PauliBee's Profile
BBQ Smokehouse in Sebastopol – Opens June 16, 5pm
I read on Chowhound that this place was opening soon and I stopped by for a look. To my surprise, my wife and I were invited to be seated for dinner. I discovered that they were having a practice/training session and most of the diners were friends or employees of their, get this, not 1 but 2 catering companies. I had no idea this place was even here. Years ago it used to be a Pizza restaurant but they told me they had been catering from that location for almost 10 years. By the end of the meal I felt like family! The Que was great. I honestly haven't tasted anything as good since I attended South by Southwest last year in Austin. They certainly were not "practicing" with the food. Service was a little slow because they were taking pictures of each plate as it was made so that the cooks would make each plate the same way. I saw this being done on a reality TV show once of a restaurant opening.
I did learn that they were postoneing the opening until, the following Tuesday on June 23rd because they want to get some more practice sessions in and not be distracted from their catering operation. I heard the employees talking shop about what a busy season they are having. At least someone is doing well in this economy but I guess its understandable since barbecue is relatively inexpensive. if I was getting married this barbecue would be a no brainer.
Good butcher in Northern Sonoma County?
There are some good choices. My favorite is Willowside Market on Gurneville Rd. Another choice is surprisingly, G&G Market. They renovated recently and it no longer smells like a fishmarket with week old fish. They have good quality and good prices, but not the personal old time feel that Willowside has. I had 2 bad experiences in a row at Martindales and won't go back there. Lolas has lots of organ meats and they are very fresh and cheap. Things like chicken feet and beef heart that hasn't been frozen. Whole foods and Olivers look great but the prices!!! Can't afford them. Oh yeh, I forgot about Angelos in Petaluma. Wonderful stuff there, but limited. Heavy concentration of excellent sausages and prepared meats. All in all lots of choices! His tri-tip is incredible!!
