Page 20 - Sonoma County Gazette 11-19

Gypsy Café, Good for You Comfort Food
By Valery Larson
Imagine you are away at college. Your
stomach is rumbling and you think longingly o
of
your Mom’s pot roast, pasta or one of her famil
ly
recipes that reminds you of home. You go hom
y
me
e
on a long weekend, sit down at the table and se
et
before you is not just pot roast but something s
so
delicious, you wonder if you can finish college
o
at home just for the cooking you miss so much
. T Th h a at t w wa a s s h ho ow w I I f fe el lt t t t h he e o ot t h he er r d da ay y w wh he e n n I I s s a at t
h.
down to enjoy the roast beef at Gypsy Café in downtown Sebastopol. A beautifully set plate with large, lovely cubes of tender pot roa
ast
L to R: Sesame Chicken Salad, Chicken & Waffles , & Candied Bacon BLT
and carrots cooked to a texture and flavor tha
?
The reduction sauce that accented the dish was perfectly balanced and not too salty of a glaze. The slice of polenta topping the dish
As I spoke with Shawn, I could see how deeply she considers her impact on the planet when creating the dishes that they serve, using local and organic meats
at
t
usually live in my food dreams. How can a ca
s s s o o o d d de e e l l l i i ic c c i i io o o u u u s s s a a a n n nd d d p p p e e e r r r f f f e e e c c c t t t l l ly y y c c c o o o o o ok k k e e e d d d t t t h h h r r r o o o u u ug g g h h h a a a n
r r r r r o o ot t t b b b e e e
ar
nd
d t
t h
hr
ro
ou
ug
gh
h?
added a subtle balance to all the flavor nuances.
A close friend has spoken of that dish with a look of longing over the
years and now I know what she means. I’ve also tried the
Sesame Chicken salad, which has the perfect hint of ginger, and I’ve especially appreciated the showstopping Candied Bacon BLT, which tastes like Sonoma County summertime. My full stomach thanked me when I topped off the meal with a soothing Enliven lemon ginger kefir. If you need something to soothe your food soul, try the Biscuits and Gravy, another nostalgic nod to comfort food, with a modern mushroom twist. There is also a sausage gravy for the meat-lovers out there.
a a n n d d p p r r o o d du u c c e e f f r r o o m m s s u u c c h h b b u u s s i i n n e e s s s s e e s s a a s s
C
Cl
lover and the Patch Farm out of the town
Shawn, the owner of Gypsy Café, gave me a motherly welcome when I came into the restaurant. The world at large should be full of Shawns who care deeply about the people who work in their restaurants and give support with their exceptional service, like Angel the waiter who puts everyone at ease with his big smile and Gabe, the Chef who has been known to hand out stickers to kids and told me how the people who work in Gypsy Café are like his family.
“ “ C C o o m m e e f f o o r r d d i i n n n n e e r r t t h h e e fifi r r s s t t F F r r i i d d a a y y o o f f e e v v e e r r y y m m o o n n t t h h f f r r o o m m 5 5 : : 3 3 0 0 t t o o 9 9 p p m m , , i i t t ’ ’s s l l o o c c a a l l ’ ’s s n n i i g g h h t t w w i i t t h h g g r r e e a a t t m m u u s s i i c c and a fun way to hang out with your neighbors.”
Check out the first Friday of every month from 5:30 to 9pm, it’s local’s night with great music and a fun way to hang out with your neighbors.
a
o o o n n n o o o m m m a a a , , , a a a m m m o o o n n n g g g o o o t t t h h h e e e r r r s s s . . . L L L o o o c c c a a a l l l s s s h h h e e e l l lt t t e e e r r r s s s h h h a a av v v e e e b b e e e n n n e e e f f f i i it t t e e e d d d f f f r r r o o o m m m d d d e e e l l l i i iv v ve e e r r r i i i e e e s s s o o o f f f h h h e e e r r r p p p o o o t t t r r r o o o a a a s s s t t t . . .
al
l
s
o o of f f S S S
so
o b
Among her many talents, she is also a creative and
sought-after interior designer of many local restaurants you no doubt have frequented.
Gypsy Café is just one more reason why I’m so happy to be a part of this amazing Sonoma County community. It’s truly a mix of what
we are all about, people, the love of healthy food and an appreciation for the
beauty of the place.Check out the website for their seasonal dinners: gypsy-cafe.com
L to R: Pot Roast with Polenta & Clam Chowder with a Pint
169 N. Main Street Sebastopol, CA 95472 (707)861-3825
20 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 11/19