Summer Sustainability Series in Sebastopol
Conversations with Local Fishermen
Featuring Water2Table, TwoXSea and Hog Island
The Bay area’s coastal waters and the Susan River in Lassen county are the focus of a new “Deep Dive” conversational series with local fishermen hosted at Handline Coastal California, a modern roadside eatery and co-hosted by Lowell’s restaurant, both located in West Sonoma County’s Sebastopol.
All photos by Dawn Heumann
The monthly Sunday series kicks off on July 16 with a conversation with leaders in the local fishing industry: Water2Table on hook and line caught halibut in the Bay; Hog Island Oyster Company on oyster farming in Tomales Bay on August 16th; and TwoXSea on farm-raised trout on September 17th.
Each one-hour conversation will be hosted at Handline’s outdoor gathering space and paired with tastes from chef Natalie Goble whose menu highlights seafood dishes that champion locality and sustainability. Tickets are $10 and can be booked here (http://summersustainabilityseries.brownpapertickets.com).
“Education and community building have long been central to our goals at our two restaurants. Co-owner Lowell Sheldon, says “Our first foray is our Summer Sustainability Series focusing on our oceans and streams as integral elements of our local food system that must be thoughtfully managed for future generations. We invite our community to join us for three engaging discussions and to taste what our local waters have to offer.”
CALENDAR DETAILS
What: Summer Sustainability Series Line Up, Co-Hosted by Handline Restaurant and Lowell’s Restaurant
Where: At Handline Coastal California Restaurant, 935 Gravenstein Ave Sebastopol, CA 95472
Cost: $10, tasting and talk.
Tickets: http://summersustainabilityseries.brownpapertickets.com
Series Schedule:
Water2Table with owner Joe Conti and Chef Ben Spiegel of Water2Table
Sunday, July 16, 2025 – 10am – 11am
Learn about San Francisco Bay Hook and Line caught Halibut, harvested by small independent fishermen. Chef Ben Spiegel will demonstrate techniques and recipes for halibut preparation.
TwoXSea with Kenny Belov and Chef Natalie Goble of Handline
Sunday, August 20, 2025 – 10am – 11am
Learn about McFarland Springs Trout - a farmed trout using a nearly pure vegetarian diet of algae and plant based products. Discover how they developed a better system for farmed fishing that does not deplete other resources, is beneficial and produces delicious and nutritious product.
Hog Island Oyster Company and Chef Joseph Zobel of Lowell’s
Sunday, September 17, 2025 – 10am – 11am
The Bay Area’s premier oyster farmers will share how they raise their delicious oysters and discuss the health and ecosystem benefits of aquaculture. Topics include identifying oyster varieties, proper shucking techniques and recipes.
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ABOUT HANDLINE: Handline Coastal California is a modern roadside eatery in West County, featuring sustainable seafood from the West Coast and burgers from chef Natalie Goble and Lowell Sheldon of Peter Lowell’s organic restaurant in Sebastopol. The modern California menu celebrates the region’s bounty and pays homage to the early immigrants who brought their cooking techniques and ingredients to the Golden State, handmade corn tortillas (milled onsite and cooked on the comal), Baja-style tacos, tostadas and ceviches are served alongside Dungeness crab sandwiches, fisherman’s stew, fresh oysters and LA-style (Foster’s) burgers. Handline is inspired by its location in the former Foster’s Freeze on the main drag in town on Gravenstein Highway, where for generations, families have met up for a bite. For more info visit: handline.com
ABOUT LOWELL’S: A West Sonoma County organic eatery showcasing Italian-inspired dishes made with local, sustainably-produced ingredients, much of which are grown at their Two Belly Acres Farm in Sebastapol. Owner and namesake Lowell Sheldon’s mission since opening almost ten years ago is to have a sustainable impact on West Sonoma County -- where people, animals, and the environment come before profits, where organic is a way of life, and where the highest quality cuisine is a top priority -- and in keeping with our community's standards. The restaurant name has recently changed from its original Peter Lowell’s to the name locals have always called it, simply “Lowell’s.” Lowell’s sister restaurant is the recently opened Handline Coastal California eatery in Sebastapol. For more info visit: peterlowells.com.
LOCAL FOOD MATTERS: A social platform for inquiry and conversation dedicated to the ethics of place, food, and community. Our intent is to be transparent, wildly curious, to share our passion for eating & cooking, and to be of service to our community. We are in collaboration with and sponsored by Lowell's Restaurant. Find us here: http://www.localfoodmatters.org/
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