Biteclub: Summer treats you've gotta try

Pie (and Ice Cream) Safe: Though the safe is now a photo booth and tellers replaced by ice cream scoopers, there's still a grandiosity to the Guerneville Bank Club only fitting of a former financial institution. Rehabbed by locals, the 1928 bank building has become an ice cream and pie shop with retail space, an art gallery and the Russian River Historical Society a la carte. We're smitten with Nimble and Finn's cheeky scoop flavors, including Manhattan (whiskey, vermouth and cherry chunks), blueberry cheesecake and vegan strawberry, rose and geranium sorbet. Paired with Chile Pies' sweet apple and chile pie with a drizzle of chile-infused honey? Solid gold. 16290 Main St., Guerneville.

Also in Guerneville, we hear that a local chef Ruben Gomez will be opening up a new restaurant called Juicy Pig in the coming months.

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Wood-oven focus: Berkeley chefs Jim and Michele Wimborough of Zut! on Fourth are slated to open Hazel, a wood-oven focused restaurant in Occidental. The couple are taking over the longtime Bistro de Copains space, which was for years a West County destination for French cuisine. The new restaurant, which the couple are describing as 'rustic California-Mediterranean,' will make heavy use of the dual live-fire ovens and will include thin-crust pizzas, local fish from Bodega Bay, burgers and small plates. Michele will head up the desserts, including a weekly seasonal Friday Pie Day, sundaes, cookies and cakes. The couple are looking to open in mid-July. More details online at facebook.com/Restauranthazel), 3782 Bohemian Highway, Occidental.

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What's a RKTO? You can tell that Malorie, a popular local barista in Santa Rosa, is tired of explaining what RKTO means. Standing behind the counter of the RKTO coffee/kombucha/tea bar that's popped up inside the downtown Santa Rosa Trek store, she graciously gives it a shot, then turns it over to shop president, Bret Gave. Apparently it means 'great Northern bear,' as in the Bear Republic. As in California, he explains. Fair enough, RKTO Coffee Bar it is.

Gave has hit on a trend that's popular in Europe and making its way into hip retailers across the United States — putting a food and drink spot inside a retail store — in his case a high-end bicycles shop. 'We're creating a community space,' said Gave, who hopes to expand the coffee bar area to include beer, an outdoor space and eventually some sandwiches, as well as a meet-up spot for bicyclists heading out on rides.

Frankly, we're more than happy with the current local lineup of BiteClub fave, Bella Rosa coffee, Straus milk, Republic of Tea, Red Bird Bakery goodies, Revive Kombucha (on tap) and Guayaki yerba mate. Well, that and Malorie. Ten percent of the proceeds from the bar will benefit local cycling advocacy groups. And as for the name? How about Really Killer Trek Osteria? Add your suggestion online at BiteClubEats.com. We'll pass 'em along to the baristas. 512 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa (inside the Trek Store), open weekdays from 7a.m. to 2p.m.

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Charlie's Wine Country Three-peat: Chef Charlie Palmer is on a roll. Following his recent St. Helena restaurant opening at Harvest Table, he announced last Thursday that he'll be opening Charlie Palmer Steak in downtown Napa. The restaurant and rooftop bar is slated to open at the forthcoming Archer Hotel, a 183-room luxury hotel planned for late 2016. The restaurants and hotel will be centerpieces of the 275,000 square-foot Napa Center, which is being hailed as a game-changing 'Napa Valley experience' with more than 40-plus shops and restaurants. Palmer has steak houses in New York, D.C., Las Vegas and Reno. The tireless chef also recently released a cookbook, 'Charlie Palmer's America Fare' ($40, Grand Central Life & Style).

Still hungry? Check out Heather's always -updated blog at BiteClubEats.com.