By 707 correspondent Heather Irwin. Sign up for the BiteClub Newsletter.
Champagne tastes on a whiskey budget? Hotel Healdsburg and CHARLIE PALMER’S DRY CREEK KITCHEN are collaborating on a new venture featuring craft cocktails, bar bites, and small-batch spirits called Spirit Bar. On the menu: burnt orange Manhattans, a Sonoma 75 (gin, elderflower, and J Brut Rosé), and small plates of pretzel-crusted shrimp skewers, wild mushroom spring rolls, pork belly lollipops, and chef Dustin Valette’s house-cured charcuterie. An extra bonus: fireside sofas to snuggle with your sweetie. Open Mon-Thu 5pm-11:30pm, Fri-Sun 12pm-11:30pm. 25 Matheson St., Healdsburg.
Here in Wine Country, the French independence day (Sunday July 14th) gets almost as much reverence as our own. Not in small part due to the fact that hot dogs and warm beer can’t hold a candle to a nice crusty baguette, a glass of wine, and someone singing “La Vie en Rose.” Sunday’s Bastille Day lineup includes COSTEAUX FRENCH BAKERY’S (417 Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg) annual event with a bread guillotine and plenty of other French fêting; the Alliance Française’s free “pique-nique” from 4pm to sunset at Mark West Stables (5421 St. Helena Road, Santa Rosa; RSVP 707-538-7075), as well as Gallic food and wine fests at RESTAURANT CHARCUTERIE (335 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg) and Chateau St. Jean, featuring cancan gals (8555 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood; 877-478-5326).
The long-awaited restaurant lineup for the North Bay’s forthcoming GRATON RESORT & CASINO has been announced, and it’s pretty swell. Among the 12-plus restaurants that are planned for the massive gaming complex: Martin Yan’s M.Y. China (featuring pulled noodles and a wok bar), an outpost of Tony’s of North Beach (from pizza master Tony Gemignani), The Daily Grill, 630 Park Steakhouse, DK Wings (from Top Chef Masters competitor and former Cyrus chef Douglas Keane), as well as Sonoma County’s own Boathouse Sushi, Mexican restaurant La Fondita, Scoops featuring Three Twins Ice Cream along with Habit Burger Grill, Beach Hut Deli, Roadside BBQ, and of course, a Starbucks to keep folks caffeinated. The restaurants are slated to open later this year.
Two Bay Area restaurant alums plan to open a pizza restaurant this fall in downtown Napa. Dan Sarao (formerly of Estate in Sonoma, Ubuntu in Napa, and Yountville’s Bouchon) is teaming up with Lewis Chilton of the Yountville Deli to open an American-style pizzeria with pies sold whole or by the slice (yes!). So far there’s no name for the restaurant, but owners are hoping to enlist Facebookers to weigh in at facebook.com/807mainpizza. The best idea will win 10 free pizzas.
If you’re a fan of Hog Island Oysters, plan on getting your fill at Slurps and Sips on Saturday August 10th at the VINTNER’S COLLECTIVE in downtown Napa. The event will feature Vinoce Vineyards’ wines, along with an oyster bar (and chicken skewers for the oyster-offended). Tickets are $45 for wine club members, $55 for everyone else. RSVP at 707-255-7150.
