Slow Food Sonoma County North

Olive Oil Tasting on the Farm
2022-06-22 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Moon Dog Olive Farm, 31830 McCray Road, Cloverdale, CA, 95425
Spend an afternoon with us learning what goes into producing a local olive oil, and tasting the differences among the oils.
with
Colleen McGlynn, DaVero Farm and Winery
Russ Messing, Deergnaw Olive Oil
Dawn Lindelof, Moon Dog Olive Farm
Nancy Lilly, Tallgrass Ranch
Tickets are $20 each for Slow Food members, $30 for non-members.
Each producer will describe the production of their olive oil, from the selection of tree varieties through their cultivation, to harvesting and pressing of the olives, and blending and bottling the oil.
To better appreciate our small production local producers, read Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil, by Tom Mueller before attending this event!
DaVero
“Grow what belongs here. Be patient.” This simple premise summarizes everything we’ve learned, and guides us in everything we do — how we care for our land, how we farm, how we make wine and olive oil and the myriad other products from this magical place.
In 1988, after careful research and some incredible luck, we took cuttings from an ancient olive grove in the hills to the east of Lucca, in the heart of the Tuscan countryside. The trees from which we took the cuttings are over 800 years old, and the farm has been in the same family since the 1400s! While the varieties are common across Tuscany, and the proportions typical (50% Leccino, 25% Frantoio, 15% Maurino, and 10% Pendolino), that grove has very distinct clones — essentially, sub-varietals — whose fruit makes an oil with a flavor profile unlike any other.
Deergnaw
Deergnaw Olive Oil is a unique blend. We don’t think that there is any other oil that has the particular varietals of our oil. From Lombardia in the north of Italy, the Cassaliva; from Liguria, also in the north, Taggiasca; from Puglia in the extreme south-east, Coratina; and from Apulia, also in the south, Nocciara. There is also a smattering of Picholine from France and a touch of Pendolino from Tuscany as the pollinator.
Approximately 700 trees comprise our three and a half acre orchard. We planted the trees, mostly one gallon size, fifteen years ago and the first fruit appeared three years later. Since then, each year we have had an ever-greater yield. This year the orchard produced 7 tons of olives, which translated into 150 cases of 500 milliliter bottles compared to 69 cases in ’07.
Moon Dog
Planted and farmed by two crazy people that didn’t think about the work–they just wanted to make their slice of the world a little more delicious!
Moon Dog Olive Farm is planted to traditional Tuscan varieties; Leccino, Frantoio, and Pendolino. The 280 trees are organically farmed by Dawn and Chris Lindelof in their “spare time.” Moon Dog Olive Farm is located in the Northern part of Alexander Valley in Cloverdale, not far from the Russian River. This Extra Virgin Olive Oil is only available at the farm and at local markets and special events. Every vintage is a little different. But the fruity fragrance and spicy finish is definitive in every bottling. We can’t wait to show you our place.
Tallgrass
Tallgrass Ranch Estate Blend Olive Oil is fruity with a medium amount of bitterness and pungency. This is not achieved merely by combining all the gallons of oil that we produce. Instead, each year we hold the oil from each harvest day separately so that we can gauge the unique qualities of each batch. Only then do we make blending decisions, hoping to be able to use all of the oil produced each year in our Estate Blend, but sometimes needing to exclude some.
The Italian trees, primarily Frantoio and Leccino, supported by pollinators Pendolino, Moraiolo, and Maurino, provide the backbone of the blend, having high levels of fruitiness, green and grassy touches, as well as high polyphenols—that bitterness and pungency that might make you cough, but which also provide the anti-oxidants that protect both the oil and your own body. The French Columella, and its pollinator, Aglandau, provide a more buttery fruitiness, with notes of apple and green banana, and much less bitterness and pungency. The resulting blend is a great complement to many cuisines.

Slow Food Sonoma County North Annual Meeting
2022-05-22 15:30 - 17:00 | Timber Crest Farms picnic area, 4791 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, CA, 95448, United States
Meet and greet, eat, and learn what your chapter is doing! Please join us for our annual meeting at Timber Crest Farms in the beautiful Dry Creek Valley!
Sunday, May 22, 3:30-5 pm
Timber Crest Farms, 4791 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg
RSVP Here
Enjoy nibbles and wine, greet your friends and meet new members, learn what your chapter has planned for the year, and make your voices heard. How can you make a difference and enjoy yourself at the same time? At our annual meeting, we want to see you and hear from you.
We extend a special invitation to our newer members–come meet other members and get involved in your chapter’s activities! If your membership has expired, attend and renew it. Not a member? Come and see what we’re all about.
There is no charge for the meeting, but please register as we need a count for planning purposes.

Cheese Class & More at The Epicurean Connection (a Snail of Approval business), Sonoma
2022-05-01 12:30 - 15:00 | The Epicurean Connection, 19670 8th Street East, Suite A, Sonoma, CA, United States
We are pleased to offer a popular cheese-making class hosted by Sheana Davis, renowned cheesemaker, culinary educator, and founder of The Epicurean Connection. This event will also be a fundraiser for our chapter’s many projects.
Tickets
During the class, we will be divided into workstations; each station will make a 2-3# wheel of Creme de Ricotta, a fresh cow’s milk cheese. And each of us will take home some of the cheese, as well as whey, cheesecloth, cheese ladle, recipe card, and cheese trail map.
Bring a mason jar and cooler to take home a sample of the cheese.
When we finish making the ricotta, we’ll enjoy a tasting of Sheana’s artisan cheeses, salad, and wine.
Sheana Davis has enthusiastically supported the artisan and farmstead cheese movement for over 20 years. Together with Ben Sessions, they break down the barriers to cheese production by making it accessible, easy, and fun! They are offering this special class as a way of supporting Sonoma County North.
We’ll be in an open-air state-of-the-art artisan studio with plenty of parking.
Come to support our chapter’s projects and have fun, taste and learn, and have a hands-on interactive experience making cheese!

4th Annual Snail of Approval Awards
2022-04-27 17:30 - 19:30 | Sebastopol Grange, 6000 Sebastopol Ave, Sebastopol, CA, 95472, United States
Snail of Approval-Slow Food in Sonoma County honors our 2021 awardees.

Tickets
Join Slow Food Russian River and Slow Food Sonoma County North as we honor our 2021 Snail of Approval awardees:
4th Street Social Club
DMS Ranch, Sebastopol
Farm to Fight Hunger, Healdsburg
Geyserville Gun Club, Geyserville
Gradek Family Farm, Healdsburg
Jackson Family Gardens, Fulton
Little Paradise Farm, Sonoma
Patisserie Angelica, Sebastopol
Quail & Condor Bakery, Healdsburg
Relish Culinary Adventures, Healdsburg
SRJC Shone Farm, Forestville
Tallgrass Ranch, Sonoma
The Epicurean Connection, Sonoma
Following the presentation of awards, a reception will be held with displays and tastes from our awardees. Bites and beverages will round out the evening. Masks recommended.
In 2021 Snail of Approval-Slow Food in Sonoma County expanded to join the Slow Food International program and our businesses are now listed on Slow Food USA’s national Snail of Approval directory. An interactive Snail of Approval map allows users to find businesses across the US that are embracing the Slow Food values. To see the local Sonoma County map and a full list of Snail of Approval awardees visit our webpage.
Snail of Approval recognizes these food-related providers in Sonoma County for making significant contributions to transform our food system to one that is good, clean and fair.

Slow Books, Hawker Fare: Stories and Recipes from a Refugee Chef's Isan Thai & Lao Roots
2022-04-20
by James Syhabout and John Birdsall
Book club currently at maximum members.

Tour of Stemple Creek Meat, followed by lunch at Estero Café (a Snail of Approval restaurant) & cheese-tasting at Valley Ford Cheese Company
2022-03-31 09:30 | Stemple Creek Ranch, 900 Burbank Ln, Tomales, CA, 94971, United States
We are excited to invite you to a morning near the coast that includes the full circle of grower, producer, and consumer.
Tour of Stemple Creek Ranch, Tomales
followed by lunch at Estero Cafe, Valley Ford
and a cheese tasting next door at Valley Ford Cheese and Creamery
Tickets (available soon) are $35 for members and $45 for non-members, attendance is limited
Stemple Creek Ranch,Tomales
At over 1,000 acres, Stemple Creek Ranch raises beef, lamb, and pigs. Most of the pastureland is Certified Organic, and the free range beef and lamb are 100% grass fed and grass finished. Stock is grazed rotationally on open pasture from birth to harvest. They are never supplemented with grains, corn, or soy, and never receive artificial hormones, growth promotants, or antibiotics. Their pigs are humanely raised in large outdoor pens where they enjoy a vegetarian diet with plenty of room to socialize and express natural behaviors.
The ranch has been in the Poncia family for five generations, and is 100% protected through the Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT) to insure it will remain a productive part of the Marin County agricultural landscape forever. Loren Poncia and his wife Lisa have reinvented the family business with a vision for raising superior quality grass fed and finished meats.
“We practice regenerative organic agriculture. To that end, we actively preserve sensitive wildlife habitat, maintain and restore natural watershed areas, utilize cutting edge solar and gravity flow technology, and practice an intensive schedule of rotational grazing. We seek to enhance and rehabilitate our entire ecosystem by focusing on soil health and increasing carbon in our land.”
Stemple Creek Ranch is part of the Marin Carbon Project, which showcases how best regenerative agriculture practices can harness atmospheric carbon to improve soil content on farms, and mitigate the effects of global warming.
Estero Cafe, Valley Ford
Conveniently located right on Highway 1 in Valley Ford, Estero Cafe offers fresh, farm-to-table classic American-style comfort food for breakfast and lunch. They support area farms, ranches, and other producers. All dishes are lovingly prepared with locally-sourced proteins and vegetables. In addition, their beverage selection features products from local and regional producers.
Our Lunch Menu
Cheeseburger with Stemple Creek Ranch beef and Valley Ford cheese)
OR
Grilled cheese sandwich with Valley Ford cheese
French fries
Beverage
Estero Cafe is a Snail of Approval restaurant
Valley Ford Cheese & Creamery, Valley Ford
Valley Ford Cheese & Creamery is located on the rural coast of Sonoma County, California. The company produces handcrafted, Italian style artisan cheeses made from 100% Jersey cows milk. The cows have access to pasture 365 days a year, are never treated with growth hormones or anitbiotics, and the land is certified organic.
Valley Ford makes four types of cheese: old style Fontina, regular and reserve of an Asiago/Montasio style, and a Gorgonzola style.
The store also offers soft-serve ice cream!

October Snail Trail-Red Horse Pizza & Patisserie Angelica
2021-10-18 - 2021-10-31
OCTOBER SNAIL TRAIL: Red Horse Pizza and Patisserie Angelica

We continue our Snail Trail to support our Snail of Approval restaurants, farms, and producers! We will feature one to three each month by letting you know how to visit, dine, order take-out, and purchase products from them. We encourage you to visit and promote these businesses that honor Good, Clean, and Fair food in Sonoma County. Post a pic, tag the business, tag us!
@patisserieangelica
@RedHorsePizza
@redhorsepizza
@snailofapprovalsonomacounty
#snailofapprovalsonomacounty

Red Horse Pizza
Located at Henhouse Brewing Company
322 Bellevue Avenue, Santa Rosa
(707) 292-9251
www.redhorsepizza.com
Husband and wife team Kendra and Nathan Stuffelbeam own and operate the mobile, organic pizza kitchen, Red Horse Pizza. Their pizza is organic, thin-crust sourdough with seasonal and local toppings. Customers rave about the Mushroom Pepperoni, Pesto Sausage, PizzaClaw, Garlic Margharita and the “Weekly Special”.
Red Horse has recently cut back to one day a week at Henhouse Brewing Company, so don’t miss them!
Saturday 11:30 am – 8:30 pm
Red Horse Pizza is also available for catering.
Red Horse Pizza was awarded the Snail of Approval in 2018.

Patisserie Angelica
6821 Laguna Park Way, Sebastopol
(707) 827-7998
www.patisserieangelica.com
Patisserie Angelica is a cozy, Parisian-style bakeshop specializing in weddings, custom cakes, dessert tables, and West County High Tea. There is also an in-store bakery. Friends, family, and customers experience “a little bit of Paris in Sebastopol” at this beloved treasure of deliciousness!
Patisserie Angelica’s creations are handcrafted and customized with the utmost attention to detail. They feature the finest quality local and seasonal ingredients, are non-GMO, and use only natural food coloring and single-origin chocolates. They are one of the premier wedding cake designers in Wine Country.
Tuesday – Saturday, 9 am – 3 pm
Pre-order pick-up, cafe carry-out, and outdoor patio
Patisserie Angelica (Gergana Karabelov and Jennifer Bice, current owners) was awarded the Snail of Approval in 2021.
Patisserie Angelica was previously awarded the Snail of Approval in 2018, 2019 under the ownership of Condra Easley and Deb Morris.

Back to School Gardens Fundraiser @Estero Café/Americana Restaurant-Round 3
2021-09-24 17:00 | Americana Restaurant, 205 5th St Suite A, Santa Rosa, CA, 95401
Support Our School Gardens with a Snail of Approval Meal–Round 3

A school garden

Estero Cafe and Americana owners Ryan and Samantha Ramey

Our third and last fundraising dinner to support our School Gardens Project is with Estero Cafe in Valley Ford on September 24. Dinner pickup is at their second restaurant, Americana, in Santa Rosa.
Estero Cafe is one of our Snail of Approval restaurants and is collaborating with Sonoma County North to raise funds for our chapter’s School Gardens Project.
Every dinner you order through Slow Food from Estero Cafe for September 24 will raise money for the project. We invite you to support our Snails and our school gardens at the same time!
Wednesday, September 24, 2021 (order by September 17)
Estero Cafe with pickup at Americana, 205 5th Street, Santa Rosa
Dinner pickup is at 5 pm.
If you choose not to order dinner for September 24, you can still support us by purchasing a voucher for a future meal worth $20 at Estero Cafe or Americana, plus your donation for school gardens. We will mail the voucher to you.
Although the pick-up date is September 24, we must place the orders with Estero by September 17. Please sign up now to participate in this event!
Order your meal here

MENU
Estero is making their popular individual hand-made all butter crust pot pies, served with a small seasonal side salad and a freshly baked cookie.
Your choice of:
Stemple Creek Ranch Beef Pot Pie (fresh ground chuck, gravy, mirepoix, local vegetables and potatoes)
OR
RLR Farms Vegetable Pot Pie (roasted beets, red kuri squash, mushrooms, greens, onions, garlic and herbs)
$40 per person includes a donation to the School Gardens Project. Slow Food Sonoma County North is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization (EIN 68-0462906).

Some Information About Our School Gardens Project
Slow Food USA’s School Gardens Network aims to reconnect youth with their food by teaching them how to grow, cook and enjoy real food. Through increased confidence, knowledge gain and skill building, we want to empower children to become active participants in their food choices. By becoming informed eaters, today’s children will help make positive impact on the larger world of food and farming well into the future.
The goal of our chapter’s School Gardens Project is to support educators, volunteers and garden leaders to help build sustainable school gardens in our community. We work with 8-10 gardens in Sonoma County every year by providing:
• resources and references (books, websites, organizations, tools, supplies, materials, curriculum, grant information, etc.)
• volunteer assistance
• Ark of Taste seeds, transplants, and educational signage
• annual Open House at one of our gardens
• reimbursement of up to $100 per garden for garden-related expenses
• participation in Plant a Seed Program
• annual gift of a garden related item (e.g., book, tool, curriculum)
• Slow Food Curriculum Good and Clean (Fair is in progress)
Our project collaborates with Master Gardeners of Sonoma County Youth Garden Project, Sonoma County School Garden Network, and the Permaculture Design Program. We have granted additional funds for special projects such as irrigation.

September Snail Trail: The Naked Pig & Flower + Bone
2021-09-01 - 2021-09-30 | The Naked Pig, 640 5th Street, Santa Rosa, CA
Join Us on the Snail Trail!
Continuing on the Snail Trail, in September we visit Naked Pig & Flower + Bone. After a tough and long haul during which these businesses supported our community, we want to return the favor by enjoying a meal and purchasing some seasonal, local products.

The Naked Pig & Flower + Bone
640 5th Street, Santa Rosa
(707) 978-3231
The Naked Pig specializes in breakfast, brunch and lunch and features local, sustainable, organic and handmade food. Owner and chef Dalia Martinez founded the Naked Pig Cafe in 2014 as a place for eating well and mitigating climate change. It is an American cafe destination offering an ever-changing menu of local, seasonal ingredients. Their Little Piggy Market offers a variety of home-made condiments. Flower + Bone is a special beauty- through-food space, check it out to learn more.
Friday 10:30 am – 2:00 pm
Saturday and Sunday 9 am – 2 pm
Take out, indoor and outdoor dining
Snail of Approval awardee in 2017 and 2019.

Membership Drive. Join our movement. Become a member today! https://slowfoodusa.org/become-a-member
2021-09-01 - 2021-09-30
Join or renew your membership online and list Sonoma County North-CA as your chapter. If you prefer to renew locally by check, please download our membership form and follow the instructions.
Several times a year, Slow Food USA promotes Pay What You Can Day where you can join or renew for any amount on one day only. Watch your email for these promotions–coming soon.

Back to School Gardens Fundraiser @ Trading Post Restaurant-Round 2
2021-08-25 17:00 - 18:00
Our second fundraising dinner to support our School Gardens Project is at Trading Post Restaurant in Cloverdale featuring produce from Lantern Farm.

Every dinner you order through Slow Food from Trading Post for August 25 will raise money for the project. We invite you to support our Snails and our school gardens at the same time!
Trading Post is one of our Snail of Approval restaurants. Using vegetables from Snail of Approval Lantern Farm, Trading Post is collaborating with Sonoma County North to raise funds for our chapter’s School Gardens Project
Dinner pickup is at 5 pm or 6 pm.
For locations in Healdsburg and Windsor, free delivery is available.
Buy your tickets here
If you choose not to order dinner on August 25, you may buy a gift certificate worth $20 at Trading Post plus your donation for school gardens. We will mail the certificate to you.
Although the pick-up date is August 25, we must place the orders with Trading Post by August 15. Please sign up now to participate in this event!
MENU
Caponata made with Lantern Farm Vegetables
One-half Roasted Chicken with Chipotle Honey Sauce over Preston Farms Polenta
Braised Lantern Farm Greens
Housemade Mini-Epi Baquette
or
Caponata made with Lantern Farm Vegetables
Risotto with Brentwood Corn and Duncan’s Mushrooms, Salsa Verde
Braised Lantern Farm Greens
Housemade Mini-Epi Baquette
(Can be prepared Vegan upon request)
$40 per person includes a donation to the School Gardens Project. Slow Food Sonoma County North is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization (EIN 68-0462906).
Some Information About Our School Gardens Project
Slow Food USA’s School Gardens Network aims to reconnect youth with their food by teaching them how to grow, cook and enjoy real food. Through increased confidence, knowledge gain and skill building, we want to empower children to become active participants in their food choices. By becoming informed eaters, today’s children will help make positive impact on the larger world of food and farming well into the future.
The goal of our chapter’s School Gardens Project is to support educators, volunteers and garden leaders to help build sustainable school gardens in our community. We work with 8-10 gardens in Sonoma County every year by providing:
• resources and references (books, websites, organizations, tools, supplies, materials, curriculum, grant information, etc.)
• volunteer assistance
• Ark of Taste seeds, transplants, and educational signage
• annual Open House at one of our gardens
• reimbursement of up to $100 per garden for garden-related expenses
• participation in Plant a Seed Program
• annual gift of a garden related item (e.g., book, tool, curriculum)
• Slow Food Curriculum Good and Clean (Fair is in progress)
Our project collaborates with Master Gardeners of Sonoma County Youth Garden Project, Sonoma County School Garden Network, and the Permaculture Design Program. We have granted additional funds for special projects such as irrigation.

Annual Summer Picnic at Gradek Ranch
2021-08-22 16:00 - 19:00 | Gradek Ranch, 2323 West Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, CA, 95448, United States
OUR SUMMER PICNIC IS BACK!

We are delighted to bring back our Annual Summer Picnic at the Gradek Ranch lake in Healdsburg’s Dry Creek Valley. Please join us!
MENU
Selection of Appetizers
Grilled Chicken
Grilled Vegetable Kebabs
Bodega Red Potato Salad
Green Salad
Watermelon
Selection of Home-made Cookies
* BYOB, place setting, glass.
Tickets are $35 for Slow Food members, $45 for nonmembers. Children under 12 are free.
Buy your tickets at Brown Paper Tickets.
If you prefer to pay by check, please register at slowfoodsonomacountynorth@gmail.com and send your check (made out to SF Sonoma County North) to 1321 W. Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg 95448. We must receive your check no later than August 16.
Directions will be sent upon registration.
Not sure if your membership is current? Email us at slowfoodsonomacountynorth@gmail.com.

SLOW FARM TOUR: Farm to Fight Hunger
2021-08-13 09:00 - 10:30 | Farm to Fight Hunger, 12340 Los Amigos Road, Healdsburg
Please join us for a tour of Farm to Fight Hunger, a recent Snail of Approval awardee, in Healdsburg!

Farm to Fight Hunger is a non-profit organization that grows, harvests and delivers fresh nutritious produce, free of charge, to those in Sonoma County in need of healthy food. Last year they donated 10,000 pounds of produce to community organizations. Eggs laid by happy pastured hens are also donated; last year they gave 20,000 eggs to the Redwood Empire Food Bank. The farm donates 100% of what they grow.
The cost for the tour is $10 per person. Please pay at the door with cash or by check (checks to SF Sonoma County North).
Space is limited, so please register at slowfoodsonomacountynorth@gmail.com.
There is limited parking space so please plan to carpool.

Back to School Gardens Fundraiser
2021-07-29 17:00 - 17:30 | Diavola Pizzeria & Salumeria, 21021 Geyserville Avenue, Geyserville, CA, 95441, United States
Support Our School Gardens Project and A Snail of Approval Restaurant with a To-Go Dinner
Diavola Pizzeria & Salumeria is one of our Snail of Approval restaurants. Diavola is collaborating with Sonoma County North to raise funds for our chapter’s School Gardens Project. Every dinner you order through Slow Food from Diavola for July 29 will raise money for the project. We invite you to support our Snail and our school gardens at the same time!
July 29, 2021
Diavola Pizzeria & Salumeria
21021 Geyserville Avenue, Geyserville
(For locations in Healdsburg and Windsor, free delivery is available.)
If you choose not to order dinner on July 29, you may buy a gift certificate worth $25 at Diavola plus your donation for school gardens. We will mail the certificate to you.
Although the pick-up date is July 29, we must place the orders with Diavola by July 15. Please sign up now to participate in this event! Choose a pickup time: 5 pm or 5:30 pm
MENU
Beginning
Dry Creek Peach Mostarda Salad
Entrees
Roasted Pork Loin Chop with a medley of greens (chard, kale, escarole) and white beans with salsa verde
OR
BBQ Cauliflower Steak with Mushroom Ragu (roasted cauliflower, mushrooms, broccoli, fennel) with a medley of greens (chard, kale, escarole) and white beans with salsa verde
$45 per person which includes a donation to the School Gardens Project.
Order Here by July 15

Some Information About Our School Gardens Project
Slow Food USA’s School Gardens Network aims to reconnect youth with their food by teaching them how to grow, cook and enjoy real food. Through increased confidence, knowledge gain and skill building, we want to empower children to become active participants in their food choices. By becoming informed eaters, today’s children will help make positive impact on the larger world of food and farming well into the future.
The goal of our chapter’s School Gardens Project is to support educators, volunteers and garden leaders to help build sustainable school gardens in our community. We work with 8-10 gardens in Sonoma County every year by providing:
• resources and references (books, websites, organizations, tools, supplies, materials, curriculum, grant information, etc.)
• volunteer assistance
• Ark of Taste seeds, transplants, and educational signage
• annual Open House at one of our gardens
• reimbursement of up to $100 per garden for garden-related expenses
• participation in Plant a Seed Program
• annual gift of a garden related item (e.g., book, tool, curriculum)
• Slow Food Curriculum Good and Clean (Fair is in progress)
Our project collaborates with Master Gardeners of Sonoma County Youth Garden Project, Sonoma County School Garden Network, and the Permaculture Design Program. We have granted additional funds for special projects such as irrigation.

Slow Farm Tour: Front Porch Farm
2021-06-17 10:00 - 11:30 | Front Porch Farm, 2550 Rio Lindo Avenue, Healdsburg, CA, 95448, United States
Please join us for our first in-person event since 2020!
Our tour begins at 10 am and finishes at approximately 11:30 am. We will visit the orchard and blackberry plot, mixed vegetable garden, and flower section.
Space is limited, so please register at slowfoodsonomacountynorth@gmail.com.
The cost for the tour is $10 per person. Please pay at the door with cash or by check (checks to SF Sonoma County North).
Please bring your mask. You may also bring your lunch and we will eat together in the farm’s picnic area.
Front Porch Farm is a 110-acre mosaic of fruit and olive orchards; fields of grains, alfalfa, and pasture grasses; rows of flowers; acres of heritage vegetable crops; and vineyards on sunny hillsides. The farm runs along the Russian River in Healdsburg.

June Snail Trail: Estero Café, Laguna Farm, Black Pig Meat Co.
2021-06-01 - 2021-06-30
We continue our Snail Trail to support our Snail of Approval restaurants, farms, and producers! We will feature one to three each month by letting you know how to visit, dine, order take-out, and purchase products from them. We encourage you to visit and promote these businesses that honor Good, Clean, and Fair food in Sonoma County. Post a pic, tag the business, tag us!
@esterocafe
@lagunafarm
@blackpigmeatco
@snailofapprovalsonomacounty
#snailofapprovalsonomacounty

Estero Café
Estero Cafe
14450 Hwy 1, Valley Ford
707/876-3333
estero.cafe
The Estero Cafe is a family-friendly restaurant in a rural setting. It is owned and operated by husband/wife team Samantha and Ryan Ramey and serves classic American farm-fresh breakfast and lunch all day. Menu items are made with locally sourced organic ingredients including a commitment to pasture raised eggs, local grass fed beef, sustainable seafood, and local dairy, fruits, and vegetables. Their beverages feature products from local and regional producers.
Monday and Thursday, 8 am – 2 pm
Friday-Sunday, 7:30 am – 3:00 pm
Dine in or on the patio, or take out. Telephone or go online to see the menu or order to go. No reservations.
Snail of Approval awardee since 2017.

Laguna Farm
Laguna Farm
400 Sparkes Road, Sebastopol
707/758-1929
Laguna Farm is owned by Ignacio “Nacho” Romero. The farm features local, sustainable, fresh and seasonal fruits, vegetables and herbs proudly grown in Sebastopol. During COVID-19, the farm decided to close its CSA program and restructure the business as a farmer’s market and wholesale farm. Laguna Farm is at the Sebastopol Farmers Market on Sundays (located in the Plaza on Weeks Way in downtown Sebastopol).
Snail of Approval awardee since 2019.

Black Pig Meat Co.
Black Pig Meat Co.
707/523-4814
blackpigmeatco.com
The Black Pig Meat Co. was founded and is owned by husband/wife team, Duskie Estes and John Stewart since 2005. Their pigs are sustainably raised on family farms that respect the land and the animals in their care. The pigs are heritage breed, raised without antibiotics and hormones, and are allowed to roam free.
The artisan craft process of making their bacon takes up to 21 days. It is dry cured with brown sugar for up to 21 days and then finished with applewood smoking for about 12 hours. “The result is a bacon that is perfectly balanced in salt, sweet, and smoke; complex from the brown sugar and real wood smoke; and one where you can taste the quality of the pork.”
Black Pig Meat has a snout-to-tail philosophy. In addition to bacon, they offer a wide variety of pork products, and other merchandise (for example, try the lard lather rose geranium bath and body soap; bacon toffee lollipops; or a Black Pig baseball cap). Order products or gift certificates online.
Black Pig bacon is sold at many Sonoma County groceries and wineries. Call to order wholesale.
Snail of Approval awardee since 2019.
The Black Pig Meat Co. has other awards:
Michelin, 2019
North Bay Makers, 2017
Good Food Awards, 2017 and 2019, for its coppa and prosciutto.

Snail Trail: Featuring in May Mateo's Cocina Latina and Bernier Farms
2021-05-01 - 2021-05-31
Join Us on the Snail Trail!
Continuing on the Snail Trail, this month we visit Mateo’s Cocina Latina and Bernier Farms. We are excited that things are starting to open up and hope everyone will continue to frequent these local Snail of Approval-honored businesses. It has been a tough year and they have supported our community, and we want to return the favor by enjoying a meal and purchasing some seasonal, local produce.

May’s Snail Trail Restaurant is Mateo’s Cocina Latina
214 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg
(707) 433-1520
Mateo’s Cocina Latina is a hip cocina with a garden patio, tequila and mezcal bar with Yucatan-inspired food in Healdsburg, one block off the square. Currently serving indoors, on the patio, and to go.
Telephone or visit their website to order online, view the menu, and make a reservation.
Hours: Sunday 11:30 am-8:00 pm; Monday and Thursday 3-8 pm; Friday and Saturday 11:30 am-8:45 pm. Tuesday and Wednesday closed.
Snail of Approval awardee since 2019.

May’s Snail Trail Farm is Bernier Farms
1720 Canyon Road, Geyserville
(707) 849-7592
bernierfarms@gmail.com
Bernier Farms is a small, certified organic, family-run farm in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek and Alexander Valleys. They are a diversified farming operation, specializing in dry-farmed grapes and many different vegetables and fruits. Known for their 15 varieties of hardneck and softneck garlic, you can purchase the seed online.
Bernier Farms produce can be found at local restaurants (including Mateo’s Cocina Latina) and can be purchased at the Healdsburg Farmer Market.
Snail of Approval awardee since 2019.

Snail Trail, featuring Diavola Pizzeria & Salumeria and Tierra Vegetables
2021-03-01 - 2021-03-31
Follow the Slow Food Snail Trail: online, to-go, outdoors, at farmers markets and farm stands near you.
This month we kick off the Snail Trail with a visit to Diavola Pizzeria & Salumeria in Geyserville and Tierra Vegetables in Santa Rosa. Although we cannot meet in person yet, we encourage you to support these local Snail of Approval-honored businesses that support our community with good, clean and fair food for all. Come visit, dine, order take-out, and purchase their products.
Post a pic, tag the business, tag us!
@diavolageyserville
@tierravegetables
@snailofapprovalsonomacounty
#snailofapprovalsonomacounty
The Snail Trail supports our Snail of Approval awarded restaurants, farms, ranches and artisan producers. Get a full list at www.slowfoodsonomacountynorth.org/snail-of-approval/

Keeping Traditions As We Move Forward: Sonoma County North Annual Meeting
2020-12-10 17:00 - 18:30
On world Terra Madre Day, we will come together virtually to report on the status and health of our chapter, and to share some of our personal food traditions. Please join us!
There is no cost for the meeting but please register so you can receive the Zoom link.
Terra Madre Day celebrates local food on a global scale. Every December 10th thousands of people around the world organize celebrations of good, clean and fair food. Terra Madre Day brings together all who share the vision of a food system that supports local economies, that respects the environment, biodiversity, taste, and tradition.
Food Traditions
Most of us have traditional dishes our families prepared when we were young, and we have evolved our own food traditions as adults. Many of these revolve around holidays, and others are everyday food that comfort us with reminders of love and community.
We believe that keeping these food traditions in our lives helps us to move forward in an increasingly complex world.
We invite you to share one of your food traditions with us during the meeting: what is the dish? what memories do you associate with it?

Slow Books: Clementine in the Kitchen (virtual)
2020-06-29 17:30 - 19:00
When “Clémentine in the Kitchen” first appeared in 1943, it immediately captivated American readers. Written by the artist Samuel Chamberlain under the pen name Phineas Beck, it recounts the gastronomic adventures of the Beck/Chamberlain family during the decade that their beguiling Burgundian cook Clémentine produced wonderful French meals for them, both in France and in their New England home in Marblehead, MA. An appendix contains 125 recipes–classic dishes, regional specialties, and much that is useful for special occasions. But the most compelling are plain and old-fashioned. These are the dishes that identify the Clémentine family style, a style so French, so civilized, so knowing in its use of ingredients that it cannot become impractical or ever go out of date: filets de sole au vin blanc, boeuf à la mode, endives braisées― trophies of la cuisine bourgeoise that never fail to please. (Amazon)

Summer Picnic at the Gradek Ranch-postponed
2020-06-20 16:00 | Gradek Ranch, 2323 West Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, CA, 95448, United States
Date TBD

Responding to Climate Change In Sonoma County (postponed)
2020-04-05
POSTPONED: Responding to Climate Change in Sonoma County

We are following the wisdom of other organizations and the Health Department in Sonoma County, and are postponing our climate change panel discussion that was scheduled for April 5.
We are disappointed, but we look forward to rescheduling this important session about how residents, farmers, and government are responding to aspects of climate change in Sonoma County.
In the meantime, be cautious and stay healthy!

3rd Annual Snail of Approval Awards
2020-02-26 17:30 - 19:30 | Sebastopol Grange, 6000 Sebastopol Ave, Sebastopol, CA, 95472, United States
Join Slow Food Russian River and Slow Food Sonoma County North as we honor our 2019 Snail of Approval farm awardees:
Be Here Farm + Nature – Sonoma County
Bernier Farms – Healdsburg
Laguna Farm – Sebastopol
We are excited to announce that we are also launching our Artisan Producer Snail of Approval program and awarding our first Snails to:
DaVero Farms & Winery – Healdsburg (olive oil)
Tilted Shed Ciderworks – Windsor
Our 2019 Snail of Approval renewal honorees:
Backyard – Forestville
Black Piglet – Sonoma County
Diavola Pizzeria & Salumeria -Geyserville
Estero Cafe – Valley Ford
The Naked Pig – Santa Rosa
Get your tickets now!
After the ceremony we will enjoy “nibbles & bites” from our Snail of Approval restaurants, farms, artisan producers and our own Slow Food Sonoma County North Events Committee. Along with wine & other beverages.
Snail of Approval recognizes these food-related providers in Sonoma County for making significant contributions to transform our food system to one that is, good, clean and fair.

Slow Books: "The Omnivore's Dilemma"
2020-02-24 17:30 - 19:00 | Cloverdale
On Monday, February 24, Slow Books will discuss The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan. We will meet at 5:30 pm at Denaire Nixon’s home in Cloverdale. RSVP required
What should we have for dinner? Ten years ago, Michael Pollan confronted us with this seemingly simple question and, with “The Omnivore’s Dilemma,” his brilliant and eye-opening exploration of our food choices, demonstrated that how we answer it today may determine not only our health but our survival as a species. In the years since, Pollan’s revolutionary examination has changed the way Americans think about food. Bringing wide attention to the little-known but vitally important dimensions of food and agriculture in America, Pollan launched a national conversation about what we eat and the profound consequences that even the simplest everyday food choices have on both ourselves and the natural world. Ten years later, “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” continues to transform the way Americans think about the politics, perils, and pleasures of eating. (Amazon)

Around the Slow Table with "My Kitchen Year"
2020-02-08 17:30 - 19:30
Do you like to try new recipes and share the results with a small group of friends? Do you enjoy discussing a dish’s ingredients and process of creating it? If you said YES, then join us for dinner based on recipes each guest prepares from My Kitchen Year, by Ruth Reichl.
Lynn Davis’s home in Windsor
The address will be sent when you register.
This is how it works. Get a copy of My Kitchen Year—and select a few recipes that appeal to you. When you register, your host will contact you to select which recipe you should prepare and how many people it should feed (a recipe that serves 4-6 people is usually sufficient).
Please also bring a beverage to share.
At dinner you’ll get to know each other and discuss your experiences preparing your dish. You may also nominate your own favorite cookbook for another Slow Table meal.
To register, please RSVP to slowfoodsonomacountynorth@gmail.com.
Ruth Reichl, My Kitchen Year
My Kitchen Year follows the change of seasons as Ruth Reichl heals through the simple pleasures of cooking after the abrupt closing of Gourmet magazine. Each dish Reichl prepares for herself–and for her family and friends–represents a life’s passion for food: a blistering ma po tofu that shakes Reichl out of the blues; a decadent grilled cheese sandwich that accompanies a rare sighting in the woods around her home; a rhubarb sundae that signals the arrival of spring. Part cookbook, part personal narrative, part paean to the household gods, My Kitchen Year reveals Reichl’s most treasured recipes, to be shared over and over again with those we love. (Amazon)

Slow Books, From Scratch by Tembi Locke
2020-01-13 17:30 - 19:00
Event is full!

Slow Dinner on Terra Madre Day, 2019
2019-12-10 17:30
Please join us on Terra Madre Day, December 10, to celebrate Slow Food’s 30th Anniversary!
We will gather in our candle-lit barn to celebrate 30 years of Good, Clean, and Fair Food with Slow Food around the world.
Our meal will be prepared by our Leadership team and feature appetizers, roast pork, Bodega Red potatoes from our chapter garden, roasted vegetables and salad from Lantern Farm, and apple crumble.
Wine will accompany dinner, and Irish coffee will finish off the evening.
Come see old friends and meet new ones, get to know your Board members, and let us know what you’d like to see in 2019. We especially welcome those of you who are new to our community!
$45.00 Slow Food members, $55.00 non-members
Tickets
If you prefer, you may send a check to SFSCN, 985 Lupine Court, Healdsburg 95448. IF YOU ARE SENDING A CHECK, PLEASE REGISTER FIRST AT slowfoodsonomacountynorth@gmail.com. We must have your check no later than December 7.
Space is limited–sign up now!
Terra Madre Day will be celebrated across the world on December 10. It is an opportunity for the global Slow Food network to enjoy local food and promote sustainable production and consumption to their communities and local decision makers. Thousands of actions in all corners of the world highlight our determination to defend our planet’s future and our philosophy of good, clean and fair food for all.
This year, we also celebrate the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Slow Food Manifesto in Paris. For a full history of these years, go to 30 Years of Slow Food, A Nice Italian Story.

Holiday Food Traditions-Event Cancelled
2019-11-17 14:30 - 16:30
Event Cancelled

Farm Tour: Lantern Farm
2019-09-25 10:00 - 12:00
Please join Rebecca Bozzelli for a tour of her Lantern Farm!
We will tour through the fields of veggies, fruit, and flowers and sample some produce in the fields. Flowers and produce will be available for purchase in the barn.
26209 River Road, Cloverdale
$10 per person. Get your ticket at Brown Paper Tickets
The tour will be followed by a no-host lunch at Trading Post Restaurant in town.
Please let us know if you are coming to lunch at slowfoodsonomacountynorth@gmail.com (lunch is not included in the ticket price).
Both Lantern Farm & Trading Post have been awarded our Snail of Approval.
Lantern Farm is a mixed produce and flower production in Cloverdale and one of the first Snail of Approval farms in Sonoma County. While Rebecca was looking for land, her daughter suggested calling the farm Lantern Farm. This seemed like a fine name and the name Lantern Farm was born. A short while later, and conveniently just down the street, Rebecca and her family were looking at a potential farm site on River Road that used to be a prune orchard many years ago and has been fallow since. While inspecting the barn, two old lanterns were hanging on the back wall, a sure sign that this land was to be Lantern Farm. That was in winter of 2016. The lease was signed in April of that same year, and Lantern Farm has been growing ever since.

Around the Slow Table, Cookbook Version (full, waitlist only)
2019-09-12 18:00 | Cloverdale
Around the Slow Table, Ruth Reichl, “My Kitchen Year”
Do you like to try new recipes and share the results with a small group of friends? Do you enjoy discussing a dish’s ingredients and process of creating it? If your answer is YES, then join us for dinner based on recipes each guest prepares from My Kitchen Year, by Ruth Reichl.
The location is Shelley and Sam Witten’s home in Cloverdale; their address will be sent upon registration.
For this dinner, Shelley has selected recipes from My Kitchen Year to create a menu. When you register, she will send you the list of recipes. Select which one you’d like to make and let Shelley know. Make enough for 12 people to have a small amount (a recipe that serves about 6 people should be sufficient).
At dinner you’ll get to know each other and discuss your experiences preparing your dish. You may also nominate your own favorite cookbook for another Slow Table meal.
Limited to 12 people (including hosts)
Please also bring a beverage to share.
Please RSVP by September 6 to slowfoodsonomacountynorth@gmail.com.

Ruth Reichl, My Kitchen Year
My Kitchen Year follows the change of seasons as Ruth Reichl heals through the simple pleasures of cooking after the abrupt closing of Gourmet magazine. Each dish Reichl prepares for herself–and for her family and friends–represents a life’s passion for food: a blistering ma po tofu that shakes Reichl out of the blues; a decadent grilled cheese sandwich that accompanies a rare sighting in the woods around her home; a rhubarb sundae that signals the arrival of spring. Part cookbook, part personal narrative, part paean to the household gods, My Kitchen Year reveals Reichl’s most treasured recipes, to be shared over and over again with those we love. (Amazon)
