Kathleen Hill: Last minute film festival food news

Marketing and Communications Director Jill Golden sends these last minute updates to the weekend’s Sonoma International Film Festival (SIFF).

A few tickets remain for Joanne Weir’s Plates & Places Lunch today, Friday, March 25, at 11 a.m. at the SIFF/Cogir Hospitality Tent. Get tickets at sonomafilmfest.org/festival.

A big filmmaking contingent is coming in support of Ceres Community Project (short film before) and “The Kitchenistas.” Chef Duskie Estes in support of her nonprofit Farm To Pantry will be at both screenings to talk about her organization and provide everyone with bacon caramel popcorn. Thursday and Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Burlingame Hall.

Also of local interest: “The Art of Eating: The Life of M.F.K. Fisher” is playing in the Culinary Short Films bloc.

Delicious Dish opens soon for weekend brunch

Delicious Dish will open for weekend brunches on April 2. This is exciting for regulars especially since DD’s and many other restaurants’ hours were confusing with on-again-off-again openings and closings due to state and county rules during the pandemic.

While executive chef and owner Lauren Cotner doesn’t have the menu finalized yet, she gives us exclusively some hints.

“We'll have a couple of brunch items including tropical-themed mimosas and our popular breakfast sandwich on Model Bakery English muffin; a waffle with bananas, macadamia nuts and coconut syrup; along with a Bellwether Farm's sheep's yogurt, tropical fruit and a locally-made granola bowl.

“Our seasonal fish sandwich will rotate to include the ‘Fresh Catch’ Beach Burger with tartar sauce, banana peppers and cabbage slaw on a Model Bakery seeded bun. Right now we'll be getting in fresh California halibut. Our wings will return and some new spins on some of our classics like sage-roasted delicata squash and Truffle Tremor grilled cheese and a smoked brisket Korean Reuben.”

“Classics will remain on the menu so folks with favorites need not worry.”

Their regular lunch menu will be Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and with the full menu plus brunch items and wings Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

While you can view and make reservations for all Delicious Dish dinner-and-a-movie nights, including kids’ movies, and a screening of “9 to 5” with a dinner of Dolly Parton’s faves.

Cotner and crew will be serving Dolly’s Famous chicken and dumplings with cole slaw, followed by her banana pudding and coconut cake with the movie. Tickets are $35 and are for tables of two and four on April 30. Deliciousdishsf.com.

Girl & the fig adds another anniversary dinner

As many of girl & the fig and Suite D fans found out, their five 25th anniversary dinners sold out very quickly and many of us missed out. The new addition to the anniversary celebration schedule will be on Saturday, April 16.

Which, of course, is a hint to reserve fast if you want to go.

The next dinner will “highlight the beloved classics from the girl & the fig,” and certainly includes some of my favorites.

The menu includes steak tartare with raw egg, caperberries and lavender sea salt as a starter, followed by fig and arugula salad with toasted pecans, pancetta, Laura Chenel Chèvre, and fig and port vinaigrette.

The entrée will be (swoon) wild flounder meunière with Yukon Gold potato purêe, spinach, and lemon caper brown butter.

And the dessert will be “cookies and milk” featuring “the fig’s” chocolate sea salt cookies and a small vanilla shake.

Seating will be at communal tables and dinner includes two glasses of house wine. Only 50 places. $65. 6 to 9 p.m. 21800 Schellville Road, Sonoma. Reserve at figcaters.com/store/events/.

Vacant buildings

Family members came home for a few days last week and we dined at many of their favorite places and of course drove around at all times of day and night.

On our way home from El Molino Central they noticed the paper hanging askew in the Boyes triangle building where there used to be a Church Mouse. And why is CocoaPlanet closed with “No trespassing signs?” And Schaal Hall, where they and I had snooped several years ago and photographed a mannequin draped in cobwebs. Where was Sondra Bernstein going to put her Noodle Springs – Lanning Structures – it’s a vacant lot? OMG – what happened to the Depot Hotel, and The General’s Daughter?

The common thread: The Mattsons bought them all.

Reel & Brand welcomes new partner

Kevin Kress seems truly pumped about welcoming a new business partner at Reel & Brand.

The new Reel & Brander is Kent McGrath who is even more enthusiastic about joining Kress.

Kress says that McGrath is super experienced in the business of the service industry, is 100% committed to improving everything connected to Reel & Brand and brings new energy to the venue.

Some longtimers might remember the Little Switzerland and property owner Max Young’s other tenants, most recently The Reel that emphasized fresh fish.

Reel & Brand might be one of the oldest original Springs resort restaurants, bar, and dance halls left in Sonoma Valley, dating from 1806 and later when trains brought vacationers to local resorts and cabins focused on the hot springs of Sonoma Valley.

Schermeister tasting room reopens

With a creative approach to making and marketing their products, including just plain closing down their tasting room when they ran out of wine last year, Laura and winemaker Rob Schermeister just reopened their Glen Ellen tasting room much to the delight of their many fans.

Laura Schermeister, co-owner and general manager, told the Index-Tribune, "We are thrilled to announce the re-opening of our Glen Ellen tasting room with a couple of newly released wines to share for a limited time. We've gained a lot of fans over the past few years and are proud to turn curious tasters into true believers of our limited production wines.

“Our winemaker, Rob Schermeister, is hosting all guests as always and we are looking at another sellout by the end of May 2022. We're currently pouring rosé, viognier, pinot noir and syrah, which are all native fermented, unfiltered, unfined and vegan-friendly.

“Come by to see us (and meet our wine dog, Eli!) by booking online via Open Table. We'd also like to thank the community for their support and shared excitement for the wines we make with passion and expertise. The tasting room will close in June with a waitlist for membership in place until we reopen again in November."

“Unfined” wines are unfiltered or natural wines, which means they might have sediment that has settled in the bottom of the bottle from pulp, grape skins and microorganisms. Seeing those participants, as I call them, always makes me smile. Tasting room: 14301 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen. 934-8953.

Filipello Whole Foods Leader of 2021

Justine Filipello was just named Sonoma’s “2021 Team Member of the Year” by Whole Foods’ Northern California regional president, Omar Gaye.

You might remember Justine from when I wrote about her as a person who grew up in the food business, graduated from Sonoma Valley High School in 1998, and became an All-American Water Polo player. She is also an accomplished artist, photographer and designer.

And you also might have encountered her helping at Paul’s Produce at Sonoma’s Friday morning farmers market, working at Oak Hill Farm’s Red Barn on Saturdays, in hilarious outfits on the Trashion Fashion runways, or even in defferent departments at Sonoma Whole Foods.

While her award certificate shows her title as “Produce Team Trainer,” she knows every department so ends up working the cheese counter and even in the meat department.

Filipello really knows food, and for good reason. Her parents, Joanne and Keith Filipello, have been chefs and caterers for decades and used to host their Wild Thyme Dining Club Rive Gauche, originally outside under the stars at their then Railroad Avenue catering kitchen, and later at FAHA on Verano Avenue.

Congratulations, Justine! Hard work and honesty really do pay off.

Soroptimists’ Easter candy for scholarships

Again partnering with Sonoma’s Chocolate Cow, Soroptimists are again taking orders for handmade chocolates to “raise funds to benefit women and girls in Sonoma Valley, encouraging teen girls and head of household women to go to school or training to improve their economic status.”

The Chocolate Cow four-pack includes one each of chocolate espresso cream, chocolate peanut butter cup, chocolate covered marshmallow and a milk chocolate bunny truffle ($14).

The six-pack consists of the above plus a dark chocolate bunny truffle and a Black Forest truffle ($18).

With Easter on April 17, the last day to order is April, 13, but don’t put it off. Chocolate Cow has to make your chocolates to order. Orders over five boxes will be delivered.

Pick up your order from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot behind the Atrium building at 670 W. Napa St., Sonoma, same place where you pick up Soroptimists’ lobsters. And yes, they will be selling lobsters again this fall to help women and girls. That’s what they do.

To order call Juliette Andrews 338-1874 or Colleen Ganaye 996-7371.

Tips Roadside has new co-owners

Susie Pryfogle, owner of Tips Roadside & Tips Tri Tip Trolleys, announced this week that she has welcomed staff members Dan and Jaime Pineda as her co-owners of the Tips businesses.

With 20 years restaurant management experience, Jaime Pineda joined Tips as general manager in August, and helped the entire team navigate their way out of the multitudinous effects of the pandemic on restaurant life.

Photographer and marketer Dan Pineda became Tips’ hospitality director in April of 2021, and leads “front of house training and operations, and now also heads Tips’ catering, event sales, and all industry partnerships,” according to Pryfogle.

Pryfogle wrote in an email, “When we started the restaurant, it was our hope that we would find a couple that cared about our business as much as we did and loved it as their own. We are thrilled that we have found that in Dan and Jaimie Pineda.”

“I have never been more proud to be a part of this restaurant, the Tips family, and this beautiful Sonoma county,” said Jaimie. “I knew all the hard work would pay off one day and here it is — general manager and part owner of Tips Roadside.”

“The Tips Roadside family has welcomed my family with open arms,” said Dan. “We’re honored and excited to put down roots here as partners with Andrew and Susie. This is home.”

Susie answered my query with, “We are not phasing ourselves out of the business, but with the amount of travel we do, it’s nice to know it’s in good hands when we are gone.”

To reach Dan call 509-0076 or email dan@tipsroadside.com.

Is this a trend?

Ari Weiswasser of Glen Ellen Star and wife Erinn have just made their long time General Manager Spencer Waite and his wife Ashley are now their business partners, saying “Erinn and I are still involved on a daily basis. Our roles in the restaurant have not changed.”

“Looking ahead, our acquisition of Park Avenue catering has us focused on the catering business. The new ownership structure allows us to take this step responsibly and grow as a company.

“This is a well-planned and welcomed evolution. We look forward to continuing to serve the wonderful community of Sonoma.”