Depot al fresco, rockin’ ricotta and more food news from around the Valley

Go al fresco at Depot Hotel The Depot Hotel Restaurant on First Street West across from Arnold Field has just been voted into the “Top 100 Al Fresco Dining Restaurants in America” by Open Table users.|

Go al fresco at Depot Hotel

The Depot Hotel Restaurant on First Street West across from Arnold Field has just been voted into the “Top 100 Al Fresco Dining Restaurants in America” by Open Table users.

The list “highlights restaurants that offer stunning views, regional cuisine and fabulous outdoor dining experiences,” according to Open Table.

Others named from Sonoma County were the Restaurant at Russian River Vineyards in Forestville and Rustic at Francis Ford Coppola’s winery in Geyserville. Napa County’s Auberge du Soleil in Rutherford and Sam’s Social Club in Calistoga also received the ranking.

Owner Gia Ghilarducci and her late husband, chef Michael Ghilarducci, purchased the Depot Hotel in 1985. Chef Antonio Ghilarducci, son of Gia and Michael, joined the restaurant in 2008, and became Head Chef in 2014. Chef Antonio honed his skills at some of Northern California’s best restaurants including La Folie, the French Laundry, Redd and El Dorado Kitchen. In 2016, the Ghilarducci family will celebrate their 31st year of continuous operation of the restaurant.

The Depot Hotel serves the casual Italian comfort food in the tradition of Lucca, where Michael Ghilarducci’s family originated. Lunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. 241 First St. W. 938-2980. gia@depotsonoma.com.

Ricotta lessons

Sheana Davis is offering a hands-on cheese making class at the General’s Daughter, Sunday, June 19. Learn to make fresh crème de ricotta, sample it warm, and then after it firms enjoy with fresh fruits and jams. $75. 1 to 3 p.m. 450 W. Spain St. Contact sheana@vom.com.

Bumpsters get it off their chests

Bump Cellars on Broadway invites the “Bumpsters,” aka a poetry and music group, back to its tasting room with “a crowd-pleasing gang of performance poets and musicians” on Thursday, June 23 for “an evening of scintillating wine, words and music.” Writer Daedalus Howell will emcee.

The evening’s theme will be “Get it off Your Chest – A revealing Evening of Words and Music” featuring Jonah Raskin, A.J. Petersen, Stacey Tuel and Lisa Summers, and any community members who offer themselves. Steve Shain will accompany with his stand-up base, Steve Della Maggiora will play accordion, and Sarah Summers will sneak in some songs. Free. Glasses of red or white wine $5. 7 p.m. 521 Broadway. Contact staceytuel@gmail.com for more info.

Hot! Hot! Hot! Night in Havana

Sonoma Valley Museum of Art’s 2016 Fresh Paint fundraiser takes on a new look celebrating Cuban culture at Hanna Boys Center on Saturday, June 25 to benefit the museum’s exhibition and arts education programs.

Catherine Venturini of Cuvée Wine Country Events (Olive & Vine) will make Cuban mojitos and Cuba Libre with roast pork and ham mini sandwiches, veggie empanadas and chilled garlic shrimp with lime mojo appetizers.

The “family style dinner’ will include roasted pork with cilantro lime and avocado, ropa vieja with marinated red onions, plantains and tostones, black beans and rice, escabeche (rockfish), chayote, cucumber and kale salad, and dulce de leche cake with crema caramel.

All this will be accompanied by Kivelstadt, Barbed Oak, Hughes and Corner 103 wines.

Watch for cigar rolling, stilt walking Moko Jumbies, painted fedoras by Marcie Waldron, entertainment by former Beach Blanket Babylon performer Ellen Toscano, Transcendence performers, and the Cuban band Los Boleros. Silent and live auctions. $250. 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Tickets at svma.org/freshpaint.

The veggie police

Ramekins Culinary School hosts a special event with “chief vegetable detective” of JoyFoodly.com, actually named Hollie Greene, for a fun class on Sunday, June 26. Expect stuffed Sunburst squash, tomato corn quinoa salad, zucchini fritters, roasted okra and rhubarb strawberry compote. All this from a super experienced chef and food educator. $95. 3 to 6 p.m. Reserve at ramekins.com.

Weekend recap

We are so fortunate to live here, with Sonoma Valley’s relatively clean air and climate, where we can grow or buy vegetables and fruits grown within a couple of miles. Many of us begin every weekend at the Friday farmers market at Depot Park and, for some of us, what is available locally determines what we cook or eat raw over the weekend.

Last weekend began for me at the Crescent Montessori School Talent Show at the Sonoma Community Center. The performance, visual and computer arts programs are very impressive, all culminating for the kids in a walk into the low-water garden for Glen Ellen Star ice creams donated by school parent, chef Ari Weisswasser.

Friday included Jim Jarrett in “Vincent,” the one-man full-length play written by Leonard Nimoy and performed last weekend at the Sonoma Community Center to benefit Sonoma Arts Live.

Jarrett, who is the brother of well-known Sonoman Michelle Skaff, performed the role of Vincent Van Gogh’s brother Theo masterfully and with lasting endurance and portrayal. In the play, Theo tells the tragic story of his brother, the artist.

Those who attended the Friday opening “gala” enjoyed “French-like” appetizers ample enough for many guests to enjoy instead of dinner. Touché Mobile Chefs of Napa prepared foie gras mousse on triangle toasts, pickled vegetables, mini blinis (2-inch pancakes) topped with choices of tomato compote, chopped wild mushrooms with truffle oil, or smoked Washington state trout.

All of this was accompanied by August Sebastiani’s 3 Badge Beverages’ donated wines and spirits.

After Friday’s guests gasped at the energy Jarrett expended in the first act, they enjoyed a huge array of cheeses donated by Gary Edwards of Sage Marketing.

Following the standing ovation at the end of Jim Jarrett’s performance, guests were treated to mini fruit tarts and huge chocolate brownies purchased from Sonoma Market before everyone went back into Andrews Hall for a Q&A with Jarrett.

Thanks to Jim Jarrett, Jaime Love and Sonoma Arts Live, and all of its donors and supporters for a great weekend of theater in Sonoma.

Ultimate Warriors fans

Cathy Witkowicki and Jon Parker are in Asia for a Rotary conference for newly elected club presidents. Not wanting to miss a crucial game in the NBA playoffs, they found a bar open at 7 a.m. in Hoi An, Vietnam so they could figure out how to watch Sunday’s Warriors-Cavaliers game. Now that is devotion. Hey Warriors, how about a couple of tickets for these Warrior warriors?

Eat ‘em and smile

June 17 is National Eat All Your Vegetables Day and National Apple Strudel Day. Sounds like a complete meal to me. Enjoy!

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