When the lovely, talented Laura Sunday issues and invitation for a mad dash around downtown on a Tuesday lunchtime for a taster's choice of the upcoming, much anticipated Cinnabar Fundraiser, Taste of Petaluma 2008, you'd better not eat a morsel for breakfast!
For who can resist the scrumptious opportunity to mop up the very last smidgeon of sauce and creamy superfino arborio rice so graciously served amidst Southern Sonoma County's top dining out dishes such as Vinio Grigio's signature Ravioli Norma and Risibisi's ravishing trademark risotto?
Started our mini-tasting preview tour at the chic Theater Square wine lounge, La Dolce Vita (151 Petaluma Bvd South, Suite 117 707 763 6363, where owner Sahar Gharai will be hosting Petaluma Gap Grape Alliance's very own Adobe Wines on the big day of the third annual Taste of Petaluma, Saturday September 27th.
Adobe Road's Megan and Christine were waiting for my noon appearance, with gorgeous new silk screened bottling of their 2006 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir at the ready, breathing nicely (the wine, and myself, despite usual hectic morning), for a good half an hour or so before our tasting.
A huge fan of Adobe Road's award winning 2005 Pinot, I was pleased to hear that the Taste of Petaluma patrons will be amongst the first to sample the newly released 2006. And because of an increase in production of this premium coastal (Petaluma Gap vineyard sourced) big, buff-bodied,and magnificently masculine Pinot from a mere 395 cases to 1,350, there's really no excuse not to stock up on a case for your locally sourced holiday dinners.
At one tasting ticket for a taste of a flight of three Adobe Road wines, I'm predicting a bottle-neck of a crowd down at Theater Square and a line for the free limo rides back into historic downtown!
La Dolce Vita's subtly spiced, house-made Gazpacio is particularly well-paired with Adobe Road's blockbuster, North of the Gate Wine Competition Sweepstake, eight gold medal winning 2005 Sonoma County Zinfandel. Extremely generous of the folks at Adobe Road to pour this champion vintage for the hundreds of eager participants at the Taste of Petaluma, though their Dry Creek 2006 Sauvingnon Blanc is also coming into its own in its second year of production, pucker-free and packed with enchanting elements of perky tropical fruit. A great pick with Sahar's Gazpacio.
Hitting the sidewalk at a determined pace, Laura and I looked sharpish for our next super-tasty pit-stop with chef owner Antonio Oliva over at sophisticated Wine Country restaurant Vino Grigio, 220 Western Avenue 707 778 8211.
What is it about the former Three Blocks Off dining spot which eludes a lot of locals when deciding to eat out? Don't waste another second. These are some of the best restaurant seats in town, for Antonio has the gift of creating truly great, delicious Italian food and his presentation is spectacular.
Could have sampled everything on Oliva's mouthwatering lunchtime menu, but behaved myself with respect for the fact that we did have two more ports of call to cram into our incredible lunch date! Settled for Vino Grigio's aforementioned sensational signature Ravioli Norma. Not named after the handsome Antonio's Grandma, or even an ex-girlfriend somewhere in his globe-trotting past.
"It's a favorite pasta for the ladies in Italy and historical courtiers," explained Antonio. "Created centuries ago for dainty eaters at home and oversees, such as England's Queen Elizabeth I". Well, if Ravioli Norma's good enough for old Bess, it's good enough for me. Plus, it is Laura's favorite, and if the lady says she loves it, then it best be served for the big Taste!
Suffice to say it was 'magnifico' stuffed with a light ricotta cheese and spinach and served over a thinly sliced sheet of delicate grilled eggplant with a topping of tremendously tasty fresh tomato sauce with basil and a slither of goat cheese. No doubt at all as to the magnetic pull of Antonio's pasta dish on the 27th. Fantastico.
Having well and truly whet our appetites by this point, the Sunday stormtrooper of home town restaurant promotions and myself raced across the Blvd downtown to keep our appointment with one of Petaluma's most charming restaurateurs, Marco Palmieri of Risibisi.
Born and raised in Trieste, Italy, Marco is one of the handful of Italian restaurant owners in the area who really does have the authentic lilting accent to go with the looks of his good self as Maitre De and the rustic Italian allure of this lovely little restaurant and refreshing, local, organic menu.
"There is nothing on the menu which you wouldn't find on a menu in Italy," said Marco, as he pulled up a chair to eat our sampling of the Taste of Petaluma micro-lunch with Laura and I. "We are taking advantage of the wealth of fresh and sustainable products available in Sonoma County and the Northern California region," said Marco, who has picked his trademark risotto (risi e bisi) dish to feature roasted Fulton Farms organic chicken, fresh peas, cremini mushrooms and new chef Kevin Ahajanian's special chicken stock for the Taste of Petaluma.
I'm looking forward to indulging in a big bowl of Risibisi's Cioppino Della Casa one of these Fall evenings, when the light starts to fade a little earlier in the evening and the pull of a cozy glow from this most intimate of restaurants at 154 Petaluma Blvd South 707 766 7600 is impossible to resist.
P.S. Marco says he has live music on Saturday nights and patrons not looking for a full-on dinner, are more than welcome to pull up a stool at the elegant bar for a glass of wine and a bite of bruschetta.
Last but not least of the list of mini-tastes for lunch, was the mighty cocoa-infused-lure of Viva Cocolat just down the street from Risibisi at 110 Petaluma Blvd North 707 778 9888.
Not being a slave to chocolate (surprisingly), I do, however, subscribe to the civilized idea of a small taster of incredibly good quality chocolate every now and again.
Viva Chocolate's suitably sweet proprietor Lynn Wong has made it her mission in life of late to concoct the most enthralling combinations of everything possibly paired with chocolate.
Lynn is going to be serving Taste of Petaluma patrons a sample of Valley of the Moon's luscious, Late Bottled 2005 Vintage Port alongside her house-made milk chocolate ganache truffles rolled in tiny pieces of chopped toffee. One ticket for the port, another for two truffles. Best save this one until after you've sampled all the savory offerings, for this chocolate treat is so sweet there'll be no going back....
Thoroughly blown away by Laura Sunday's ability to engage thirty four downtown and Theater District businesses as hosting locations for dozens of additional area wineries, breweries, caterers, cafes, artisan food producers and restaurants to showcase and share their specialities for thousands of visitors. Taste of Petaluma has sparked a wave of recent copy-cat fundraising events around the country.
"I've never liked the idea of eating and drinking in the middle of the street," explained Laura, as we chatted between bites..."You won't see a single tent at my event. The whole idea is to invite people inside the businesses to meet the people who make these restaurants and stores the success that they are and to draw them back for return visits, time and time again."
Three cheers to Laura. She's amazing. What a terrific event for Cinnabar Theater. How about a signature Taste of Petaluma Laura Sunday gelato? Laloo's perhaps?
Third Annual Taste of Petaluma, Saturday, August 27th, 2008 11.30am to 4.30pm. Pre-sale tix at $35 are available starting 9/17 at Cinnabar Theater, Haus Fortuna, Gallery One, Pelican Art Gallery and Starstruck. Day of tix will be at Haus Fortuna, Gallery One and Putnam Plaza...
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