Kathleen Hill: Kenwood Restaurant to change hands

Food news from around the Valley|

Catherine Venturini takes over Kenwood Restaurant

Suddenly Catherine Venturini and John Burdick, who left their Olive & Vine location in Jack London Village months ago, have signed a lease to take over Kenwood Restaurant in, you guessed it, Kenwood.

How did it happen? Turns out Catherine has lusted after that location for years, and suddenly it came to her. Dean Bordigioni, who is in the process of buying the property, called and invited Catherine and John to come over for a glass of wine – asap. They had to talk fast because Dean was about to leave on a “race” across the country on his 1914 Harley.

Catherine and John take over the Kenwood Restaurant property Saturday, Oct. 1, leasing from its current owners, Bill and Betty Foss, who are ecstatic to have Catherine and John lined up until the deal with Bordigioni closes.

Catherine and John both said, “We are so, so, so excited. This will be the Mustards of Sonoma Valley” and will be called Crush Roadhouse Bar & Grill, a nod to the restaurant’s gorgeous vineyard location.

When they assume control Oct. 1, Catherine and John will paint to brighten up everything, getting new comfortable chairs, hiring her same quality staff, and offering exciting and casual roadhouse food starting with great appetizers in the bar.

Yes, it has a full bar and liquor license, something they never had at Olive & Vine. Watch for “blues, bubbles and oysters brunches” as well.

With the pond, bocce court, surrounding vineyards, fabulous iconic Sonoma Valley views and a large parking lot, this will fast become a destination for fun and good food.

Crush Roadhouse will open sometime in November after all the upgrades are done.

Their opening at the Cooperage on First Street West in Sonoma has been put on hold, due to extensive necessary structural improvements and permit processes, but they haven’t ruled it out sometime in the future. Congratulations.

Currys favored ?at Sonoma Raceway

According to Steve Page, president of Sonoma Raceway, Ayesha and Steph Curry were both thrilled by their rides with Mario Andretti in his two-seat IndyCar during the raceway’s IndyCar weekend earlier this month.

Ayesha will bring her new cookbook, “The Seasoned Life,” to the Left Bank restaurant in Larkspur on Sunday, Sept. 25, an event organized by Book Passage bookstore in Corte Madera.

Judy Page also learned that Ayesha’s cooking and lifestyle show debuts in October, airing after “Pioneer Woman” on the Food Network. “Pioneer Woman” features a university educated photographer who married a man with nearly 100,000 acres of cattle ranch in Oklahoma and supposedly cooks country food.

Reminder: Carniceria ?tour Sept. 30

Our last carniceria tour this year will be Friday, Sept. 30. We meet at Ramekins Culinary School for Mexican pastries and coffee and visit Sonoma’s unique Mexican bakeries, tortilla factories, carnicerias (butcher shops) and grocery stores, enjoy a great Mexican lunch, purchase barbecued chickens at El Brinquito, tour the Flowery School Garden, and top it all off at La Michoacana Natural Ice Cream, all included.

Men and women are welcomed to learn about different cuts of meats, spices, cooking implements, cooked Mexican deli foods and great prices on produce. Fun guaranteed. Only 6 places left. $65 inclusive. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Register at ramekins.com or call 933-1450.

Vintage Festival eats

“The Grape Escape” Vintage Festival begins tonight, Sept. 23, with its Gala at Sonoma Barracks with scads of large and tiny wineries pouring their best and food from Homegrown Bagels, Krave, Barking Dog, Mary’s Pizza, Maya, Murphy’s, Palms Grill, Saddles, Sonoma Cheese Factory, Sonoma Grille, Sonoma Market, Swiss Hotel, the Epicurean Connection, Vineburg Deli. Plus Supreme Sweets and Sweet Rose Desserts. And lots of live music. $90 online, $100 at door.

Weekend food purveyors include the Fig Rig, Sonoma volunteer firefighters with oysters, Aunt Betty’s Corn Dogs, Mammy Yammy’s, Ultimate Souvlaki, Uber Spud, Kettle Korn, Got Balls meatballs, Java Wagon, Rancho Viejo, Taste of Himalayas, Tuck Box, E-Saan Thai, Sweet Scoops, Off the Hook BBQ and Krave. Admission free.

Have fun this weekend.

‘Israel Eats’ author ?coming to Readers’ Books

Join us next Wednesday, Sept. 28 at Readers’ Books when Steven Rothfeld, a well-known culinary and travel photographer, brings his first book as author and photographer to our Last Wednesday Food Group at 7 p.m.

Rothfeld has traveled to more than 40 countries and has photographed books by Michael Chiarello, Frances and Edward Mayes, Marcel Marceau, Wolfgang Puck, Joel Robuchon, Nancy Silverton and Patricia Wells and has worked with Thomas Keller, Christopher Kostow and Cindy Pawlcyn.

As well, the ladies of Congregation Shir Shalom will bring their new cookbook, “Sonoma Cooks,” the same evening, as well as some nibbles from their book.

Join us for some good tastes and great information on Israeli and other cuisines. As usual, it’s all free and Readers’ Books gives attendees a 15 percent discount on our featured books that evening. Free. 7 p.m. 130 E. Napa St. 939-1779.

Celebrating Jack London

Nearly 350 supporters of Jack London State Historic Park paid $200 last Saturday to enjoy a fun historic show featuring Chuck Levine as Jack London, Laura Benward as a gun-toting Charmian, the Alioto Dance Collective and Island Breese Entertainment performing skits depicting Jack London’s world travels.

Mike Benziger, well-known biodynamic farmer, gardener and agricultural preservationist, was honored during the evening, and also was one of the largest donors to the fund-a-need emceed by event chair Marcelo Defreitas. The Benzigers are next-door-neighbors to Beauty Ranch and great students of London’s life and organic farming practices.

Marcelo announced that not only did Kenwood Winery donate all of the wine for the evening, but they also are giving $300,000 to restore Jack London’s winery ruins, where the event was held and Transcendence performs.

Benzigers’ son-in-law, Ari Weisswasser, who is chef and co-owner of Glen Ellen Star restaurant in downtown Glen Ellen, catered the vast dinner with his Stellar Catering. I missed the hors d’oeuvre by getting stuck behind a fire truck fighting a house fire on Arnold Drive.

The family-style dinner included Glen Ellen Star’s signature cauliflower, baby kale panzella with the Patch beefsteak tomatoes, duck confit with pole bean cassoulet, brisket chimichurri with fingerling potatoes, wood grilled vegetables, and Penngrove’s Full Circle whole wheat toast. The super tasty Gravenstein apple cobbler came warm in cast iron pans with whipped cream in jars so guests could enjoy as much as they wanted.

The spirit of Jack London was truly present

Sal Chavez’s ?tequila No. 6 in country

Sal Chavez, co-owner of Picazo Deli, president of the Sonoma Valley School Board of Trustees, and member of the La Luz board, just scored with one of his tequilas. His imported Tequila Gran Dovejo came in number six in the Top Ten’s contest of favorites. According to the organizers, winners were “determined by popular vote.” With all of the voting online, Sal ran a good social media campaign and wants to thank everyone for their support.

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