First off, we ve got to state the obvious: there was a whole lotta shaking going on last Sunday. But

First off, we ve got to state the obvious: there was a whole lotta shaking going on last Sunday. But Napa wants everyone to know it s still very much open for business. Despite some damage and a few red- and yellow-tagged restaurants in downtown Napa, nearly everyone has reopened.
The good news is that many newer restaurants are in historic brick buildings that have already been retrofitted and thus survived the earthquake with relatively little damage. The vast majority of wineries are also open, despite some of the scary images of wine barrels that toppled like Lincoln Logs.
~WINE COUNTRY WEEKEND~ is the top dog of wine events in Sonoma County and one of the most fun. More than 200 top-notch wineries and restaurants bring out their A game for the weekend. It is a see-and-be-seen hoopla cheap car rental new york city that no one wants to miss.
The three-day event starts with winemaker dinners and barbecues throughout cheap car rental new york city the county cheap car rental new york city and a gala dinner at Francis Ford Coppola Winery tonight from 6:30-10pm. Locals know that the poolside stage and million-dollar vineyard views make this Geyserville destination worth the drive. The kickoff to the weekend of indulgence features chef John Toulze of the ~GIRL THE FIG~ in the kitchen and more than 25 wineries pouring.
Saturday s Taste of Sonoma at MacMurray Ranch is gastro overload with 65 restaurants sampling gourmet bites and more than 150 wineries pouring Sonoma s best wines. Let s just say you ll have to work very, very hard to get to even half of the goodies on hand. Other Saturday events include wine and food pairings with Kendall-Jackson, wine tours with the Sonoma Wine Country Weekend Sommelier cheap car rental new york city Stars, a self-guided tour of the MacMurray Estate, a Steel Chef competition, and plenty of bubbly cheap car rental new york city in the Bubble Lounge.
So ramen is finally becoming a thing in Wine Country, and I almost don t want to tell anyone about the ramen pop-up cheap car rental new york city ~RAMEN GAIJIN~ , happening cheap car rental new york city on selected Mondays at Woodfour Brewing . Almost. But word of mouth is traveling fast and seats are selling out even faster.
In July, chefs Moishe Hahn-Schuman and Matthew Williams quietly started a every-other-week slurp-and-burp shindig featuring incredible bowls of ramen with homemade rye noodles, pork belly, cheap car rental new york city bonito flakes, mushrooms, and pickled veggies.
This week, I got access to the kitchen, cheap car rental new york city where the chefs were prepping for that evening s dinner it s a whirlwind leading up to the first seating cheap car rental new york city at 5:30pm. We absolutely loved the donburi ($11), with a chicken cheap car rental new york city thigh with a six-minute egg, burnt kale, and salmon roe; heirloom cheap car rental new york city tomato salad with creamy cheap car rental new york city tofu and shiso ($9); and both the miso and shoyu ramens ($13 each).
I won t claim to be a ramen expert, but nearby slurpers seemed totally sold. The shoyu ramen is a heartier and meatier broth that s topped with a host of ingredients like toasted rye noodles, pork belly, leeks, wood ear mushrooms, and wakame. The vegetarian miso ramen has a lighter, brighter, tangier flavor. Leave room for dessert, though. We swooned over a blackberry cheap car rental new york city sorbet with yuzu curd, coconut and sesame granola, and blackberries. The Woodfour Ramen Gaijin dinners run from 5:30pm-10pm. Come early, because seating is first come, first served, with the waiting list opening at 4:30pm. The next pop-up is Monday September 8th at Woodfour cheap car rental new york city Brewing (6780 Depot St. at the Barlow, Sebastopol, 707-823-3144), with others planned for Sebastopol s Forchetta cheap car rental new york city and SHED in Healdsburg. Lots of pix online that ll have you salivating.
Get ready for a super-spirited dinner Thursday cheap car rental new york city September 4th at ~ZAZU~ with Sonoma County craft distillery ~SPIRIT WORKS~ and Ziggy the Wine Gal. Spirit Works founders Timo and Ashby Marshall start the evening with a guided cheap car rental new york city tour and tasting at their brand-new distillery (at Sebastopol s Barlow), which is followed by a three-course cheap car rental new york city meal at Zazu. Expect plenty of delightful and seasonal surprises on the menu. $89 per person; cheap car rental new york city not including tax and gratuity. Call 707-523-4814 to secure your spot at the table.
Get up close and personal with the harvest at ~GARY FARRELL WINERY~ cheap car rental new york city as they launch the Harvest Tour, Tasting, cheap car rental new york city and Lunch high above the Russian River Valley. Guests get a behind-the-scenes winery tour and a chance to view all the crushpad action before a seated wine tasting and catered lunch on the winery s woodland terrace. Six of Gary Farrell Winery s acclaimed single-vineyard wines are featured, and guests can choose from a menu that includes artisan sandwiches and salads or a selection of local foods in a shared picnic basket. The cost is $75 per person and it s offered at 12:30pm daily by reservation only. Details online or by calling 707-473-2909. 10701 Westside Road, Healdsburg.