Williams-Sonoma has a string of events scheduled for their “re-opening” on Broadway next weekend. Sondra Bernstein and John Toulze, of the girl & the fig, will cater some private doings and pizza and prosecco for company folks and local office holders, on Thursday, Oct. 2, followed by media tours and a ribbon cutting on Friday, Oct. 3, and a Valley-wide free thank-you breakfast Saturday, Oct. 4, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. in the two “front” quadrants of Sonoma Plaza facing Napa Street.
Everyone, meaning everyone, is welcome to attend the breakfast, which will feature pancakes made from a Williams-Sonoma brand mix sold in their stores, sausage, juice and coffee, all prepared by Culinary Institute of America (CIA) students from St. Helena, where Chuck Williams sponsors scholarships. Williams-Sonoma will officially open the door to its new/old store at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Following the Friday media tours and ribbon cutting, there will be “Cochon BBQ,” not to be confused with our local Rob Larman’s Cochon Volant BBQ.
No local chefs have been asked to cook for the ribbon-cutting party. The chefs preparing food will include Thomas McNaughton of Flour + Water, Matthew Accarrino of SPQR, and Duskie Estes of Zazu.
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Please do check out our new local exhibit of Sonoma Valley Agriculture and Food History at the Sonoma Valley Historical Society’s Depot Park Museum, beginning next weekend to coincide with the W-S opening. Many of our longtime food-growing and producing families have loaned items, as have I from my culinary collection. See it all across First Street West from the Depot Hotel & Restaurant. Plenty of parking at the Arnold Field/Depot Park parking lot.
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Sonoma Valley Grange’s next organic Pancake Breakfast will be Sunday, Oct. 5. Indulge in organic pancakes, eggs, sausage, juices, tea and coffee, and lots of good conversation. $12 adults, $6 children. 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. 18627 Sonoma Highway (across from Mary’s Pizza Shack), Boyes Hot Springs.
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Lloyd Davis, onetime president of Viansa Winery & Marketplace as a partner in the Laurus Master Fund hedge fund, plans to open a tasting room and upscale gift shop at the corner of First Street West and West Napa Street. According to the ABC license in the window, and the word from Feed Store building owner Ingrid Martinez, Davis will call his new venture Corner 103, the address of Martinez’s former Changing Seasons Gallery.
When Sam and Vicky Sebastiani split, their combined children took over Viansa, which, according to the Press Democrat, sold in 2005 for $31 million to 360 Global Wine Co.
According to a story in North Bay Business Journal of Nov. 12, 2012, Laurus assumed ownership of Viansa in bankruptcy court after 360 Global Wine Co. filed for bankruptcy, owing millions to many people.
Davis is credited by North Bay Business Journal with turning Viansa around, in part by cutting operating expenses – from cutting the phone bill to cutting jobs – and making it profitable. Davis decided not to pursue purchasing Viansa himself, and it sold in 2013 to Vintage Wine Estates, which recently acquired Clos Pegase, Girard, Cosentino, Windsor Vineyards, Sonoma Coast Vineyards, Cartlidge & Browne and Ray’s Station wineries. Davis has circulated well in the community and has many friends here.
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Juan Sahagún celebrates 15 highly successful years with his popular La Hacienda Taqueria on Highway 12 in Boyes Hot Springs, known for fresh Mexican food at reasonable prices, served very quickly. Customers will notice a whole new decor, inside and out, a full bar, new private dining room and newish colorful chairs and tables. He now owns restaurants here, in Petaluma and in Plainview, Massachusetts.
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Sondra Bernstein, proprietor of the girl & the fig, fig cafe, girl & the fig caters and Suite D, just put out a call for figs. Figgy figs. She is looking for brown turkey figs, kadota figs and any others, but no more black mission figs. Any backyard extras you can’t eat any more of, or don’t want to make into more jam, will be welcomed.
Bring your extra figs to the back door of the girl & the fig kitchen, Tuesday through Saturday mornings, from 8 to 11 a.m. only. Ask for Chef Jeremy, who will weigh what you bring. Give Jeremy your name and address, and Sondra will mail you a gift card the next day or so. 933-3000, ext. 15.
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Just in case you and your family need more sugar in your lives, Krispy Kreme will soon collaborate with Sony Pictures to sell “Ghostbusters” themed doughnuts. Said morsels will feature two kinds of marshmallow filling to celebrate the Blu-Ray release of the 30th anniversary edition of the movie, according to Variety. I can hardly wait.
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