Kathleen Hill: Carneros Wine Alliance leadership, Delhi Belly still currying favor and Valentine’s specials
Carneros Wine Alliance elects new directors
The Carneros Wine Alliance, made up of wineries and grape growers in the Carneros American Viticultural Area, just elected a new board of directors for the year. The Carneros area includes the relatively cool area that straddles the Sonoma-Napa county line south of Sonoma.
The new officers and current board include Hilary Berkey of Vintage Wine Estates and Emily Byrne of Etude Winery, who will be co-chairs. Nichole Peterson of Artesa was elected vice chair, and Carneros Wine Alliance ambassadors Carla Bosco and Crista Johnson will serve as treasurer and secretary, respectively. Additional board members include Mike Cox of Schug Carneros Estate, Scott Billeci of ZD Wines, Anne Moller-Racke of the Donum Estate and Alison Crowe of Garnet Vineyards.
Delhi Belly not sold after all
Last week we mistakenly announced a sale and ownership change at Delhi Belly restaurant on Broadway – but founding owner Bhupender Singh said this week the Indian-cuisine favorite is still in his hands. Here's where the confusion arose: Bhupender, with his friend and business partner Raj Singh, opened Delhi Belly on Broadway in 2015. Recently Raj moved to New York and Bhupender bought out Raj's part of the restaurant.
Bhupender had to transfer the Alcohol Beverage Control license to sell alcohol to himself or his company and name someone as the onsite manager. So the yellow ABC license transfer notice in the window, and some of the staff, suggested to this writer that the restaurant had been sold. Actually, one of the owners bought the other half from his former partner.
Sorry for spreading confusion, but it is confusing.
Valentines for everyone?
On Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, we celebrate something, but some people aren't quite sure what. A brief history of the day has appeared several times in this column, but it stems from both a Christian myth and pagan ritual called Lupercalia that celebrate health and fertility.
A few soldiers who were forbidden to be married in ancient Rome because it was believed marriage would make them weaker risked their lives by sending letters to their ladies, hence we send Valentine's cards.
Americans will, in fact, send 150 million Valentine's cards this month.
And we have inherited the belief that men are supposed to stimulate romance by giving everything from flowers and candy to jewelry and cars to their ladies.
But guess what, ladies. Men love to be surprised too. Try giving your man, your spouse or your partner some flowers, their favorite candy, a plant, or a gift certificate of time doing their favorite activity.
If no one in the household wants to cook, Sonoma offers several outside opportunities on Valentines' Day and evening.
Pick it up and take it away:
Ramekins Culinary Center offers a petite cheese platter with Marin French brie, Humboldt Fog, Vella Dry Jack and Bellwether Carmody cheeses; red wine poached pear, bacon and chicories salad with candied nuts and Point Reyes blue cheese; roasted wild mushroom soup with truffled croutons; short ribs with jus or salmon with Romesco and salsa verde; sides of root vegetable gratin and roasted winter vegetables; followed by silken chocolate tortes with graham crust and port and cherry compote. $125 for two. Order by Feb. 12. 450 W. Spain St., Sonoma. Order at ramkekins.com or 933-0450.
Frenchie will prepare a pre-order and pick-up Valentine's dinner of a classic shrimp cocktail; grilled New York steak with rosemary fennel potatoes and grilled broccoli, and chocolate mousse with whipped cream. Add a bottle of Schramsburg Blanc de Blanc for $40 or an artisan Tesoro flower arrangement ($45). $60 feeds two. Order at343-7559 or at frenchiesonoma@gmail.com.
At the restaurant:
Glen Ellen Star offers a four-course prix fixe dinner of baked oyster Rockefeller spinach artichoke dip for two; winter chicories salad with sugar beets, blood orange, toasted pistachios and tarragon-buttermilk dressing; wood-roasted shrimp scampi with housemade tagliatelle; and chocolate-huckleberry tart for two. $61 per person. 13648 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen. Reserve at 343-1384 or at resy.com.
Glen Ellen Inn adds their favorite 'housemade lobster ravioli gently reclining on silky sheets of saffron crema, blanketed with warm winter greens' to their regular menu. How's that for food porn? While they are nearly sold out, cancellations often open tables. 13670 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen. Call 996-6409.
Valentine's Dinner Under the Stars at B.R. Cohn Winery, now part of Vintage Wine Estates, will host a Valentine's 'romantic intimate dinner' in a covered pavilion to be catered by the Girl & the Fig Caters to accompany live music and B.R. Cohn wines on Thursday, Feb. 14.
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