Kathleen Hill: Sonoma No. 4 of top small towns for food lovers

Late breaking:

Sonoma was just named the fourth “Best Small Town for Food Lovers in America.” TopValueReviews.net based its selections on “notable restaurants, variety of dining options, well-known chefs/owners, awards of Michelin stars and food-related festivals or events.”

We definitely have plenty of food-related festivals and events, but no Michelin stars, but then neither do the towns ranked ahead of Sonoma. Those happen to be Walla Walla, Washington, Waitsburg, Washington and Water Valley, Mississippi.

Sonoma’s review singles out “nationally recognized” the girl & the fig, EDK, Harvest Moon and La Salette.

Healdsburg came in at No. 5, Guerneville at 12, and Yountville, which actually has some Michelin stars, behind Guerneville at lucky 13.

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Recently, I relayed the news that Olive & Vine restaurant will be moving to downtown Sonoma from its current Jack London Village location in Glen Ellen.

I also stated that I was sworn to secrecy about the new location. Apparently others in whom owners Catherine Venturini and John Burdick confided did not keep the secret.

While Catherine and John adore being a Glen Ellen neighborhood restaurant and love their loyal customers, they have long wanted to be located in Sonoma and will close Feb. 20 in Glen Ellen. Sometime in the near future they will reopen in the Cooperage building on First Street West between the girl & the fig and the Depot Hotel Restaurant.

Previously owned by artist Claudia Wagar and used as her art studio, the building is built of old stones and other materials and is undergoing further earthquake updates and more. But what an atmosphere – with the owners dedicated to preserving the building’s history.

Another real plus: they will have a full liquor license, which they did not have in Glen Ellen.

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Two local establishments are offering to cook and package up your Super Bowl party for next Sunday, and one will even deliver it for an extra charge.

Ramekins Culinary School will present a load of housemade chips with three-onion dip, housemade tortilla chips with fresh garden salsa, pigs-in-a-blanket, truffle mac-n-cheese, and assorted mini cookies. For eight to 10 people $99, 10 to 15 people $150, and 15 to 20 people $199 (basically about $10 per person). Pick up Sunday, Feb. 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 450 W. Spain St., Sonoma. 933-0450. Reserve at ramekins.com.

Glen Ellen Star’s menu includes wood-roasted and pulled suckling pig, chipotle glaze, grilled pineapple, avocado, shaved radish, shredded cabbage, pickled jalapeños, handmade masa tortillas, salsa and cilantro crema. Eight person minimum. $40 per person if you pick up, $45 per person if they deliver. 13648 Arnold Dr., Glen Ellen. 343-1384.

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This Saturday and Sunday Chateau Sonoma at Cornerstone will offer an exciting “container opening” of the treasures Sarah Anderson found a couple of months ago in France. Head for the original barn in the Cornerstone gardens.

Next Saturday, Feb. 6, Chateau Sonoma hosts a launch party for the first issue of Evoke magazine celebrating what the Chateau calls “the timeless beauty and patina that all things vintage bring to our modern lives.” The publishers, Morgan and Bill Miller, and Chef Charlotte Clement Haycraft and I will all be there. I happen to be a contributor to Evoke. Come taste samples of the food in the magazine. 4 to 6 p.m. at Cornerstone.

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Deborah Walton of Canvas Ranch west of Petaluma near Two Rock will give a fascinating presentation tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 30 called “Grow Your Own Food in Whatever Space You Have.” Walton knows what she is talking about and will help guests develop a detailed crop plan for their space, show how to start “starts” of your favorite veggies, and offer her personal “tips of a well-seasoned farmer” on sources and anything else you want to know. Take home plenty. 10 to 1 p.m. $40. 755 Tomales Road, Petaluma. Reserve your space and pay via PayPal or check. For more info contact Deborah Walton at info@canvasranch.com or 766-7171.

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Apparently serving breakfast all-day has brought McDonald’s back into the profit column, bringing sales growth back to five percent or higher around the world. Mickey Dee’s executives say that “the bump all-day breakfast gave the company” will allow them “to work on other things, like improving food quality…and improving the experience customers have in the drive-through lanes.” Speaking of their drive-through lanes, I have heard from family members that one should check the bag to see if everything or what you ordered is there.

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Just to make us cheese lovers feel good, a study recently published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology suggests that nisin, a peptide born from bacteria Lactococcus lactis found in cheddar, Brie and Camembert cheeses, can reduce tumors in mice, at least those who drank highly concentrated “nisin milkshakes.” Do not try this at home. Stick to local cheeses.

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San Francisco’s late fashion guru, Wilkes Bashford, was a charming and loveable gentleman, for sure. His tie to Sonoma?

A couple of years ago I had the pleasure of sitting next to him at a table hosted by the late journalist Merla Zellerbach, who had invited both Chandra Friese and me, at a fundraiser for the San Francisco Botanical Garden and its vast school instructional program. He made me promise to go out on a date with him the next time he came to Sonoma, which he loved.

And what was his big draw in Sonoma? Three Dog Bakery on Broadway. The Chronicle’s full-page ad sponsored by the Mitchell Family, who now own his eponymous store, shows a note ostensibly typed onto paper wedged into an old typewriter saying “Dear All, Gone Shopping… Love, Wilkes.”

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Irony observed:

Sunday’s San Francisco Chronicle Food + Home section featured a two-page story on “Sugar Storm: Sneaky Sugar” and all the sugar many of us consume in a day from English muffins and granola bars to pastas, barbecue sauces, lattes and everything else.

Then the same Chronicle’s Style section devotes a full page to a story called “Pucker Up For A Meringue,” extolling the delights made of “whipped egg white and sugar” by Grand Meringue of Mill Valley and sold inside Honeymoon Ice Cream at 34 Miller Ave. Founder Janet Ryvin and Jane Friedman can bring some of the 300 meringues they make weekly to your party in their moveable cart and make a two-meringue “sundae” topped with chocolate sauce.

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New Happy Hours:

Sonoma Grille has a new Happy Hour from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday with $3 beers, $5 wines, and $6 cocktails. On the food side, indulge in garlic fries, fluffy fried calamari, Caesar salad, vegie flatbread, a cheeseburger, chicken wings, clams and mussels, a cheese plate and oysters, ($4 to $13).

B&V Whisky Bar & Grille offers four varieties of fries, oysters, beef or pork or chicken sliders, Ahi poke chips, chicken wings, onion rings, with beer and cocktail specials ($2 to $10).

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Ben Sessions of Hanzell Vineyards and Sheana Davis of the Epicurean Connection got married at the Sebastiani Theatre last Saturday.

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Cheers!