Slide on over to Maguire's during the 7th Annual Taste of Petaluma, Sat. Aug. 25, 2012, 11:30 AM to 4:00 PM
New owner of Maguire's Irish Pub, Joe Pellerti's menu sources local, sustainable ingredients.
Andy Ma, Hong-Kong born owner of Andy's Kitchen and Sushi Bar serves up a tasty and varied, Pan-Asian menu
Inspired by the slow food movement of Italy and Sonoma County farmers, the team at Rosso's new Petaluma Pizzeria and Mozzarella Bar are passionate about their housemade cheeses, pizzas and pasta dishes. Staff take field trips to local farm suppliers to learn the plough to platter philosophy.
Julia Child once said: "“Everything in moderation... including moderation.” Participants in a delicious 2012 Preview Mini Taste of Petaluma took this sage advice well in hand, doing our best to restrain the appetite just enough to make it to the next port of call in a series of select eateries, downtown.
Upcoming Taste of Petaluma preview highlights were sampled, albeit moderately, due to sheer volume of dishes, at four different participating restaurants: Maguire's Irish Pub (now under new management) on Kentucky Street, Andy's Kitchen and Sushi Bar on Western Avenue, the much anticipated Social Club on Keller Street and Rosso's Pizzeria and Mozzarella Bar in Theatre Square.
A central Bourbon & Scotch Bar at the Social Club Restaurant and Bar, which is under construction in the former Pazzos space, conveniently next door to the parking garage on Keller Street, will serve a selection of well made Old Fashioneds made from 89 different bourbons and Scotches - the most extensive range in Sonoma County. Also look for Sunny Sides, a cocktail homage to Petaluma's poultry heritage, seasonal cocktails, specialty beers and wines.
Work is underway for an estimated September 1st opening at the Social Club. Heritage Salvage is set to lay reclaimed wood floors as well as installing salvaged barn doors for a vintage/traditional feel in a contemporary space.
The menu at the Social Club is rustic American, with social plates to share in a range of sizes featuring favorites such as ribs, smoked chicken wings, flatbreads and tortellini.
Expect starters such as summer corn soup, king salmon crudo, Penn Cove mussels, Tomales Bay oysters three ways, little gem lettuce wedge and grilled nectarines.
For a main course, how about grilled ratatouille vegetable kabobs, grilled Prather Ranch flatiron steak with portabello fries, smoke roasted king salmon, Petaluma fried chicken, grilled local albacore or a Prather Ranch burger with rosemary fries?
As soon as owner Mick Suverkrubbe and General Manager Damion Wallace (Cosmopolitan, SF/Cosmo's Corner/Circa renown) finalize paperwork with the City of Petaluma to beautify and utilize the concrete and a patch of previously uncared for space along the side of the building, outdoor seating and a brick oven will be added to the ambiance of a promising hot spot for Sonoma County diners. They'll be serving a chilled heirloom gazpacho with a dungeness crab, avocado and bell pepper crostini for Taste of Petaluma participants to sample while taking a sneak peek inside during late construction.
Can't wait to try one of Wallace's Farmer's Market seasonal cocktail concoctions, on the menu Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Hard to beat though, were Rosso's house made Burrata (stuffed Mozzarella) trio, with goat cheese and mint, traditional and stracciatella. Sumptuous Mozzarella is made in the Theatre Square restaurant with super exclusive buffalo milk from Craig Ramini's expanding Southern Sonoma County Buffalo farm.
If you're a cheese aficionado you have to make a point to sample a selection from Rosso's Latteria, especially the Burrata.
Taste of Petaluma goers will also get to enjoy Rosso's delicate, oh-so-delicious, housemade pasta and meatball, a dish to make any good Italian Nonna's day.
Over at Maguire's, the new owner might have an Italian last name, but he does have Irish blood. And for extra good measure, his mother and business partner in the pub won awards for Irish dancing as a child in San Francisco.
Pelleriti loved the location and ambiance of Maguire's, but wasn't wild about the food. Since taking over seven weeks ago, he has completely revolutionized the pub food menu to be as local and sustainable as possible.
"We've changed pretty much all of the ingredients that we put into our menu items," he said. Take the burgers for instance, of which Taste of Petaluma goers will sample as sliders. They're now made with 100% grass fed beef from Bolinas and yummy bread rolls from Penngrove's organic Full Circle Bakery.
Taste of Petaluma partcipants can also look forward to sampling Maguire's new house made blue cheese chips (or crisps if we're being true to Irish form) with a creamy balsamic reduction topping, chives and chopped tomatoes.
Down the street and around the corner on Western Avenue, next to the Petaluma Market, chef Andy Ma was awaiting our arrival with platters of his flavorful (Korean, Japanese, Thai) Pan Asian offering for this year's Taste of Petaluma, featuring an eagle roll, Thai bbq pork, Korean bbq short ribs and battered yam strips.
You don't have to be a sushi devotee to head to Andy's on the 25th or any time for that matter, for there's plenty of non sushi dishes on the menu, as well as some cooked fish and fish free sushi, such as his popular prosciutto and pesto version.
Good to know that Andy's is one of the few spot to stop off at for late night to-go food served from a special set-up in the doorway Fridays and Saturdays 9.30 pm to 2.30 am. And for the Saturday and Sunday morning crowd, how about an Asian-style breakfast instead of the usual sausage and eggs?
This year's Taste of Petaluma will be more compact than in previous years, with multiple tastes offered in each venue making for even more tastes per ticket. To be frank, there's simply no way you'll finish up the afternoon able to eat another mouthwatering morsel.
If you've yet to attend a Taste of Petaluma, make this year your first. It's fun to taste with friends and family - a shared experience celebrating the bounty of the area in the familiar surrounds of most of our favorite downtown cafes, restaurants, bars and boutiques.
Ticket packages (10 tastings) are available for $40 starting at 10:30 AM at the event at Putnam Plaza (139 Petaluma Blvd. N.).
$35 Advance Tickets - Until 3 pm 8/24 you can buy discount $35 advance tickets from
Cinnabar Theater between 10 am 3 pm weekdays by calling (707) 763-8920, or at Gallery One - 209 Western Ave., Petaluma.
For a small convenience fee, buy tickets online here:
Advance tickets can be picked up at WILL CALL at Helen Putnam Plaza (139 Petaluma Blvd. North) after 10:30 AM on the day of the event.
Ticket Packages Include:
• Book of 10 dine-around tickets - One sampling item per ticket.
You can purchase more tickets throughout the day if you like for $4 each.
• Street Map of sampling locations
• Menu of food and special events offered by participants
• Taste of Petaluma tote bag to first 500 guests
You are welcome to bring your own wine glass or beer tasting glass
This event is a benefit for Cinnabar Theater, a 501(c)(3) California non-profit.
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