Kathleen Hill: Latest food news from around the Valley
Fourth of July dining
There are only a few places in town where you can dine and watch Sonoma's fabulous fireworks, estimated by many to be better than those of big cities.
Ramekins still has seats at its annual Fourth of July BBQ next door at the General's Daughter starting at 7 p.m. with a large buffet, live music by Forestville's David Luning Band, red, white and French rosé wines, along with Sangria and Sonoma's fireworks. David Luning made it through several rounds on 'American Idol' two years ago.
Guests might expect grilled corn and vegetables, potatoes, baby back ribs, grilled chicken, cornbread, Early Girl tomato arugula Caprese salad, potato chips, melons, grilled sausages, a candy bar, desserts, lavender lemonade and sangria, cash bar. Adults $65, kids 6 to 12 $25, age 5 and under free. 7 p.m. ramekins.com.
Nature Valley Protein Bar recall
According to Fox News, General Mills announced the recall of the popular Nature Valley protein bars due to possible listeria in sunflower kernels that came from a supplier. The flavors possibly affected include honey and almond with pumpkin seeds, peanut, almond and dark chocolate (yes!), roasted peanut, and honey almond cashew with sea salt.
Jean Arnold Sessions is ED of Sonoma County Vintners
Everyone's dear friend, Jean Arnold Sessions, just succeeded herself as Interim Executive Director to Executive Director of the Sonoma County Vintners' (SCV).
A fabulous woman who has helped hundreds of others have fun raising funds for breast cancer research has another side of her life: that of winery president at Hanzell and J wineries and director of Patz & Hall. She is also a great mentor to young women in the wine business, and we miss her in the Patten Street neighborhood since she moved to the Springs.
Many of us helped her through the illness and passing of her dear husband, Bob Sessions, former winemaker at Hanzell Vineyards, and congratulate her on such a positive move in her life.
Paul's Produce to open Saturdays
Great news, everyone.
For those of us who want to shop quietly for vegetables on the weekend, Paul's Produce, the pride and joy of Paul Wirtz and Candi Edmonson, will open its Arnold Drive farm stand across from Brocco's Old Barn on Saturday, July 9. Candi, her son, and a happy young farm-oriented crew will sell what's picked that morning by Paul and his gang. They will continue selling at both the Tuesday evening and Friday morning farmers markets as well.
Obama's Flatbed love
Flatbed Farm on Arnold Drive in Glen Ellen, farmed by Rachel Kohn-Obut, is also open, so get on her email list to find out exactly when. 13450 Highway 12 across from Bouverie Audubon Preserve in Glen Ellen. Contact her at rachel@flatbedfarm.com.
Rachel speculates that some of Flatbed Farm's vegetables and greens were served to President Barack Obama since Flatbed Farm and the restaurant, 25 Lusk, where the president dined last week while in the Bay Area for the Global Entrepreneurship Summit at Stanford, are both owned by the Dolan family, whose son Matthew is partner and executive chef at 25 Lusk.
Speaking of Sonoma/Glen Ellen veggies being served to President Obama at 25 Lusk in San Francisco Thursday evening, here is what he apparently was served: small bites of wild mushroom cheesecake, lobster corn dogs, cucumber and melon salad on greens, and a double order of yellowtail sashimi appetizer as his entrée. While not drinking any wine, the President sipped a Ketel One vodka on the rocks.
Nibs & Sips
Highly awarded chef and businesswoman extraordinaire Traci Des Jardins, who owns six San Francisco restaurants including Jardinière and Arguello, dropped in with part of her crew to visit Fred Johnson's new Starling, which used to be the Blue Moon Saloon.
Saul Gropman entertained famous visitors as well when NASCAR drivers Darrell Waltrip and Jeff Gordon stopped by Café LaHaye for dinner. Good thing Gropman now saves 30 percent of his restaurant's seating for locals and walk-ins.
Diver on the rise
Sonoma-grown diver and renowned diving coach Adam Sodati has again coached David Boudia into first place in the 2016 Olympic Diving Trials Sunday and will be taking him to Boudia's fourth Olympics in Rio to defend his 2012 gold medal. Soldati is known as one of the top diving coaches in the country (four-time NCAA Diving Coach of the Year) having also coached at the University of Indiana and Purdue University.
Soldati used to dive at Sonoma Valley High School way back when the high school had a pool. He and his wife Kimiko Hirai Soldati, a 2004 U.S. Olympic diver, have six children and now live in Indiana
Farm opens for brunch at Carneros Inn
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