Kathleen Hill: Sonoma restaurants honored by ‘Wine Spectator’

‘Wine Spectator’ honors Sonoma restaurants

Wine Spectator magazine just named its top restaurants everywhere, and a few in Sonoma were honored this year.

On this list from Sonoma in order are Saddles Steakhouse at MacArthur Place, Sante at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, and Olive & Vine, now closed but hoping to reopen at the Cooperage on First Street West. Meanwhile, owner/chef Catherine Venturini is everywhere catering with her Cuvée Catering and Events.

The other restaurants the magazine awards in “Sonoma” are all in Napa, including Farm, Oenotri, Bottega, Bistro Jeanty, Bouchon, 1313 Main and the French Laundry. The Grand Award went to Murray Circle at Cavallo Point Lodge and its Chef Justin Everett, former executive chef at EDK.

Fighting barbecue with fire

Schell-Vista Fire Department’s Annual Chicken Barbecue, the best deal in town, will be Sunday July 17 at Station No. 1. Enjoy chicken, chili beans served by Mrs. Chief herself, Nilda Mulas, salad and French roll. Have a great time helping our fire fighters get the best equipment to help us when we need it. Tickets can be purchased from the department by calling 938-2633, or at Broadway Market or at the door. $15. Noon to 6 p.m. Schellville.

Bastille Day and?other celebrations

Bastille Day was actually Thursday, July 14, but this weekend is the closest time when people can really celebrate. In France it is called La Fete Nationale or Le Quatorze Juillet to celebrate the storming of the Bastille by peasants and working people. The effort is thought to symbolize the end of the monarchy and the beginning of a modern republic when King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette escaped to Versailles.

Valley of the Moon Pétanque Club invites everyone to their Grand Concours de Pétanque Bastille Day celebration on Sunday, July 17 for a casual tournament (you don’t have to know how to play).

Pétanque originated in the south of France in the early 1900s. At this event at Depot Park you just show up and get put on a team, and Valley of the Moon Pétanque club even has equipment for newcomers. Check in before 10 a.m.

You do have to make reservations for lunch, this year created by chef Ed Metcalfe of Shiso restaurant. He will make Thai-style grilled lemongrass chicken, steamed white rice, chilled Yakisoba noodle salad, couscous with corn and cherry tomatoes, and a dessert of lemon cake with mandarin orange slices and Ravenswood wines. Enjoy French background music and singing of the Marseillaise, France’s national anthem (words provided). $20. Reserve for lunch and more info at 343-9465. Bring your own plates, napkins and utensils to conserve.

Bastille Day at Chateau St. Jean, part of Treasury Wine Estates, invites everyone to the winey to celebrate Bastille Day on Saturday, July 16.

The winery will provide live music on the “grand lawn,” can-can dancers, Ultra Crepes and Croques & Toques food trucks, wine tasting and lawn games. Admission is free charges for food and wine. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. More info at 257-5784 or chateaustjean.com.

Free range at Grange

Sonoma Valley Grange will host its annual Summer BBQ on Sunday, July 17 at Sonoma Garden Park on Seventh Street East to celebrate our natural and agricultural heritage in Sonoma Valley. The Grange will barbecue classic burgers, hot dogs, and veggie burgers as well as all natural and organic beverages. Guests are encouraged to bring a potluck dish to share. Noon to 4 p.m. 19996 Seventh St. E.

Family and ?four-legged friends

Also on Sunday, July 17, Larson Family Winery will bring professional photographer Brenda Hawkes-Ficco to the winery for its annual celebration of family and four-legged friends, greatly revered by the whole Larson family. All photos taken on the winery grounds will be sent to you digitally that day, well ahead for holiday gifts.

All proceeds will go to the Valley of the Moon Children’s Center, where the Larson family volunteered to replace the ancient non-productive vineyard and shares professional knowledge with the at-risk youth who spend time there. Wine club members $75, public $90, animals included. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For reservations and more info contact Melissa Ivan at 938-3031, ext. 18, or melissa@larsonfamilywinery.com.

Ramekins class openings

At Ramekins this Sunday is John Ash’s “Culinary Birds Favorites,” based on his book, where he will make Japanese Yakitori chicken, Filipino chicken adobo (my fave), Korean chicken wings, and Tuscan chicken liver toasts on Sunday, July 17. $115 includes lunch and wine. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Jill Silverman-Hough will show how to make salon four ways, bound to be a feast over the dinner hour on Thursday, July 28. $125. 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Sheana Davis teaches how to make and use her cheeses on flatbreads and in beet salad, as well as Pug’s Leap goat cheese and arugula salad, and Chèvre cheese cake with summer berries. $95. 3 to 6 p.m. Sign up for all classes at ramekins.com.

Fulcrum swings ?into Vine Alley

Winemaker David Rossi has opened his Fulcrum Wines tasting room in Melissa Detert’s Vine Alley in the space that formerly was tasting home to Two Amigos and GlenLyon wines.

Rossi started his winery in 2006 and focuses on pinot noirs from vineyards such as Gap’s Crown, Brousseau, Donnelly Creek, Landy and Durrell. Co-owner Christina Rossi designed the space with white quartz countertops, sleek black and silver walls, black velvet chairs and chrome lighting fixtures. Sounds intriguing and love pinots. 25 E. Napa St. 732-610-9602.

Rossi’s tasting room neighbor and friend, Cynthia Cosco is excited to be moving her Possaggio Wines winemaking facility to a space on Eighth Street East. Congratulations, Cynthia.

Winemakers rising

Sondra Bernstein will introduce “two young winemakers on the rise” at her Suite D by the girl & the fig on Friday, July 22 including Kieran Robinson and Randy Hester.

Hester’s Rhone-inspired Lightening wines seems to go with summertime foods and Kieran’s have been described as “drop dead gorgeous.” The menu will include lots of hors d’oeuvres, a crispy pork belly salad with grilled stone fruit, Provençal herb duck breast with fresh shelling beans and seared heirloom peppers, smoked short ribs with corn puree and roasted toy box cherry tomatoes, followed by blueberry mousse and sable cookies. $75. 6:30 p.m. 21800 Schellville Road.

Valerie’s Vineyard’s first

Congratulations to Michael and Valerie Coats, her sister Vicki Brown, and her parents, Chuck and Jerry Hanson, on their tiny Valerie’s Vineyard winery for winning a gold medal at the Orange County Fair. A first-time achievement for their 2013 Carneros Pinot Noir. Winemakers Jeff McBride and Andrea Card made 80 cases at Benziger, with grapes farmed by the great Phil Coturri.

Rossi’s new Happy Hour menu

What a deal! Max Young has just launched a new happy hour menu at his Rossi’s 1906 every Wednesday through Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. It starts with “The Three Ms,” $5 Margaritas, Mojitos, and EVE Mules, plus $2 off well drinks and draft beers.

For sustenance try the $5 food menu such as onion rings, fries, deviled eggs, pimento cheese toast, twice-baked potato, chicken wings, pulled pork sliders a happy hour burger and a salad.

Can’t wait to try the Sunday fried chicken dinner with Mary’s chicken, mashed potatoes, cole slaw and gravy $16 adults, ($10 kids) with live music, 6 to 8 p.m. 401 Grove St. 343-0044.