Page 16 - Sonoma County Gazette 3-19
P. 16

TASTE & EAT - Sonoma County RESTAURANT WEEK!
By Peter Posert
A smile from a new friend. The smell of your new car. Winning the lottery.
On March 2, Northwood Restaurant (19400 Hwy 116 by the golf course and post office east of Monte Rio) will be hosting a Marci Gras party. Go early and enjoy the Prime Rib dinner special for only $19.99. Combined with live music this is a popular place to be on Friday and Saturday nights. The restaurant is also open for breakfast and lunch.
Sure, those are all nice, but forget all that --- IT’S RESTAURANT WEEK!!! It’s the time of year when the restaurants throw caution to the wind, open
the doors, and let the locals-in-the-know come out and play and bask in the glory that is all things Sonoma County Bounty. To help you figure out where to go, there is a great web page that can help you sort out your heart’s desire:
On Monday, March 4, Friends of Monte Rio Supper Club will feature guest chef Bree Ann Leighton and a menu focusing on Middle Eastern Cuisine. Grab your friends and come on down to the Monte Rio Community Center, 20488 Hwy 116/River Road. BYOB and a glass. Doors open at 6:00. These dinners are a wonderful way to enjoy good food, music and your neighbors.
sonomacounty.com/restaurant-week/restaurants
Sort by region or city. Sort by cuisine (I sorted French and found 5 to choose from...) and in the “MENUS” tab you can even sort by dollar amount.
That’s a lot going on in just the first week – but there’s more.
Could they make it any easier to have some local mid-winter fun?
Have you checked out Lightwave Coffee and Kitchen (9705 Main St just south of downtown Monte Rio as you wend your way toward Occidental) at Creekside Skate Park? Situated amongst the redwoods new owners Ori and his wife Gal are serving a menu based on Israeli and Middle Eastern cuisine. They also serve pastries, soups, hot drinks and smoothies. They cure lox
in house and roast their own coffee. I’m a novice when it comes to Middle Eastern cuisine but I’m looking forward to trying the Shakshuka. I’ve heard it’s very good and popular. The name Lightwave comes from a combination of the owners names. Ori means light and Gal means wave. Did I mention that they are newlyweds? They took a few days off last month and got married! Congratulations Ori and Gal! Lightwave is open daily from 8am to 5pm.
The chefs and restaurant managers often put together Restaurant Week SPECIALS, prix fix meals that feature the specialty of the house or a unique seasonal Restaurant Week dish. The participating restaurants are working overtime to present you the best they have and that you’ll see all year.
So in early March when the mustard and fava rise in the vineyards, when the rainbows shine across our plains and valleys, when the starlings circle overhead and the summer crowds are a distant memory, when the roads are clear and you can make a left turn, we know, now it is the time for our moment in the sun. Now is the time to get out and enjoy our own backyard. Now is the time to try that hot-spot you’ve been wondering about.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Bia Café at Northwood in the same building as the post office and Cuts on the Green barbaer shop. Say “HI’ to Robert. Don’t let the small space fool you. Owner Kari Kemp bakes homemade breads and cakes from family recipes Try the Irish Soda Bread or cinnamon swirl cake. Both are seriously delicious. Breakfast and lunch paninis and amazing salmon chowder soup round out the menu. Everything is served with Kari’s special brand of humor at no extra charge. I always leave there smiling.
The deals are as varied and vast as our microclimates and cultural influences. So go and enjoy our chefs, and remember to thank them, and their wait staff, every time they remove your plate and put your next course down.
The pots are hot, the tables are set, and the hosts are just waiting for you to show up.
Follow the Russian River...
At the bend in the road (Hwy 116/River Road) at the Welcome to Monte Rio Vacation Wonderland sign and you will find Lucy’s Lounge and Grill. Stop in for breakfast and try the French toast with mandarin orange slices and slivered almonds - definitely add the real maple syrup option! Lucy’s is also open for lunch and the bar in back is a gathering spot for locals in the evenings.
   By Maureen McTaggart
The month of March kicks off with Restaurant Week. Coincidentally Monte Rio just happens to have a new restaurant opening so it seems appropriate to write an article focusing on food.
As you head west on Hwy 116, the first village you come to is Duncans Mills. Cape Fear Café is well-known for their California cuisine with a southern flair. Breakfast & brunch is very popular here, with substantial servings. Dine on the outdoor patio if the weather is nice and try one of their weekend brunch “Benedict’s “ or the shrimp and grits at dinner. Excellent fish as well. Also
On Friday, March 1 THE place to go will be the Village Inn (20822 River Blvd, Monte Rio) for the highly anticipated opening of the Rio Bistro. This latest venture by Paul and Alain of Rio Café & Grill (Monte Rio Theater by the bridge) will showcase hearty country comfort food at an affordable price. I hope they will also have Scoop of Sonoma ice cream on the menu from their ice cream shop in Downtown Forestville. Amazingly rich and creamy!!
in Duncan Mills - Blue Heron Restaurant and Tavern – amazing crab cakes, excellent salads, beer on tap and music on the patio, Sundays all summer.
After dinner head on over to the Curtain Call Theater (20347 Hwy 116) for the opening night of “Spike Heels” (Yes that’s 2 openings on the same night ) Billed as “ Shoes, Sex and Power on Display,” Director Michael Tabib and his troupe have put together a play that they promise will “knock your socks off”.
Head ALL the way to the coast to the Jenner Estuary for a bowl of chowder on the deck at Cafe´Aquatica (live jazz on Snday afternoons) - or up the hill to River’s End to take in dinner and watch the sunset. Try their Pub menu on Mondays or locals night on Tuesdays.
Take time to eat your way along the Russian River to the coast.
 16 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 3/19






































































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