Spinach recall; Corner 103 tasting room and Ledson restaurant open; Sonoma Grille to open soon; McReynolds to demo at Readers’ Books; Nibs & Sips
After a few friends and I became violently ill last week, all having eaten spinach, the following recall notice was posted:
“Taylor Farms, a Salinas, CA establishment, is issuing a Class I Recall on Fresh, Flat Leaf Spinach due to possible contamination of Salmonella. The product is under the Cross Valley Farms Brand and the Taylor Farms Brand and has code dates of YTF092A24, YTF092A27, YTF092A28 which are located on the front of the clear bag and outer carton. No illnesses have been reported.”
Of course none of us knew how to report our illnesses. When these things happen, people just weather through the intestinal storm and hopefully come out the other side, often without consulting a doctor.
A revision of the notice, and Taylor Farms website, showed different lots to be included, and warned against eating the spinach either cooked or raw.
Take seriously.
HHH
Arbor Day today in Sonoma Plaza reminds me that the national Arbor Day Foundation joined with Sonoma Raceway, NASCAR and UPS to donate 90 fruit trees to our school gardens last year. What a blessing for growing, nurturing, harvesting and eating experiences for our students!
HHH
Food Truck Fridays begins tonight, April 24, at Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery with food by Rob Larman’s Cochon Volant, Pagan Pizza, Tips Tri-Tip Trolley, Caribbean Spices, Got Balls Meatball Factory, Marks the Spot, and Seed on the Go. Sebastiani requires you buy their wine if drinking wine, and Incognito will entertain in the tasting room. Always a good time.
HHH
A smiling Ingrid Martinez and her brother, Jeff Montague (Wine Country Cyclery), owners of the Feed Store building at West Napa and First Street East looked very pleased at the opening party for Lloyd Davis’ Corner 103 tasting room last weekend. Davis and his family celebrated with wine club members on Saturday, and with friends and media on Sunday.
Everyone was greeted by Lloyd’s mother, Carol, who had flown in from New York for the weekend to pour his 2013 Rosé Sparkling wine in the new sleek and svelte tasting room that replaces Martinez’s art gallery on the corner. Carol then sent guests around the corner to the Red Grape’s patio, a perfect setting for a perfect afternoon event.
Even I, as a loyal fan of the Red Grape, was surprised that chef Todd Thompson could elevate the food pairings to the level he did. Every wine was served at a separate table complimented by an appetizer such as chardonnay with roasted red pepper hummus in cucumber cups, pinot noir with duck confit rillette on toasted rye, zinfandel with Genoa salami flanking Parmesan crisps like a little sandwich, smoked turkey with mustard and pickle mini sliders with merlot, roast beef on twice-stuffed baked mini potatoes with a red blend, and cocoa rubbed Dry Jack with dried figs poached in and served with Corner 103 Cabernet.
Lloyd Davis is known locally for turning Viansa Winery around into a profitable business starting in 2008, and then selling the enterprise.
Wine tastings are by appointment only to taste seven wines with only 10 guests at a time. Each wine is from a different Sonoma County AVA, including Carneros, Sonoma Coast, Russian River, Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma Valley and Rockpile. This way visitors will learn extensively about the wines and winemaking, all accompanied by food tastes from rotating local caterers and restaurants. Each seven-wine 90-minute tasting experience costs $40. Corner 103 wines range retail from $35 to $60, and are only available in the tasting room. 103 W. Napa St., Sonoma. Corner103.com.
HHH
Steve Ledson has officially re-opened his restaurant/tasting bar as Zina Lounge at the Ledson Hotel. Ledson offers his own Zina Hyde Cunningham, Ledson, and Mountain Terraces wines, as well as tasting menus by new-to-Sonoma chef Yoshiharu Sogi. Chef Sogi has cooked from Japan to Hawaii, to France, and Napa. $150. Seatings by appointment only at 1, 5:30 and 8 p.m. 480 First St. E., Sonoma. Reserve at 538-3823 or at ledson.com
HHH
Sonoma Grille is expected to open in May serving “steaks, spirits and seafood” in the old Meritâge location next to Chateau Sonoma on West Napa Street. The Sherpa family basically managed the former restaurant and have made extensive improvements to launch their dream restaurant. More martinis on the way.
HHH
John McReynolds will be our guest chef at the Last Wednesday Food Group at Readers’ Books on Wednesday, April 29, and will demonstrate how to make some recipes in his gorgeous book, “Stone Edge Farm Cookbook,” which won the IACP Book of the Year and the Julia Child Award for first cookbook. At Stone Edge Farm, John wears several hats: chef, cooking teacher, forager and writer.
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