Russian River Chow?

[Ruth Lafler]

A friend and I rented a house for a week outside of Guerneville. I know nothing about the immediate area -- I know there's lots of great chow in Sonoma County, but it's a BIG county.

We probably will shop and cook rather than eat out. So I'd love some recs for:

(1) places to shop for food, especially local artisan foods, and/or buy prepared foods (delis, bakeries) and casual lunch spots (especially dog-friendly ones), and

(2) any "destination" places (farmers' markets, etc.) worth driving up to 45 minutes for, and

(3) any foodie related activities (farm tours, etc.)

Thanks!

[Robert Lauriston]

On the way up, I'd stop at Bud's Custom Meats, Della Fattoria, and on a Thursday or Sunday the Marin Civic Center farmers market.

The only really worthwhile food shopping we found last time we were up there was the excellent Raymond's Bakery in Cazadero, worth the drive from Guerneville.

Tierra Vegetables is about half an hour away.

Food for Humans has some decent produce and whatnot in a pinch.

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Della Fattoria
141 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma, CA 94952

Tierra Vegetables
651 Airport Blvd, Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Bud's Custom Meats
7750 Petaluma Hill Rd, Penngrove, CA

Raymond's Bakery
5400 Cazadero Hwy, Cazadero, CA

Food For Humans
16385 1st St, Guerneville, CA

[celeryroot]

There is lots of good food shopping
A great area is Forestville very near
Great grocery there with lots of local farm stuff, can not remember name but cant miss.
http://www.kozlowskifarms.com/
yummy pies
Wild Flour Bakery in Graton is wonderful
You wiil probably pass Willow Side meats on way , make sausages there
I stop in at Willow side and Buds abt once a month each , both good but WS much closer for you
Look at Farm Trail map , lots of farms in the area
for abreak..... fun little place
http://willowwoodgraton.com/about.html

[Kathleen M]

Wild Flour Bakery is indeed wonderful, but it's in Freestone. They make the best scones I've ever had.

[Ruth Lafler]

Hit Wild Flour on Saturday -- we got a pluot scone and a rhubarb scone and they were awesome! They have a really light, tender biscuit quality that puts those rocks that most places call scones to shame. The only complaint I have with Wild Flour is that it's impossible to decide what to buy!

[Kathleen M]

There's a new food store that just opened in Guerneville, Big Bottom Market. I haven't been yet, but have heard really good things. They specialize in local artisan foods. The farmers' market in Occidental, maybe half an hour at most from Guerneville, is my favorite farmers' market. It's on Friday afternoons beginning at 4:00. There is tremendous produce at very reasonable prices and some absolutely delicious prepared foods. I especially like Casa la Belle breads, Lata's Indian food, the brick oven pizzas, and Salt Side Down chocolates, and The Hummus Guy among the prepared foods. I have to go, but will write another response soon!

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Big Bottom Market
16228 Main St, Guerneville, CA 95446

[Kathleen M]

Naughty me for posting on Chowhound while working! Anyhow, check out Sophie's Cellars in Monte Rio, just about four miles west of Guerneville on Hwy 116. They have a large selection of mostly local cheeses, Casa la Belle bread, a few other local delicacies, and of course wine. Ask John for recommendations. He is familiar with many local and foreign producers and can steer you to a fantastic bargain or to an expensive bottle that will blow your socks off. Many of our local restaurants offer free corkage for the first bottle purchased at Sophie's, they will be happy to give you a list if you're interested. For casual lunch, in Guerneville I love boon eat+drink. They use locally sourced ingredients and some very creative preparations. I've never had anything there that I didn't love. Coffee Bazaar, also in Guerneville, is casual and very basic (sandwiches, salads, etc.) and is dog friendly at the tables outside on the street. Back in Monte Rio, Don's Dogs make really great hot dogs with delicious chili, and is VERY dog friendly. Across the street there is Holey Cow, only marginally less casual than Don's Dogs. They are open for breakfast and lunch. Everything is prepared in house and very fresh. The Village Inn in Monte Rio serves lunch on Sundays on their patio, overlooking the river. I think the lunch menu could use some work, but I ate lunch there recently and the soup and fries were just perfect. It's a little more elegant, but I've seen people with their dogs on the patio. Finally, the concession stand on the beach at Monte Rio is also dog friendly, certainly the most casual of the places I've mentioned, and they make quite good tacos. Do report back, I love to hear what people like around the area.

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Village Inn
20822 River Boulevard, Monte Rio, CA 95462

Sophie's Cellars
20293 Bohemian Hwy, Monte Rio, CA 95462

Coffee Bazaar
Armstrong Woods Rd, Guerneville, CA 95446

Don's Dog Cafe
20396 Bohemian Hwy, Monte Rio, CA 95462

[Ruth Lafler]

We ended up mostly shopping and cooking -- Sonoma County is a great place to be a locavore! We did have a couple of lunches out -- both unplanned. One was at Apple Trees in Sebastopol when we ended up there the wrong day for the farmers' market (I mixed up the days for Healdsburg and Sebastopol). Apple Trees had outdoor seating where my dog was welcome and served up decent if unexceptional food at reasonable prices. I thought the inclusion of Joe's Special was a nice touch -- it looked good and my friend enjoyed it.

The other lunch out was at Spud Point Crab Company in Bodega Bay ( http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/8007... ) when I decided on impulse that I had to have crab.

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Spud Point Crab Company
1860 Westshore Rd, Bodega Bay, CA 94923

Apple Trees Restaurant
124 S Main St, Sebastopol, CA 95472

[Ruth Lafler]

Link: Screamin' Mimi's -- it's on the corner of Hwy 116 northbound, right around the corner from where they hold the farmers market. Also in that area: Infusions Teahous -- a nice selection of teas and chocolates. I bought both. :-)

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Screamin' Mimi's
6902 Sebastopol Ave, Sebastopol, CA 95472

Infusions Teahouse
6988 McKinley Ave, Sebastopol, CA 95472

[ammck63]

Here's a second recommendation for Sophie's Cellars. The owners (John and David) have put together a great wine shop (and their cheese selection isn't bad either!). Absolutely ask John for suggestions. He's pointed me at some really amazing wines at good prices. I love the fact that he doesn't just push the high end stuff. I'm also a big fan of Nightengale Breads over in Forestville. Their Forestville French is simply amazing. Combine these two with a stop over at Big Bottom Market in Guerneville and you have an amazing picnic.

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Sophie's Cellars
20293 Bohemian Hwy, Monte Rio, CA 95462

Big Bottom Market
16228 Main St, Guerneville, CA 95446

[celeryroot]

opps you are correct
I like those big danish type things with apple

http://www.occidentalfarmersmarket.co...

[Ruth Lafler]

I was disappointed by Big Bottom Market -- I thought the selection was very thin. Went in, looked around and went out without even being tempted to buy anything.

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Big Bottom Market
16228 Main St, Guerneville, CA 95446

[ammck63]

While I agree the selection at Big Bottom Market wasn't great (note that I went there just after they had their "official" opening on the 5th), everything I tried there was amazing. I definitely think they are a welcome addition to Guerneville and western Sonoma county.

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Big Bottom Market
16228 Main St, Guerneville, CA 95446

[TonyVelebil]

Would agree with Wildflower Bakery. Well inside your 45 min radius.

[moto]

Mateo Granados has one of the best brunches in the world at the Sunday Sebastopol farmer's market. The market itself is one of the best small town farmer's markets we've visited in the state and sometimes we take a day trip just to eat and shop there.

[Columba]

Photos & story from local newspaper
http://www.biteclubeats.com/2011/07/guerneville.html

Sonoma County Farm Trails
http://www.farmtrails.org/

Tour d'Organics 2011 bicycle tour
August 14
http://www.seb.org/event/250477-2011-tour-d-organics
(you could just steal their route and drive it

)

French Garden, Sebastopol
Sunday 10-2 Farm Market
http://www.seb.org/event/250477-2011-...
(in the past they've had wonderful co-vendors

)

Chloe's French Cafe in Santa Rosa is off 101 at the exit before River Road
Great pastries to go.

Nightingale Breads is in Downtown Forestville.

Agree with Wild Flour Bread, but only open Friday-Monday. The garden is fabulously beautiful just now.

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French Garden
8050 Bodega Avenue, Sebastopol, CA 95472

Sonoma County Farm Trails
Santa Rosa, CA 95406, Santa Rosa, CA 95406

Chloe's French Cafe
3883 Airway Drive 145, Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Wild Flour Bread
140 Bohemian Hwy, Freestone, CA

[BernalKC]

One more vote for Wild Flour. And recognizing that its a trek from Guerneville, you should add another destination to your route, like Andy's Market. An hour of driving, but really quite beautiful, and worth it. Try this route: http://tinyurl.com/3eo8w3h

[Ruth Lafler]

Great suggestion -- we followed that route (including going all the way into Sebastopol for the farmers market). Andy's was great -- lots of organics and local products at good prices (oh, and fabulous olive bar!).

We actually stopped at Wild Flour three times (Saturday, Monday and Friday -- if they'd been open the other days we were in that area we probably would have stopped in those days, too). The scones are phenomenal, but the olive loaf with nigella seeds and zataar and the bread with cardamom were the real stars. And the garden was beautiful.

The other repeat stop was Screamin' Mimi's Ice Cream in Sebastopol. Not really a destination, but worth a stop if you're in the area. I like the way the sell their ice cream by weight, so you can have as much or as little of as many flavors as you want. My favorite was the ginger almond; my friend's strawberry rose sorbet was also excellent.

[stanbee]

Stop by Joe Matos' farm for his Portuguese cheese. Santa Rosa

[Ruth Lafler]

I'm heading out today -- anything to add?

[ML8000]

Last time I went to the Russian River I stopped at Willie Bird Restaurant in Santa Rosa...in all its 70s faux tudor splendor. The food was excellent for what it is. I had the turkey lunch plate and everything was like homemade. Also in Duncan Mills there's Cafe Fear which has a nice dog friendly patio. The food is okay...brunchy stuff.

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Willie Bird's Restaurant
1150 Santa Rosa Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95404