BiteClub: Big names coming to Petaluma

Big Names Coming to Petaluma: Permits have been signed and work is set to get started on Brewster’s Beer Garden in downtown P-town.

We’ve just gotten word from owner Mike Goebel that he’s planning a pretty ambitious space that will include a large restaurant with a beer garden (natch), bocce ball court, kids’ playground area and bar.

“The site was phenomenal,” said Goebel by phone. “I like the people and the culture of Petaluma, and it’s nestled in with cool historic buildings right on the river,” he said of the now-parking lot near Buffalo Billiards on Petaluma Blvd North.

Goebel is the owner of several bars in San Francisco and the restaurant, Mamacitas. He’s tapped Chef Chris Beerman of the popular SF comfort food restaurant Citizens Band to head the kitchen, which will focus on “barbecue influenced” food and local craft brews.

Goebel hopes to create a family-friendly space that includes the possibility of bringing in dessert food trucks or coffee carts to add to the experience.

“I want something cool and different, we think this is a really sweet opportunity,” Goebel said.

Expect between nine months and a year to opening.

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Red Bird Rising: Best. Sticky buns. Ever. Though veteran baker Linda Cermak says her buttery, caramel-topped buns are a bit sweet for her taste, we’re a whole lot in love with Cermak’s spanking-new patisserie, Red Bird bakery.

Hidden away in a Santa Rosa industrial park, the small bread, pastry and cake shop Linda operates with husband Isaac is a dream that the former Della Fattoria bakers have leveraged their savings, their house and their lives (baking starts at 2 a.m.) to open.

Having tasted through literally everything in their shop - from the aforementioned sticky buns to yeasty cinnamon rolls, crackling croissants (again, some of the best we’ve had in Sonoma County), coconut shortbread cookies, and freshly baked baguette and round boule - there’s no doubt that there’s something extra special happening in their kitchens, which an added pound or two around my waist reflects.

Literally part of the Della Fattoria family (Linda was married to the owner’s son), the couple have honed their craft to a science, questing for the perfect crumb and crust.

One of their secrets?

French butter. Made with a higher butterfat content and slightly fermented, or cultured, it makes all the difference in the flavor of their pastries.

Another? Isaac won’t sell any loaves of bread he isn’t happy with, which by most standards would still be excellent. That’s how serious they are.

It’s well-worth searching out the Cermaks at their Santa Rosa bakery, or finding them at the Saturday morning farm market at the Veteran’s Building, the Petaluma evening market or the Tuesday Novato market - all of which are at least 5,500 miles closer than Paris.

Red Bird Bakery, 3279 Dutton Ave, Santa Rosa, (707) 521-9838. Open from 6:30a.m. to 2:30.m. daily, facebook.com/redbirdbakerysantarosa.

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Chocolate dinner: Nope, you’re not dreaming.

Step into a Willy Wonka world of chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate for dinner at Chef Sondra Bernstein’s Suite D on June 13.

The sure-to-sell-out “Chocolate for Dinner” event features a 10-dish cocoa extravaganza with top-notch chocolatiers Vahlrona, Vosges, Poco Dolce and CocoaPlanet including cocoa-rubbed baby back riblettes, chocolate chili dipped bacon, caramel toffee potato chips, chocolate eggplant caponata, chicken with dark chocolate mole and Italian zeppole with Belgian chocolate.

During dinner, watch chocolate-themed movies, meet the owners of locally-owned CocoaPlanet, and if you still haven’t had enough chocolate, a pop-up chocolate shop will be featured.

If only we could find a date this rich, sweet and crave-worthy.

Tickets $75 per person, all inclusive with free corkage. figsuited.com or (707) 933-3668, 21800 Schellville Road, Suite D, Sonoma.

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