For some it’s a taste of something totally new. For others, it’s the flavor of something familiar, yet far off. Either way, Cita Vivas loves watching customers take their first few bites of one of her empanadas. “They bite and they close their eyes. They’re like crying, saying, ‘It’s just like home.’ It makes me… Keep Reading
Who knew Scotch eggs would be the crowd favorite at Railroad Square’s new Goose & Fern pub in Santa Rosa? Apparently, no one, because Clyde Hartwell, co-owner of the newly opened British pub, can barely keep up with the popularity of the bar staple — an egg nested in a ball of sausage with a… Keep Reading
Sonoma County Fair goers may have noticed a longtime favorite food booth missing this year near the entrance to the Hall of Flowers. Spaghetti Palace had served what affectionately became known as “fair spaghetti,” a plate of spaghetti with pesto, marinara or half of each with a piece of garlic bread. It drew generations of… Keep Reading
A hand-drawn map of downtown Santa Rosa hangs inside Dawn Zaft’s tiny bakery on Donahue Street, with a sticker over the bakery’s location. “You Are Here,” it reads. In bustling Railroad Square, the SMART train whizzes by, restaurants come to life, residents walk their dogs and our beloved Charlie Brown and Snoopy welcome everyone from… Keep Reading
Sonoma County opened its dinosaur-themed fair Thursday, welcoming attendees into a Jurassic kingdom with a selection of food to appease even Tyrannosaurus Rex-size appetites. The 38 listed vendors sell many of the standard fair offerings. But others switch it up with unique eats and drinks vying for fairgoers’ curious palates and dollars. Continue Reading on… Keep Reading
“Have you tasted your wine with this dish?” This was the question Barb Gustafson asked husband-to-be Mat Gustafson when she met him in 2004 at a Sonoma County wine event, initiating an ongoing conversation that has spanned nearly two decades. Today the co-vintners of Graton’s Paul Mathew Vineyards are still talking nonstop about food, wine… Keep Reading
The trip to Forestville’s French patisserie, Pascaline Patisserie and Cafe (4550 N. Gravenstein Highway, Sebastopol), has always been fraught with peril — at least for my car’s interior. Chef Didier Ageorges and new pastry chef Lea Schleimer make croissants so flaky they threaten to shatter into crumbs if you even look at them hungrily. Pascaline’s… Keep Reading
Sonoma County’s Bib Gourmands have been announced for 2023, following the July 18 release of the annual California Michelin Guide. Once again, there are no new additions to Sonoma County’s lineup of eight restaurants considered to be restaurants with “good food at a moderate price.” Receiving the awards for 2023 were Healdsburg’s Chalkboard; El Molino… Keep Reading
In-N-Out fans know getting your hands on the burger chain’s animal-style fries or beefy Double-Doubles is typically preceded by a long wait in the drive-thru. That means traffic delays should be expected Thursday, when the fast-food restaurant’s fourth Sonoma County location opens on Santa Rosa Avenue. The new location is Santa Rosa’s second In-N-Out, the… Keep Reading
Temperatures are set to hover around triple digits across California this weekend. That’s more heat than North Coast vintners have been hoping for to help make up growing time for Wine Country’s grapes after a start to this season that was wetter, cooler and later than usual. North Coast vine and grape development has been… Keep Reading
