BITE CLUB: Williams-Sonoma comes home

Williams-Sonoma Returns: After several years of planning, permitting and building, kitchen outfitter Williams-Sonoma will be returning to its roots in Sonoma.

In celebration of founder Chuck Williams’ 99th birthday, the store will open in early October at its original Broadway location on the Sonoma plaza. There will be a small cooking school, museum exhibit of Chuck’s original cookware from Europe, open-air garden and pizza oven.

The landmark store opened in 1956, when a prescient Williams decided Americans might appreciate European-quality kitchen tools. Just a few years later, Julia Childs’ Mastering the Art of French Cooking kindled a firestorm of interest in his high-end copper pots, pans, knives. and utensils.

Ironically, Sonoma County hasn’t had a Williams-Sonoma store since Williams moved his operation to San Francisco in the late 1950s.

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Sebastopol Roadhouse gets a new tenant: The adorable little roadhouse at 9890 Bodega Highway that’s seen a number of restaurants come and go in the last several years is being taken over once again, this time by the highly successful Fork Catering.

Owner Sarah Piccolo says she’ll use the spot for a variety of purposes, including her catering kitchen, a breakfast and lunch eatery, food truck parking by the side patio for a “quick casual bite” and space for special events. Piccolo hopes to be open by November and plans to expand to weekend brunches, dinners and special events in the future.

“The concept will be casual, approachable, family friendly, and will definitely support our local farmers, bread bakers, and community,” she said. Piccolo will be closing her cafe location in downtown Sebastopol, which is becoming a vegan bakery.

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Imagine a Healthy Local Food System: No, really. Imagine it. Even with so many incredible farms and producers in Sonoma county, it’s estimated that we grow less than 1 percent of our local produce. Who knew?

During North Bay Innovation Week, local speakers Kenny Below of TwoXSea (a sustainable seafood company in the North Bay), Evan Wiig of the Farmer’s Guild, Heather Granahan of Community Alliance with Family Farmers and Terry Garrett of GO LOCAL and Sonoma County’s Food System Alliance will speak about how we can increase local food resources at two free events on Sept. 17.

Held at the newly-rehabbed Hatchery in Penngrove at 10 a.m., and the Healdsburg SHED at 5:30 p.m., they’re discussions that eaters need to have. Find out more details online at sonomacounty.golocal.coop.

Still hungry? Check out Heather’s food and dining blog at BiteClubEats.com.