Columba's Profile
El Molino Central, Sonoma
Summer 2012 menu is up!
Jose’s tacos al pastor with citrus rubbed Niman Ranch pork, salsa de arbol and shaved pineapple
Chicken enchiladas de mole poblano with cream, cotija and beans
Tostadas de tinga poblana- chicken and chorizo with cream, avocado, escabeche and cotija cheese
Salmon ceviche with purple onion and escabeche topped with avocado slices and tapatio sauce and served with tostadas
Chicken tamales served with mole poblano
White corn, zucchini & cheese tamales
Chile rellano with fresh corn, cream, beans and cherry tomato salsa
They're still offering: Chilaquillas (before 11 AM) Fish tacos, chicken enchiladas suiza, pork tamales, Swiss chard enchiladas
Springtime in Sonoma
Last week I had strawberries from both stands and thought thought Watmaugh's sweeter and juicier than Kenwood's.
First batch of apricots from Watmaugh were delicious, second not as good. Should have trusted my nose.
Two weeks in California
Glen Ellen Star opens for dinner on May 18, lunches in late summer.
I noticed that the interior is set up now...looking forward to eating there soon.
http://glenellenstar.com/
Sonoma: Favorite Purveyors?
I live here. And while I'll visit San Rafael or San Francisco for food treats, September in Sonoma is so delicious, I wouldn't leave the region to drive for more of the almost-same-thing.
Okay, maybe I'd go to Healdsburg and Dry Creek Peach with a stop at Downtown Bakery and for wine (if I drank).
But heading south on two lane roads or even 101 is draining.
Love Sam B.'s list - it's quite inclusive.
I do disagree though about Crisp Bake Shop - I enjoyed a cookie and would have bought more if hungry. Pretty sure they'll expand their selection with time and experience -
https://www.facebook.com/CrispBakeShop
If you make it to El Molino Central, be sure to check out their refrigerator case for sauces including mole and sakil pa'k (pumpkin seed dip). Excellent tamales and prepackaged meals too. The tortillas are in a plain brown wrapper - unmarked and often still warm.
I'd head down Highway 12 to La Michoacana for ice cream and popsicles - will be hot in September.
And don't miss Sheana Davis' cheeses at 122 West Napa Street, Sonoma, CA 95476
http://www.theepicureanconnection.com/
Finally, I encourage you to check for local food events in the local papers -
http://www.sonomanews.com/
http://suneats.sonomaportal.com/
www.kenwoodpress.com/
We're pretty serious about food around here. :)
Springtime in Sonoma
It's shaking here!
Sonoma's Tuesday night farmers market reopened last week.
As did Oak Hill Farm (flowers, greens, asparagus, fava beans, leeks, green garlic, lettuce, oranges).
And the strawberry stand at Watmaugh and Arnold.
Heard Sebastopol's strawberry stand on 12 just east of town opened too.
New flavors at El Michoacana ice cream shop in Boyes Hot Springs (killer kiwi paletas).
Just up the road is El Molino Central where the spring menu is up - Big bowls of green pozole and other tempting treats - http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/711365
Enjoy!
Real Food BBQ on Hwy 12 west of Sebastopol
Finally went to this little outdoor gem next to Bill's Farm Basket at Sexton Road.
Was drawn in by fish tacos, but switched order to bbq chicken plate for $8. Got a leg/thigh, beans, real mashed potatoes and coleslaw with lots of house-made mild, hot sauce.
The smokey flavored chicken was under done, so I put it into cooler for the next day.
Everything else was perfect. The portions were large, the sauce picked up the beans, the potatoes were worth eating right away.
The fish tacos looked good and, according to Yelp reviews, the brisket is best.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/real-food-bar-bbq-sebastopol
The place is rarely open - Thursday - Sunday 11:30-6, so plan to stop en route to Bodega.
Oh if a clean kitchen is your thing, this place is a bit rustic. Didn't appear to be hot and cold running water or stainless steel anything. While there may have been picnic tables outside, this looked like more of a place to pick up prepared food.
I'd return for the brisket.
Two weeks in California
In Glen Ellen - if you arrive at the right moment, you can be among the first guests at Glen Ellen Star http://glenellenstar.com/
I strongly recommend El Molino over Juanita Juanita for Mexican food. A heads up, dining is on the patio out back inside a plastic enclosure, warmed by propane heaters, but you'll be sitting on wooden picnic tables. Check out the spring menu - last post at http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/711365
Historical/Educational tour in Wine Country
Then there's the plaza in downtown Sonoma with the Mission, Barracks, Hotel and other historical buildings for your Father in law to visit while others taste wine. Vallejo's home is a long walk from downtown, but peacefully lovely.
And there's art in the gallery just south of the plaza.
Benziger is better in summer when the biodynamic gardens are thriving.
El Molino Central, Sonoma
Spring menu is up.
Prices are $9.50-$11. Nachos are $7. Chips and salsa now $4.
No chile rellanos of any type, but some amazing new dishes.
Yucatan Panuchos- traditional botana from the Yucatan. Tortillas stuffed with black beans and a slice of hard boiled egg, topped with spice rubbed chicken, avocado and seville orange marinated habanero onion. (I had this and though it didn't look like a lot for $11, just two discs - it was tasty, filling and had a lot going on - every bite exploded with a range of flavors and textures.)
Enchiladas with choriso, potato and carrot with crema, queso fresco, avocado and escabeche.
Tlacoyos de Habas - stuffed masa cakes with refried fava beans, sals de abrol and nopal cactus picada.
Mole Verde co Chayote y Elote - early spring green mole with green beans, pork and chayote.
Chicken in a mole from Cuicatalan - chicken in a Oaxacan red mole, served with peas and carrots, Spanish rice and tortillas.
Mushroom, spinach and cheese tamales.
Standards:
Cilaqules "El Cardenal" before 11 am
fish tacos
Chicken enchiladas Suizas
Swiss chard enchiladas
Nachos verdes
Chicen in mole verde tamales
pork tamales
Napa/Sonoma Itinerary help, please!
While Healdsburg has amazing food, drink, and scenery, it is at least an hour's drive from Sonoma, most of it on the two-lane Highway 12. Dark and dangerous driving with lots of oncoming headlights.
Since Sonoma has it's own charms, I suggest focusing there on this trip and returning later to enjoy Healdsburg, the Russian River, the Sonoma Coast.
Napa/Sonoma Itinerary help, please!
I like Bouchon Bakery - good take-out. The weather has been unseasonably warm and dry -picnic weather. We hope it will rain soon.
A good place for a picnic is Quarryhill Botanical Garden, on Highway 12 just east of Trinity Road. Blooms currently include magnolia, camellia and some early rhododendrons. www.quarryhillbg.org/
Drive over the hill is lovely, just take it slow. And don't drink and drive! It's narrow, steep, and windy. Inebriated passengers might think twice and choose to drink on the Sonoma side of the trip. :)
Glen Ellen has some wonderful takeout food downtown at Glen Ellen Village Market and desserts at Hop Kiln Tasting Room - http://hkgtastingroom.wordpress.com/
The chocolate shop at Jack London Village makes us happy too.
Maya Restaurant on the corner of First Street East and Napa is closed indefinitely due to a fire.
You are coming during olive season - plenty of festivities - http://www.sonomavalley.com/OliveFestival/FebruaryEvents2012.html
Enjoy your trip and do drive safely.
Chinese in Santa Rosa
I"ve been going to Goji Kitchen near SRJC and enjoying that too.
Tom, thanks for tip about Chinois Bistro, looks great!
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Goji Kitchen
1965 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Chinese in Santa Rosa
I like these places in Santa Rosa. Can't think of any in the Sonoma/Valley of Moon region that I'd go out of my way to eat at.
China Room
Kirin
2700 Yulupa
Santa Rosa
707-525-1957
Gary Chu's
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China Room
500 Mission Blvd, Santa Rosa, CA 95409
Gary Chu's
611 5th St, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
New ice cream flavors- Michoacana in Sonoma
Dropped by for holiday cheer and found a new case of ice cream flavors at Michoacana on Highway 12 in Sonoma. Mamey, tequila, pumpkin pie and fig are just a few. The fig and mamey were excellent - full of fruit flavor without being overwhelmed by sugar.
I didn't check the paleta case to see whether the new flavors made it there. Michoacana has many more paleta flavors than ice cream flavors.
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Michoacana Ice Cream
18495 Hwy 12, Sonoma, CA 95476
Dungeness crab prices for '11
Through Dec. 13, $3.99# at Oliver's Markets in Sonoma County. 2# minimum size.
Persimmons $1.19# in Santa Rosa
Pineapple guava $.99#
Organic apples - many varieties $1.39#
Recently visited Rainbow Grocery and got sticker shock looking at organic persimmons for $4#. Imwalle Gardens in Santa Rosa currently has a glut of Hachiyas and Fuyu persimmons for $1.19#.
They grow their own, cut out the middleman, and share with the community at great prices. Some of the produce, like the local Rome apples, seems to come from other local farms, gardens and orchards. Other produce is commercially grown.
If you do get there, look around, they've a small, but essential organics section that includes fruit and veggies.
Sorry I forgot to report their incredibly lush and long lasting fig season.
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Rainbow Grocery
1745 Folsom St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Imwalle Gardens
685 W 3rd St, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
El Molino Central, Boyes Hot Springs ; Bistro Sabor, Napa
Thanks for a report on that stew, the photo was enticing, but taste will tell.
The mole rojo has switched to mole amarillo. I think the latter is even more delicious.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/711365
El Molino Central, Sonoma
The current vegetarian tamale is butternut squash with Monterey Jack cheese, so won't work for you either.
Herb & spice suppliers in Santa Rosa
Just in time for holiday baking - too many options to choose from!
Prices at Savory Spice Shop are higher than Penzeys, but they'll sell you any amount you want...probably a net gain. And they encourage tastes, providing even a sink and drinking cups to rinse hands and palate while tasting. An embarrassment of riches. Weren't conquests and colonies started to supply spices?
Santa Rosa Community Market
1899 Mendocino Ave. Santa Rosa, CA 95401
(707) 546-1806
Hours:
Monday - Saturday 8am to 9pm
Sunday 10am to 8pm
http://srcommunitymarket.com/
Savory Spice Shop
317 D Street
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Ph: (707) 284-1310
Fx: (707) 284-1310
Hours:
Monday - Saturday: 10-6
Sunday: 11:30-5
http://www.savoryspiceshop.com/aboutus/santarosa.html
Penzey's Spices
Santa Rosa, CA
736 Farmers Lane
(707) 566-7772
Hours:
Mon.-Sat.: 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Sun.: 11:00AM - 5:00PM
http://www.penzeys.com/
Those who don't mind traveling to Sebastopol, may enjoy
Rosemary's Garden
132 North Main Street, Sebastopol CA
Phone: +1-707-829-2539
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Rosemary's Garden
132 N Main St, Sebastopol, CA
Community Market
1899 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa, CA
Savory Spice Shop
317 D St, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Traverso's deli in Santa Rosa - sold!
October 7th, 2011 06:45am
Traverso’s Market: The End of an Era
by MicheleAnna.Jordan
http://pantry.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/12630/traversos-market-the-end-of-an-era/
El Molino Central, Sonoma
What's up at El Molino Central?
The autumn menu!
Mole amarillo in enchiladas (chicken or cheese with beans) or in chicken tamales in banana leaf. Puerco con Verdolaga - purslane and pork stew-soup with all the tortillas you can eat. Quesadillas with chicken tinga and mole amarillo.
Chile rellano (fried with egg batter) with pork picadillo and early girl tomato broth - a classic dish from central Mexico with candied chilacoyote and beans. Beef brisket taquitos with avocado, tomatillo salsa, sour cream and cotija cheese.
They had the Salik P'ak today http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/782158 with other salsas, but I didn't see any tubs of mole sauce. There were fresh tortillas off the grill for $3.50 dozen. Four of the mole tamales for $14.
Prices from $9.50-11.
I had the mole enchiladas. Oh my goodness - that sauce is complex and intriguing. There's a photo on the wall showing the plant, piper auritum or Hoja santa, the sacred leaf is a key ingredient of the luscious mole. wikipedia.org/wiki/Piper_auritum
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El Molino Central
11 Central Avenue, Boyes Hot Springs, CA 95476
Sebastopol food & art in NYT
Link
http://www.waccobb.net/forums/showthread.php?84491-Sebastopol-Featured-in-the-New-York-Times!&p=142700
The" local organization that teaches teenagers how to cook healthy food for people with life-threatening illnesses" is the Ceres Project
http://ceresproject.org/
Best place for alfresco lunch between Oakland Airport and Occidental??
Peter Lowell's in Sebastopol has a delightful patio too.
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Peter Lowell's
7385 Healdsburg Avenue, Sebastopol, CA 95472
Best place for alfresco lunch between Oakland Airport and Occidental??
Be sure to stop for an al fresco pastry in Sebastopol at Patisserie Angelica. It shares a deck with BBQ Smokehouse. The bakery is only open weekends.
If you do take the Mill Valley Route and decide to go up Highway One, there are some good spots in Point Reyes Station including the Station House Cafe, the oyster places just north. Bakeries in Point Reyes Station and Freestone (Bovine and Wild Flour respectively). Wild Flour's garden is incredibly lovely. Also, Cowgirl Creamery in Point Reyes is a great stop for picnic supplies.
Enjoy your visit!
Martha's Old Mexico has a sweet patio out back, but I haven't eaten there in years. That it's been there for years says something about the food.
Have been to Hole in the Wall & enjoyed the food!
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Cowgirl Creamery
80 4th St, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
Patisserie Angelica
6821 Laguna Pkwy, Sebastopol, CA 95472
Wild Flour Bread
140 Bohemian Hwy, Freestone, CA
Bovine Bakery
11315 Shoreline Hwy, Point Reyes Station, CA
The Station House Cafe
11180 State Route One, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
BBQ Smokehouse
6811 Laguna Park Way, Sebastopol, CA 95472
Martha's Old Mexico
305 N Main St, Sebastopol, CA 95472
Grocery Outlet
Old, but not out-dated funny story about shopping at GO---
http://www.metroactive.com/papers/sonoma/08.03.05/dining-0531.html
The Philosophy of Products
Surrealism is alive and well in the aisles of North Bay discount supermarkets
By Matt Pamatmat
In the perennial holiday children's film Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer--featuring Burl Ives as the snowman narrator, goofy animation and an unexplained overabundance of purple clay--Rudolph discovers an entire island of defective, unpopular or just plain weird toys: the Island of Misfit Toys. I felt a little like Rudolph when the Grocery Outlet supermarket first opened in the wake of Safeway's disappearance from the Fourth and College location in Santa Rosa a few years back. Inside the Grocery Outlet, bizarre, dusty products fill the store like misfit toys, just waiting to be bought and taken home by someone looking for bargains or the shopper who simply delights in finding an item too curious to pass up.
In fact, what Grocery Outlet offers is a trip to the surreal. The store carries items that never took off with a finicky populace, have dangerously close expiration dates or are simply better sold as discount items. This can be good for the frugal gourmet or bargain-hunter: many costly items such as honey, alcohol, medicine and cereal, can be found here at very reasonable prices. I once scored a beautiful little jar of smoky-sweet Peruvian honey that was some of the best I've ever had. And for a family on a tight budget like mine, a place like Grocery Outlet is a godsend for keeping food bills under control.
continued at
http://www.metroactive.com/papers/sonoma/08.03.05/dining-0531.html
Grocery Outlet, October 2011
Petaluma = chocolate - Dagoba hot chocolate mixes (3 flavors) for $4 & syrup 64 oz for $10. Dagoba small milk chocolate squares 4/$1. Hachez 77% or 88% 37 gram bars for $1. Scharffen Berger milk chocolate with almonds. Santander dark chocolate with espresso .2 oz 8/$1.
Santa Rosa only had a couple bottles of the syrup and none of the other chocolate goodies.
On the other hand, SR had an amazing variety and amount of teas in the natural foods aisle, tea/drinks aisle and above the freezers.
Also had Greek Gods Lebni pints for $2. Delicious.
Both stores seem to be shifting into fall. They're carrying a full selection of Vee Tee Indian packets after many months without. Many frozen food options too.
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Grocery Outlet
1116 4th St, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Grocery Outlet
80 E Washington St, Petaluma, CA
Persian Groceries in San Francisco
There's also Kasra Market in Walnut Creek, 120 C Newell Ave at San Miguel Shopping Center near the Kabob House.
Their selection is much larger than Zand's and includes frozen and refrigerated food - some produce too.
Call them & see if they have what you want.
925-256-7777
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Kabob House
1250 Newell Ave, Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Sonoma County - get here, get your tomatoes now
It's finally tomato season and they're falling off the vines - ripe, delicious and plentiful.
My current faves are $3 lb from Vineyards Inn in Kenwood. You'll also find squash, peppers, grapes, and other produce there. If you come at lunch time on a weekday, be sure to check out the blue plate special for $10. I've had two excellent meals there recently - they seem to use the special to move food while it's still fresh and tasty.
Oak Hill Farms tomatoes at $4 lb are also very good, but the melons, peppers and corn are even better. It's really worth a stop, if only to see the flowers blooming along the driveway.
And Imwalle's in Santa Rosa is busting out tomatoes at 99 cents a pound, $2 for heirlooms. Their figs are falling off the trees and they've got their own corn, romano beans, apples and squash too.
I'd bet that Tierra and the farmers markets are moving bumper crops too. I just haven't seen it or tasted it myself.
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Oak Hill Farm
15101 Sonoma Hwy, Sonoma, CA 95476
Imwalle Gardens
685 W 3rd St, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Vineyards Inn
8445 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood, CA 95452
Glen Ellen take-out and tasting menu
My mistake...and still delight.
Bought the lemon meringue tart on Friday for Saturday picnic, then tumbled it over and over in the cooler. So upon opening there was meringue on all six inner sides of the box. Managed to scrape it off (sticky stuff) and reapply to the curd & crust.
And it was still delicious!
Grew up thinking I didn't like lemon desserts because they were sooo sweet. Fortunately this one was more like lemon curd, enough strong acid for me and nicely balanced by the buttery crust and sweet meringue.
Next time I'll handle with care to preserve the beautiful caramelized peaks.
Chloe's French Cafe - Santa Rosa Sat. hours
From their current newsletter:
Now Open for Lunch on Saturdays!!!
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Join us this Saturday, September 17th for lunch. Our entire menu will be available as well as some seasonal specialty items!
http://www.chloesco.com/chloescafe.htm
Featured menu items for Saturday, September 17th
Heirloom Tomato & Turkey Croque Monsieur
Delectable combination of Applewood smoked bacon,
Heirloom Tomatoes,Willie Bird Smoked Turkey, carmelized onions, a
blend of Carmody & Swiss Cheeses and molasses mustard on wheat bread.
Half Croque monsieur served with a side of roasted summer squash salad with pepitas
$9.95
Summer's End Salad
Organic Spring greens, romaine and peppery arugula with white beans, roasted gypsy sweet peppers, feta cheese, toasted almonds and Heirloom tomatoes with basil grain mustard vinaigrette.
$9.95
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Chloe's French Cafe
3883 Airway Drive 145, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
