Kathleen Hill: Red Grape reopens, farewell to Beni the dog...
The Red Grape unpeels
After a two-week closure for remodeling and redecorating, Carol and Sam Morphy have reopened their Red Grape with its thin crust pizzas, ample salads, and the best clam chowder around, to say nothing of hamburgers and huge stacks of truffled union rings and meatballs. But the big news is the décor – all soft grey with a marble floor, soft wood rounding the counter, new red bar chairs, new red banquets in the middle of the dining room and a huge living Ficus Benjamin on wheels that I would love to ride the length of the restaurant.
Go in and see for yourself. Same lovely employees.
Muscardini mascot celebrated
If you have ever even come close the Muscardini Cellars tasting room in Kenwood, undoubtedly you have been cuddled by Beni, Muscardini's snugalicious Golden Retriever winery dog. After 10 months withstanding cancer, Beni passed away last week.
Beni's life will be celebrated with a two-day party, Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 21 and 22. There is no admission to the event, but visitors can donate to Pets Lifeline, and those who have pets can bring them for photos to be placed on Beni's 'friend board.'
You can purchase food from Drums and Crumbs food truck on Saturday and from the Fig Rig on Sunday. Lots of dog biscuits and treats will be available for pets. Ten percent of the weekend's sales will go to Pets Lifeline. 1 to 5 p.m. both days. For more information, contact natalie@muscardinicellars.com.
Bollywood comes to Sonoma
Kanak Raj of Broadway Cleaners, Raj Singh of Delhi Belly Restaurant, and Deepak Gulrajani of Nicholson Ranch Winery will host a Bollywood blast Sunday, Jan. 22 at Nicholson Ranch.
Guests at the Sonoma Valley Rotary event will enjoy bottomless glasses of chardonnay and pinot noir from Nicholson Ranch, Indian-themed décor, live sitar music, a Bollywood dancer roaming among the tables, India-related videos, instruction on how to drape a sari, and a multi-course dinner from Delhi Belly. $125. 4:30 p.m. Contact susansonoma@gmail.com.
Sonoma Preservation Tour and Wine Tasting
The League for Historic Preservation will host a fundraiser on Saturday, Jan. 28 that will include three unique tour itineraries starting at Buena Vista Winery, Pangloss Cellars or Three Sticks tasting room. Each group will experience a 90-minute tour and tasting with a preservation focus.
The three tour groups will join together for lunch at another historic Sonoma location, the Depot Hotel. The day will end with an optional reception of coffee and cookies at the Sonoma League's Heritage Center, the Henri Maysonnave House, at 5:30 p.m. The tour offers an opportunity for preservation and wine enthusiasts to experience each property with in-depth discussions on the history of each building, the extensive preservation efforts made to restore them, and enjoy wine tastings offered at each destination.
Transportation will be provided to and from Buena Vista Winery. All other historic properties are within walking or rolling distance of each other around Sonoma Plaza. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring an umbrella in case of rain. Tickets are $225. Event begins at 9:40 a.m. Park behind Sonoma Barracks. More informaiton at concierge@threestickswines.com or 996-3328, ext.1.
Martini Madness winners and creativity
Last Friday's Martini Madness at MacArthur Place was indeed just that. Good to get there early before you can't get through the crowd to the martini tables. And by the time a couple hundred people down an ounce of 11 'martinis,' things get a little crazy, in a good way.
This year, Saddles Steakhouse definitely cranked the food up a big notch. One room had tables of charcuterie, olives, cheeses and substantial focaccia, while the other room offered chicken wings, vegetables, meatballs and lots more. And Chef Dana Jaffe personally passed some delectable Parmesan madeleines and ceviche.
Meanwhile, since an olive is no longer required in the drink since the demise of the olive festival, local spirits producers and bartenders branched out into what seemed more like Manhattans than martinis. According to Fred Groth of Prohibition Spirits, nine of the 11 entrants used their products. Sponsors included Prohibition Sprits and Hanson Vodka of Sonoma, as well as Sprit Works Distillery of Sebastopol.
Winners were: Best Overall – Saddles Steakhouse bartender Bryan Tatum created a Doc MacArthur's Elixir with Solano vodka, pear, basil, fresh lemon juice, agave, line olive oil, all garnished with Key Lime.
Best Garnish award went to Murphy's Irish Pub; bartender Sade Oyedeji made a French Quarter with Hooker House bourbon, blueberry, maple and rosemary reduction, bitters, Pernod, and lemon juice with a garnish of Peychauds Pernod and rosemary and blueberry.
UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy: