Another family winery changes hands: Envolve sells to Stewart Family

[caption id="attachment_48970" align="aligncenter" width="361"] Envolve Winery has been bought by the Stewart Family, owners of Madrone Estate Vineyard and Lake Sonoma Winery.[/caption] "There is nothing permanent except change," - Heraclitus The rumors have been traveling the Sonoma circuit for months now - Envolve Winery was... Continue

Food + Drink News Bites

The New Year has brought a lot of exciting food and wine news in Sonoma Valley. Here's a brief of what's been happening and what will be happening! Email me your news at sarah@sonomasun.com. [caption id="attachment_61733" align="aligncenter" width="327"] Lobster risotto at Sonoma Grille[/caption] Sonoma Grille... Continue

Community Cafe now open for dinner, kids welcome

[caption id="attachment_61759" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Community Cafe will be serving dinner on Thursdays and Fridays - families welcome (Photo: Dylan Parker, CC BY SA 2.0)[/caption] Exciting news for those with kids in their lives who are looking for a great meal, at a good price, for... Continue

First taste: Sonoma Grille is open

[caption id="attachment_61733" align="aligncenter" width="373"] Lobster risotto at Sonoma Grille[/caption] This week a little birdie told me that Sonoma Grille had finally opened - a soft opening. Low and behold, I drove by on Sunday they were serving food and drinks to a busy crowd. The... Continue

First taste: Sweet Scoops wine ice cream

[caption id="attachment_61724" align="aligncenter" width="370"] Pangloss Cellars' 2010 Red Blend adds a touch of Wine Country to Sweet Scoops' homemade ice creams (Photo: Facebook)[/caption] Sweet Scoops Homemade Ice Cream is offering up a special treat right now: wine ice cream. The ice cream shop has made... Continue

Weekend Warrior picks: 1/1

Happy New Year! I've been taking a bit of a writer's holiday, but I'm back and delivering your weekly dose of Weekend Warrior picks for this weekend! I'm already getting asked about my "favorites" of 2015 as we enter the new year. Here's a few... Continue

Get out on Christmas – what is open

[caption id="attachment_61478" align="alignright" width="218"] Get out and see the lights - and grab a drink. (Photo: Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau)[/caption] Christmas is this week! Some folks celebrate, some folks don't...or maybe you just want to escape that annoying relative (you know the one) for a... Continue

Sun Eats Gift Guide: Julia’s book

This is the book. It changed my life, it will change the lives of home cooks and wanna-be chefs young and old in your life. Start with volume one, then next year, volume two. It's written to be accessible to anyone of any cooking level... Continue

Sun Eats Gift Guide: Fix it and forget it

[caption id="attachment_60624" align="aligncenter" width="420"] This slow cooker is so awesome it can cook a whole chicken! Yes, a chicken! (Photo: Crock-Pot)[/caption] All hail the slow cooker. It has served me well since my early 20s and is a gift I advise for anyone shopping for... Continue

Sun Eats Gift Guide: Give it a squeeze

[caption id="attachment_60646" align="aligncenter" width="420"] A must have for any kitchen: a lemon/lime squeezer (Photo: 6peas)[/caption] One of the best kitchen tools ever: a lemon and lime squeezer. A great stocking stuffer, within seconds you have pulp free, seedless juice for water, cocktails, salad dressings and... Continue