Yoakim Bridge Winery is owned by Virginia and David Cooper. Virginia and her husband tell a meet cute story that beats all Hollywood. They were both the oldest students in culinary school at 48, so they just had to fall in love because everyone else in class was too...
Healdsburg
On the road again…
The morning was dark, one of the first dark mornings during my stay here in paradise. Strange. I would be questioning why I’m even leaving but I’m excited for my next adventure. Still, I’ve got a lump in my throat driving away. I have a feeling I may be back for an...
Gigantes
Just in case you find yourself in Healdsburg without a television set, hands down best places for dinner and Giants game: The Wurst, Healdsburg Bar and Grill, Willi’s Seafood, and El Farolito. You don’t even have to ask them to change the channel. Serious Giants fans;...
Kale Kinship
Met with Kathleen Kelley Young from Kelley & Young Wines and could have spent the entire day talking with her and her husband. I don’t think there was ever a pause in conversation. Kathleen and I have the same creative approach to experimental cooking with wine....
Valdez
The key to finding out who is who in town is to ask the locals. The best way to meet locals who are eager to chat is to have a drink or bite to eat at a local watering hole. It might also make you more approachable if you are attending the bar alone. In Healdsburg,...
Healdsburg Hospitality
A woman I met at pilates hooked me up with some winemakers she knows. SWEET. It took almost no prodding from me either. We were just chatting after class and, naturally, where I was from and what I’m doing here came up in conversation. People jump at the chance to...
The Wurst
After working all weekend, I needed to throw on some jeans to take a break from the computer screen and try a new place for lunch: The Wurst Sausage Grill & Beer Garden. Gotta love the name! The best part of The Wurst is they had the Giants game on (with audio)...
Taste of Healdsburg
Three weeks here and I am still trying a new restaurant every night. I figure, if I eat somewhere new each night, I’ll meet a new set of people. Yesterday, I had dinner next to a lawyer who grew up here and has seen the town change drastically in that time. Shops,...
Amarone
Rare is it that one gets to meet a winemaker who is also a chef. Even more seldom does one get to meet someone making Amarone right here in California. Can you even say Amarone? It’s a rich rare Italian wine made from the grapes halfway to becoming raisins. But what’s...
A Rafinelli Winery – Vindicating Merlot
Dave Rafinelli is a big star in a small class of Merlot producers that’s making Merlot proud. The deep, rich, warm, elegant, dark fruit flavors make it a wine to sip standalone or pair with just about any meal and the long almost chocolaty finish makes you feel sexy.