Winery · Proposals
Where she
says yes.
A first look at the proposal experience built into every visit to Maria Concetto Winery — wine, Robinovino, a Mediterranean table and a vintage ride through the vines.
Read the story ↗THE NORTHERN TABLE / SEPTEMBER 2026
Mediterranean · Social dining
The Mediterranean,
passed around.
A first-person visit to Kalimera’s Shareables menu—beginning with a plate in flames and ending around one very full table.
Read the story ↗THE NORTHERN TABLE / AUGUST 2026
Just added
Newly on
the table.
The latest field notes: a wedge of Raya from a Sebastopol market stand, a second Aladdin Grill in Santa Rosa, its hand-shaped Adana and Turkish breakfast, and the first story outside Sonoma County at Maria Concetto Winery.
Gone Before Dinner
A wedge of Raya from the Mt. Eitan Cheese stand, gone before we sat down.
Read · 4 minute ↗
Shaped by Hand. Toasted Your Way.
Hand-shaped Adana, lavash toasted the way you ask, and Turkish breakfast from eight in Santa Rosa.
Read · 4 minute ↗
Aladdin Grill Opens in Santa Rosa
The second location, and the portions from the Sonoma truck made the trip with it.
Read · 4 minute ↗
Where She Says Yes
Wine, a robot with good timing, a Mediterranean table and a vintage ride through the vines.
Read · 5 minute ↗Saturday market
One lot in Santa Rosa.
Six good tables.
Field notes from the Veterans Building market: butter and cheese, tomatoes and cucumbers, mushrooms, bread and soup.
Cucumbers That Smell Like Cucumbers
Tomatoes, peppers and eggplants from Triple T, cucumbers and basil from Coyote Family Farm.
Read · 2 minute ↗
Better Butter, Off a Folding Table
Lightly cultured butter and a six-month cheese from Pacheco Family Ranch.
Read · 2 minute ↗
Three Stalls, One Thing From Each
Mushrooms, bread and soup at the Saturday market.
Read · 2 minute ↗October at Triple T
Pumpkins on top, tomatoes in front, and a table that hasn't noticed summer is over.
Read · 2 minute ↗Eight Dollars a Basket
Oyster, shiitake and a mixed basket, and a banner with three growers' names.
Read · 2 minute ↗
Reading the Chalkboard
Seven loaves and a price ladder from $8 to $12.
Read · 2 minute ↗
Soup, and a Flat-Top
A soup stand with a griddle in the middle of it.
Read · 2 minute ↗Inside Issue 01
I go first.
You order better.
Three more stops from the first issue: the coast road home, Halo-Halo off 101 and five tacos downtown.
From the Coast to Sebastopol
Bodega Bay, Goat Rock or Jenner—and then Alesta for a warm room, branzino, manti or a slower dinner.
Read · 6 minute ↗
Halo-Halo, Just Off Highway 101
Pull off at Larkfield for pork adobo, crisp lumpia and the dessert you have to mix before you understand.
Read · 4 minute ↗
5 Tacos & Margarita
A quick taco lunch becomes a longer downtown evening once the margarita and full bar enter the picture.
Read · 4 minute ↗Guides from the road
The winery closed.
Now find dinner.
Built for the hours that send people to Google: after a tasting, off the highway or just after hotel check-in.
After the Last Tasting
The tasting room closes. Dinner is still ahead. Three ways back toward Santa Rosa with a worthwhile stop between them.
Open guide ↗
One Exit. A Proper Lunch.
Pull off the highway, park without a hunt and sit down long enough to use a fork.
Open guide ↗
Dinner Near the Hotel
Downtown tables for the first night in town, when the bags are upstairs and the car can stay where it is.
Open guide ↗The journal