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Restaurant Hospitality

Restaurant Hospitality

Salmon Crudo

At Fern Bar in Sebastopol, Calif., chef and owner Joseph Zobel lightly cures local king salmon between sheets of toasted kombu seaweed, both to firm up the fish and to impart more umami flavor.

Ten Perfect Pinot Noirs To Try Now

Ten Perfect Pinot Noirs To Try Now

Pinot Noir is a wine varietal that plays well with others, whether its paired with food or enjoyed on its own. The silky-soft tannins and high-toned fruit profile of pinot are appealing to most wine drinkers. It is one of the world’s oldest grape varieties (besting Cabernet Sauvignon by almost 1,000 years) and it’s a legendary diva in the vineyard.
Sebastopol, The Apple of Sonoma's Eye and Artistic Spirit

Sebastopol, The Apple of Sonoma's Eye and Artistic Spirit

Situated just west of Santa Rosa and a quick, one-hour drive from Napa, the small town of Sebastopol is an easy day trip and a one-stop-shop for locally made artisanal products and goods, from wine, beer, and spirits, to clothes, home goods, art, and farm or sea-to-table meals. 
What's New In... Sonoma County

What's New In... Sonoma County

The slogan on Sonoma County Tourism’s website is “Life Opens Up,” and that’s exactly what’s happening throughout this gorgeous county at the heart of northern California’s wine country. With places reopening, there’s been a return of the vibrancy that has always marked this mellow region. Life is truly opening up in Sonoma County, and visitors are returning in droves to check out new and familiar spots.
Just Say Cheese - Enjoy a Slice of the California Cheese Trail

Just Say Cheese - Enjoy a Slice of the California Cheese Trail

A drive through Sonoma reveals not just vineyards on the region's rolling green hills but also herds of happy grazing cows. So while most tourists make the trek to sample Sonoma's premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, a little-known secret is that there are nearly 30 working farms and creameries producing a wide array of handcrafted cheeses - and many of them welcome visitors. 
Eat, Drink And Shop: Sebastopol Is Your Next Sonoma County Must-See

Eat, Drink And Shop: Sebastopol Is Your Next Sonoma County Must-See

As one of California’s original bohemian havens, Sebastopol is more than a day trip pit stop; it’s a testament to the heart of the region thanks to local flair and constantly evolving industries. Destinations like The Barlow have secured the town’s spot on the wine country map, and you can witness the town’s history in newly opened businesses as well as longtime fixtures.

Where To Get the Best French Fries in Sonoma County

Where To Get the Best French Fries in Sonoma County

When times are good, when times are bad, French fries are there for you. They’re crispy, salty, slathered with ketchup or aioli friends who simply want to make you smile. Today, on National French Fry Day (or any day, really), we present taste-tested, Heather Irwin-approved fries for any walk of life. Dig in, Sonoma County. And click through the above gallery for details.

11 Must-Try Sebastopol Restaurants | Best Places to Eat In Sebastopol, CA

11 Must-Try Sebastopol Restaurants | Best Places to Eat In Sebastopol, CA

Sebastopol today is an art and culinary hub showcasing some of the best of West Sonoma’s plentiful bounty. A dedication to sustainability permeates the culture, with high-quality local farms, fishermen, and producers the hallmark. This mix of history and sustainability has been linked to produce some of the best Sebastopol restaurants.
From Sustainable Champagne to an Unprecedented 100-Pointer: The Best Wines Right Now

From Sustainable Champagne to an Unprecedented 100-Pointer: The Best Wines Right Now

As great California Chardonnay continues to distance itself from the stereotypical style built around oak and butter, Julien How­ sepian, winemaker at Kosta Browne, creates a considerable distance between that cliché and this rich but intensely vibrant white. Savory, wet­-stone minerality opens on the nose, intriguingly layered with exotic cit­rus, orchard blossoms, hints of tropical fruit and crème brûlée...

California Sister celebrates five years of fabulous flowers and stunning floral photography

California Sister celebrates five years of fabulous flowers and stunning floral photography

This week on May 21, California Sister will celebrate five years of being in business in the Barlow. And it all started thanks to a not-quite-midlife re-assessment on the part of one of the business’s co-owners. Self-taught florist Nichole Skalski started California Sister on her own in 2013. The company is named after the California Sister butterfly.

25 Drive-Worthy Restaurants in Sonoma County

25 Drive-Worthy Restaurants in Sonoma County

From little wine bars and bistros to tacos and momos, taste the laid-back side of wine country. As far as wine country goes, some might say that Sonoma is Napa’s more low-key, down-to-earth little sister — dotted with small, charming, family-run wineries, relatively few of which command the tour-bus crowds and baller prices you’ll find in the Napa Valley proper...
Ready for live music? Peacetown is back in Sebastopol

Ready for live music? Peacetown is back in Sebastopol

One of Sonoma County’s favorite free concert series is back at a new location. The Peacetown Summer Concert Series has traditionally been at Ives Park in Sebastopol, but because of the uncertainty of Covid restrictions, Peacetown is relocating to The Barlow. Organizers say, “Peacetown 2021 is a community built of cooperation, collaboration, and creativity, a community that welcomes diversity and celebrates music, art, fine food, and nature.”