goals for gluttony

It's early in the training cycle. And while I'm doing more swimming than I've ever done in my life, my bike trainer sessions have been easy and my running just barely exists. (Fact: I am so out of running shape that my quads get sore from testing shoes on a treadmill with zero incline. Also, I have yet to run longer than a collective five minutes in a workout. But at least I can run. Recovery is slow, but I'm grateful for it.)

My appetite, however, seems to think I'm in the final countdown for an A-race. This morning, while watching me dump yogurt and granola into a bowl in the breakroom, my co-worker announced: "You eat more than I do, and I'm twice your size."

I'm also already passing out at embarrassingly early hours. Last night I fell asleep on Salad Bar's couch at about, oh, 6:30. And the only reason I woke up was because he said dinner was ready.

If this is me now, just imagine the monster I'll be in six months: Drooling, with really bad hair, wielding a sleeping bag, a fork and a Garmin.

Why is this portion so small?!

And on that note, may I present the Annual List of 10 Places at Which I'd Like to Stuff My Face (and then possibly find a corner to sleep in afterward). As those five of you who actually read this blog know, instead of New Year's resolutions, I prefer to set Goals for Gluttony. You can find my previous attempts at eating my way through the year here, here, here, here, here and here. (Holy crap, I've been a hedonistic asshole for awhile now, haven't I? Also: I'm old.)

As I was saying: The List.

The Book Bindery: I've wanted to go ever since I read this article. And then my chef-triathlete friend had dinner there last month and confirmed it's worthy of the acclaim. And he said they were nice people, too, which is always a plus.

La Carta de Oaxaca: Belle likes it, so I figure I should go or else her dog will punch me in the face again and maybe this time he'll punch harder and I really will get a black eye or my eyeball will just completely fall out and roll across the floor. (Also, I really miss Mexican food.)

Canon: The cocktails are supposed to be nothing short of perfect. And the spirits selection is supposed to be legendary. And Sober January will be over very, very soon. Mama is thirsty.

Finnriver Farm & Cidery: On our first date, Salad Bar took me out for cider (because he found out about my whole no-gluten thing), and this was when I was pretty new to dry ciders and still kind of thought "cider" meant sweet like Hornsby's (which I used to drink by the six-pack in college, no joke), so I told him he could pick a cider for me, and the first cider he picked was the Finnriver Black Currant. (He also pronounced the word "currant" in a funny way, which I thought was endearing.) And my life changed forever. And I've enjoyed many Finnriver ciders since (big fan of the Forest Ginger) and have had many nice times with Salad Bar. So I'd like to go to the place where the cider is actually made. And maybe hug the people there.

Mt. Townsend Creamery: And since the birthplace of the life-changing cider is so close to the birthplace of one of my favorite local cheeses, I propose a full day of pack-it-all-in gluttony.

Monteillet Fromagerie: And speaking of cheese, if you ever see Monteillet goat cheese anywhere, cram it into your mouth immediately. Because it is incredible. And I want to visit the creamery and stay in Kyle MacLachlan's "Twin Peaks"-themed Airstream. (Yes, this exists, and it's only $50 a night.)

Miyabi 45th: Soba paradise. My wheat-sensitive stomach will hate me, but I'll gamble.

The bar at Canlis: Since I can't afford actual Canlis, sitting at the bar is the next best thing. In fact, sitting at the bar may even be better than actual Canlis because the people-watching is supposed to be amazing. I'm told it's like being at the bottom of the stairs when the teenage girl sweeps down in her prom dress. The entertainment potential seems endless.

Ramen Man: The quest to eat as much ramen as possible continues.

Il Corvo: Again, if I'm going to eat wheat, I'm going to go for the best. And Il Corvo's pasta is supposed to be the best.

food, glorious food.

Yet another reason why I'm a terrible person and should never be your role model: I ate about a quarter of the salad I ordered for lunch, and then I fed it to the chickens.

And then I ate this instead:

With ranch dressing, of course. (Because really, is there any other way?)

And on that note, may I present my New Year's Resolutions, a.k.a. The Annual List of Restaurants/Food Purveyors/Drinking Holes I'd Like to Go to in 2013. (For reference, last year's list can be found here. And I only actually made it to four of the 10 places in 2012. But whatever. It's not a contest.)

Ramen Shop (Oakland): Three friends from Chez Panisse open a ramen shop featuring locally-sourced ingredients and sides like wild nettle fried rice? How come I am not already living in their kitchen?!

The Casino Bar & Grill (Bodega): A holdover from last year. Can't believe I still haven't eaten there. I look at their Facebook page pretty much daily and drool over the ever-changing menu.

The Parish Cafe (Healdsburg): Supposedly, all kinds of Cajun awesomeness. I tried to go for lunch one day, but the restaurant is so small that if you don't get there right when it opens, there's a long-ass wait.

Social Club (Petaluma): I've heard mixed reviews -- some of my friends love it, and some think it's overrated. I want to make my own decisions -- and possibly try some of the duck confit hash that's on the brunch menu.

Betty's Fish and Chips (Santa Rosa): You know those times when you drive past a restaurant and think, That looks intriguing -- I wonder what it's like? That's exactly how I feel about Betty's. Also, I like fried food.

Alexander Valley Bar (Healdsburg): Did you know Medlock Ames has a secret bar in the back of its tasting room? This makes me insanely jealous. Dear wineries I work for: Why do you not have secret bars?!

Bergamot Alley (Healdsburg): The wine bar to trump all wine bars in Sonoma County. Or so say the geekiest of the wine geeks. I say, "Bring on the nerdiness!"

Savor Spice Shop (Santa Rosa): Another one I didn't make it to last year. And I have no excuses this time around, especially since I just borrowed this book from the library and now need to hunt down obscure spices.

Bear Korean Restaurant (Cotati): Confession: I am a total Korean food newbie. The only Korean food I've ever had is from Tov Tofu, and I've been told there's more to the Korean food world out there.

St. George Spirits (Alameda): Because I am completely and totally obsessed with gin. And I absolutely love their Botanivore.

And now excuse me while I double over in pain due to a French fry binge-induced stomache.

with no definite aim or purpose

Before an open water swim, I've been known to say: "I hope I don't see a corpse out there."

And then my friends laugh at me, because what are the chances of actually brushing up against a pale, floating hand or finding yourself looking down through the murky water into a pair of empty eyes? 

Apparently it's entirely possible: A dead body was found in the Russian River this morning.

The man was a 48-year-old transient, and cause of death hasn't yet been determined.

*

I was at the river yesterday. Not in it, but close to it.

We parked at Windsor High, rode to Johnson's and then did the entire Vineman route. Total mileage: 72. And most of that was riding solo, since I wanted to do this at my pace instead of trying to keep up with everyone else. (Small victory: I can ride alone! In traffic! And feel OK!)

I had to stop a lot to eat and drink. (World's Worst Multi-tasker, remember?) See this water bottle in the weeds?

I was able to take my bottle out of the cage while riding but couldn't put it back. So rather than risk another horrible crash, I threw my water bottle on the side of the road, stopped the bike, got off and went back for the water.

Hence this ride took a long-ass time. You could have brunch, get a mani-pedi, play a round of golf and get your car detailed all before I finish Vineman.

*

And if a 72-mile ride wasn't enough, we hiked up Bald Mountain last night (6.5 miles round-trip) to watch fireworks and raise money for the Sonoma Ecology Center. This "moderately difficult" uphill jaunt left me sweaty and winded. My quads hate me today, but the pain was worth it.

We saw 10 fireworks shows from around the Bay Area. And one glow worm.

*

Today: Hayes Valley with Christina. We went to Smitten for made-to-order liquid nitrogen ice cream. (Crossing one off of the list!)

TCHO chocolate with pistachio peanut brittle. Mmm. Creamy like pudding.

*

(It's sort of disturbing that a dead body and ice cream exist in the same post.)

sometimes I get hangry

My bad habit: Hanger. (And I'm not talking about the wire clothes rack, silly. I'm talking about hunger + anger.) I know I need to eat every three hours or I turn into a monster. And yet for some reason, I still forget to put granola bars in my purse. And then I get stuck in traffic on my way to food and then all hell breaks loose and then whoever is in my car with me begins to fear for their lives.

*

I am back in school. I signed up for a fashion class at the junior college: Clothing Construction I. The class meets once a week for three hours. Note to self: If you want to make friends and have conversations that revolve around anything except "God, I'm so hungry," eat before going to class.

*

When I'm hangry, I'll overdo it. Last week, I drove to Soledad (where it's so happening, right?) to oversee a TV interview. On the way back, I stopped at Himawari in San Mateo and ordered the shiro tan tan men deluxe, which is sort of like the love child of tan tan men and tonkotsu, plus a ridiculous amount of pork (chashu, kakuni and ground pork, to be exact).

When I was done, I was sweating profusely. (Dear god: Please let this be due to the chili oil, and not the early onset of menopause.) And I had to force myself not to lie down on a bench and unbutton my pants.

*

May this list of places I'd like to eat at in 2012 stave off the hanger, at least for another three hours.

Maru Ichi: Black ramen (kuro), the result of charred garlic. Bring it. (And bring the elastic-waist pants, too.)

The Casino Bar & Grill: I feel a little guilty for putting this in writing, especially since the Casino is such a secret, locals-only spot. But I blame the tasting room guy at Mayo, who raved on and on about this little dive bar with extraordinary food and an ever-changing menu.

Mission Chinese Food: I know it's trendy. I know there is a book. I know the lines are long. But the chef at work loved it. I'd like to love it too.

Savory Spice Shop: Because you can never have enough urfa biber. (No, not Justin Bieber.)

Santa: This godfather of San Mateo ramen shops was on last year's list, and I have yet to slurp there. (Yes, I realize a lot of haters say Santa just hasn't been the same recently, but I don't care. I still want to know.)

spoonbar: Not for food, for drinks. For fancy, fancy drinks. Because ever since I experienced Bourbon & Branch and Curio, I want more from my cocktail.

Smitten Ice Cream: Hello, seasonal ice cream flavors. I want some Five Spice Banana. And anything that involves brown butter.

Lydia's Organics: A new location has opened here in Chickenland, which means I'll have somewhere to go to cleanse after I've indulged in the shiro tan tan men deluxe.

Souley Vegan: Vegan soul food in Oakland. Yes, please.

Cinnaholic: Since we're on that kick, vegan cinnamon rolls in Berkeley. (Also, I have a Groupon.)

doughnut power

As you can see, I finally made it to Dynamo Donuts. (Crossing another one off of the list!)

The fried dough haven served as the starting point for Jessa's birthday scavenger hunt last Saturday.

I was immediately overwhelmed as soon as I walked in the door. The doughnut menu was just so awesome -- caramel de sel, banana de leche, candied orange blossom! I couldn't choose just one doughnut, so I got two: Passionfruit milk chocolate and lemon pistachio. (Confession: I actually dropped the passionfruit doughnut on the ground on my way out to the patio. But instead of crying, I picked it up and ate it anyway. Mmmm. Dirt.)

The verdict? Sweet. Very sweet. So sweet I kind of had an insane sugar rush afterward. But perhaps the sugar rush helped because my team created this ridiculous video ...

... and went on to win the scavenger hunt.

too tame?

Went to Straw with Christina tonight.

After reading the Daily Candy and Urban Daddy blurbs about the restaurant, I pictured walls hung with striped circus tent fabric, servers dressed in some kind of costume (ringmaster?), a row of penny arcade games, a cotton candy machine and a hostess shouting: "Step right up!"

Instead, the restaurant was sort of subdued. Yes, there was a tilt-a-wheel, vintage carnival photos, antique signs and a pink flamingo outside, but no ringmaster. And the walls were white. The vibe felt more cute country cafe than raucous kitschy carnival. Also, the space was teeny-tiny -- like Brenda's French Soul Food before its recent expansion. And there was nothing bad about this. It just wasn't what I expected.

Before I start talking about the food, I want to emphasize that Straw has been open for less than a week. In fact, they don't even have their alcohol license yet -- they're that new. As with any fledgling restaurant, there are kinks to iron out, and it's unfair to make judgments too soon.

In addition, I ordered primarily from the gluten-free and vegetarian menus. (Yes, Straw has four menus -- regular, gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan. I had to flip through two of them at the same time, comparing and contrasting and trying to figure out what I could eat. It might have been easier to combine all of this on one menu and use symbols to denote which items can be served gluten-free and which are vegetarian/vegan. Saves paper.) And gluten-free is, well, not exactly exciting. In fact, it can be downright boring. The only gluten-free items on the menu were the truffle popcorn, the sandwiches (with gluten-free bread) and salads.

So I cheated a little, and Christina and I started with the Easy Cheese Revisited -- house-fried potato chip nachos with béchamel (which has flour), scallions and tomatoes.


It was just OK. The cheese was lukewarm; tomatoes aren't in season right now, so these were a little flavorless; and the scallions were chopped in such large pieces that they were extremely strong (seriously, it was like whoever prepared the dish needed better knife skills).

For my main, I got the Gastro Gypsy sandwich -- olive tapenade, Moroccan carrots and chèvre -- on gluten-free bread with a side salad.


The side salad was simple yet good (mixed greens with olive oil and balsamic), but teeny-tiny. But the sandwich was kind of depressing. I'm starting to think I really don't like gluten-free bread (remember the gluten-free English muffin incident?) -- it is crumbly, dry and heavy, and just doesn't taste like bread at all. I ended up dissecting my sandwich and scraping off the inside and eating that. And the inside was OK -- I felt like I could've made this sandwich at home.

But like I said, maybe there are still some kinks, and maybe I just had a bad experience because of my super-restrictive diet. Christina had the Bearded Lady, a pulled pork sandwich with blackberry coulis, and she loved it. She also ordered a side of mac-and-cheese, which came with chunks of apple and bacon (seriously, whoever was cooking back there really had no knife skills -- everything was cut in such huge pieces), and that was really good too. So I think maybe I just ordered wrong.

Anyway, after dinner, we took a walk (or maybe I should say "limp," since Christina is on crutches and I am still dealing with my ankle) through Hayes Valley and ended up getting dessert at Christopher Elbow -- snuck in just before they closed. I had a Chinese five-spice hot cocoa with homemade marshmallows and a dark chocolate peanut butter cup, and she had a hazelnut hot cocoa with whipped cream and marshmallows and a milk chocolate turtle.


Hit the spot!

the list

Considering the fact that January is almost over and I've actually already eaten at one of the places that was going to be on my must-eat list for 2011, I figured it was time to post the official list.

So here we go. (And I'm only going to list nine because I already went to Fork.)

Santa Ramen in San Mateo: Supposedly the best ramen in the Bay Area. For ramen, I will totally make an exception to every rule. Bring on the pork and the gluten. I'll deal with the guilt and the bloating later.

Ken Ken Ramen in San Francisco: A pop-up in the Mission started by a Japanese chef and two white guys who grew up in Japan. The ramen quest must continue! And pop-ups are a hell of a lot of fun.

Bliss Bakery in Santa Rosa: Also known as the North Bay's gluten-free haven. Menu items include gallettes, toffee cupcakes and madeleines. How can you not drool? I'm meeting friends there tomorrow for lunch. The plan? I'm leaning toward pizza. And possibly a giant to-go box of baked goods.

Food Truck Friday in Napa: This food truck gathering takes place on the first Friday of every month. Now that I've checked out the Santa Rosa's Munch Monday, it's time to see what Napa has to offer.

Straw in San Francisco: Lots of hype over this carnival-themed restaurant, which opens Jan. 24. Funhouse mirrors! Sandwiches with doughnut buns! Games played throughout the meal! Yes, it's kitschy, but it's got my attention.

Dynamo Donuts in San Francisco: Speaking of doughnuts, this is one of the three spots from last year's list (the other two were Quince and Flour + Water) that I didn't make it to. I still want a fancy-pants gourmet doughnut. And yes, once again, I'll risk the gluten and the guilt.

Morimoto in Napa: Remember when I met him and it was awesome? I'd like to check out his restaurant. Also, there is ramen on the menu. Granted, a bowl is $14, but I guess that's the price for Iron Chef Ramen.

Plum in Oakland: Ubuntu founding chef Jeremy Fox is now leading the kitchen at Plum. I loved what Fox did at Ubuntu. It's highly likely I will also love Plum.

Animal in L.A.: OK, this is completely weird. First, it's in L.A. Second, it specializes in offal, which is clearly not vegetarian. But hey, if we're going to eat the beast, we might as well eat all of it.

healthy appetite

As I sit here chewing freshly-microwaved leftover brown rice and Polish sausage because there is nothing else in the house to eat and I don't want to order delivery, it becomes very easy to compose my list of 10 restaurants I'd like to visit this year. In fact, at this very moment, pretty much anything sounds better than what I am eating right now.

But since I have to narrow the list to just 10, here goes:

1. I still have not made it to Quince. There really is no excuse for this. Hell, we even have a $50 gift certificate. And I just found this awesome San Francisco hotel deal, so really, Todd and I should go to Quince, eat a bunch of food, drink a bunch of wine and then spend the night in the city ...
2. ... and wake up the next morning and go to Dynamo Donuts for breakfast, where we would be forced to choose between the bacon doughnut, banana de leche or lemon thyme. If only all decisions could be so wonderful!
3. Seriously, though, folks, most of the places on my list are in San Francisco. I think I'm having major city withdrawal. I feel like I'm out of the loop, like all those city kids with their skinny jeans, tattoos and ironic hairstyles are engaged in delectable gluttony without me. Take Flour + Water, for instance. This cozy Italian spot opened last year in the Mission and quickly made a bunch of "top eats" lists. I had never even heard about it until two months ago, when Ulysses asked me if I had been there. My reply: "Uh, no. Uh, can you send me the link?"
4. Humphry Slocombe is another one. Hello? Why did I not know there was an ice cream place that makes truffle ice cream? (Also on their menu and said to be fab: Secret Breakfast ice cream, a.k.a. bourbon and cornflakes.) I must live under a rock. (Or just over a bridge and through a tunnel.)
5. Then there's Brenda's French Soul Food -- right smack in the Tenderloin -- which is supposed to have the Best Grits Ever, according to quite a few food bloggers I've talked to. Tables are hard to get on the weekends, but the brunch is apparently well worth the wait.
6. Finally, to round off my I-miss-SF rant: Let's talk about La Mar, acclaimed South American chef Gaston Acurio's cebicheria. The funny thing about La Mar is that Jenn and I have tried to go a million times, but something always came up, and we've had to cancel our reservations at the last minute. We even tried to go last weekend! We're making the attempt again on Saturday. Keep your fingers crossed that we actually succeed this time.
7. And now a little love for the North Bay. Humble Pie is my favorite local brunch spot, hands down. I'd like to try their dinner menu as well. I've heard it's hearty, comforting and pretty much killer.
8. Out in the teeny-tiny West County town of Freestone is the Wild Flour Bakery, which is legendary. I've told so many people about this place -- it was even on our "places to visit" list for our wedding guests -- but I've never actually been myself. I know, right? Totally embarrassing. So I'd like to go there with some Brebiou cheese and eat a warm baguette. And then go to Osmosis afterward for a massage.
9. Then there is Scopa, a pint-sized Italian place in Healdsburg that has all of six tables. (And I'm only exaggerating a little bit.) I attempted to carb up there before my last half marathon, but was sadly turned away because I didn't have a reservation. Damn you: I vow I will return. And this time, I will be seated.
10. And to bring this list to a close: How about some Indian food in Napa? That's right. Napa finally has Indian food. Neela's opened recently, and it's supposed to be good. Obviously, this food won't pair with your typical big Napa Cab, so the wine list is not what you'd typically find in the Valley -- lots of imports. Spicy food + obscure wine varieties? I'm in.

And there you have it: Ten reasons why I have to run like a crazy woman because otherwise I would be very, very fat.

12 months of eating

We discussed resolutions: Who makes them, if the promises are kept, if it's worth bothering to resolve in the first place. We thought, Maybe you have a greater chance of success if you only make one resolution instead of several. Or, Maybe you should resolve not to do something that you already don't do on a regular basis, so success is guaranteed.

But I like lists. And I like using the New Year as a reason to do things I have always wanted to do but haven't yet. Last year, I resolved to go to 10 restaurants I have been dying to check out. Surprisingly, I actually made it to seven of them.

My favorites were #7 Underwood and #2 south; I foresee return visits in 2009 and beyond. Water Street Bistro at #10 was pretty good too -- great food, except for the tiny pebble Todd found in his soup, which the server apologized profusely for -- almost to the point where we felt bad for bringing it up. Of course, Gary Danko -- my #4 -- was good, but really expensive, and if I'm going to spend that kind of money, I much prefer Cyrus for its creativity, warmth and impeccable service. Blue at #6 didn't knock my socks off, and Peter Lowell's at #5 had tasty food, but a really awkward atmosphere. And Mister Magoo's at #8 was just ... well ... um, interesting and sort of "dusty," to put it nicely.

Which leaves Quince, Azteca Market and Lolita's Market still to explore.

So what of 2009? On the to-eat list:

1. Quince: Goddammit, I still really want to dine here.

2. Taqueria Santa Rosa: One of the Wine Center chefs told me this is the best burrito in Santa Rosa. I am on a quest for the best burrito in Santa Rosa, and so help me, I vow to find it.

3. Avatar's Punjab Burritos: I've been hearing about this restaurant ever since I moved to the Bay Area five years ago (holy crap -- has it really been that long?), and I have no idea why I haven't tried it yet. Burritos and Indian food are two of my most favorite things in the world.

4. Nick's Crispy Tacos: Another one that I still haven't been to. What the hell is wrong with me?

5. Healdsburg Bar & Grill: They have truffle fries. And the Cyrus people are involved.

6. Diavola Pizzeria & Salumeria: It's a salumeria! Bury me in cured meat goodness! Please!

7. Ume Japanese Bistro: It's close to work, and sometimes I have intense sushi and miso soup cravings.

8. Kara's Cupcakes: The San Francisco cupcakery comes to Napa any day now. I am counting down.

9. Divine Delights: OK. So you can't actually dine here because it's more of a retail shop than a restaurant. But these petits fours are supposed to be lovely.

10. Bottega: I like what Michael Chiarello has done with the casual stuff -- I spent quite a bit of lunch money at NapaStyle Paninoteca & Wine Bar when I was still at CDV (killer Panzanella, seriously). I'd like to see what his fancy-pants food is like.

resolve

Baked some buttermilk cookies yesterday. They tasted good (very good!), but they didn't turn out as pretty as the ones in the photo that accompanied the recipe. While those cookies were perfectly rounded and smooth, mine were sort of lumpy and uneven-looking. I know I shouldn't be picky because my cookies really were delicious, but presentation is important to me. I like my food to look as good as it tastes. Anyway, I guess I'm going to have to think more about this recipe and try to figure out what I need to do to make my cookies a little cuter.

In other food adventures, I finally -- finally! -- went to Cucina Paradiso last night. This restaurant reputedly serves up the best Italian food here in Chickenland (and there are lots of Italian restaurants here -- seems like there's one in every strip mall). I've been wanting to check it out for awhile now. The verdict? For the most part, I think it lived up to the hype, and I would definitely go back. The quality of the pasta was excellent -- I stole a taste of Todd's ravioli, and it was so fresh and the texture was so delicate. And I'm mad for the calamari salad -- warm calamari tossed with arugula and drizzled with olive oil -- so freaking good. The only thing I wasn't ecstatic about was the gnocchi, which was what I ordered for my main course. Everyone says Cucina Paradiso's gnocchi is the best thing ever, but I actually thought it was a little underdone and, well, mushy. But then again, I'm not a huge gnocchi-eater normally -- I usually find it too heavy. (Maybe "authentic" gnocchi is supposed to be mushy? I'm not Italian ... )

But finally going to Cucina Paradiso made me think about New Year's resolutions. I believe resolutions shouldn't be things you tell yourself not to do; instead, I like to think of the new year as the opportunity to do the things you've always wanted to do but, for some reason or another, have put off doing.

So in that vein, here are 10 restaurants I'd like to eat at this year (there are probably more, but I can't remember them all right now):

1. Quince in San Francisco: We met chef Michael Tusk at an auction in Santa Fe in 2006. (He made one of the courses during dinner, and Clos Du Val provided the wine, which is why we were there.) We were actually sitting at the same table as his parents, who were just so excited about their son's cooking abilities. So excited. To the point where toward the end of the evening, Michael Tusk's mother fell out of her chair. It was pretty much awesome.

2. south food + wine bar in San Francisco: New place focusing on food from Australia and New Zealand. Exactly what kind of food comes from Australia and New Zealand? I'm not sure. Which is why I want to eat here.

3. Azteca Market in St. Helena: I have no idea why I haven't been here yet. Their menu is characterized by three of my favorite things: burritos, amazing and dirt-cheap.

4. Gary Danko in San Francisco: I've heard the service here is out-of-this-world. We have friends who go every few months or so, and they always manage to score something free and fabulous (usually Champagne). Once, a server brought them a leftover bottle of Yquem that another table (stupidly!!!) abandoned. (How can you abandon Yquem?)

5. Peter Lowell's in Sebastopol: Todd actually applied for a job here last summer. I'm just really curious about the place. And I like Sebastopol. And Peter Lowell's is next door to a sushi restaurant that I really like.

6. Blue in Petaluma: New burgers and breakfast place. I love breakfast.

7. Underwood Bar & Bistro in Graton: Todd's been here, and he said it was good. I trust his opinion. Plus I'm really into exploring all the teeny-tiny towns in Sonoma. And Graton is very teeny-tiny!

8. Mister Magoo's in Petaluma: Within stumbling distance from our house. And supposedly they have a $14 Sunday brunch with unlimited mimosas. Bring it on.

9. Lolita's Market in Petaluma: Again with the quest for the best burrito ever.

10. Water Street Bistro in Petaluma: Good local breakfast spot that for some reason is always closed whenever I try to stop by. (Maybe I have bad timing?)