It’s no secret that Sonoma County is a hotbed of divine cuisine. From world-renowned, Michelin-starred restaurants to hidden gem favorites, one could throw a rock in any direction and stumble upon a worthy eatery. With a vast culinary pool to pull from, our dining editor was tasked with finding the best, must-try local dishes — and these eats do not disappoint.

Barbecue

A&M BBQ

Barbecue powerhouses Kris Austin and Marvin McKinzy teamed up last year for the ultimate Texas ‘cue in Sebastopol. The line can snake out the door, and sometimes they sell out, so it’s good to get there early. “We don’t try to cover up the meat with sauce, so you can taste the time we put into it,” says Austin. 495 S. Main St.,
Sebastopol, 707-888-1315, ambbqllc.com

Ten-Layer Lasagna

Catelli’s

You can literally read a newspaper through each layer of super-thin pasta going into the dish. A family recipe that’s been refined over the years, it has a three-cheese filling of creamy Bellwether Farms ricotta, goat cheese and aged Parmesan. 21047 Geyserville Ave., Geyserville, 707-857-3471, mycatellis.com

Whole Roasted Branzino

Glen Ellen Star

Just about anything from chef Ari Weiswasser’s wood-fired oven is pretty magical, but the flaky, crispy whole roasted fish rises above, especially when served with shaved fennel, preserved lemon and tomato-y romesco sauce. 13648 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen, 707-343-1384, glenellenstar.com

Perfect Breakfasts

Willow Wood Market Café

Since 1995, this charming spot has welcomed west county neighbors for excellent French folded eggs with fontina and basil, or golden polenta crowned with exquisite poached eggs and crispy prosciutto. 9020 Graton Road, Graton, 707-823-0233, willowwoodgraton.com

Lamb Chops

Willi’s Wine Bar

This Santa Rosa institution is a not-so-secret clubhouse for many of the county’s movers and shakers, an office away from home. Lamb chops are just one of the many small-plates favorites here, along with curried crab tacos and roasted carrots. 1415 Town and Country Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-526-3096, starkrestaurants.com

Jok Porridge

Jam’s Joy Bungalow

We’re special fans of this morning hangover helper: a tummy filling rice porridge with spicy ginger, herbs, fried shallots, a custardy 6-minute egg, and khao man gai sauce, a traditional Thai street-food favorite. You’ll never look at oatmeal the same way again. While the storefronts have closed, Jam’s Joy Bungalow offers catering for all types of events, as well as occasional pop-ups around the county. Reach out on Instagram for more details. 707-843-9001, jamsjoybungalow.com

Blue corn tacos

Quiote

Handmade blue corn tortillas topped with fresh rock cod, cochinita pibil with pickled onions, or al pastor and salsa verde, always make our “best tacos” list. Add a side of guacamole with serrano chiles and crispy raspadas or brothy Rancho Gordo beans to get the full experience. 121 Kentucky St., Petaluma, 707-774 -6130, quiotemx.com

Pizza

Psychic Pie

Rectangular, Roman-style pizza with a fermented sourdough crust is served by the inch (you tell them how much you want) at this casual slice house in Sebastopol. The picks switch up weekly, and there are always veggie and vegan types in addition to meatier options. New this winter? They’re trying out round pies every once in a while — what a concept! 980 Gravenstein Highway S., Sebastopol, 707-827-6032, psychicpie.com

The post 8 Must-Try Dishes in Sonoma County appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

From our food blogger, Heather Irwin of BiteClubEats.

As the year comes to a close, it’s always fun to look back at the best dishes of the year — or at least my favorites.

Choosing the best from hundreds of meals isn’t easy, and admittedly is rather subjective, but a few dozen rise to the top as truly special.

Anyone who’s dined with me knows the gratified look I reserve for these remarkable, memorable dishes and the hand clapping that usually accompanies it (I’m not subtle). So, what makes a great dish for me? It’s a combination of flavor, mouthfeel and elements of surprise that I find most delightful — which can come in almost any form, and at any price point.

Some are from fancy restaurants you know, others from food trucks or strip mall finds, or even a standout dish from a restaurant that I didn’t otherwise find memorable. For example, on the affordable end of the spectrum, I fell in love with a vegan chia parfait from Seed on the Go, Indian flatbread at the Outside Lands music festival in San Francisco and a bowl of shakshouka (basically eggs in a spicy, Mediterranean tomato sauce) from Goodman’s Jewish Deli. At the luxe end, a beautiful plate of seared foie gras at Valette captured my heart.

In the end, however, there had to be a single winner, and this year it was a Liberty Farms duck leg with pomegranate, baba ganoush and pistachio dukkah at SHED Cafe in Healdsburg. A perfect Mediterranean dish influenced by local ingredients with kicks of flavor — smoky, sweet, herbaceous and loaded with personality.

“Many dishes on the menu are vegetable-centric,” said Chef Perry Hoffman, who recently took over as Culinary Director, and created the dish. “The duck is almost an afterthought, but it works perfectly,” he said.

It was hard to pick a single favorite dish from Hoffman’s menu, with each course a surprise and delighted featuring root vegetables from nearby farms, fresh herbs and high-end plating, including dry farmed roasted potatoes with garlic aioli, carrot salad with bee balm and yogurt; wild fennel soup with smoked salmon (now off the menu until April) and braised beef cheeks with persimmons.

After multiple courses, I remember getting up from the meal and thinking it was one of the most intriguing and unexpectedly wonderful experiences of the year. Prices range from $9 to $25 for dinner.

See all the dishes in the gallery above.

See the original post on BiteClub here.

The post 30 Best Restaurant Dishes of 2015 in Sonoma County appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.