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Sonoma's Best is reminding us to think local

Way back when I started calling Sonoma my home away from home, circa 2008, it was a simpler time. Home loans were easy to come by and the living was good. Well a lot has happened since then and you can't help but rejoice when you notice new establishments in town that enhance our small towns big personality.

So I ask you, what would you do to have a country store in your neighborhood that offers a gourmet deli, makes homemade ice cream, serves wine & beer by the glass and serves Blue Bottle Coffee? Well if you are visiting our charming town of Sonoma or you happen to live here, you're in luck. Sonoma's Best, which is set in a historic building on the east side of town, has a lot to offer locals and visitors alike. The kitchen serves a menu that includes breakfast, sandwiches, panini, wraps, soups, salads and entrees which can be enjoyed in a charming outdoor seating area nestled between the store and cottages run by the same owners. A separate parlor serves as a combo coffee & ice cream counter as well as retail space for winery picnic items like cheeses, meats and olives.  Coffee aside, most of the product and produce is locally made.

As a local and a drinker and local drinker, I love the tasting room bar concept. In addition to a traditional wine tasting menu of Sonoma wines, the bar also serves wine & beer by the glass and sells wine by the bottle. During the week, the bar hosts a local winemaker night and a separate wine & food pairing night.
Those of you that live on the East side can literally walk to this charming place located at the corner of East Napa Street & 8th Street East. If you decide to check the cottages out, you'll be delighted to find Sonoma Square and a good number of wineries within easy walking distance.  If I didn't live here all ready, I'd stay here.  So instead, I'll be at the bar.  Stop by and say hi, will ya?
Sonoma’s Bests 1190 East Napa Street, Sonoma
About the cottages: Les Petites Maisons Sonoma are four one-bedroom cottages designated as one of the most romantic getaways in the Western US by Sunset Magazine. The cottages are within walking distance of Sonoma Square, Ravenswood Winery, Sebastiani Winery, Buena Vista Winery and Bartholomew Park Winery.    

Paul Rattay is an emerging technologies product consultant, photographer and cheloniaphile who splits his time between Sonoma and San Francisco. On any given Friday around 5 o'clock, you can find him and his band of hooligans at the Swiss Hotel fueling the local economy and sharing in foodie-isms.
Paul blogs about the Sonoma lifestyle, photography, travel and technology on his site, The Social Turtle.

 
To contact Paul Rattay, email thesocialturtle@gmail.com