Kathleen Hill: Horatius closes, Jim Belushi appears in Glen Ellen

Food news from around the Valley|

Horatius closes suddenly in Glen Ellen

At the end of one day last week, proprietor Horacio Gomes of Horatius coffee house in Glen Ellen suddenly removed all of his retail belongings and his sign from the south corner of Jack London Village on Arnold Drive in Glen Ellen.

An apparent dispute with the landlord brought about the quick departure.

A former designer, Gomes created popular Glen Ellen sweatshirts and hoodies, imported Portuguese olive oils and vinegars, and served coffee and pastries and some sandwiches.

'It is in God's hands to show me the way to the door that is likely to open elsewhere. This is not the end of Horatius… just a new beginning!' he said.

Surprise good food

Jackie Schultz's antiques warehouse on Eighth Street East has expanded next door. But that's not all. Her daughter Robyn Schultz uses the new space to sell used kitchenware, china, and other goodies, but regulars also frequent her spot for her food. Yes, food!

Robyn makes really good salads and a weekly menu at Sonoma Community Center's commercial kitchen and refrigerates it all behind her sales counter. Key to her best ever spinach salad is her secret dressing with oodles of good bacon, hard boiled eggs, etc. Haven't tried her mac 'n' cheese or soups but I actually know people who go there every day the Shultzes are open, which include Thursday through Saturday, to get takeout. Call ahead for special orders. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 695-9864. 428kitchen@gmail.com.

Local help for Mexico and Puerto Rico

Many of us are nearly sick to our stomachs with all the natural and man-made disasters happening recently and long for a way to help victims.

Two groups that I know of did something and did it well.

Last Thursday the Crescent Montessori School at Sonoma Community Center held a successful bake sale, completely organized by students, baked by students, and sold by students. Fabulous initiative.

Then on Sunday dynamo Fabiola Sotomayor and her husband, Raul Pomares, organized a paella party at the Annadel Estate home of Abigail and Dean Bordigioni. Raul, a conscientious investment advisor originally from Cuba with relatives in Puerto Rico, served as head chef along with his and the Bordigionis' friend known as 'Big Swede.' The outdoor kitchen team produced large pans of three paellas: vegetarian, chicken, and seafood, the latter loaded with jumbo prawns, clams and mussels. Deerfield Ranch vintners including the Bordigionis poured wine. A few thousand dollars were raised and will go directly to people in need, we hope.

Do what you can to help others.

Tips Roadhouse Test Kitchen open Thursdays

Susie and Andrew Pryfogle will open their Tips Roadhouse Test Kitchen, meaning their trolley parked next to their soon-to-be Tips Roadside restaurant, every Thursday in October. Venture by and try some of the new recipes and let them know what you think.

Chef Thaddeus will offer a special each week in addition to the regular menu. I need to try their shrimp sando for sure. Guests can 'dine' at a picnic table in front of the would-be restaurant or take your orders home. Suzie says, 'Nothing fancy schmancy,' so any Sonoma garb works.

Glorious Bites finals at Gloria Ferrer

The national super stars of appetizer home chefs will gather at Gloria Ferrer Winery on Saturday, Oct. 14 for the final bite-off, er… cook-off for the $5,000 first prize, all emceed by Leslie Sbrocco of KQED's 'Check Please.'

Jennifer Luttrell, executive chef of Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company and Glorious Bites' keynote judge, will also talk about cheese making, cooking with cheese, cheese and share tips on pairing sparkling wines with food.

The 11 finalists, selected because their bites go well with Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut, come from towns across America.

But they cook up a storm in their home kitchens, and attendees next Saturday get to taste their work along with glorious Gloria Ferrer wines. $55 public, $40 to $45 wine club members. 6 to 8:30 p.m. 23555 Highway 121, Sonoma. Tickets at gloriaferrer.com.

Pearl's Diner Hot Rod fundraiser

Fifth Street West across from Safeway should be a little wild next Saturday, Oct. 14 with Pearl's Diner's Hot Rod Car Show and dinner to benefit Becoming Independent. The Joe Chaplain Band will play throughout a dinner of Niman Ranch grass fed beef burgers cooked to order on toasted buns with choice of cheese, hand-cut French fries, tossed green salad with choice of dressing, and a soft drink. $10. 5 to 8 p.m. 561 Fifth St. W., Sonoma. Becomingindependent.org.

Cornerstone Harvest Festival

Cornerstone will host its first Harvest Festival and Pumpkin Patch on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 14 and 15 with live music by the Bloodstones on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m., pumpkins and food for sale, beer for purchase from Jack London Taproom, Sweet Scoops ice cream, Kettle Corn and more for sale, and Meadowcroft wines and vineyard tours. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

Luncheon for ballet troupe

Frank and Andi Valo-Espina will host a benefit for 'SF Danceworks' and artistic director James Sofranko at their home on Sunday, Oct. 15, fresh from their sold-out season at Cowell Theatre in San Francisco.

Chef Matt Roberts of BVR Farms and formerly of Traci des Jardins' Jardinière, will make pizzas to order in the family's wood burning pizza oven along with salads and other goodies, all followed by an enthralling ballet performance under the giant magnolia tree. You might even get a glimpse of some of Espina's car collection and several wine tastes. All proceeds go to SFDanceworks. $150 inclusive.

Blues Brother brother

Actor Jim Belushi and Sonoma man-about-town Michael Coats wandered into Glen Ellen Star for a pizza around 10 p.m. Saturday night, following an event for the SPARC cannabis company, which grows locally outside of Glen ellen. The staff was treated to a Belushi harmonica concert (with a stogie between fingers of his right hand). None of their little entourage looked exactly ready for a marathon in the morning but everyone had a blast.

Robledo Family Winery Harvest Festival

The Robledo family invites everyone to celebrate their harvest with lots of live entertainment, authentic Mexican food, and Robledo wine on Saturday, Oct. 7. $95 public, $85 wine club, includes food and one glass of wine. Noon to 4 p.m. Tickets at 939-6903.

Ty Caton barrel tasting

Ty Caton will host a barrel tasting at his actual winery on Eighth Street East in Sonoma on Saturday, Oct.7 Complimentary to their wine club members and up to three of their guests. General public tickets $20 advance or $25 at door. 21684 Eighth Street East, Suite 460, Sonoma. RSVP to 938-3224, Ext. 1 or angela@tycaton.com.

Glen Ellen Village Fair

The Glen Ellen Village Fair's 1.5 block parade featuring locals, music by Ten Foot Tone, the Illegitimate AC/DC, and the Jami Jamison Band, Radar, the Trips, Rockcats, the Sonoma Valley High School Band, and 8 Hits & 2 Misses. Kids Alley, pony rides and face painting, plus 80 booths of food, arts and crafts, and kids games. No admission. Noon to 5 p.m. Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen.

MFK Fisher's Last House fundraiser

Audubon Canyon Ranch, which owns the former Bouverie Preserve where David Pleydell-Bouverie built MFK Fisher's so-called 'last house,' will host a fundraiser -- to help preserve the late author's home and decide what to do with the property -- at the General's Daughter on Sunday, Oct. 8. Guests will taste local cheeses, salad, cassoulet, Bouchon Bakery desserts, and ginger snaps. $100 ACR members, $125 non-members. 5 to 7 p.m. 400 W. Spain St., Sonoma. Tickets at (415) 868-9244 or acr@egret.org.

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