(1 of ) Emily Drew, serves up traditional American meals at the Washoe House, in 2014. The Washoe House was built in 1859 as a stage coach station between Santa Rosa, Petaluma and Bodega. (John Burgess/ The Press Democrat)
(2 of ) Take a trip with us down memory lane, as we explore some of Sonoma County's enduring dining establishments.
(3 of ) Catelli's, first opened in 1936 by Santi and Virginia Catelli as a simple Italian-American restaurant in Geyserville, the family trattoria was a Sonoma County institution for more than 50 years. Known then as “Catelli’s The Rex,” the menu featured decidedly unpretensious fare of spaghetti, minestrone and ravioli. In this photo, the dining room at Catelli's The Rex restaurant in Geyserville, 1980s. (Scott Manchester/ The Press Democrat)
(4 of ) The Catelli family closed the Geyserville restaurant in 1986. A Healdsburg location sprung up and thrived until 2004 when Susan Hampton, former co-owner of Catelli's The Rex, decided to retire. (Crista Jeremiason/ The Press Democrat)
(5 of ) Bartender Lori McDowell pours a glass of wine at Catelli's The Rex their location in Healdsburg in 1999. (Jeff Lee/ The Press Democrat)
(6 of ) In 2010, the original Catelli's building in Geyserville became available again, and siblings Domenica and Nick Catelli moved back in. Domenica runs the kitchen and Nick works front of house. (Jeff Kan Lee/ The Press Democrat, 2012)
(7 of ) Dining room at Catelli's in Geyserville in 2012 (Jeff Lee/ The Press Democrat)
(8 of ) The bar at Cricklewood, Santa Rosa. April 13, 2011.
(9 of ) Luis Jimenez has been cooking lunch for over 17 years at Cricklewood. That's salmon on the grill in 2012. (Jeff Lee/ The Press Democrat)
(10 of ) Dinucci's Italian Dinners, opened 1939: Built as the Depot Hotel in 1908 by the Barboni family of Occidental to provide rooms and meals to railroad passengers. Henry and Mabel Dinucci bought the place in 1939 and served family-style Italian dinners. Even after it was sold to the Wagner family in 1968, some of Mabel's recipes continued to be used and are still used today. The restaurant is a time capsule right out of the 1940s and '50s. (Crista Jeremiason / The Press Democrat, 2013)
(11 of ) Negri's, opened in 1943: Now run by a 4th generation, Negri's was founded in 1943 by Joe and Theresa Negri. Joe got his start cooking at the Waldorf Astoria and was brought west as the personal chef of actor Rudolf Valentino. Negri's has been an Occidental mainstay, serving family style Italian dinners for over half a century. (Courtesy of the Sonoma Heritage Collection- Sonoma County Library)
(12 of ) Washoe House, opened 1859: The Washoe House started doing business as a stagecoach stop in 1859, then became a local watering hole and restaurant. (Sonoma Heritage Collection -- Sonoma County Library)
(13 of ) The bar at the Washoe house is known for the layers of yellowed dollar bills, photographs, and business cards that line its ceiling. (Crista Jeremiason/ The Press Democrat, 2015)
(14 of ) The Washoe House was built in 1859 as a stage coach station between Santa Rosa, Petaluma and Bodega. (John Burgess/ The Press Democrat file photo)
(15 of ) A historic plaque on the Washoe House. (John Burgess/ The Press Democrat file photo)
(16 of ) John Ash & Co, opened 1980: It’s impossible to talk about Sonoma’s longstanding food scene without paying homage to its patriarch, John Ash. What began as an idea became a revolution — using nearby produce, meats and cheeses to create wholesome, ethical, lush food and pairing it with great local wines. Chef John Ash in 1997. (Press Democrat file photo)
(17 of ) Bill and Cindy Price of San Jose enjoy lunch on the patio at John Ash & Co. restaurant at River Rd and hwy 101 north of Santa Rosa in 1998. (Scott Manchester/ The Press Democrat, 1998)
(18 of ) Though John Ash is no longer in the kitchen of his eponymous restaurant, several big names in the food and wine biz (Jeffrey Madura, Dan Kosta, Michael Browne) are alums of the historic eatery. Now headed by Chef Tom Schmidt (pictured here), the restaurant still holds close its original vision. (Beth Schlanker/ The Press Democrat, 2015)
(19 of ) John Ash gives instruction to El Molino High School Culinary students Blake Johnson, 11th grade red cap, and Evan Anatra, 12th grade, in the art of sauteing mushrooms during a cooking demonstration on salads. (Scott Manchester/ The Press Democrat, 2001)
(20 of ) The bar at John Ash & Co. restaurant in Santa Rosa on Wednesday January 30, 2013. (Scott Manchester / The Press Democrat)
(21 of ) La Gare, opened 1979: Roger Praplan relishes the fact that he’s serving the grandchildren of some of La Gare’s early customers. Praplan’s parents were early entrepreneurs in Santa Rosa’s Railroad Square, purchasing their lot for $25,000 in 1977. Though dining trends have come and gone during the restaurant’s 30-plus years, Praplan stays laser-focused on the traditional French cuisine that’s made the restaurant a popular birthday, anniversary and holiday restaurant for decades. (Scott Manchester/ The Press Democrat file photo)
(22 of ) Roger Praplan with his sister Jacqueline as hostess, continue a tradition of French fine dining begun by their parents, Swiss-born Marco and Gladys Praplan. In this photo Roger Praplan and his wife Stephanie Larson. (Crista Jeremiason/ The Press Democrat, 2007)
(23 of ) Roger Praplan, chef and owner of La Gare, prepares biscotti at his Railroad Square restaurant in Santa Rosa in 2007. (Christopher Chung/ The Press Democrat)
(24 of ) Roger Praplan and Stephanie Larson attend the Empty Bowls Fundraiser at the Redwood Empire Food Bank in Santa Rosa, on April 27, 2013. (Alvin Jornada / The Press Democrat)
(25 of ) Union Hotel, opened 1876: The Union Hotel in Occidental has been serving up family style Italian dinners since 1876. In this photo hotel staff on the porch of in 1918. (Sonoma Heritage Collection -- Sonoma County Library)
(26 of ) The Union Hotel in Occidental, late 1800s. (Sonoma Heritage Collection -- Sonoma County Library)
(27 of ) The Union Hotel, in Occidental. (Christopher Chung/ The Press Democrat)
(28 of ) Longtime bartender Kim Poschin, mixes drinks in 2005 at the Union Hotel, an Occidental landmark watering hole. (Mark Aronoff/ The Press Democrat, 2005)
(29 of ) Restaurant at Madrona Manor, opened 1981: As Healdsburg has grown up, so has once-unassuming restaurant inside this Victorian bed and breakfast. In 1999, when Bill and Trudi Konrad purchased the property, they hired Chef Jesse Mallgren. An alum of Gary Danko’s at Chateau Souverain and SF’s legendary Stars, Mallgren grew up in Sonoma County. (Scott Manchester/ The Press Democrat, 1999)
(30 of ) Former Chef de cuisine Todd Muir (right) leans on the shoulder of Chris Mazotti inside one of the Madrona Manor's elegant dining rooms. (Chad Surmick/The Press Democrat, 1999)
(31 of ) Though he defines his cuisine as first and foremost local and seasonally-inspired, about 10 years ago Chef Jesse Mallgren began pushing boundaries with molecular gastronomy techniques that include using liquid nitrogen to make ice cream. “We use the best techniques with the best products,” he said. What he credits with the restaurant’s continued success: Creative control in the kitchen. Free of financial and time constraints of many other chefs, Mallgren can channel his energy into a showcase tasting menu. Chef Jesse Mallgren with his handmade Watanabe sashimi knife from Japan at Madrona Manor Restaurant in Healdsburg, 2015 (Erik Castro/for Sonoma Magazine)
(32 of ) Pastry chef Manny Fimbrez of Madrona Manor working with liquid nitrogen in the kitchen to create his signature dish, "Peas in a Pod" a strawberry tart with a pulled-sugar pea pod filled with lemon ganache and rolled in pea powder. (Chris Hardy/ For the Press Democrat, 2016)
(33 of ) John Baird talks at the Madrona Manor's Downton Abbey themed dinner in 2014 (Charlie Gesell/ For the Press Democrat)
(34 of ) Omelette Express, opened 1978: A staple of Sonoma County breakfast fare, Omelette Express has been going strong since the late seventies. In this photo, Don Taylor, owner of Omelette Express in his Railroad Square location in 2003. (John Burgess/ The Press Democrat, 2003)
(35 of ) Stormy's, opened 1961. One of the old west roadhouses, the building that holds Stormy’s has been serving food since the mid-1800s. Ellen Cramer, or “Stormy” started making sandwiches in 1961. In the early 1970s, Stormy’s son Roger turned the business into a thriving steakhouse. In this photo, the dining room at Stormy's Restaurant in Bloomfield. (PD FILE)
(36 of ) Mike Brown of Santa Rosa, a longtime Stormy's regular, serves chowder to his wife at the Bloomfield restaurant. ( Press Democrat / Charlie Gesell )
(37 of ) Stormy's Restaurant in Bloomfield (PD FILE)
(38 of ) The building that now holds Stormy's has been a Bloomfield hotel/restaurant since 1857. (COURTESY OF GINA CLOUD)
(39 of ) PC: Brother and sister, John and Sylvia Volpi, grew up in an accordion playing family andregularly play on Friday and Saturday nights in Volpi's their bar/restaurant in Petaluma.
6/18/2004: P2: Brother and sister John and Sylvia Volpi grew up in an accordion-playing family and regularly play Friday and Saturday nights and for special occasions at Volpi's Ristorante and Bar in Petaluma.
(40 of ) Jamie Spaletta, prepares to take an order, Friday Jan. 20, 2012 at Volpi's Ristorante and Historical Bar in Petaluma. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2012
(41 of ) 1/21/2012: B1:
PC: Jamie Spaletta, prepares to take an order, Friday Jan. 20, 2012 at Volpi's Ristorante and Historical Bar in Petaluma. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2012
(44 of ) PC: Depot Hotel, Sonoma.
4/2/00: The exterior of the Depot Hotel in Sonoma.
(45 of ) Jimtown store sits amid vineyards along Hwy 128 in the Alexander Valley. (Chad Surmick/ Press Democrat file photo)
(46 of ) 5/6/2012: D4:
PC: Catelli's in Geyserville. April 25, 2012.