Kathleen Hill: Three Fat Guys, Vintage Festival and restaurant updates
Vintage Festival Gala food
The big Gala put on annually by the Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival is tonight, Friday, Sept. 27 behind the Barracks.
Delicious Dish will serve turkey pot pies and Japanese fried chicken with orange aioli and wasabi slaw and Aunt Momo's will serve tasty duck confit mole cups.
HopMonk Tavern will serve samosas at the gala and in the Plaza over the weekend. Westway will also be at both, as will something called Bruscheta Bar, according to organinzer Spring Stambaugh.
Zapata Grill will serve tacos at both locations, as will Mary's Pizza, Maya, and Palms Grill even though the latter is “closed for remodeling.”
And of course there will be loads of local wines. $125 at the door.
Restaurants coming and going
As one restaurant-owning family member said in response to a question about their restaurant being for sale: “Everything is for sale.” And that is so true. Most things and businesses are for sale for the right price.
Some restaurants are still having trouble getting opened due to county inspectors taking slow pills on permitting, some are openly listed for sale by name, some are listed for sale without the business name, and some are always for sale, and openly.
The Harvest Moon and Bram clay pot cookware spaces are still empty with a silver jewelry shop in between on First Street West, and Taub Family Outpost is still working on complying with various construction requirements at the corner of First Street West and Napa Street.
Baker & Cook
Jen and Nick Demarest haven't opened Baker & Cook yet, as they say they are experiencing a county permit delay.
They closed the Harvest Moon Café a month or so ago to focus on their daughter, and on Jen's bakery, Baker & Cook, where Nick might eventually help with lunch.
Last Saturday, Jen held a baked goods pop-up sale in the parking lot of Baker & Cook and posted a hand-written sign that said, “Still battling the county water agency. They have calculated (a sewer hookup fee) totaling $26,751 (and) they say I must pay this to release the hold they have placed on final inspections. How do they expect small businesses to survive this?”
The Demarests say the amount is determined on square footage and number of seats, “not on our actual water usage, and our bill is now down to $3,189.”
Meanwhile, the Demarests have been paying rent and utilities with no income from the storefront for the past 18 months.
The Demarests' friend Annie Caro has set up a gofundme.com page to help raise the funds to pay this pre-opening water bill.
In the meantime, Jen will have her fabulous pastries at the Friday morning farmers market at Arnold field parking lot and will sell Saturday mornings at their Baker & Cook parking lot at 18812 Sonoma Highway.
Palms Grill
Palms Grill, the restaurant at the corner of Verano Avenue and Highway 12, has “closed for remodeling and will open as soon as possible.” The sign on the glass door invites “regular customers” to go to Palms Grill in Petaluma, a fair jaunt.
El Gallo Pinto
El Gallo Pinto is run by Jessica Garcia, formerly of Mi Ranchito, and her brother Christian Garcia, under the full name: El Gallo Pinto – Autentica Cantina Mexicana. Never mind that they are originally from Guatemala, and praise to them for doing well here given the drought and starvation in Guatemala.
El Gallo Pinto's menu is not much different from Mi Ranchito's but they have altered all of the recipes. Give it a try.
Ovello
Andrea and Doreen Marino hope to open their Italian food emporium loaded with Andrea's handmade salumi and delicacies new to Sonoma from Italy next Monday, Sept.30, that is if “our last shipment arrives tomorrow, meaning this past Monday, if all goes well.”
Della Santina's
An unnamed restaurant for-sale listings showing online matches a description of Della Santina's, so we asked if it was indeed the East Napa Street restaurant.
From Nicole Della Santina: “In business, generally everything's for sale for the right price, and we're exploring strategic options. We are open and running-business as usual. Just donated to the Wig Out event this past weekend. What a great cause!”
Papa Murphy's Pizza
The chain Papa Murphy's Pizza location on West Napa Street is openly listed for sale by name. It's a to-go pizza place where you buy the uncooked pizza and take it home to bake in your oven.
Schellville Grill
Schellville Grill is still for sale. Owner Mathew Nagan has made huge improvements, including a new septic system, and his food is still good. Nice afternoon outdoor dining with good burgers, serving lunch only.
Depot Hotel
Still running full steam ahead on full energy, great pastas, veal picatta and seafood, and save room for Tony Ghilarducci's tiramisu.
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