La Toque, Napa

Ask 10 people how to pronounce “toque,” and you’ll get as many answers as there are pleats in a chef’s hat. For the record, it rhymes with “oak”—the Merriam‑Webster entry lists pronunciations *\ˈtōk* and *\ˈtoʊk*, while the Cambridge dictionary gives the British təʊk and American toʊk. However you say it, a toque blanche (French for “white hat”) is the towering, pleated crown that’s to chefs what a tiara is to a monarch: an emblem of authority, hygiene and savoir‑faire.

The word toque itself has Arabic roots meaning simply “hat,” and it became fashionable in France during the 1800s when legendary chef Marie‑Antoine Carême introduced a white, flat‑topped toque as part of his crisp uniform. Carême chose white to signal cleanliness and professionalism, and the hat’s height soon denoted rank—the taller the toque, the higher the kitchen hierarchy.

A persistent culinary myth suggests that the 100 pleats represented 100 ways to cook an egg, reminding apprentices to keep scrambling until they reach mastery. In practice, the hat kept hair and sweat out of the soup and provided ventilation—lofty form meeting utilitarian function.

Fast‑forward a few centuries, and Napa Valley’s La Toque restaurant embraces this history with panache. Chef/owner Ken Frank founded the first incarnation in Los Angeles in 1979 and moved it to Napa in 1998; today, it sits in the Westin Verasa hotel, where Frank still leads the kitchen. The restaurant held a Michelin star for 14 consecutive years through 2021, and its 2,300‑selection wine cellar received Wine Spectator’s Grand Award. North Bay Bohemian readers frequently vote Frank as Best Chef, and many locals consider La Toque the finest dining room in town.

Naming a restaurant after the toque is inspired marketing. It hints at classical technique while inviting playful wordplay—diners “tip their hat” to a kitchen that knows how to top itself. — Weeklys Staff

La Toque, 314 McKinstry St., Napa. 707.257.5157. latoque.com.

Guerneville Pee Wee Golf

You all know you’ve driven by Guerneville’s adorable mini golf spot on your way to spend a day at the river. We know this because there’s not one of us who hasn’t caught the huge dinosaur that oversees the course, which was built in 1948, out of the corner of our eye when hitting Guerneville on 116.

And yes, you read that correctly, Guerneville Pee Wee Golf has been there since just after WWII. Not only that, but the course was built by a welder by the name of Bill Koplin who asked his brother, Lee Koplin, to come out and help him make his dream a reality. Apparently, the experience was so transformative for Lee Koplin that he went on to become one of the pre-eminent pee wee golf course designers of all time.

Long story short, which is par for the course, the fun little course in a tiny river town inspired a nationwide craze.

If you’ve yet to tee it up at Guerneville Pee Wee Golf, let us give you a quick rundown of what you can expect in addition to the aforementioned huge, snarling T-Rex. When you arrive, you will be greeted by a large red mushroom in the small patio area before you see a big gray whale awaiting you on the first hole. Along the way, there’s a large cactus, a duck that we can’t name due to not wanting to get Disney licensing involved, as well as a large panther of the pink variety, if you catch our meaning.

There’s also a rocket ship, a pink castle, an angry sun and a small gorilla, just to name but a few of the kitchy sculptures joining you on your round. The course also has video games, ping-pong and night golfing available featuring blacklights. Do with that information what you will.

Perhaps the biggest bonus is the recent arrival of The Hot Box BBQ truck, which sits out front and is absolutely killer. — Don R. Lewis

Guerneville Pee Wee Golf, 6155 Drake Rd. 707.869.9321. guernevillepeeweegolf.com.

La Dolce Vita Wine Lounge, Petaluma

Writers like to leave a mark. Literally, figuratively and sometimes on a small engraved plaque at a local wine bar.

Such is the case at Petaluma’s La Dolce Vita Wine Lounge, where a small sign reads, simply, “Daedalus Howell wrote here.” It’s part artistic gesture, part future historical breadcrumb and entirely appropriate for a place where words—and wine—have flowed with unusual generosity.

La Dolce Vita has been my unofficial salon for years, the kind of establishment where a notebook opens easily and sentences tend to follow. At 18½ years old, the lounge remains one of Petaluma’s most enduring portals to wine culture. Located along Petaluma Boulevard at the, ahem, gateway to wine country (take that, Sonoma), it functions less like a single tasting room and more like a worldly dispatch point. Local Sonoma County vintages share the stage with bottles from Italy and Portugal and beyond, turning a casual glass into something like a miniature grand tour.

The concept reflects proprietor Sahar Gharai’s early experiences in Florence, where intimate enotecas invite patrons to linger over wine as both ritual and conversation. When La Dolce Vita opened in September 2007, a dedicated wine bar in Petaluma felt novel. Nearly two decades later, the lounge’s roughly 60 selections—about 40% domestic and 60% international—encourage exploration through tastes, glasses, bottles and curated flights.

Inside, the atmosphere leans toward cinematic reverie. Silent classic films flicker above the bar each evening, a knowing wink to Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, whose drifting scenes of nightlife and conversation feel spiritually aligned with the room itself. It’s a low-lit salon where strangers strike up conversations, regulars introduce newcomers and the occasional writer quietly pretends he’s working on a masterpiece. — Daedalus Howell

La Dolce Vita Wine Lounge, 151 Petaluma Blvd. S #117, Petaluma. 707.763.6363. ldvwine.com.

Petaluma Community Acupuncture

In downtown Petaluma, Petaluma Community Acupuncture (PCA) has become a destination for anyone seeking holistic wellness and thoughtful self-care. The clinic combines acupuncture, cupping and herbal medicine in a warm, welcoming environment designed to support the body, mind and spirit. For natural relief from chronic pain, stress reduction and overall vitality, the practitioners at Remedy offer personalized treatments that are meant to restore balance and promote wellness.

Acupuncture sessions are available in both community and private settings, making it easy for newcomers and regular clients alike to access care that suits their needs. Cupping and other traditional Chinese medicine techniques complement the acupuncture treatments, designed to help improve circulation, reduce tension and enhance energy flow throughout the body. Many clients say they leave feeling both physically rejuvenated and mentally refreshed, a reflection of the clinic’s holistic approach to health.

PCA’s apothecary is also a perfect stop for wellness-minded shoppers to bring home a piece of holistic care. As another layer to their offerings, PCA features an herbal apothecary stocked with a curated selection of remedies and wellness products like herbal formulas, organic essential oils, supplements and skincare products designed to support health and beauty naturally.

The apothecary also includes seasonal items, other local artisan goods and teas, notably the locally made Herb Folk teas. It’s also a place to pick up a small gift for a friend. Ideas for thoughtfully chosen gifts include tinctures, crystals, a facial oil or a tome from a highly curated selection of books.

Petaluma Community Acupuncture embodies the philosophy that health, beauty and self-care are deeply connected. From expert acupuncture sessions to the carefully curated herbal apothecary, the clinic offers tools and treatments that encourage balance, vitality and mindful living. For locals and visitors alike, it’s a space to nourish the body, explore natural remedies and discover gifts that promote wellness in everyday life. — Kary Hess

Petaluma Community Acupuncture, 21 Kentucky St. 707.778.8645. petalumacommunityacupuncture.com.

Visit Sonoma and Napa County stages

Why is there so much live theater produced in the North Bay? How is it that every burg in the area seems to have its own theater company? It’s no surprise that you’ll find theater in cities like Napa (pop. 76,921) and Santa Rosa (pop. 178,127), but how does theater exist in communities like Yountville (pop. 3,436) and Monte Rio (pop.1,080)?

It could be an abundance of talent aching to be on stage. It could be (the sadly dwindling) availability of arts in our primary and secondary education systems. It could be an abundance of citizen patrons who understand the importance of supporting a vibrant performing arts community.

Whatever the reason(s), it’s somewhat of a curse for a critic who’s tasked with seeing everything. The blessing for a critic is that there’s so much variety in what is being produced. Wanna see a classic Broadway musical? Can do. How about an in-your-face examination of a societal problem? Check. What about a different take on an old chestnut? That’s possible. Shakespeare? Surely, you jest.

Napa County’s Valley Players and Sonoma County’s 6th Street Playhouse fit that bill for our readers.

The Valley Players are a vagabond company founded by a group of women 10 years ago with the intent of elevating underrepresented artists in theater, and as such prioritize promoting stories that highlight issues important to women over 40. But fear not, everyone’s welcome in and at their shows. They perform in various venues throughout Napa County.

6th Street Playhouse traces its roots back to 1972 and the Santa Rosa Players. It performs mostly mainstream musicals on its large stage, but sneaks theatrical outliers onto its smaller Monroe Stage. It’s fascinating when the audiences mix.

Both have loyal attendees, but would be very happy to welcome new visitors to their venues.

It’s frequently said by some that North Bay audiences don’t travel. Prove them wrong.

Go see a show. Somewhere.

Anywhere.