Rot Is Hot

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Chances are you are a fermentation fan and didn’t even know it. Like beer? Wine? Cheese? Salami? Pickles? Chocolate? Sriracha? Of course you do. All those foods and drinks are fermented, and we all owe a debt of gratitude to the friendly bacteria that make fermentation possible.

New and established lovers of fermentation can show their appreciation to our microscopic friends at the Farm to Fermentation Festival Aug. 24 in Santa Rosa. The festival began in 2009 in Freestone and in 2011 moved to Petaluma under the direction of self-described fermentation advocate Jennifer Harris. As the popularity of the event and all things fermented grew, the event relocated again to the Finley Aquatic Center in Santa Rosa, and that’s where it’s going to be again this year. Last year, about a thousand people attended. (Disclosure: the Bohemian is a sponsor of the event).

“Every year, there seems to be more interest in fermentation,” says Harris. “We’re so desperate for back-to-the-roots action and DIY.”

Harris works as a consultant to fermentation festivals in places like Boston, San Diego and Austin, but she says the fermentation trend has really taken root in Sonoma County because of its agricultural community and scores of small-scale producers.

“Sonoma County is this epicenter of fermentation businesses,” she says.

While kombucha was all the rage a few years ago, Harris sees a couple of new trends like a “ferment-it-all” approach to pickling everything from green beans and carrots to ketchup and salsas.

While there will be beer and wine available for VIP ticket holders, Harris says a limited number of drink tickets will be sold so as not to make alcohol the focus on the event. Instead, look for events like a sauerkraut competition and a hands-on “culture petting zoo,” where attendees can get their hands wet and slimy handling vinegar and kombucha mothers, water kefir grains and other agents of fermentation. There will also be about 45 food and retail vendors.

At the heart of the event are the many workshops on home fermentation. I’m especially excited about Karen Solomon’s presentation on Asian pickles. She’s the author of the excellent Asian Pickles cookbook, and she’ll be talking about how to make Japanese nukazuke pickles.

I also want to check out Aaron Gilliam’s talk on meat curing. Gilliam makes the salume at Thistle Meats in Petaluma. He learned the ways of traditional meat curing in Italy. I’ve never had good luck making kimchi, so I also want to hear Ellen White’s talk on this spicy staple of Korean cuisine. White owns Ellen’s Kimchi.com, a small-batch kimchi company.

Did You Just Say “Let’s Have Lunch in Marin City”?

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Well indeed I did.

But first, a digression. To another city.

They used to have this joke about the “Indian Row” on 6th Street in Manhattan that there were dozens of restaurants on the block but one central kitchen, hidden, that connected them all. This was a way of saying—there’s nothing special about this tourist-lure of bustling and popular 6th Street, the Little Italy of its culinary persuasion, a place for the rubes.

But there were of course places that stood out on 6th Street in the East Village—just like there were other sadsack curry shacks that always seemed to get the leftover crowd, if any. After awhile, you’d sort of pick one and that would be the regular. Mine was a place that had the spiciest, cleanest vindaloo I’ve ever had, and I once saw John Malkovitch bang his head on the ceiling there. Tall man. I can’t remember the name of the restaurant—but man, that was some memorably spicy vindaloo. And that dude had a huge head, too.

Competing vindaloos is not a problem or even an issue in Marin City. It’s not even worth talking about. Because BBQ ’N’ Curry House is not only the only Indian restaurant in this town, it’s the…well, under some definitions of the word, you might have some trouble rolling the word “restaurant” off of your tongue to describe the…hmm…the culinary scene that is Marin City.

OK, Outback Steakhouse. Technically, yes, you are a restaurant. I’ve yet to sample your wares, but I have been known to drop in at your cohort Applebee’s on occasion—and indeed you might call me a TGIF’s man from back in the day. I got no gripe with you. So OK. Two restaurants.

Oh, and I’ll eat some of that Panda Express super-gloop Chinese in the Marin City shopping center. Next time. Sure, you can be a restaurant too, ya cute little cuddly bear.

But that other place in the shopping, with the burgers, and the crown? Love those flame-broiled fumes in the Gateway parking lot, but that stuff can’t be good for you? Can it?

So yes, BBQ ’N’ Curry house on a Saturday in Marin City, on a journey between here and there, waiting for the man—actually, the bus.

And yes, the vindaloo, always the vindaloo curry. The platter arrived with chunks of potato, a pair of moist and currified drumsticks and some boney thigh on which to chew. The curry was earthy and spicy but not nuclear, a little on the thick side and with an undercurrent tomato tone that stayed around awhile.

A Frisbee of crunchy-chewy garlic na’an played the role of sauce clean-up crew—and if you asked me to pick favorites, I’d give the nod to the na’an. The menu’s got all the Indian usuals—biryani to tandoori and beyond—and salmon pakora is at the top of the to-order list next time.

<1>BBQ n Curry House

<1>160H Donahue St., Marin City. 415.289.0786

2014 NorBay Music Awards: And the Winners Are…

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Norbay winner MC Radioactive headlined the show with a blistering set accompanied by DJ Zack Darling.

Last weekend, August 16, the Bohemian held the annual NorBay Music Awards, honoring bands and performers from around the area. Winners were voted by you in ten different categories and many of the races were very close. More photos and coverage is coming this week. For now, here are the Gold Record Award winners of the 2014 NorBays.
 

Blues and R&B:  Lester Chambers & the Mudstompers

Country and Americana:  Frankie Boots & the County Line

DJ:  Paul Timberman

Folk and Acoustic:  Flowerbox

Hip-Hop and Electronic:  MC Radioactive

Indie:  the Highway Poets

Jazz:  Dixie Giants

Punk and Metal:  Shotgun Harlot

Rock: Dylan Chambers

World and Reggae:  Soup Sandwich

 
Thanks to all the bands who came out and all of those who voted. Stay tuned for our review of the 24-Hour band contest and the highlights of the show.
 

Wagyu beef, chicken fried chicken and more at Taste of Petaluma

Wagyu beef at Seared

  • Wagyu beef at Seared

The annual Taste of Petaluma draws about 1,000 curious diners to the city of butter and eggs, and this year is primed to be the largest in the event’s history, says organizer Laura Sunday.

“This year we have the most restaurants ever participating,” she says during a preview tour last week. Over 100 different participants will be offering food at over 50 locations in downtown Petaluma this year, with options ranging from high-end steakhouse cuisine to traditional diner fare.

Glazed ribs at Zodiacs

  • Glazed ribs at Zodiac’s

Zodiac’s is the site of this year’s after party, a first for the Taste of Petaluma. Also a participant in the food tour, the restaurant and bar is offering braised baby back ribs with mango coleslaw. The meaty ribs are sweetened with a house made sauce that gives them a tasty Carolina-California hybrid flavor.

Seared Steakhouse is celebrating its one-year-anniversary this year, after taking over the former Graziano’s space downtown. Their offering is a surf and turf of South American-style ceviche on a tortilla chip and Asian-style Wagyu new york served rare on a house made potato chip. The beef is more like land sushi, melting in the mouth like it’s made of butter.

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Speakeasy is also tough not to love, with its unique collection of mostly small plates and original creations. The small restaurant is expanding with a large banquet room and bar opening up just a stone’s throw from the main outlet later this month. They are offering beef empanadas, with a crust made impossibly soft by using cream cheese in the dough. Yes, they pair well with beer—especially Henouse’s Little Chicken Ale.

At Sax’s joint, which is also celebrating its one-year anniversary this year, the theme is 1950’s diner, with pink and black pinstriping on the booths and makeup to match adorning the faces of the servers. The family of three single moms and their children (grandma, her two daughters, and their daughters) give the family business a homey charm that takes the idea of comfort food to a new level. Their offerings include chicken fried chicken with home made gravy and cupcakes.

Saxs 50s pink and black style

  • Sax’s ’50s pink and black style

Another new addition to Taste this year is the Petaluma Hotel’s wine garden. Dozens of wineries will be offering tastings at the newly renovated hotel, with tours of the facility available to curious onlookers.

Taste of Petaluma, a fundraiser for Cinnabar Theater, is Saturday, Aug. 23 in downtown Petaluma. Tickets can be purchased online or at Putnam Plaza the day of the event. 129 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma. 11:30am—4pm. $40. www.tasteofpetaluma.org.

Aug. 15: Bria Skonberg Quintet at 142 Throckmorton

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From New York City comes a powerful new voice in the classical jazz scene. Bria Skonberg looks like a Nordic princess, and her lithe voice and blazing trumpet elevate the jazz pop she plays with her band, the Bria Skonberg Quintet. Her 2014 release, Into Your Own, is a swinging and soulful collection of tunes with myriad influences channeled into a mix of world rhythms, jazz-fusions and even electronic elements. The Bria Skonberg Quintet swing into the North Bay Friday, Aug. 15, at 142 Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley. 8pm. $24—$38. 415.383.9600.

Aug. 16: Jerry Jeff Walker at Lincoln Theater

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As outlaw musicians go, Jerry Jeff Walker is a “Most Wanted” man. The prolific songwriter and country artist is best known for his 1970 hit “Mr. Bojangles,” though Walker’s rep as a renegade rocker is solidified by the annual big bash shows he’s hosted in Texas, Belize and now Napa. For the second summer, Walker will bring his band to the Napa Valley for a special Summer Camp show. He loves Napa Valley so much, he gathers fans from around the country for parties and events held throughout the area. The Summer Camp show goes down on Saturday, Aug. 16, at Lincoln Theater, 100 California Drive, Yountville. 7pm. $45—$75. 707.944.9900.

Aug. 16: Sonoma County Wine & Swine in Railroad Square

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Food, drinks, art, vendors—there’s something for everyone at this year’s Sonoma County Wine & Swine event. Pork is highlighted in a delectable selection of locally sourced livestock and catered by a bevy of barbecue masters. Sonoma County fine wines are paired with artisan plates, and activities abound in this family-friendly atmosphere. The North Bay Hootenanny curates an afternoon of homegrown music with Mississippi Mike, the Sam Chase and the Easy Leaves rocking out on the outdoor stage. Vendors from Railroad Square will be out with a big sidewalk sale, and local celebs face off in a charity pie-eating contest. Saturday, Aug. 16, in Railroad Square, Fourth and Wilson streets, Santa Rosa. 11am. Free. 707.490.5039.

Aug. 19: ‘Witness Uganda’ at Atwood Ranch

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Playwright-composers Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews have paired up for a compelling performance piece that’s already won awards and earned accolades. ‘Witness Uganda’ made its world premiere at the American Repertory Theater earlier this year under the direction of Tony winner Diane Paulus. Now, Gould and Matthews bring the show to the intimate settings of the Sonoma Valley. As part of the summer-long Transcendence Theatre series, this one-of-a-kind concert experience combines Afro-pop music with personal stories and world-changing ideals. Witness Uganda plays under the stars on Tuesday Aug. 19, at the Atwood Ranch, 12099 Sonoma Hwy., Glen Ellen. 7:30pm. $35—$60. 877.424.1414.

NorBay Boogie

Saturday, Aug. 16, marks the Bohemian‘s annual music event. That’s right, it’s the NorBays, and it’s taking over the HopMonk Tavern in Sebastopol with beloved bands going head-to-head for fan-voted music awards and a packed roster of 24-hour bands showing off their day-old jams.

Gold records will be awarded to NorBay winners in categories ranging from folk to electronic, and two NorBay nominees will be taking the stage. There will be performances from the Easy Leaves (pictured), the songwriting duo of Kevin Carducci and Sage Fifield who perform an acoustic distillation of Americana music. M.C. Radio Active will also be onstage, dropping beats and fusing rap, hip-hop and electro beats with a soulful performance. In between sets will be the spin styles of DJ Zack Darling.

This year’s 24-Hour band signup exceeded all expectations, and the musicians are chomping at the bit. On Friday evening, Aug. 15, the prospective band members will be partnered up and given rehearsal space at the Live Musician’s Co-op in Santa Rosa. Under extreme time constraints, the bands will bring a completely unpredictable set of songs to the stage on Aug. 16, as they play their rapid-fire sets throughout the evening.

The event will also feature a giveaway raffle from South of Heaven’s Craig Ahart, who was featured on last week’s cover. Three of his hot rods will be on site too. All this and more is happening at the NorBays—don’t miss out.

The NorBays and 24-Band Concert takes place on Saturday, Aug. 16, at HopMonk Tavern, 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. 8pm. $10.

Rot Is Hot

Chances are you are a fermentation fan and didn't even know it. Like beer? Wine? Cheese? Salami? Pickles? Chocolate? Sriracha? Of course you do. All those foods and drinks are fermented, and we all owe a debt of gratitude to the friendly bacteria that make fermentation possible. New and established lovers of fermentation can show their appreciation to our microscopic...

Did You Just Say “Let’s Have Lunch in Marin City”?

Well indeed I did. But first, a digression. To another city. They used to have this joke about the “Indian Row” on 6th Street in Manhattan that there were dozens of restaurants on the block but one central kitchen, hidden, that connected them all. This was a way of saying—there’s nothing special about this tourist-lure of bustling and popular 6th...

2014 NorBay Music Awards: And the Winners Are…

Last weekend, August 16, the Bohemian held the annual NorBay Music Awards, honoring bands and performers from around the area. Winners were voted by you in ten different categories and many of the races were very close. More photos and coverage is coming this week. For now, here are the Gold Record Award winners of the 2014 NorBays.   Blues and...

Wagyu beef, chicken fried chicken and more at Taste of Petaluma

Just what does the city of butter and eggs taste like?

Aug. 15: Bria Skonberg Quintet at 142 Throckmorton

From New York City comes a powerful new voice in the classical jazz scene. Bria Skonberg looks like a Nordic princess, and her lithe voice and blazing trumpet elevate the jazz pop she plays with her band, the Bria Skonberg Quintet. Her 2014 release, Into Your Own, is a swinging and soulful collection of tunes with myriad influences channeled...

Aug. 16: Jerry Jeff Walker at Lincoln Theater

As outlaw musicians go, Jerry Jeff Walker is a “Most Wanted” man. The prolific songwriter and country artist is best known for his 1970 hit “Mr. Bojangles,” though Walker’s rep as a renegade rocker is solidified by the annual big bash shows he’s hosted in Texas, Belize and now Napa. For the second summer, Walker will bring his band...

Aug. 16: Sonoma County Wine & Swine in Railroad Square

Food, drinks, art, vendors—there’s something for everyone at this year’s Sonoma County Wine & Swine event. Pork is highlighted in a delectable selection of locally sourced livestock and catered by a bevy of barbecue masters. Sonoma County fine wines are paired with artisan plates, and activities abound in this family-friendly atmosphere. The North Bay Hootenanny curates an afternoon of...

Aug. 19: ‘Witness Uganda’ at Atwood Ranch

Playwright-composers Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews have paired up for a compelling performance piece that’s already won awards and earned accolades. ‘Witness Uganda’ made its world premiere at the American Repertory Theater earlier this year under the direction of Tony winner Diane Paulus. Now, Gould and Matthews bring the show to the intimate settings of the Sonoma Valley. As...

NorBay Boogie

Saturday, Aug. 16, marks the Bohemian's annual music event. That's right, it's the NorBays, and it's taking over the HopMonk Tavern in Sebastopol with beloved bands going head-to-head for fan-voted music awards and a packed roster of 24-hour bands showing off their day-old jams. Gold records will be awarded to NorBay winners in categories ranging from folk to electronic, and...
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