Food and wine news, upcoming events around Sonoma
Published: Monday, July 16, 2012 at 3:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, July 9, 2012 at 3:51 p.m.
HEALDSBURG
Ari Rosen, chef/owner of Scopa on the Healdsburg Plaza, has opened a second restaurant just around the corner in the former Divine Affair space at 330 Healdsburg Ave.
Like Scopa, Campo Fina is shoehorned into a long, narrow space, but it opens up in the back to an airy European-style courtyard where you can play bocce and watch pizzas emerge from a wood-burning oven.
“It said ‘secret garden' — a place that transported you outside of the known spots of Healdsburg,” Rosen said. “It demanded casual, sweet dining, like eating in your backyard.”
With the help of executive chef Jamil Peden, formerly of Petite Syrah in Santa Rosa, Rosen has crafted a menu of small plates inspired by Italian meals where dishes are passed around the table family-style.
“I'm really excited about what each of us is bringing to the table,” Rosen said. “The cuisine is a mix of Italian from a rustic right hand and a more refined left hand.”
In Italian, Campo means field and Fina means fine, as in elegant. The name is a tribute to Rosen and his wife Dawnelise's 2-year-old daughter, Serafina.
The menu includes Cichetti (little bites) such as Castelvetrano Olives ($5.50) and Honey Roasted Carrots ($6.50) and Antipasti such as Chicken Liver Paté with Peaches Agrodolce ($8.50) and Grilled Swordfish Spiedini with Roasted Cauliflower ($10.50).
Pizzas range from the classic Margherita with fresh mozzarella ($12.50) to Pizza Pork Belly with Smoked Bufala Mozzarella, Red Onion and Braised Pork Belly ($16.50).
The circa-1885 building, which served as The Palace saloon from 1895 to 1920, still boasts its original brick walls and wood floors. An extensive renovation of the space took nearly a year, and there are a total of 60 seats.
Campo Fina is open for dinner at 5:30 p.m. By the end of the month, it will be open continuously for lunch and dinner, from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations are accepted for parties of eight or more. 395-4640.
SONOMA
Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards to hold 20th Catalan Festival
Gloria Ferrer Caves and Vineyards will celebrate its 20th Catalan Festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the winery located in the windswept Carneros region.
The event, which showcases the winery's sparkling and still wines, is inspired by the spirit of the Spanish region around Barcelona.
There will be authentic Catalan and Spanish dishes, paella demonstrations, Flamenco dancers accompanied by guitar, grape stomps and wine seminars.
Tickets are $50, or $55 at the door. To reserve, call 933-1999 or go to www.gloriaferrer.com. 23555 Arnold Drive.
SANTA ROSA
Burbank Home & Gardens holds Midsummer Garden Teas
The Luther Burbank Home and Gardens will hold two Midsummer Garden Teas this month at the historic home of horticulturalist Luther Burbank in downtown Santa Rosa.
The afternoon teas include a hat contest, silent auction and live music from 1 to 3 p.m. this Sunday and July 29. Attendees may opt to take a home tour at 3 p.m.
Tickets are $50. To reserve, call 524-5445. 204 Santa Rosa Ave.
HEALDSBURG
Maldonado expects to open Pizzando in early August
Spoonbar's new executive chef Louis Maldonado is already hard at work on a second project: a new pizza cafe expected to open this summer in the former Cafe Newsstand at 301 Healdsburg Ave.
With the help of consulting chef Liza Shaw, formerly of A16 in San Francisco, Maldonado is designing a menu of rustic pizza and salads.
Diners can get a preview of Pizzando during special, pop-up dinners held every other Wednesday night at Spoonbar. The pop-up menu costs $32 for three courses, with two options for each course.
The pop-up previews will feature two seatings, at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. each evening. To reserve, call 433-7222.
Pizzando is expected to open in early August, featuring a portable pizza oven by Mugnaini. Pizzando is a project of the Piazza Hospitality Group, which manages Hotel Healdsburg, h2hotel and Spoonbar.
SANTA ROSA
8th Pinot Family Reunion on Sunday at Vintners Inn
The 8th annual Pinot Family Reunion, a benefit for the Sutter North Bay Women's Breast Care Center, will be held Sunday at the Vintners Inn Event Center.
The event kicks off with a wine and food tasting from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Vintners Inn, followed by a family-style dinner at John Ash & Co. paired with some of Sonoma County's top pinot producers.
Tickets to the tasting are $50 in advance, $60 at the door. The family-style dinner costs $120, all included. To reserve, go to vintnersinn.com. 4350 Barnes Road.
WINDSOR
Love of the Land on Thursday at Richard's Grove/Saralee's Vineyard
Love of the Land, a benefit dinner to protect local farmlands and water, will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday at Richard's Grove and Saralee's Vineyard.
The Sonoma County Farm Bureau event kicks off with a reception featuring Sonoma-grown hors d'oeuvres and wine and continues with a Wine Country barbecue and awards presentation.
Tickets are $65. sonomafb.org. 3575 Slusser Road.
SANTA ROSA
Rootstock Festival returns to Vintners Square
The Rootstock Festival returns at 2 p.m. Saturday with wine and craft beer tasting, street foods for sale, a Best Bites competition and live music at Santa Rosa Vintners' Square.
Tickets are $35, with proceeds going to Worth Our Weight. rootstockfestival.com. 1305 Cleveland Ave.
GUERNEVILLE
Jamaica in July at Korbel Vineyards
Looking for some island fun? “Jamaica in July at Korbel” will be on July 21. There will be live music, champagne and food pairing, winery garden tours and discounts for budget-minded guests. The event is from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and the fee is $20 per person. For more information, call 824-7000. The winery is at 13250 River Road, Guerneville.
Compiled by Staff Writer Diane Peterson, who can be reached at 521-5287 or diane.peterson@pressdemocrat.com, and Peg Melnik, who can be reached at 521-5310 or peg.melnik@pressdemocrat.com.
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