Smart Idea Sonoma

Exciting: http://www.sonomamarintrain.org/

Resturant Files: Monti's

Restaurant Files: Monti’s
Location: Santa Rosa
http://www.starkrestaurants.com/montis_rotisserie.html

Early last week, in the midst of holiday shopping at Montgomery Village, my friend and I were overcome with hunger. We decided to grab lunch at Monti’s.

Monti’s, located in Montgomery Village in Santa Rosa, is one of a couple restaurants owned and operated by the Stark restaurant empire.

In addition to Montie’s they also operate Willi’s Wine Bar, Willi’s Raw Bar in Healdsburg, and a steakhouse in Railroad Square.

Willi’s (in Healdsburg ) is one of my local favorites.

I also like Montgomery Village. If I need to shop in Santa Rosa, this is where I go.

The village is an assemblage of specialty shops including purveyors like Sur La Table (so fun to get lost in this gem of foodie fabulousness), home décor boutiques, clothing shops, patisseries.

After lugging our bags to the car, we settled in at a bistro table on the outdoor patio.

We ordered the following:

• House Made French Fries Tossed with Gorgonzola & Rosemary $6



• Monti’s Cristo, Westphalian Ham, Gruyere & Sweet Onion Jam
on Toasted Brioche $12

• The special sandwich of the day – a rotisserie turkey sandwich on brioche with tomato chutney.



The Monti Cristo, enjoyed by my lunch companion, was purported to be “sooo soo good” andworth its weight in every delicious calorie consumed. She likened the taste to a warm French toast with a savory twist.

I had the special sandwich. It, too, was good. I requested it on ciabatta bread and it arrived with thinly sliced rotisserie turkey, red onion and the chutney. It was understated but good.

Both sandwiches came with (what I assume were house-made) pickles and olives. They were a bit spicy and a nice twist

The fries were great: crispy, salty, layered with gorgonzola cheese and rosemary. A perfect addition to the sandwiches.


What’s happening in Healdsburg?

http://www.healdsburg.com/PDFs/HolidayCalendar2009.pdf

Sick

I've been sick. I'll be back. Stay well.

Healdsburg for the Holidays ...

Healdsburg is a charming little town during the holiday season.

The fun began this past Friday night at Healdsburg's Downtown Holiday Party.

This event is quickly becoming a tradition.

Local merchants opened their doors to welcome us all with hot cider, sweet treats, and holiday merchandise. The plaza’s candle lit streets were packed with locals; I love seeing people I know out and about on the town, lots of tourist, singing choirs of small children and groups decked out in Dickens-esque costumes singing tunes from the past.

Santa set-up shop outside the Oakville Grocery and there was even a group protesting fur.

You know you’ve made it big as a small town when Peta shows up.

Mark your calendar for the December 13, Menorah Lighting with Rabbi Wolvovsky!

December 13, Menorah Lighting, at Oakville Grocery, 124 Matheson Street, Healdsburg. Oakville Grocery will host the lighting of the Menorah with Rabbi Mendel Wolvovsky at 5:30 pm. For more information please call 707-433-3200

What you get for the money ...

Ever wondered what $135,000.00 will get you in Sonoma County?




A cottage of sorts ... located in Santa Rosa to be exact.



"Rustic" workshop or if you're from the "City", an artist's loft.




Plenty of space to plant that English garden you've been dreaming of ...



And last but not least .... a fun set of neighbors.

restaurant files: Rosso Pizzeria

restaurant files
name: rosso pizzeria
location: santa rosa, ca
http://www.rossopizzeria.com/


I’ve been looking forward to a repeat performance @ Rosso for a while now.

Today, after stopping in Santa Rosa for a quick shopping trip, we stopped at Rossa Pizzeria for lunch.

My hubbie (Y) and I shared the Mista salad (Rafter Ranch blend, mixed as picked, shaved fennel, toasted pine nuts, shaved parmesan and balsamic vinaigrette)



The salad was good, light, almost like a palate cleanser. It wasn’t amazing but it was good. They say the best salads are made of a mix of wonderful ingredients that stand out all on their own. In this salad there was one ingredient that really stood out: the shaved Parmesan. It was delicious and really made this salad worth its weight.


Next we ordered the Beppo Pizza (red base, Hobbs pepperoni, black olives, red onion and house made mozzarella) made in the wood fired oven.



I have come to believe that anyone who operates a wood fire oven must be a master. There is an art; I am sure, to cooking in an oven that runs at such a high temperature. Rosso cooks exclusively in a wood oven. Have they mastered the art of wood fire cooking? I am not sure: the jury is still out after today's visit.

The pizza was good – the crust was chewy and tender. The sauce was very good. It was spicy and hovering in the sauce were pieces of shaved garlic. Delicious … I love shaved garlic in red sauce.

The standout in this dish was unquestionably the red onion. Surprising! I always order red onion on my pizza and normally the flavor is “cooked down.” This time the red onion held its flavor and essence with each bite. This pizza reminded me of what red onion should taste like on a pizza.

The “house made” mozzarella was good, although a little sparse. It was almost as if all of the toppings had pooled to the middle of pizza, away from the yummy, dense crust.

Overall, this pizza was very good.

Back to the art of wood fired pizza … the past couple pizzas I’ve had cooked in this culinary method have been crisp, dry at the crust and wet & soggy with a pool of soupy sauce in the middle.

Next visit: Calamari Fritti & Funghi Pizza

Cranberries

Wondering what to do with all that extra cranberry sauce …

If you are feeling a little guilty about yesterday, this is the muffin recipe for you; it’s low-fat.

Fresh, whole cranberries (as many as you want)
Cranberry sauce
1 ½ c flour
1 tbl spoon baking powder
½ c whole-wheat flour
½ c oatmeal
½ c white sugar
½ c applesauce
1 egg
¾ c milk
2 tbl spoons of oil



Mix the dry ingredients
Toss the whole cranberries in the dry ingredients
Mix the egg, milk, sugar, oil and cranberry sauce

Pour the wet into the dry, and stir until just blended.
Divide into 12 muffin cups (muffin pan)
Sprinkle each muffin top with sugar
Bake at 400 for 15 – 18 minutes