Kathleen Hill: Panda Express coming soon, Mother’s Day and more

Coming soon?

After more than a year of rumors and confirmation, Panda Express has hung a banner in the window of the former Payless Shoe store proclaiming “Coming Soon,” complete with Panda logo.

How soon is the question, since Payless shoe shelves are still in place. Nevertheless, for Panda fans this is a ray of hope and good news.

Watch for steaming tables of orange chicken, eggplant, green beans, pot stickers, egg rolls and lots of carbs in the forms of chow mein and fried rice.

Mother's Day is Sunday, folks!

Some of us lose track of what day of the week it is without going on our regular daily rounds. In case Mother's Day might slip your mind in the on-again-off-again closings and re-openings of our lives, this coming Sunday is a day to honor our mothers. We all had one, some of us were lucky enough to grow up with them.

What to do when you can't shop normally, can't take her out for a treat brunch or dinner or go to the beach?

Easy peasy.

The nurseries are open. Maybe get her a plant that will bloom every year, maybe some vegetable starter plants to help her grow food for you and for herself. If money is tight right now, water the garden, do the laundry, give her time to sit in a chair inside, outside on a deck, a patio, or even fire escape or in her garden or backyard – maybe even full of weeks. That's an idea. Pull the weeds for her.

If she isn't close to your home and if one or both of you is supposed to stay home, call her. Don't text, call her. Your voice means a lot. Even Facetime with her. This is a tough time for all of us, especially for those among us who are alone.

If you can, maybe cook some of her favorite foods, whether she is still in this world or another. It will feel good.

But there are alternatives.

After all, Mom deserves a treat, as does everyone at this point.

While I related the offerings last week from Glen Ellen Star, Depot Hotel Restaurant, and El Dorado Kitchen, I neglected to include info from Tips Roadside in Kenwood.

Tips Roadside

This might be the ultimate deal of all.

Their Mother's Day meal starts with a poached salmon Niçoise salad. Main course includes, and you get all of them, not just a choice: smoked brisket, gluten-free fried chicken with red eye gravy, scrambled eggs, root vegetables and Brussels sprouts hash, homemade bacon and housemade blueberry and cream cheese scone with lemon curd. Comes in servings for two at $34 per person. You can add quiches, mac ‘n' cheese, bottles of wine, or 32-oz. growlers of house beer, Bloody Mary's or Mimosas. Order at 509-0078. 8445 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood.

Depot Hotel Restaurant

Many favorites including orchard salad with lettuces and fruit with Marcona almonds and Point Reyes blue cheese, New York Steak frites with sautéed spinach, French fries and Bordelaise sauce, Dungeness crab cannelloni, eggs Benedict, tortellini Alfredo, spinach and ricotta ravioli, fettucine Bolognese, tieramisu and limoncello cake. $8 to $28). Order at 938-2980 or delivery via Door Dash. Pick up at the restaurant Mother's Day 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

El Dorado Kitchen (EDK)

EDK offers a simple but tasty menu of mixed green salad, short ribs, mashed potatoes, carrots and asparagus, bread, and a strawberry and rhubarb crisps. ($45). Extras can be ordered including half lobster tail ($15) and bouquet of fresh flowers ($20). Order by Friday, May 8 at 7 p.m. by calling 996-3030 from 1 to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday for curbside pickup. When you arrive, call 996-3030 and staff will place your order in your car's trunk or back seat.

Murphy's Irish Pub

Murphy's Mother's Day specials start today, Friday and run through Mother's Day on Sunday, May 10. You have your choice of French cut pork chops with mashed potatoes and sautéed Brussels sprouts ($19) or Mary's organic chicken roasted with preserved Meyer lemons and served with roasted baby Yukon Gold potatoes and cauliflower ($19 half chicken, $35 whole chicken). Order at 935-0660 and pick up Friday through Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m. 464 First St. E., Sonoma. Cocktails to go also available.

Three Fat Guys Wines

For this weekend, Three Fat Guys will have the Picazo Truck at its tasting room on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m., and Sushi Shoubu on Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m. for their “sushi burritos” just to warm mom up for the big Sunday. And, of course, Three Fat Guys sell Tony Moll and Jim McMahon's wines. 20816 Broadway, Sonoma

Happy re-openings

Cielito Coffee and Ice Cream

Nestor Paredes and Jacqueline Ulloa have reopened their Cielito ice cream and coffee bar in the newish Vailetti Plaza just north of the colorful El Brinquito, famous for its barbecued chickens. Closed for a couple of months for health and safety reasons, last weekend they had quite the takeout line the back door facing the ample parking lot that makes shopping easy. Besides ice cream and milk shakes made on the premises, they also serve health drinks, coffees, pastries, and lots more nourishing foods.

Tuesday night farmers market

The Tuesday night farmers market has left Sonoma Plaza and is now the late Tuesday afternoon market. To clarify, it has moved to the parking lot just north of the Little League field on First Street East. Market organizers prefer that you park in the big lot near the vets building and enter it from First Street West.

No big party now. Just shop for the best vegetables and other foods around, either here or at the Friday morning farmers market. Tuesday 3 to 6 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Steiners Tavern

Hundreds of Steiners regulars are no longer without a hangout. In fact, for a couple of weeks after shelter-in-place began, those regulars were still gathering outside on the First Street West sidewalk in front of the joint. Last Saturday there were at least 10 people on the sidewalk, arms loaded with food and balancing plastic containers of cocktails the size of grande and venti coffee drinks some places.

One of the old-timey bars “serving Sonoma since 1927,” Steiners re-started serving salads, sandwiches, hot dogs and links (some people go there just for the chili cheddar dogs and a coke), fun sides, sodas and juices, and takeout cocktails or bottle beer. Salads range from Caesar to excellent shrimp Louie (also comes in a sandwich), BLTs, garlic Parmesan fries, with iced tea and sodas only $2 and Perrier $3. Better than you might expect. 465 First St. W., Sonoma. Order ahead at 996-3812 or steinerstavern.com.

Plaza Bistro

Plaza Bistro just reopened this week serving much of its regular menu including spaetzli, polenta, and regular or sweet potato fries appetizers; green, Caprese, or iceberg wedge salad with tomatoes, blue cheese and buttermilk garlic dressing; burgers and sausage sandwiches, grilled chicken breast or vegetable sandos; and entrees of New York steak, pork picatta. Pastas, and risotto. Order at 996-4466. Pick up daily noon to 2 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. 420 First St. E., Sonoma.

Others: La Salette, Tasca Tasca, and Sunflower Caffé all reopened Thursday.

Un-reopened restaurants

Girl & the Fig

Locals notice that the Girl & the Fig in the Sonoma Hotel has not reopened yet, while it was the first to close as this shelter-in-place started.

But you can get all your favorites of Sondra Bernstein and John Toulze's food either at Fig Café & Wine Bar in Glen Ellen or at their Suite D in Schellville. Both establishments are now serving daily.

Fig Café & Wine Bar in Glen Ellen offers groceries and specialties such as beef burgers with cheese and shoestring fries or truffle fries, pizzas, salads, fried chicken and much more. Order at the-fig-café-to-go.square.site.

While some of you have been to special dinners and events at Suite D, you may not realize that it adjoins the Girl & the Fig Caters kitchen, so they can produce all Girl & the Fig food. Hence you can order favorites to go such as three course dinners for two of duck confit, smoked pork chop, wild flounder meunière, or chicken thighs with a starter and dessert ($40 to $48). Or you can get each of those for one as an entrée with no starter or dessert at $24. Two cocktails $25, four cocktails $45.

At Suite D you can also get a fig and arugula salad, grilled cheese sandwich with fries, roasted cauliflower, lots more, and groceries from bleach (not a curative beverage) and TP to Clover Sonoma unsalted butter, baking ingredients, Myoko's vegan “butter,” eggs, and coconut “milk.” Order at figtogo.square.site. Pick up at 21800 Schellville Road, Sonoma. 3 to 7 p.m. daily. Free delivery with order over $35.

B&V Whiskey Bar & Grille

Co-owner Codi Binkley says, while they have been closed for two months, he is still contemplating when or if to reopen for takeout out of consideration of his employees. Stay tuned.

SOS meals for homeless moves to Burlingame Hall

Sonoma Overnight Support has moved its free meal distribution to its homeless locals to Burlingame Hall, serving about 40 people daily. Hot breakfast sandwiches start the day, followed by Cochon Volant pulled pork sandwiches as well as from Broadway Market, Basque Boulangerie, Picazo and El Coyote burritos. Jordan Kivelstadt and Kivelstadt Cellars donate about 100 meals a weekend.

Ramekins resurrects Pizza & Pinot

Ramekins is resurrecting Pizza & Pinot, an offer which dates back to Estate restaurant which was in the General's Daughter building now in the process of becoming Georgette restaurant, slated to open late this year. $45 for two for a pizza, Caesar salad and chocolate chip cookies, and that is for you to pick up curbside during this health crisis. To increase the salad for two people, add $11. Other add-ons including other pizzas and wine available. Wines selected by Todd Jolly, sommelier at Sonoma's Best. Pickups every half hour from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Fridays only. Order at ramekins.com/product/friday-may-1st-pp-to-go-/