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“WHATTA GUY” ~ Meeting the Food Network’s Guy Fieri on Sonoma Plaza
Hi, my friends ~ and welcome back to the Debut Issue (this is Part 3) of my “WineFoodBUZZ” newsletter!
(To catch up on Part 1, click here; for Part 2, click here.)
I'm with Guy Fieri, often called "The Face of the Food Network," on Sonoma Square.
In case you missed my earlier post, I had the great fortune to stumble upon Food Network megastar Guy Fieri, and his cool vintage Camaro ‘vertible, on Sonoma Plaza. Guy is as friendly and fun in person as he is on TV, and it’s obvious how much he loves what he’s doing.
Here’s the video slideshow of Guy and his Camaro on my YouTube channel.
OFFtheHOOK!OFFtheHOOK!OFFtheHOOK!OFFtheHOOK!OFFtheHOOK!OFFtheHOOK!
Guy was shooting an episode of his show, “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” (“Triple D” in Guy-speak), featuring the popular Sunflower Caffé. Given that Guy travels the country for “Triple D,” stopping at down-home eateries and hanging out in the kitchen with the chef ~ cooking and bantering, and chowing down on a house special or two ~ this was something of a homecoming for him.
Guy with the ubercool "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" '67 Camaro 'vertible
A local Sonoma County boy with a huge following, Guy is very well known here in Wine Country. The nearby restaurants that he owns ~ Johnny Garlic’s California Pasta Grill, with its highly eclectic menu, and the “Southern California Style” Tex Wasabi’s Rock-N-Roll Sushi-BBQ ~ reflect his big, bold and offbeat personality.
Guy is charismatic, knowledgeable, and just “out there” enough ~ thanks to his spiky platinum ‘do, multiple tattoos, and signature sunglasses (which he sometimes wears at the back of his neck), plus catchphrases like “That’s OFF the HOOK!” and “That’s MONEY!”
OFFtheHOOK!OFFtheHOOK!OFFtheHOOK!OFFtheHOOK!OFFtheHOOK!OFFtheHOOK!
Guy with the Sunflower Caffé's James Hahn, finalizing details for the "Triple D" episode
The Sunflower Caffé, by the way, has a terrific list of wines by the glass, and an all-day menu, featuring creative omelets and waffles, soups and salads, and dynamite sandwiches (try the roast pork with mango chutney glaze, the smoked duck breast with caramelized onions, melted gruyere and greens, or the lamb burger with feta cheese).
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I’VE GOT A CRUSH ~
At four different wineries, in four different regions (Mendocino, Livermore, Sonoma, Sierra Foothills), I stumbled onto “crush” (the step after fermentation, when the new wine is pressed away from the grape skins). Here are snaps of all four:
Ripe Sauvignon Blanc grapes, ready to crush at J. Rickards Winery in northern Sonoma County
The cellarmaster checks the bins of fermenting wine at Big White House Winery in the Livermore Valley. (Yes, that's *the* big white house in the background...
Sierra Vista Winery, in the Sierra Foothills, where I spent a day with owner/founders Barbara and John MacCready. Pics and vids of our visit (crush pad, barrel room, full tasting!) in an upcoming eBook or two.
At Elke Vineyards in Mendocino County's Anderson Valley, trying to punch down through the thick cap of Cabernet grape solids
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BERKELEY BOWL ~ MARVELOUS MARKET!
Fascinating spiral patterns on this beautiful (and highly tasty!) head of Romanesco broccoli
When I first moved from New York to California in my early 20s, I settled near Berkeley, across the bay from San Francisco. The home of Alice Waters’s legendary Chez Panisse restaurant (and arguably the birthplace of “California Cuisine”), Berkeley, along with its East Bay neighbor cities, has become a food-lovers’ destination in its own right.
Though I now live north, rather than east, of San Francisco, I return to my former haunts pretty often. On my last trip, I ducked into one of my long-time favorites ~ a huge, full-service food market called Berkeley Bowl. (The site once housed a bowling alley, hence the oddball name.)
Horned Melon, Dragon Fruit, and Buddha's Hand Citron. Gorgeous!
These photos show just a few of Berkeley Bowl’s amazing offerings. For the full story, come along and “shop over my shoulder” at my video slideshow. Along with the exotic fruits and veggies (Sea Beans? Nameko Forest Mushrooms? Uglifruit???), we’ll savor a few luscious chocolate specialties ~ just in time for Valentine’s Day.
Click *here* for the tasty video slideshow on my YouTube channel.
Hope you’ve enjoyed all of these vignettes of the San Francisco Bay Area and the California Wine Country. I know I’ve enjoyed bringing them to you!
Until next time, my friends ~
Cheers,
Rosina
