Kathleen Hill: Murphy's Irish Pub reopens under new management
Murphy's Irish Pub reopens better than ever
As promised, Sondra Bernstein, John Toulze, Bob Smith and Bill Pollock have re-opened Murphy's Irish Pub after two weeks of truly spiffing it up with 'repairs, spring cleaning, and reorganization. The team used elbow grease, giving the place a shine and a new coat of paint,' according to Bernstein.
In fact, Smith got back from Dublin via a slightly scary 24-hour 'non-stop' United Airlines flight early Tuesday, so trivia night re-starts next Wednesday, June 28.
The menu includes fish & chips with fries and cole slaw, real bangers and mash, mussels & frites, Shepherd's Pie made with ground lamb, pork chops, mac 'n' cheese, a corned beef Reuben, Little Gem, green, or smoked trout salads, grilled cheese and bacon on country bread, burgers, a maybe best ever fried green tomato BLT with a thick slice of tomato from Sondra's farm and lots of brown sugar bacon, deviled eggs, chicken liver spread, crispy corned beef poutine, mushy peas, roast potatoes, cabbage slaw, and sweet buttermilk battered onion rings or frickles (fried dill pickles made by John Toulze), all reasonably priced.
Kitchen hours--for now--will offer dinner 5 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and lunch and dinner Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 'Bar is open til last call,' according to Bernstein. Lots of music in the snug that Rose and Larry Murphy made so popular. Check JM Berry's column for the music lineup.
Whiskey fans might check out the list of 29 Irish whiskeys, six blended and 17 single malt Scotches, 14 ryes, and 38 bourbons, adding up to well more than 100 whisky choices.
Get on Murphy's email list to get history of Irish whiskey, recipes, and other lore. 464 First St. E. (Place des Pyrenées), Sonoma. 935-0660. Sonomapub.com.
Aventine NOT closing and other Glen Ellen rumors
Two giant rumors have been swirling around Glen Ellen and even spinning out to the greater Sonoma Valley.
Flying fastest and longest is the rumor that Aventine is closing or has been sold. Neither is true, according to managing partner Gian-Paolo Veronese.
Veronese, whose brother, Adolfo Veronese is executive chef at Aventine Glen Ellen, returned my call promptly and openly.
He said very frankly, 'We were honored to receive an offer, but the number wasn't high enough,' so he turned it down. 'If they come in higher we might consider. Everyone has a price, Kathleen, right?'
And that is so true. Most restaurants, in fact most businesses, are for sale if the right offer comes in. Which is also how we follow so many homegrown wineries being bought by large wine corporations, but Aventine is definitely not closing now.
Both Veroneses are the high energy sons of San Francisco lawyer and former president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Angela Alioto and the late Adolfo Veronese, Sr., and the grandsons of the late Mayor Joseph L. Alioto of San Francisco.
The Veroneses also have restaurants in Hollywood and San Francisco.
As well, rumors circulate that Giulio Tempesta will recreate his closed San Francisco restaurant, Ristorante Umbria Italian, in the former Wolf House next to Jack London Saloon.
Georgeanne Brennan coming to Readers' Books next Wednesday
Georgeanne Brennan, the revered food philosopher and cookbook author, will be at Readers' Books next Wednesday, June 28, at 7 p.m. as a guest of the Last Wednesday Food Group.
Brennan is a James Beard Award-winning author of several books including 'A Pig in Provence,' and a journalist whose work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Gourmet, Food & Wine, San Francisco Chronicle, and Edible Marin & Wine Country. She will bring her newest book, 'La Vie Rustic.' She also has La Vie Rustic: Sustainable Living in the French Style online store. She lives the life lots of us would love, dividing her time between a farming community north of Sacramento and her home in Provence. She grows all the vegetables and animals she writes about.
Brennan and her husband moved to France and she started a cooking school in an old convent, later she and friend Charlotte Glenn launched Le Marché Seeds, which resulted in them being featured in national magazines and newspapers from Family Circle to Organic Gardening and Vogue, while appearing on 'Oprah' and 'Good Morning America.' All this with a master's degree in history.
Do not miss this one. Bring tastes to share if you wish. Remember, Readers' Books gives a 15 percent discount on Last Wednesday Food Group books. 7 p.m. 130 E. Napa St., Sonoma. 939-1779.
Gundlach Bundschu hosts Chaplin film Saturday
While most GunBun events are fun, this one is a little different. This Saturday, June 24, they will show Charlie Chaplin's 'City Lights,' a slapstick silent film released three years after 'talkies' entered the picture.
UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy: