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Archive for September, 2009

Sep 27

GET CONNECTED

And we’re back.

Whew. Sorry, about that. That was one hell of a week. Many apologies for the prolonged delay, but we should now be back to your regular scheduled programming.

To kick off the week, SCL has big news: we’re now on Facebook and Twitter, so come join the fun. All the cool kids are doing it.

Links to both the Facebook Fan Page & Twitter feed are listed below. Of course, these won’t be taking over the Sonoma County Line website in the least, but if you’re a Facecrack addict or a tweeting guru, come join us over yonder to get a little bonus SCL action. There will be some fun contests/giveaways in the near future with these applications, including some delicious Sonoma County wine, so don’t say we didn’t give you a heads-up.

Coming up this week on this site: dining at Central Market (hello Parisian macaroons!), Harvest happenings around the county, some wine & wax Wednesday and a little Sonoma Grown action as well. Cheers!

Facebook Fan Page

Sonoma County Line Twitter Feed

Sep 22

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FLOWERS WINERY LUNCHEON

9-20-09 Flowers Winery Lunch

This weekend I had the distinct pleasure of visiting Flowers Winery out on the Sonoma coast for a tasting, tour and afternoon luncheon. The invite came through some friends and we gathered up a group of 5 for a most excellent day. Warm, sunny weather (a bonus out on the NorCal coast), great Pinot Noir & Chardonnay and absolutely stunning food (courtesy the chef from Restaurant Eloise in Sebastapol).

I’d be hard pressed to think of a better way to spend my Sunday.

Flowers Vineyards & Winery is located about 2 hours north of San Francisco, off of winding Highway 1, just north of Jenner (google map can be found here). It’s quite remote and they do not have a tasting room at the winery or elsewhere in the county (although we hear the search continues for that unique space they know is out there). I’ve enjoyed their wines before while dining out, so when I received the invite to visit the winery for the day, I jumped at the chance. Plus, how could I pass up such a great SCL post? (more after the jump – both literally and figuratively…)

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Sep 21

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TAPS: A CRAFT BEER BAR ARRIVES

Taps Petaluma

Ponder the following words: Abita. Deschutes. Bison Brewing.

Or perhaps try these: Chocolate Stout. XXXX IPA. Karmeliet.

Ok, how about these: Chicago Dog, Bratwurst, Garlic Fries.

Sold yet? If you’re a beer fan, I probably had you at Abita.

Petaluma has new bar in town and SCL’s vote is in: Bravo. Focusing on craft beers (both tap and bottle) and the food that goes best with such libations, TAPS is welcome addition to Petaluma’s (lacking of quality, not quantity) bar scene.

My curiosity was piqued last week when I swung by Bank of America to make a little financial transaction (which usually consists of more take than give, unfortunately). Across the street I spied a sign hanging  below the Petaluma Hotel that read something to the effect of: ‘Coming Soon – TAPS! 30+ Craft Beers on tap!‘; subtext: ‘Serving gourmet dogs, brats and more!‘.

A bar with mostly craft beers? On tap? And gourmet brats? In Petaluma? I could barely wait for the weekend to find out more.

Eric Lafanchi is the face behind Taps, along with his wife, Wendy and his brother. Together, they’ve managed to take what used to be the old outdoor courtyard for Petaluma Hotel (now enclosed) and transform it into a classy atmosphere, with even classier beer and most excellently executed gourmet dogs.

With 30+ craft beers on tap, 30+ more in bottle, 6 flat screen televisions and a streamlined – yet not lacking in the least – menu, TAPS should become a local favorite in no time. It’s the kind of place you might stop in for just one and find yourself still there 4 hours later. Knock back a few microbrews (served in properly corresponding glassware), see what they have on cask for the week (unveiled on Wednesdays), order a BLT dog (deep-fried dog with bacon, lettuce, tomato) and watch your day of Saturday sports unfold.

TAPS is located on Kentucky street across from the Bank of America, so it’s easily accessible to downtowners and a perfect hideaway for men with downtown shopping wives – at least, I’ll know where to find my beer-loving father next visit.

Cheers.

TAPS Petaluma: 205 Kentucky Street Petaluma; 707-763-6700; 11:30-10pm (Mon-Sat) and 9:30-10pm (Sun).

SCL Insider Tip: Join TAPS Facebook page and be in-the-know for their daily secret passwords which will score you specials on beer. Words such as ‘Jimmy’ might get you $3 pint of Abita Purple Haze. Don’t you just love being part of the cool crowd?

Sep 17

SCOPA, SCOPA, SCOPA, SCOPA

Scopa1

Dark. Exposed, rough concrete walls. High ceilings that accentuate (greatly) the acoustics. Narrow and tiny with only 12 or so tables. Not sounding too inviting yet?

Al contrario, il mio amico.

Add in being greeted by the owner in fluent Italian, flickering candles on the tables, an open kitchen in the back, streetside windows that open to the plaza and oh yeah, incredible Italian cuisine, and well, now you could have easily transported this NYC-loving girl to her old days of dining at great Italian hidden gems on the east side.

Scopa is a family-run Italian trattoria, opened last May in Healdsburg by husband-wife team, chef Ari Rosen and wife Dawnelise Regnery Rosen. Open for dinner only, Scopa’s menu changes often with what is local, seasonal and piques their interest for the day. The menu is deceivingly simple (Scopa_DinnerMenu_Sample), proving our mother right when she said, too many times to count: less is more.

Have your table order a handful of antipasti plates and secondi plates, share family-style and you’ll have the perfect amount of food. Believe me. You’ll be missing out if you stick with your own entrée, Stingy.

Highly recommended is the Peaches & Purslane antipasti (grilled to perfection Dry Creek peaches with purslane & arugula) and you must, must, must order the Burrata Cheese served with grilled bread & arugula. Even if you don’t see it on the menu, ask your waiter. We hear they keep a few on hand – even after they ‘run out’ – for the few locals (myself now included) who specifically come in for that piece of Mozzarella paradise.

The Cannelloni special was delicious in its simplicity – incredible housemade pasta folded over Bolognese sauce and sprinkled liberally with a pile of freshly grated Pecorino cheese.

And for the finale, Scopa offers only one dessert. Because when dessert is this good, it’s all you really need: decadent Chocolate molten soufflé with mint-inflected crème anglaise. Believe me. You’ll make room.

Oh wait. Did I mention the most expensive plate on the menu is $16? Told you you’d want to order family style. 

Scopa: 109a Plaza Street, Healdsburg; 707-433-5282 (reservations recommended). Open Tues-Sun, 5:30-10.

Sep 10

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THE LIST

scopa souffleLast night I finally got the chance to dine at Scopa, an Italian restaurant on Healdsburg’s plaza that I’ve been eager to try for some time now. They’re open for dinner only, so it’s been logistically tough to make it work. The evening was fantastic, filled with awesome food, a really wonderful atmosphere (including opened streetside windows we dined beside, a detail oh-so-small, but something I’ve missed dearly since my NYC days), wonderful friends and a stunning molten chocolate soufflé with mint anglaise sauce, a duo I’m still dreaming about. (How can your mouth not salivate at that photo?! Sidebar, but I think molten chocolate soufflés should be the only dessert offering at every restaurant, as it is at Scopa. Wait. That might be crazy talk, but if there had to be only one…)

I’ll be posting Scopa’s review soon – once I have time to edit my awfully dark pictures (mental note: night photography class stat) – but all of the above motivated me to put to paper, I mean world wide web, the grand list of delicious Sonoma County restaurants to dine at and review soon. All in the name of SCL of course. It’s a tough job, I know; but I’m willing to make the sacrifice for you, dear readers.

Some of these I’ve been to before (and are eager to get back stat), many I have not. Below is the top 10 List, both to give a sneak preview of dining experiences to come on SCL and also see if I’m missing anything you’d love to see reviewed or perhaps a hidden gem I’m not yet privy to. Let me know any additions you might have in the comments section. In the meantime, bon appetit!

(in no particular order and far from comprehensive)

1) Zazu – Santa Rosa
2) Bovolo* – Healdsburg
3) Cyrus – Healdsburg
4) Taverna Santi – Geyserville
5) Syrah – Santa Rosa
6) Restaurant Eloise* – Sebastapol
7) Central Market* – Petaluma
8 ) Hana – Santa Rosa
9) Bistro des Copains** – Occidental
10) Zin – Healdsburg
10.5) Della Fattoria* – Petaluma

(* = indicates I’ve been before and it comes fully SCL recommended, i.e. if you get a chance to go before the official SCL review comes out, you won’t be disappointed in the least. Go. Go now.)

(** = as recommended by an SCL reader whose highly selective tastebuds can be trusted.)

Sep 8

MICROBREWS & MUSIC: HOPMONK TAVERN SEBASTOPOL

Hopmonk Tavern

Give me a lazy sunny Saturday afternoon with no real plans and there’s almost nothing better I’d like to do than sip it away at Hopmonk Tavern’s outdoor beer garden in Sebastapol.

Bypass the usual need for reservations by cozying up to the bar and ordering from a fine selection of craft brews that are ‘seasonally correct’. Hopmonk brews up a few of their own beers (the unfiltered Kellerbier comes SCL recommended) and offers them on draft alongside other area selections like Lagunitas, Humbolt Brewery & Russian River Brewing. There’s also a full bar with spirits and wine if you’re so inclined.

Take your drinks to go and mozy out to the fantastic beer garden Hopmonk has managed to create in the middle of town. Historic buildings, stone walls, a central fountain, rustic wooden tables and benches – there’s even an acoustic stage where talented local artists will serenade you while you soak up the sun and sip the ale.

If you’re spending a little more time there and need some bites to go with your beer, Hopmonk has a great menu that pairs well with the local beer offerings – tandoori chicken skewers, pulled pork sandwiches, beer braised bratwurst and more. You can eat outside at the aforementioned rustic tables or inside, there are cozy booths scattered across the 100-yr old Douglas Fir wooden floors. When they say it’s like eating in a cozy bar rather than a restaurant, I have to agree. I’ll take another Kellerbier please. Cheers.

SCL insider tip: Hopmonk Tavern has a fantastic live music scene on evenings throughout the week and weekend (late night menu included) and there’s also a weekly open mic night for your budding artist within.

Sep 4

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PARTING SHOT: SONOMA SUNSET

DSC02488

Enjoy your holiday weekend. Drink many Sonoma County wines, have fun and be safe. See you on the other side…

Sep 1

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SONOMA GROWN: SAINT BENOIT YOGURT

St Benoit Boysenberry Yogurt(This is the second installment of the Sonoma Grown column)

I have a thing for the French. Really. Almost as much as I do for the pig. Their wine (le vin!). Their cheese (le fromage!). Their bread (le pain!). Délicieux! And now, it seems, I also have a thing for their yogurt (le yaourt!).

Saint Benoît Yogurt began in 2004 by Benoît de Korsak who came to the Bay area after spending most of his life in France. He’s a big believer in words such as: terroir, sustainable, organic, seasonal, creamy & smooth.  The term handcrafted at Saint Benoît isn’t just a marketing term – its a visible fact. With production practices about as opposite as possible to ubiquitous Yoplait, Benoît’s yogurt consistencies are actually seasonal – they change throughout the season due to fluctuations in both the organic pasture conditions the Jersey cows graze upon (more or less water intake), and the fruit acidity/sugar levels in the locally sourced fruit.

Flavors such as honey, lemon, boysenberry & plum are sure to entice you and each yogurt comes in a quaint crock jar that can be brought back for a deposit refund (or used as virtually indestructible picnic wine glasses, the SCL way). As you peel off the foil cover, a layer of thick cream greets you: mix well to get to the decadent fruit spread resting at the bottom and settle in for French style Sonoma grown bliss.

Available at Whole Foods stores & Oliver’s Markets in Sonoma County.

SCL Pick: Honey flavor that has a thick layer of naturally sweetened honey resting at the bottom. Upend into a bowl, sprinkle with granola and fruit. Stop. Admire. Eat. Bon appetit!

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