing, cassettes, turntables, art, collectibles, and more. The shop also makes regular appearances at thrift events and pop-up record sales. 1005 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa, instagram.com/radiothrift

Rain Dog Records

Founders and Partial Cell bandmates Gabriel Hernandez, Jon Del Buono, and James Florence founded Rain Dog in 2021 when pandemic lockdowns put a damper on live gigs. What began as a fun way to make some cash turned into a bona-fide brick-and-mortar business selling used and new records of all genres. 1010 Petaluma Blvd. N, Petaluma, raindogrecords.net

Spinning Threads

Vintage clothing, band t-shirts, and used vinyl join forces at this combination record store and thrift shop in downtown Sebastopol. You may just find a treasure among the store’s many bins. 137 N. Main St., Sebastopol, facebook.com

The Next Record Store

Formerly known as the Last Record Store, until one of the original owners retired in 2021, the Next Record Store buys, sells, and trades new and used vinyl, plus CDs. You can also pick up a turntable if you’re not already equipped. 1899 Mendocino Ave., Suite A, Santa Rosa, the-next-record-store.square.site

Coming Soon: Paradise Found

After three decades selling records in Boulder, Colorado, Paradise Found owner Will Paradise is opening a second store in downtown Petaluma this fall, in the former Field Works space. The shop will offer used and new vinyl across genres, along with CDs, t-shirts, and turntables. 316 B St., Petaluma, paradisefoundrecordsmusic.com

28 Favorite Celebrity Spots in Sonoma and Napa Wine Country

July 2023

By Sonoma Magazine Staff

Additional Sonoma County luxury establishments that were recommended by Forbes include Farmhouse Inn (pictured) and Farmhouse Inn Restaurant in Forestville and Hotel Les Mars in Healdsburg. (Farmhouse Inn)

This article was originally published in July 2022.

Los Angeles is the place to go if you’d like to get a glimpse of a few celebrities but Wine Country also attracts its fair share of stars who, like everyone else, come here for the world-class wine, farm-to-table fare and beautiful landscapes.

The Hollywood Reporter published an article stating that Sonoma and Napa counties “have more to offer than ever before” and that some in Hollywood have “found solace” here during the pandemic, including singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers, actress Elizabeth Olsen and singer Kelly Clarkson.

For those really eager to see celebrities on their next Wine Country outing (or at least experience the area like a celebrity), there are online directories, like Galuxsee, that allow people to “search, save and share travel plans based on where celebrities have been.”

With the help of the Hollywood Reporter, Galuxsee, The Press Democrat and some social media sleuthing, we’ve compiled our own list of favorite celebrity spots in Sonoma and Napa counties. Click through the above gallery for all the details.

For more celebrities in Wine Country, check out these stars who are making wine in Sonoma and Napa.

Julia Green and Grace Yarrow contributed to this article.

12 Spots Where You Can Camp by the Beach in Sonoma, Mendocino and Marin

July 2023

By Maci Martell

Summer is almost here and we are ready for some beach fun in the sun. To help combat your Vitamin D deficiency, we’ve rounded up a few coastal campgrounds in Sonoma, Mendocino and Marin counties that allow you to stay right by the beach. Remember to check rules and regulations for each campsite.

Doran Beach Campground, Bodega Bay: Bordered by the breezy Bodega Harbor, Doran Regional Park offers 120 campsites year round and plenty of amenities, including potable water and restrooms with electrical outlets and coin-operated showers. Campground reservations are required. 201 Doran Beach Road, Bodega Bay, 707-875-3540.

Wright’s Beach Campground, Bodega Bay: This sandy beach campground at the Sonoma Coast State Park offers gorgeous ocean and sunset views. There’s plenty of fun outdoor activities here, including whale and bird watching, hang gliding and hiking the Kortum Trail to other nearby beaches. Campsites include restrooms, picnic tables, food lockers and a fire ring. There are no potable water filling areas; fill up water tanks at Bodega Dunes. Visitors are advised to avoid the ocean as Wright’s Beach is one of the most deadly in California. It boasts a 200ft drop off, a violent undertow, and some of the worst rip currents and sleeper waves on the Sonoma Coast. Sonoma Coast State Park, 7095 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, 707-875-3483. parks.ca.gov

Bodega Dunes Campground, Bodega Bay: Within walking distance of beaches and the town of Bodega Bay, this year-round campground in the Bodega Harbor is a popular place for whale watching and horseback riding. The rough waters along this stretch on the coast prohibit wading and swimming. Campsites include restrooms, showers, picnic tables, food lockers and a fire ring. 2485 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, 707-875-3483. parks.ca.gov

Ocean Cove Campground, Jenner: Just north of Fort Ross in the nook of a rocky cove is Ocean Cove Store and Campground, with 20 acres of campsites right on the Pacific Ocean. Amenities include hot showers, fire pits, picnic tables, chemical toilets and a boat ramp. With fishing, scuba diving, and nearby golf and hiking trails, this campground is a great place to relax or enjoy summer activities. 23150 Coast Highway 1, Jenner, 707-847-3422. oceancove.org

Gualala Point Campground, Mendocino County: The Gualala Point Regional Park’s small campground is nestled along the Gualala River in a grove of redwoods. Various trails connect to the beach and coastal bluffs, and the area is a great place to go picnicking or whale watching. The park features flush toilets, electrical outlets and a coin-operated shower. Campground reservations are required. 42401 Highway 1, Gualala, 707-785-2377 parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov

Caspar Beach, Mendocino County: In the small coastal town of Caspar lies the campground of Caspar Headlands State Beach, located in a deep, sandy cove and bustling with kite flyers, boogie boarders and fishermen. The tent sites, sheltered by near 100-foot canyon cliffs, offer showers, picnic tables and fire rings, and full hookups are available for RVs. 4441 Point Cabrillo Drive, Caspar, 707-964-3306.

Caspar Beach RV Park and Campground: Located just north of Caspar Headlands State Beach, this RV park and campground features newly remodeled facilities and a variety of amenities, including coin-operated showers, a game room, wifi and full hook-ups. In addition to RV sites and tent sites, there are also cute and rustic cabins (for two or families). 14441 Point Cabrillo Drive, Mendocino, 707-964-3306 casparbeachrvpark.com

Westport Beach RV Park and Campground, Mendocino County: Located some 17 miles north of Fort Bragg, just off Shoreline Highway 1, this 50-acre privately-owned campground offers beachside camping in the sand, on grassy sites and along a creek. Campers can wander along the private sandy beach, wade, surf, boogie board and play frisbee, or take advantage of seasonal fishing and abalone diving. Accommodations include 75 full hook-up RV sites, 50 tent sites and five group sites. 37700 North Highway 1, Westport, 707-964-2964. westportbeachrvpark.com

Anchor Bay Campground, Mendocino County: This private, six-acre beach campground, stretched along a narrow gulch lined with ferns, redwoods and other native coastal plants, offers serene campsites on the beach complete with fire pits, picnic tables and water hookups. Popular beach activities here include fishing, kayaking, snorkeling, surfing or simply watching the waves lap the shore. 35400 South Highway 1, Gualala, 707-884-4222. abcamp.com

Lawson’s Landing, Marin County: This family-owned and operated fishing and boating resort and campground at the mouth of Tomales Bay has been open since 1957. Since the late ’50s, generations of families have come to stay here, enjoying activities like clamming, boating and hiking. The campground is open year round. 137 Marine View Drive, Dillon Beach, 707-878-2443. l awsonslanding.com

Wildcat Camp, Marin County: This seaside campground is an ideal location for backpackers. The eight open meadow campsites, located on a bluff with stunning views of the ocean, have access to several gorgeous hiking trails, including a two-mile round-trip walk to the Alamere Falls. Reserve online, by calling 877-444-6777 or walking into the Bear Valley Visitor Center during normal hours of operation. 1 Bear Valley Road, Point Reyes Station.

Kirby Cove Campground, Marin County: Located just north of the Golden Gate Bridge at Battery Kirby, this 400-acre campground offers spectacular views of the iconic bridge and northern San Francisco. Visitors like to explore the area by foot or bike, picnicking and taking in the views. The historic army battery, in use from 1898 to 1934, is also worth checking out. The Point Bonita Lighthouse and Nike Missile Site SF-88 are close by. There are five overnight camping sites. 948 Fort Barry, Sausalito, 415-331-1540. recreation.gov