Chef Adolfo Veronese plans to open Aventine Glen Ellen in the Grist Mill at the historic Jack London Village at the end of May.
The casual osteria will feature a full bar, on-site brewery, indoor/outdoor dining and a menu of modern Italian fare made with fresh, local ingredients.
This will be the third location for Veronese and his brother, Gian-Paolo. Along with partner Rodrigo Nevado, they founded Taverna Aventine in San Francisco in 2007 and opened Aventine Hollywood in 2012.
The Veronese brothers are the children of attorney/politician Angela Alioto and San Francisco restaurateur Adolfo Veronese of Osteria Romano fame.
"With the locations in San Francisco and Los Angeles, we sought to create an Old World Roman feel," Gian-Paolo said. "The concept at Aventine Glen Ellen is to build on that, but to pay homage to the countryside in the Lazio and Tuscany region of Italy, where we spent many childhood summers."
Along with the microbrewery, the restaurant will have a wine list that draws from Sonoma, Napa, Italy and around the world.
In the Italian tradition, it will source vegetables and fruits from local producers as well as from its own garden.
The 170-year-old Grist Mill building dates back to the 1830s, when it was used as a sawmill before being converted into a gristmill.
Aventine is located at 14301 Arnold Drive. It will be open for dinner from 4 to 10 p.m. six days a week, closed Mondays. There will be a happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and a brunch served from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. 934-891. aventineglenellen.com.
HEALDSBURG: A chance to dine in Chalkboard's library
Chalkboard restaurant in Healdsburg has expanded with a new weekend dining experience, the Library at Chalkboard, located in the lobby of the adjacent Hotel Les Mars.
The wood-paneled library seats 16 and offers a modern tasting menu from Executive Chef Shane McAnelly that celebrates the seasonal bounty of Sonoma County.
Diners are presented with a six-course chef's tasting menu with options for each course, including vegetarian dishes, and an optional wine pairing menu.
The chef's tasting menu costs $95, with an optional beverage pairing for $70.
The Library at Chalkboard is open for dinner from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Party size is limited to six guests, although larger parties can be accommodated with advance notice. To reserve: 433-4211.
Chalkboard is located at 29 North St. chalkboardhealdsburg.com.
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SEBASTOPOL: Saturday Night Dinners return to Gypsy Cafe
The Gypsy Cafe has launched Saturday Night Dinners and has brought back the Cider Bar Series, inviting local cider houses to pour early in the evening.
Guests can meet the cider makers from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturdays while enjoying free tastings of their ciders with charcuterie from Chef Martin Maigaard.
Dinner is served from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Saturdays, featuring a Top 5 menu similar to the restaurant's popular Friday Dinners.
The restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays, and for dinner from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Gypsy Cafe is located at 162 N. Main St. 861-3825. gypsy-cafe.com.
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SANTA ROSA: Matanzas Creek celebrates chardonnay
Matanzas Creek Winery will host its second annual Chardonnay in May Garden Party from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Santa Rosa winery.
Small bites will be served, alongside two new releases: the 2012 Bennett Valley Chardonnay and the 2011 Journey Chardonnay. There will be live music, garden blooms and a chardonnay library tasting.
Tickets are $20. 6097 Bennett Valley Road. matanzascreek.com.
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GLEN ELLEN: Bouverie presents The Art of Eating
The Art of Eating, a vintage country picnic honoring environmentalist Marty Griffin and fourth-generation winegrower Carol Wente, will be held at 12:30 p.m. May 19 at Bouverie Preserve.
The annual fundraising event will be emceed by Leslie Sbrocco, host of KQED's "Check, Please," and feature a silent and live auction, nature education display and an M.F.K. Fisher exhibit, "Wine is Life."
The event is inspired by the life of M.F. K. Fisher, who spent the last two decades of her life living at the Bouverie Preserve while writing about food.
Tickets are $150, with proceeds going to benefit the education programs of the Audubon Canyon Ranch. To reserve: egret.org/art-of-eating.
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SANTA ROSA: Combine food, wine at St. Francis
St. Francis Winery & Vineyards celebrates the marriage of food and wine one Saturday each month, featuring local purveyors and small bites paired with the award-winning wines.
Here is the upcoming schedule:
May 24: TWG BBQ Company, which has roots in Kansas' tomato-and-molasses barbecue sauce, continues the family tradition in Sonoma County, producing all-natural gourmet sauces in small batches.
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