Tag: Sonoma

Harvest Season Staycations: Support Our Beloved Wine Countries, Sebastopol Edition

Sebastopol is historically famed as a plum and apple-growing region, home to Gravenstein apples and good-as-it-gets plums.

As with everywhere in Sonoma County, wine grapes are now the dominant agriculture, but a few dear souls keep the apple and stone fruit orchards alive (where to go apple picking in town), alongside produce farms like Two Belly Acre Farm (more on that below). Cider producers, farms and the impressive Barlow complex dominate the small Sonoma town. Here are five+ standouts for food, drink and a hotel stay in (and near) Sebastopol:

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Wine Country Inns with Exceptional Dining (and Growing Their Own Produce)

Published at Haute Living Magazine, the November-December 2019 issue includes my feature on Wine Country Inns — from Mendocino to Sonoma Counties — that offer exceptional, world class dining and grow their own produce in their gardens or farms: SingleThread in Healdsburg, Harbor House Inn in Elk, Boonville Hotel in Boonville. Online here. MY HAUTE LIVING ARTICLES— A visionary San… Read more →

9 Bars Serving Standout American Whiskey Cocktails Across the US

Covering 9 standout American whiskey (bourbon, rye, etc.) cocktails around the US at Liquor.com, you’ll find my top national drinks on menus at these bars/restaurants: — Chef’s Special Cocktail Bar, Chicago— Existing Conditions, New York City— CDP Bar (at Commis), Oakland, CA— Julep, Houston— The Bindery, Denver— Proof on Main (at 21C), Louisville— Bar Beau, Brooklyn (NYC)— Bird & the Bottle, Santa… Read more →

Healdsburg’s Visionary Women

Visionary businesswomen can be found all over Wine Country. But one place has a high concentration. Healdsburg’s peaceful town square is home to shops, boutique hotels, wine tasting rooms and restaurants. Though miles of vineyards, rolling hills, farms and redwood groves surround Healdsburg, it’s easily Sonoma’s most chichi, high-end town. But that belies this small town’s vibrant spirit, especially when… Read more →

Top New Openings of the Month: December 2018

In my latest Time Out column, my top openings of the month join other standout newcomers for a top 15 on where to eat now (article here): Trailblazer Tavern — 4 stars 350 Mission St.; 415-625-5445. michaelmina.net/restaurants/san-francisco-bay-area/trailblazer_tavern. Monday-Friday 11am–2pm; Monday-Friday 3–11pm; Saturday 5–11pm.A massive, 7,000-square-foot space in the SalesForce East building already feels like a party oozing aloha spirit, thanks to… Read more →

Weekend-ing in Sebastopol

In my latest Time Out column, I dig through highlights new and old in the laid back West Sonoma town of Sebastopol, a town famed for its wineries and Gravenstein apples, as it is for its antique and vintage shopping (article here): — Killer seafood, tacos & burgers: Handline —  Yes, ramen, but even better: modern Japanese izakaya fare & whisky… Read more →