Our dining editor shares some of Sonoma County’s lesser-known breakfast spots.
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Scrambled eggs and toast won’t get me out of bed, but flash a sticky bun and some hollandaise my way, and I’m racing to the table.
In Sonoma County, the breakfast scene runs the gamut, from simple plates of pancakes to fancy caviar-blinged Benedicts to crackly croissants. And while better-known haunts get plenty of love, you might be surprised by some unexpected breakfast favorites from Petaluma to Cloverdale and everywhere in between.
Santa Rosa
Grossman’s Noshery & Bar: Of course, you’ll find great bagels and schmears at this Jewish-style deli, but insiders know to order the lox and latke Benedict with schmaltz hollandaise – because who needs English muffins when you have latkes? Add caviar if you’re feeling fancy. 308 Wilson St., 707-595-7707, grossmanssr.com
Marla Bakery: Only you can make the decision between the maple sugar and sea salt-dusted crebble (a croissant muffin) or the finger-licking sticky bun. Go for broke and get both — and since you’re there, add a fudgy dark chocolate brownie for later. 208 Davis St., 707-852-4091, marlabakery.com
Dierk’s Parkside Cafe: This humble café has reached icon status in Santa Rosa for its chef-driven menu and twist on breakfast standards. The Country Benedict on a crispy baguette with roasted tomatoes will always be my favorite, but the hash and cinnamon-dusted pull-a-parts are a close second. 404 Santa Rosa Ave., 707-573-5955, dierksparkside.com
J&M’s Midtown Cafe: Former Ramen Gaijin chef Joel Shaw’s weekly specials (like Hot Cross Bun sliders that sell out in minutes) are always a treat, but for traditionalists, the French toast is a winner — fresh ciabatta baguette dipped in egg, milk and cinnamon batter, leaving the inside soft and custard-like and the exterior crisp. 1422 Fourth St., 707-545-2233, jm-midtowncafe.com
Tia Maria: At this neighborhood bakery and cafe, a sweet concha roll stuffed with scrambled egg, melty cheese and thick strips of bacon is pressed in a sandwich grill for a sweet, salty, creamy handheld breakfast sando like no other. Grab a Mexican hot chocolate for the road. 44 Sebastopol Ave., 707-540-9864, tiamaria.world
Brother’s Café: Most folks whiz by this setback cafe, located between a motel and a Mountain Mike’s on a nothing-burger stretch of Cleveland Avenue. Seek it out for the sticky-crunchy Dutch baby German pancake with caramelized apples. Also excellent are the biscuits with mushroom gravy. 3135 Cleveland Ave., 707-541-6345, brotherscafesr.com
Hank’s Creekside Cafe: Expect to sit around reading the paper on Saturday and Sunday mornings waiting for a table at this quirky Santa Rosa breakfast institution. Fluffy pancakes as big as your head, sausage, eggs and huevos rancheros, all served with a side of local cred and a homemade touch. Biscuits are made from scratch, eggs are fresh and the cottage fries are “Oh, my God” good. 2800 Fourth St., 707-575-8839, hanks-creekside.com
Jeffrey’s Hillside Café: Former John Ash & Co. chef brings Wine Country dining to breakfast. Don’t miss their chilaquiles, Southern-inspired biscuits and gravy, sticky bun French toast and cheese blintzes with lemon curd. Lines can get long on weekends, so put on your patient hat — it’s sooooo worth the wait. 2901 Fourth St., 707-546-6317, jeffreyshillsidecafe.com
Criminal Baking Co: You can smell the buttery goodness even before you head inside. Sinful Sandos are a must, as is the Fun Guy, with mushrooms, bacon, spinach, goat cheese, basil and arugula pesto, lemon curd and a baked egg. Plus, burritos, granola, quiche and daily pastries. Owner Dawn Zaft and her team also make plenty of gluten-free bagels and vegan pastries. 808 Donahue St., 707-888-3546, criminalbakingcompany.com
Americana: Farm-to-table breakfasts from the owners of Estero Cafe in Valley Ford — all day! Top-notch dishes include fried chicken with country gravy, omelets, a lovely breakfast sandwich with Estero Gold cheese on a fresh ciabatta, yogurt parfait and pancakes with tasty fresh strawberry mimosas. Find them in Sebastopol (162 N. Main St.) as well. 205 Fifth St., 707-755-1548, americanasonomacounty.com
Rohnert Park
Chila-Killer Café: The name riffs on the restaurant’s signature dish, chilaquiles, a hearty breakfast (or hangover helper) of fried corn tortillas soaked in red or green salsa and topped with eggs, cheese, crema and pork carnitas. Killer portions will either break you or fuel you. 5979 Commerce Blvd., 707-595-1779, instagram.com/chila.killer.cafe
Petaluma
Sarmentine: Brunch with a French accent includes salmon-laden croissants with hollandaise, a side of gratin potatoes that put home fries to shame and bread pudding in a pool of crème anglaise. You’ll also want to leave with a fresh baguette and croissants for dinner. 840 Petaluma Blvd. N., 707-623-9595, sarmentine.com
Sax’s Joint: Giant cinnamon rolls and pancakes the size of a small hubcap are the signatures of this 1950s-style café. Run by sassy sisters, it’s raucous fun but can be hectic on weekends. 317 Petaluma Ave., 707-559-3021, saxsjoint.com
Stellina Pronto: Trying to order a pastry or two at this Italian bakery is futile. You will leave with thousands of calories more than you planned, and that’s absolutely OK. They are that good. Kouign-amann (caramelized, laminated pastries filled with fruit curd) and weekend cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting are top picks, but grab at least one cream puff, a Nutella cornetto and a slice of frittata. 23 Kentucky St., 707-789-9556, stellinapronto.com
Sonoma
Baker and Cook: Fresh buttermilk biscuits and sausage gravy are legendary at this Boyes Hot Springs café. Originating in 19th-century lumberjack camps, this gut-stuffing breakfast warms the heart and fills the belly for a long day of timbering — or couch rotting. A side salad makes the whole thing almost healthy. 18812 Highway 12, 707-938-7329, bakerandcooksonoma.com
Sebastopol
Wild Poppy: The rambling outdoor patio of this family-owned Sebastopol restaurant is the place to be on sunny summer days. The Cosmic Queso with vegan cheese is a favorite, and vegetarians will find plenty of options here. A mix of housemade pastries, including scones, focaccia and Anya’s chocolate chip cookies are ideal companions for a day at the beach or an afternoon snack. 9890 Bodega Highway, 707-503-6332, thewildpoppycafe.com
Monte Rio
Lightwave Coffee & Kitchen: Follow the signs to the Monte Rio skate park, where you’ll find a curious walk-up café. You’ll want to order the warming breakfast shakshuka with tomato-y eggs and whatever pie is on the menu. 9725 Main St., 707-865-5169, lightwavecafe.square.site
Valley Ford
Estero Café: The “classic American farm-to-table” menu has made it a popular stop for diners headed to the coast. Serving locally sourced breakfast and lunch daily, dishes like chicken-fried Stemple Creek Ranch steak with country gravy and greens, Dungeness crab roll and King trumpet mushroom melt with Estero Gold cheese are local favorites. 14450 Highway 1, 707-876-3333, esterocafe.com
Healdsburg
Acorn Cafe: This cute-as-a-bug morning stop is staking a syrup-soaked claim on Healdsburg’s breakfast void with its over-the-top menu. Best bets are tiramisu French toast, a brown butter hollandaise Benedict and quite possibly the world’s most inspired fried chicken sandwich. A tasty low and no-alcohol and cocktail menu and wine list create a Sunday brunch feel even on weekday mornings. 124 Matheson St., 707-955-7001, acornhealdsburg.com
Quail and Condor: Noted by The New York Times and the James Beard Foundation, this outstanding bakery is a must-try. Crisp, flaky croissants that are second-to-none with seasonal flavors include chocolate pumpkin, along with ongoing classics like almond, chocolate and plain. 149 Healdsburg Ave., 707-473-8254, quailandcondor.com
Parish Café: Best known for its Louisiana-style shrimp and grits, beignets and po’boys, Parish has a Southern-style breakfast with its standards (yes, you can eat shrimp and grits for breakfast) as well as bananas Foster French toast and a Benedict with fried Gulf shrimp and Tasso ham. Chicory coffee is a staple. 60A Mill St., 707-431-8474, theparishcafe.com
Cloverdale
Rockin’ A Adventure Café: You won’t find much food, but the thrill of choosing your drink adventure at this oddball coffee drive-thru is a lot more fun. Start with a base of coffee, matcha, chai tea or Red Bull, then add one of 40 different syrups. Clearly, they’re not breaking any new beverage ground, but the wacky shack and endless choices make it a great stop on your commute. 313 S. Cloverdale Blvd., Facebook.com/RockinAadventureCafe
You can reach Dining Editor Heather Irwin at heather.irwin@pressdemocrat.com. Follow Heather on Instagram @biteclubeats.
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Coinciding with Thanksgiving this year, National French Toast Day is Nov. 28. Here's where to find the best of the golden breakfast dish in Sonoma County.
The post Where to Get the Best French Toast in Sonoma County appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.
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While the name suggests a French origin, various iterations of French toast have been created around the world for centuries. The earliest known reference to the dish is in a collection of recipes from the Roman Empire called the Apicius, thought to have been compiled in the first century. The simple recipe, described in the Apicius as “aliter dulcia” (“another sweet dish”), involved breaking white bread into large pieces, soaking the bread in a mixture of milk and beaten eggs, frying it in oil and then covering the golden creation with honey.
Similar recipes that sought to make use of stale bread appeared in 14th century Germany as “Arme Ritter” (“poor knight”) and, around the same time, in an influential French cookbook, Le Viandier, as “tostées dorées,” or “golden toasts.” Today, the French call the dish “pain perdu” (“lost bread”), the Germans still call it “Arme Ritter” (several Nordic countries also call it “poor knights” in their languages), the Spanish call it “torrija” and the Portuguese call it “rabanadas.”
So how exactly did French toast get the name “French Toast” in the U.S.? Is there anything Parisian about the toast? Well, nobody knows for sure. There are several origin stories and legends — according to one of them, a chef named Joseph French came up with his own version of the dish in Albany, NY, in 1724. Failing to use an apostrophe, he called his culinary invention “French toast,” rather than “French’s toast.”
A more likely scenario, however, is that the name French toast was first used in England in the 17th century (perhaps the British picked up the recipe on a trip across the channel) and then crossed the Atlantic Ocean to America with the early settlers.
Whatever the name and no matter the origin of the dish we like to call French toast, making good use of stale bread continues to produce delicious results: a sweet, eggy, golden dish fit for a fancy brunch or last-minute breakfast for the kids.
If you’re craving this breakfast of champions or would like to to celebrate National French Toast Day (Nov. 28) in style, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite spots for digging into this dish.
Grossman’s Noshery & Bar, Santa Rosa, GB Cinnamon Babka French Toast ($18)
Grossman’s decadent cinnamon babka served with two eggs, chicken apple sausage and orange ginger butter. 308 1/2 Wilson St., Santa Rosa, 707-595-7707, grossmanssr.com
Crepevine, Santa Rosa, French Toast La Suisse ($13)
Housemade French white bread dipped in a yogurt-vanilla egg batter and served with cinnamon and powdered sugar. Also great: French Toast Parisienne ($13): Cinnamon raisin bread dipped in a yogurt-vanilla egg batter served with cinnamon and powdered sugar. 740 Farmers Lane, Santa Rosa, crepevine.com
Dierk’s Parkside Cafe, Santa Rosa, French Bread French Toast ($12.50)
Four slices of baguette dipped in an egg and cinnamon batter. 404 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-573-5955, dierksparkside.com
Jeffrey’s Hillside Cafe, Santa Rosa, French Toast Combo ($16.50)
Texas toast topped with powdered sugar and strawberries and served with two eggs and choice of bacon, sausage or ham. 2901 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-546-6317, jeffreyshillsidecafe.com
J&M’s Midtown Café, Santa Rosa, Cinnamon Swirl French Toast ($18)
Two pieces of cinnamon raisin bread served with two eggs and a choice of meat. Also: ciabatta French toast ($14). 1422 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-545-2233, jm-midtowncafe.com
Piner Cafe, Santa Rosa, French Toast Sandwich ($14.45)
Slices of French toast accompanied with an egg and two strips of bacon, four sausage links or half slice of ham. Also great: Walnut Cinnamon French Toast and Raisin Bread French Toast ($14.95). 975 Piner Road, Santa Rosa, 707-575-0165, pinercafe.com
Omelette Express, Santa Rosa and Windsor, French Toast ($13.25)
Griddled French toast topped with cinnamon. 112 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-525-1690; 150 Windsor River Road., Windsor 707-838-6920, omeletteexpress.com
The Twins Restaurant, Cotati, French Toast ($15)
Three pieces topped with brandy cream sauce, powdered sugar and fresh blueberries. 572 E. Cotati Ave., Cotati, 707-242-3075, thetwinsrestaurant.com
Cafe Bellini, Petaluma, Creme Brûlée French Toast ($16)
Thick-sliced French bread in a creme brûlée batter with mascarpone cheese, powdered sugar, berries and maple syrup. 100 S. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma, 707-774-6160, thecafebellini.com
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Pub Republic, Petaluma, Maple Fried Chicken & French Toast ($18)
Egg-battered Texas toast, buttermilk-fried chicken breast, crispy bacon and maple syrup. Take note that the French toast is a weekend brunch treat served on Saturdays and Sundays only. 3120 Lakeville Highway, Petaluma, 707-782-9090, pubrepublicusa.com
Sax’s Joint, Petaluma, TT’s Famous French Toast ($14)
Sourdough French bread dipped in egg batter and grilled in cinnamon and sugar, then topped with marionberry cream cheese. Also great: French Toast ($14): Extra thick slices of locally made cinnamon challah bread; and Little P (aka Patricia’s Favorite; $16): Battered sourdough bread with two eggs and bacon or sausage. The portions are huge, so bring an appetite. 317 Petaluma Blvd. S., Petaluma, 707-559-3021, saxsjoint.com
Skillets Cafe, Windsor, French Toast ($12)
Thick slices topped with powdered sugar and served with melted butter and maple syrup. 8776 Lakewood Drive, Windsor, 707-657-7599, facebook.com/skilletscafewindsor
Costeaux French Bakery & Cafe, Healdsburg, Pain Perdu ($17)
Thick slices of housemade cinnamon walnut bread topped with seasonal fruit, whipped mascarpone and pure Vermont maple syrup. 417 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-433-1913, costeaux.com
Acorn Cafe, Healdsburg, Tiramisu French Toast ($16)
The new brunch favorite Acorn Cafe has a Goguette brioche topped with raspberries, cocoa nibs, dollops of whipped mascarpone and coffee ice cream. 124 Matheson St., Healdsburg, acornhealdsburg.com
The Parish Cafe, Healdsburg, Bananas Foster Pain Perdu ($16)
French-style pain perdu with caramelized bananas, topped with pecans and maple bourbon sauce. 60 Mill St., Healdsburg, 707-431-8474, theparishcafe.com
Basque Boulangerie Cafe, Sonoma, French Toast ($11.50)
Served with strawberry compote, whipped cream and toasted almonds. 460 First St. E., Sonoma, 707-935-7687, basqueboulangerie.com
Sonoma Eats, Sonoma, Tres Leches French Toast ($15)
According to our dining editor, the new breakfast menu at this favored Mexican restaurant is mouthwatering and has a “fantastic” Tres Leches French Toast. The breakfast item consists of croissants dipped in a tres leches mix, griddled and topped with cream and strawberries. 18133 Sonoma Hwy, Sonoma, 707-343-1141, sonoma-eats.com
Verano Cafe, Sonoma, French Toast ($13)
Topped with strawberries and whipped cream and served with fresh fruit. 18976 Sonoma Hwy, Sonoma, 707-931-6837, veranocafesonoma.com
Creekside Cafe, Sonoma, French Toast ($12.95)
Three pieces of crispy sourdough coated in cornflakes. Add seasonal fruit and maple syrup. 239 Boyes Blvd., Sonoma, 707-996-8062
Willow Wood Market Cafe, Graton, Challah French Toast ($18.50)
Challah bread in a Häagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream batter, topped with toasted pecans, pure maple syrup, fresh fruit garnish and powdered sugar. 9020 Graton Road, Graton, 707-823-0233, willowwoodgraton.com
The Wild Poppy Cafe, Sebastopol, Berries & Cream French Toast ($16)
Ciabatta bread with maple butter, sweet cream and seasonal berry lemon compote. 9890 Bodega Highway, Sebastopol, 707-503-6332, thewildpoppycafe.com
Sebastopol Sunshine Cafe, Sebastopol, Texas Style Thick-Cut French Toast ($10.99)
Topped with whipped cream and comes with choice of bananas, strawberries or blueberries. Also great: Coconut French toast ($9.49): Topped with whipped cream and coconut flakes. 124 S. Main St., Sebastopol, 707-827-3935, sebastopolsunshinecafe.com
Howard Station Cafe, Occidental, French Toast ($12)
Texas toast in a special egg batter, with vanilla and a pinch of orange zest, grilled to a golden brown and topped with powdered sugar. 3611 Bohemian Highway, Occidental, 707-874-2838, howardstationcafe.com
Cape Fear Cafe, Duncans Mills, Panhandle French Toast ($12.95)
Topped with cinnamon, vanilla, hot syrup and housemade molasses butter. 25191 Main St., Duncans Mills, 707-865-9246, capefearcafe.net
Baked on the River, Guerneville, Baked and Toasted ($16)
House-baked French toast with berry coulis, vanilla cream, maple syrup and butter. 17071 Highway 116, Guerneville, 707-865-6060, facebook.com/bakedontheriver
Estero Cafe, Valley Ford, Sourdough French Toast ($17)
Thick-cut slices of Red Bird Bakery sourdough soaked in rich custard and topped with whipped cream, seasonal fruit and housemade vanilla cider maple syrup. Similar menu item at sister restaurant Americana in Santa Rosa. 14450 Highway 1, Valley Ford, 707-876-3333, esterocafe.com
Drakes Sonoma Coast, Bodega Bay, French Toast ($16)
Seasoned buttermilk batter French toast with a crunchy cornflake crust, maple syrup and seasonal compote. 103 Coast Highway 1, Bodega Bay, 707-917-0567, drakesbodegabay.com
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Pair your brunch with sparkling wine and OJ at these Sonoma County restaurants and cafes.
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Sonoma County loves its wine, and thanks to brunch, we have the perfect excuse to sip sparkling before noon. We’ve compiled a list of the best local brunch spots for bottomless mimosas. We also threw in a few places that, while they may not go full bottomless, have unique cocktails for those heading out to weekend brunch. Click through the gallery for details. Did we miss one of your favorite spots for bottomless mimosas? Let us know in the comments.
We know “Sunday Funday” can be a great time to let your hair down, but remember to be respectful of fellow brunch guests and restaurant staff (go easy on those mimosas) and make sure that you have a designated driver or take advantage of your local taxi or Uber/Lyft service. Even better, take a ride on the SMART train to and from brunch (here are some other fun things to do close to SMART train stations).
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