Fun foodie events in Wine Country
Published: Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 3:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 4:13 p.m.
Heads up, Elvis Costello Fans: Tickets for the 2010 Sonoma Jazz Plus closing night concert featuring Elvis Costello and the Sugarcanes are on sale to the general public as of this morning. Tickets were available to residents of Sonoma on Thursday.
If this is not enough to make you race to your computer, add this to the mix: The Neville Brothers will open the show. Ticket prices range from $60 for general admission to — gulp — $260 for the “Producer's Circle.”
The festival takes place from May 21 through 23, and there are multiple events and venues, including the two-day “Wine & Song Around the Plaza” on Saturday and Sunday. For complete details and to purchase tickets, visit sonomajazz.org.
Little River Whale Festival: If you feel like a road trip, you might want to head north to Little River, on the coast in Mendocino County, for the Whale Festival taking place today, Saturday and Sunday. This is one of three such festivals this month; the first look place last weekend in Mendocino Village and Little River. The Fort Bragg Whale Festival takes place on March 20 and 21.
This weekend's fete includes tours of artist studios, photography workshops, fireside chats and more.
On Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m., six local chefs present a Taste of Little River. They will pair their foods with wines from Breggo, Handley and Philo Ridge. Service takes place at six locations, Dennen's Victorian Farmhouse, La Petite Rive, Little River Market, Little River Inn, Stevenswood and Glendeven Inn & Wine Bar. Cost is $25. You can buy tickets in advance by calling 937-5942 or pick them up the day of the event at Dennen's.
On Saturday at 11 a.m., there's a two-hour guided walk with Fred Andrews, a state park interpreter. Although you'll be on the lookout for cormorants, baby seals and seaside daisies, the main attractions are the migrating gray whales themselves as they travel from Baja California to Alaska. Binoculars will be available, and there is no charge. Participants will gather at Spring Ranch on the west side of Highway 1, across from Gordon Lane.
For a complete list of all festival details, including suggestions for overnight accommodations, visit mendowhale.com.
St. Patty's Day: One thing about corned beef and cabbage: It's hard to mess it up. Even the worst cooks can usually pull off this St. Patrick's Day classic. And opportunities to enjoy it for both lunch and dinner next Wednesday are everywhere, from the Bluewater Bistro in Bodega Bay to the wine train in Napa.
The usual places — Murphy's Irish Pub in Sonoma, the Black Rose Pub in Santa Rosa — are always full of good spirits and good traditional food and drink and if that is want you want, there is no reason to look further. But a few places you might not expect are offering yummy fun, too.
Domaine Chandon (1 California Drive, Yountville ) will be pouring complimentary glasses of green bubbly all day.
Hurley's Restaurant (6518 Washington St., Yountville, 944-2345) has a fabulous menu this year; highlights include Irish smoked salmon on boxty with leeks vinaigrette; Irish stew with lamb, potatoes, carrots, onions and parsley biscuits and corned beef and cabbage with carrots, turnips and freshly dug potatoes. And to add to the fun, the entire menu of 19 items is written in Gaelic. You can see it at hurleysrestaurant.com.
Dempsey's Restaurant & Brewery (50 E. Washington St., Petaluma, 765-9694) is hosting its 19th annual St. Patrick's Day celebration with a traditional Irish menu for both lunch and dinner. Corned beef and cabbage with fresh horseradish cream, stuffed cabbage rolls, Irish stew, wood-roasted salmon and mussels steamed in Irish ale are among the day's specials. Celticfornia — a band that includes fiddles, mandolin, concertina, harp and guitar — will perform at 5:30 p.m.
The Eating of the Green: The French Garden Restaurant & Bistro Bar (8050 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol, 824-2030) is giving a nod to St. Patrick's Day by featuring the fabulous greens from their nearby garden. Although the garden always shapes the menu, there will be special emphasis next week.
In addition, the Inish Irish Band will play on Wednesday and Greenhouse Celtic Fusion on Thursday; music takes place in the bar from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.
There's more news. chef Mark Malicki, who joined the staff in early December, is no longer with the restaurant. Taking his place are Michael Robertson of Novato and Paul Buzlaff of Monte Rio, both of whom worked side by side with Malicki during his brief tenure.
Robertson's experience includes Larkspur's Lark Creek Inn and Cafe Kati in San Francisco. Buzlaff spent several years at the restaurant at Wente Vineyards. The pair will share chef duties and collaborate with owners Dan Smith and Joan Marlar to keep the garden's unfolding harvest the focus of the menus.
The French Garden Restaurant is closed on Monday and Tuesday.
Winemaker Dinner with Fred Scherrer: Next Thursday, Terrapin Creek Cafe in Bodega Bay will host a winemaker dinner featuring Scherrer Winery and special guests Fred and Judi Scherrer.
Featured wines include 2003 Helfer Vineyards Chardonnay, 2006 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, 2006 Big Brother Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and 2002 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
Dinner begins with Berkshire pork with tonnato sauce, St. George cheese and bacon; next comes miso-glazed salmon with shiitake mushrooms and scallion-ginger oil. A third course of duck confit with gnocchi and caramelized onions will be followed by beef cheeks braised in red wine and served with risotto, preserved lemons and tapenade.
There is a single seating and dinner begins promptly at 6:30. The cost is $75 per person, plus tax and gratuity. For reservations, call 875-2700.
Terrapin Creek Cafe is located at 1580 Eastshore Road; it was formerly Seawood Cafe. Lunch is served Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dinner is served Thursday through Sunday from 4:30 to 9 p.m.
Spring Washi Egg Classes: Barbra Friedman, the woman who introduced Martha Stewart to the Japanese craft of Washi eggs, is offering a series of workshops this month. Washi eggs are hollowed egg shells decorated with handmade mulberry paper. The process is simple, and the results are both beautiful and lasting.
Classes got under way this week, but if you missed the first two, not to worry. On Wednesday and March 24, Coffee Catz will host classes from 2 to 4 p.m. On Tuesday and March 23 from 7 to 9 p.m., the classes will be taught at Village Bakery, which will offer tea and nibbles. The final class of the month will be held at Patisserie Angelica on March 25 from 2 to 4 p.m.; and, yes, of course, there will be tea and yummy things to eat.
Workshops are $35 per person, which includes materials for three eggs. Egg kits — so you can make more at home — will be available for purchase.
To sign up for a class, call Barbra at 696-2009 or e-mail barbra@barbrafriedman.com.
Morning scones, evening chocolate: After countless requests from regular customers, Sebastopol's sweet little bakery, Patisserie Angelica, is reviving its retail operation and is now open on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. You can once again start your morning with yummy cream scones.
The later hours give the opportunity to enjoy dessert before or after a movie at the nearby theater, or even after dinner at home.
The retail relaunch took place last weekend when baker Condra Easley and her sister and business partner Deborah Morris celebrated the release of “Alice In Wonderland” with a Mad Hatter's Tea Party, featuring Cream Tea (cream scones, lemon curd, jam, faux Devonshire cream, choice of tea, $12) and Sweet Tea (assorted petit fours, choice of tea, $15.95). This week they are adding a third option, called West County High Tea (tea sandwiches, plus all the other goodies, $24), for which reservations are required.
Patisserie Angelica is located at 6821 Laguna Park Way. For more information and reservations, call 827-7998.
Michele Anna Jordan hosts “Mouthful” each Sunday at 7 p.m. on KRCB 90.9 & 91.1 FM. E-mail Jordan at michele@micheleannajordan.com.
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