707 Scout

By 707 correspondent, Deirdre Bourdet. La Toque’s former location in Rutherford’s Rancho Caymus Inn has finally scored a new identity as ALEX ITALIAN RESTAURANT. The restaurant takes its name from Italian-born owner Alessandro Sbrendola and his wife Alessia, who are both trained sommeliers and know a thing or…

By 707 correspondent, Deirdre Bourdet. BRASSICA—the Cindy Pawlcyn and Sean Knight concept that took over the Go Fish space in St. Helena—seems to be hitting its stride just in time for the holidays. On a recent food bender (generously hosted by the restaurant), I was lovin’ on their…

By 707 correspondent, Deirdre Bourdet. BOUCHON in Yountville has just announced a Périgord-themed dinner menu available December 14th-30th, featuring what is arguably the region’s best-known product: tuber melanosporum, the Périgord black truffle. This $80 four-course prix-fixe menu will include regional specialties like truffled consommé, poached capon with truffled mousse…

By 707 correspondent, Deirdre Bourdet. With Thanksgiving behind us, wine country is kicking into winter holiday mode in a serious way. The first weekend of December brings with it a flurry of celebrations in Napa and Sonoma to get you in the holiday spirit. Friday December 2nd is the deadline…

By 707 correspondent, Deirdre Bourdet. The first ever NAPA VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL takes place this November, and it’s rumored to be the biggest film festival debut since Tribeca. Though Napa’s event doesn’t exclusively feature films about food and wine, there is going to be a hell of…

By 707 correspondent, Deirdre Bourdet. Who else has munched through a bowl of those ultrabland tasting room crackers, wishing the winery had something better to pair with their wines? Oh that’s right, EVERYONE. Thanks to some recent loosening of the rules prohibiting wineries from serving food to the public,…

By 707 correspondent, Deirdre Bourdet. Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last 30 years (or you don’t drink spirits), you have probably heard of CHARBAY WINERY & DISTILLERY in St. Helena. Miles and Susan Karakasevic began distilling in California in 1983, and their son Marko…

By 707 correspondent, Deirdre Bourdet. Michelin-starred UBUNTU will close for the winter season this year on Monday November 21st, giving the team time to rest, regroup, and reinspire their relentlessly creative vegetarian menus. This is sad news for haute potato lovers, but may create some interesting new opportunities … from Sunday…

By 707 correspondent, Deirdre Bourdet. The Great Regional Mexican Restaurant Boom of 2011 swept north into Healdsburg last month with the opening of MATEO’S COCINA LATINA downtown. This is chef-owner Mateo Granados’ first brick-and-mortar restaurant, though he has been delighting Sonoma County with his Yucatecan-Californian cuisine with a farmers’…

By 707 correspondent, Deirdre Bourdet. Campovida’s twice-annual 36-Hour Farm Dinners are mindfulness retreats for the food-obsessed, led by some of Northern California’s best chefs. The gorgeous farm’s next event is October 14th-16th, and features Sean and Renée Baker of GATHER. Here’s the itinerary: guests arrive at…