December 3, 2009 | 
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The benefits of being slow – recognition around the world
Sonoma can definitely regale in being called “Slow-noma” after its designation in Italy this last week by Cittaslow International as the first designated Cittaslow city in the United States. The word “Cittaslow” literally means “slow city” and is an expansion of the Slow Food movement founded by Carlo Petrini in Milan, Italy in 1989 which recognizes the strong connection between plate and planet and seeks to preserve sustainable, local, and traditional eating.
Slow food is about the pleasures of cooking and eating real food with family and friends, something with which we are familiar in the wealth of food and wine available in our local area. Slow cities are those which support people to live a slower pace utilizing traditional methods.
To be considered for membership, only communities of less than 50,000 population may apply, and they are evaluated on 54 areas grouped around six topics: environmental policy, infrastructure, quality of urban fabric, encouragement of local produce and products, hospitality and community, and Citta Slow awareness.
Locally, Virginia Hubbell and her committee including Kathleen Hill, Gary Edwards, and Ken Brown spearheaded the drive for Sonoma to be first. Hubbell, who was on-hand in Italy for the celebration, spoke to Epi several months ago about the “movement (which) describe(s) a community that takes time to plan, to care, and to experience those things that make an area a place where quality of life has priority.” A delegation from Cittaslow International will visit Sonoma in January.
This designation places Sonoma in an international network of 129 towns in 19 countries which have a commonality in the principles which enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors: respect for citizen’s health, appreciation of the authenticity of food, an interest in creating an atmosphere of art, theaters, shops, cafes, restaurants, as well as respect for religious rites and traditions representing the joy of quiet-living.
Slow cities are strong communities which have made the choice to improve the quality of life for their inhabitants. These values support and sustain diversity in local businesses which make the community distinct, eating and shopping locally, sustainability in all that we do, and preservation of our cultural heritage.
On the Trails with Epi
Holiday Gift-Giving
Being the first Cittaslow city in the United States, it is fitting to consider giving food-related gifts for the holidays and support to our local businesses. Here are a few food and kitchen purchases to consider that Epi has found in her travels around town.
Bram – The first all-clay cookware city in the United States, according to Paula Wolfert, and it’s right here in our community. Combine a gift of Wolfert’s new book, “Mediterranean Clay Pot Cooking” with one of the many selections of clay vessels available at Bram. 493 First St. W., Sonoma, 707.935.3717 or 866.970.2726, bramcookware.com
Junipero & Co. – a new company just opened off the square which should please foodies with artisanal local foods, culinary antiques, and vintage wine country mementos. 115 E. Napa St., 707.939.9065
North Bay Made – located with Wine Country Chocolates in El Paseo de Sonoma courtyard and showcases numerous food items available including Sonomics, as well as many oil, vinegar, mustards, preserves, dessert sauces, and other condiments all from local suppliers. Elizabeth has recently opened an annex at The Sonoma Wine Exchange. 414 First St. E., Sonoma, 707.933.4475, northbaymade.com
The Olive Press – has released their new “pour and store” tins with 500ml of their award-winning extra virgin olive oil available in all the varieties and blends they make including their citrus oils.
24724 Arnold Drive, 707.939.8900, theolivepress.com. Open daily 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Readers’ Books – specializing in food and wine books among others, there’s always a book available that’s on your gift list. On Friday, Dec. 4 at noon, Claudia Pruett will be showcasing her book, “Cooking Dinner: Simple Italian Family Recipes Everyone Can Make.” Open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. everyday except Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 130 E. Napa St., 707.939.1779, readersbooks.com
Sign of The Bear – has many kitchen items any cook would love, including a current sale on some All-Clad stainless pans, consistently rated tops in cookware products. Perhaps it’s time for an upgrade in kitchen cookware or a gift to foodie friends. 435 First St. W., 707.996.3722.
Sonoma Tabletop Giftware Outlet –factory-direct outlet store featuring table linens, glassware, ceramic serve-ware, wine accessories and more. Open Tuesday – Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 21660 Eighth St E., Sonoma, 707.935.9652, sonomatabletop.com
Sonoma Valley Olive Oil Company – only Sonoma Valley produced olive oil are sold with all profits going to Sonoma Valley Education, art and music programs. Contact Gary Edwards, Sage Marketing, 525 First St E., 707.939.9394 or the Willmar Center, 583 First St. W., 707.935.1946
Sonoma Wine Hardware – wine-related gifts and accessories, glassware and antiques. 536 Broadway, 707.939.1694
Summer Vine – home accessories which reflect the Sonoma lifestyle. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, 100 W. Spain St., 707.933.8810.
Tiddle E. Winks Vintage 5 & Dime – collectibles, fun memorabilia, old time candy and one-of-a-kind gifts from an old-fashioned dime store which encourages a trip down memory lane. 115 E. Napa St., 707.939.6933
Vella Cheese Company – nothing could be finer than a gift of award-winning artisan cheeses. 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 315 Second St. E, 707.938.3232.
This week featured businesses in the city of Sonoma. If you have a food-related business in Sonoma or the Valley and would like mention, let Epi know at epi@pattiwilliams.com
Let us shop locally for our gift giving this holiday season and share with family and friends the food and wine products of the Sonoma Valley.
The Best of the Sonoma Valley Experience
restaurants and wineries
Sonoma Valley’s Vintner’s & Growers Alliance 2009 Holiday in the Vines – now through Sunday, Jan 3
Sonoma Valley wineries celebrate the holidays with seasonal events, after-hours celebrations, gift shopping, and winemaker dinners. See the events calendar at sonomavalleywine.com
The Third Annual Gingerbread Winery Contest is the Holiday in the Vines signature event, and participating wineries will produce extravagant gingerbread likenesses of their winery. Through Dec. 31, the gingerbread wineries will be on display in tasting rooms around the valley. Visit each one for gifts, and vote for this year’s winner. Participating wineries include Anaba Wines, 60 Bonneau Road, Sonoma, 707.996.4188; Arrowood Vineyards & Winery, 14347 Sonoma Highway, Glen Ellen, 707.935.2600; Chateau St. Jean, 8555 Highway 12, Kenwood, 707.833.4134; Cline Cellars, 24737 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, 707.940.4030; Jacuzzi Family Vineyards, 24724 Highway 121, Sonoma, 707.931.7575; Kenwood Vineyards, 9592 Highway 12, Kenwood, 707.833.5891; Larson Family Winery, 23355 Millerick Road, Sonoma, 707-934-4090; Little Vineyards Family Winery, 15188 Highway 12, Glen Ellen, 707.996.2750; Nicholson Ranch, 4200 Napa Road, Sonoma, 707.938.8822; Robledo Family Winery, 21901 Bonness Road, Sonoma, 707.939.6903; Roessler Cellars, 380 First Street W., Sonoma, 707.933.4440; Viansa Winery & Marketplace, 25200 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, 707.935.4700
Landmark Vineyards: Complimentary Concert Series – Saturday, Dec. 5, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Congratulations are in order to Landmark Winery for their 19th ranking on the Wine Spectator 100 for 2009 for their 2006 Steel Plow Syrah. Landmark has also partnered with Redwood Empire Food Bank and will be collecting nonperishable foods now through the end of the year. In exchange for your donation, Landmark will waive the $5 tasting fee. This week’s performer is Rue Manouche. 101 Adobe Canyon Road, Kenwood, 707.833.1085, landmarkwine.com
Jacuzzi Family Vineyards: Vox Populi Concert – Sunday, Dec. 6, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
A Sonoma-based choral group which sings sophisticated harmony driven rock n’ roll from the 1960’s and 1970’s, Vox Populi will perform in this free concert. Bring a canned or packaged food donation to support the Friends in Sonoma Helping weekly food basket efforts. Drop off food donations through Dec. 15. 24724 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, 707.931.7575, jacuzziwines.com
Roche Winery and their horseback riding vineyard tour were recently featured in The Wall Street Journal. This one-and-a-half hour guided tour roams through a scenic, private valley and over vine-covered hilltops, passing through more than 120 acres of vineyards with a view of the San Pablo Bay. For more information, contact horsenaround@rochewinery.com. Roche Winery Tasting Room is located just off the square at 122 W. Spain St., Sonoma 707.935.7115.
Anaba Winery’s “Ugly-Sweater” Saturdays – all Saturday’s in December, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Wear your “ugly-sweater” to Anaba during the holidays and receive free wine tasting and 5 percent off any wine purchase. Anaba Tasting Room, 60 Bonneau Road, Sonoma, 707.996.4188
The Cave Wine Bar is offering a special half-price bottle and by the glass list through the month of December on Fridays and Mondays if you mention you read this column. Stop by and see Thomas McGlone and experience this unique wine tasting bar and restaurant. 524 Broadway, Sonoma, 707.996.1619
Up & Down the Valley
organization events
Congratulations to the Sangiacomo family of Sangiacomo Vineyards and the family of founder Mary Fasio of Mary’s Pizza Shack, who are among the 2009 Sonoma County Spirit Award Honorees being honored today at the Ninth Annual Spirit of Sonoma County Award luncheon for their contribution to the economic development and enhancement of our community through their time and expertise in support of local business and helping others.
Sonoma Ecology Center Nathanson Creek Preserve restoration – Saturday, Dec. 5, 9 a.m. to noon
Volunteers are requested to install native plants and all skill levels as well as children are welcome. Meet at Nathanson Creek behind Adele Harrison and Sonoma Valley High School. RSVP to Cassandra Liu, 707.996.0712 x104.
Holiday Art Sale at The Community Center – Friday, Dec. 4, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 5, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Ceramics Department’s annual sale presents hand-made works of art from its many teachers, professional artists and students. There will be many one-of-a-kind holiday gifts available including pottery, monoprints, scarves and others. Sonoma Community Center Room 110, 707.938.4626 x4
Other Community Center events include:
Wreath Making class on Saturday, Dec. 5 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., Call 707.938.4626 x1 to confirm.
Sponsored by The Sonoma Classical Music Society, the Slavyanka Men’s Russian Chorus will be performing Sunday, Dec. 6 at 3 p.m. in Andrews Hall. Tickets available through Readers’ Books, Pharmaca, or at the door on the day of the event.
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, directed by Jim Kent will play Dec. 10 through 13, Dec. 18-19 and Dec. 22. Tickets are limited and are available at Sonoma Community Center, Readers’ Books, and Pharmaca. Sonoma Community Center, 276 E. Napa St., Sonoma, 707.938.4626
Eating with the Seasons
In search of local, seasonal, and sustainable food
Kathy Anderson has returned to the Friday market with her special holiday wreaths. Also, bay and chili pepper wreaths are available from Juli Ortiz.
Oak Hill Farm has salad mix, carrots, onions, garlic, celery, celery root, kale, chard, shallots, watermelon radish and beets, including the Chioggia variety which is red and white striped as well as broccoli, white and purple cauliflower, brussels sprouts and parsnips. Winter squash is available as well as arugula, purple topped turnips, collard greens and kohlrabi, parsnips and Savoy cabbage and fennel.
Juli Ortiz with Ortiz Brothers has red and green cabbage, Walla Walla onions, radishes, parsley, pod peas, tomatoes, mint, chard, carrots as well as yellow wax beans, scallions, leeks, cauliflower, young broccoli, eggplant, head lettuce with large fluffy outer leaves, tomatillos and pacilla peppers as well as carrots, arugula and spinach.
Steve from Mt. Moriah has grapes, pink lady and Fuji apples, and cherry apple juice.
This week The Patch has bell peppers, red potatoes, sweet Gypsy peppers, Blue Lake and Romano beans as well as red and white onions, squash, cucumber, carrots, and eggplant, melons, and heirloom tomatoes, and several varieties of winter squash. Pumpkins, gourds and corn stalks are available at The Patch on Second Street East.
Ed Miller and Anne from Twin Peaks have pomegranates, apples and three varieties of persimmons: hachiya, fuyu, and amagaki, an old-style Japanese chocolate persimmon, Meyer lemons and dried fruit including peaches, pears, figs and persimmons.
Gary Peter brings organic cheese offerings each week from Spring Hill Cheese Company which produces over 30 varieties of cheese, as well as sweet creamery butter.
Sheana Davis will have her signature cheese, Delice de la Vallee mixed with fall harvest pear and nutmeg and sun-dried Oak Hill Farm tomatoes and olive oil. If you mention this column, receive $1 off your Delice de la Vallee.
Hector Alvarez of Hector’s Honey has all kinds of honey products including fresh bee pollen and candles, squash, onions, tomatoes, garlic, tomatillos, eggs and Bartlett pears. His apples include Arkansas Black, Fuji and Golden Delicious and hachiya persimmons are available. Alvarez won Best of Show at the Harvest Fair in Santa Rosa for his Eucalyptus Honey. Ask for a sample.
Linda Carniglia of Mini Farm Products is at Friday’s market with her fresh mini greens including wheat grass, sunflower greens, pea greens, buckwheat salad and birdie greens. This week she will be selling cut varieties so stop by for a taste.
Buchanan Hollow Nut Company has pecans, pistachios, almonds, walnuts, and chocolate covered raisins. Stock up now for the holidays and freeze for freshness all year long. Ask John Buchanan or Michelle DeLucca about quantity discounts for holiday baking.
Nancy Prebilich of Gleason Ranch in Bodega specializes in pastured heritage chickens, pastured pork and grass-fed lamb.
Carson Hunter of Carson’s Catch brings Bristol Bay Alaska Sockeye Salmon to the market from the last, largest sockeye run in Alaska. Monterey Bay Aquarium has given salmon from Bristol Bay the cleanest rating of any salmon in the world. Hunter spends early summer catching and flash-freezing the salmon in a 200-year-old cannery nearby.
Rebecca Bozzelli, Sonoma Garden Park Manager, will have produce available on Saturday morning at the park through this month. This week there will be apples, persimmons, kale, chard, peppers, raspberries, figs, winter squash, and eggplant. 19990 Seventh St. E, 707.996.0712 ext.108 or rebecca@sonomaecologycenter.org.
Jesus’ Flowers and Anne from Twin Peaks Orchards operate a Farm Stand at 1065 Napa Road at Eight Street East from 2 p.m. to dark every Friday and Saturday. They will be selling fresh produce, seasonal fruit, jams, olive oils, baked goods, flowers and more. If you miss the Friday market, there will still be an opportunity for produce over the weekend.
End Notes
Inspirational Quote of the Week
“Regeneration and re-use are priorities rather than modernization and redevelopment for the sake of change.” Cittaslow Charter, 1999.
Let us re-examine our priorities to find those that put the quality of our lives and those of our friends and families first.
I remain, yours truly, Epi Curious, your entrée to the Spirit of Sonoma in the best of food, wine and events in the Valley of the Moon.
Epi Curious, aka Patti Williams, began her career teaching cooking and nutrition classes. Leaving the education field, she has been an entrepreneur and partner in a financial advisory firm, has written a column for a Southern California newspaper on making a home environmentally friendly, and has been host to a series on a community public television station. She brings her love of cooking and a desire to nourish body and soul through the best of food, wine and events in the Sonoma Valley.
Patti can be reached directly at epi@pattiwilliams.com.
From the Recipe Box – Over the years, Epi has spent time cooking with nieces and nephews and one recipe that has consistently been a “winner” to make with children and is a tradition is Snickerdoodles, here re-named for the season.
Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh Cookies
Makes 36 cookies
Oven temperature 375 degrees
Cookie Dough
½ cup butter
1 cup sugar
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
1 egg
½ teaspoon vanilla
1 ½ cups flour
Sugar-Spice Mix
¼ teaspoon ginger (gold)
½ teaspoon cinnamon (frankincense
¼ teaspoon nutmeg (myrrh)
2 tablespoons sugar
Beat butter for 30 seconds.
Add sugar, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Beat well.
Add egg and vanilla. Beat until light and fluffy.
Add flour. Stir to mix thoroughly.
Chill 1 hour.
Shape into 1” balls.
Roll in sugar-spice mix.
Bake for 10 – 11 minutes.
