Best of Sonoma Valley 2015: foodie surprise

[caption id="attachment_63498" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Spicy, comforting and warm - chicken curry soup at Divewalk Cafe (Photo: Sarah Stierch)[/caption] One of the best surprises of 2015 was the introduction of Vietnamese and Thai-inspired cuisine at the Divewalk Cafe (19449 Riverside Dr., Sonoma | divewalkcafe.com) Owners Lorene... Continue

Best of Sonoma Valley 2015: dessert

[caption id="attachment_63493" align="aligncenter" width="420"] The butterscotch pudding at Cafe La Haye is amazing (Photo: Sarah Stierch)[/caption] There is one dessert that I dream about in Sonoma Valley on a weekly basis: Cafe La Haye's (140 E. Napa St., Sonoma | 935-5994 | cafelahaye.com) butterscotch pudding.... Continue

Best of Sonoma Valley 2015: visitor experience

[caption id="attachment_63484" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Buena Vista Winery serves up a historical, tasty and fun visitor experience (Photo: Discover Sonoma County Wine)[/caption] Sometimes family comes to visit, and sometimes you just need to play tourist in your own backyard. Buena Vista Winery (18000 Old Winery Rd.,... Continue

Best of Sonoma Valley 2015: best idea

[caption id="attachment_63477" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Pemba Sherpa started Sonoma Food Taxi - best idea to hit the food scene in Sonoma Valley in years (Photo: Sonoma Food Taxi)[/caption] For years there has been only two food delivery games in town - Pizzeria Capri and Mary's Pizza... Continue

Best of Sonoma Valley: Brunch

[caption id="attachment_63473" align="aligncenter" width="420"] The "Ace of Spades" with homemade lemonade at Fremont Diner (Photo: Sarah Stierch)[/caption] Nothing helps you recover from a long night out (or in) like brunch at the Fremont Diner. Brunch is served all day, every day. With Carneros-centric wines, enjoy... Continue

Best of Sonoma Valley 2015: Food & wine pairing

[caption id="attachment_56189" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Food pairing at Corner 103 ties Mayo Family Wines for the best in the Valley (Photo: Sarah Stierch)[/caption] It's a tie - one newbie and one with a new chef! Corner 103 (103 W. Napa St., Sonoma | 931-6141 | corner103.com)... Continue

Best of Sonoma Valley 2015: Best takeover

[caption id="attachment_63454" align="aligncenter" width="249"] Tasty margaritas, updated bar, and improved food at La Casa (Photo: Sarah Stierch)[/caption] In November, a group of Sonoma Valley Sherpas became the new owners of the legendary La Casa Restaurant. The Mexican restaurant opened in 1967, and remains one of... Continue

Best of Sonoma Valley 2015: Best date night

[caption id="attachment_63459" align="aligncenter" width="420"] A magical way to wrap up a date - Dom Perignon at Sigh (Photo: Sigh)[/caption] Start the early evening out at a tasting at Pangloss Cellars (35 E. Napa St., Sonoma | 933-8565 | panglosscellars.com). The hottest tasting room on the... Continue

Best of Sonoma Valley 2015: Best rosé

[caption id="attachment_63446" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Three Sticks' Casteñada Rosé is the ultimate warm weather bevvy (Image: Wildly Simple Productions)[/caption] Three Sticks' 2014 Casteñada Rosé epitomized what they call a "spring sipper." It was the best rosé I tasted in 2015. Watermelon and strawberry are the key... Continue

Adastra Wines takes over Rumpus Room

[caption id="attachment_63341" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Rumpus Cellars downtown tasting room will soon become Adastra's tasting room (Photo: Sarah Stierch, CC BY 4.0)[/caption] Rumpus Cellars closed the doors on their downtown Sonoma tasting room this month. Carneros-based Adastra Vineyards will be taking over one the best spots... Continue