Best Mexican Food in Healdsburg

I met Nista at the music in the plaza series that plays after the Farmer’s Market on Tuesday evenings. I’m just wandering around looking for a good picture and I stumble (almost literally) over Ronald (a friend I know from snowboarding). I laugh and ask if I can crash his blanket.

He introduces me to his colleagues. He’s a winemaker at Jordan Winery and everybody on the blanket was somehow connected to Jordan. I felt a bit out of place. One girl asks where did I work? And I answer that I am an independent. I don’t work at any winery–nor in the wine business in general. She grabs my shoulders with both hands and exclaims: “Wow. I’ve heard about people like you, but I didn’t really believe you existed.”

We both laugh.

Ronald eventually introduces me to Nitsa. She’s bubbly and smiley and I like her immediately. When she asks what I am doing, I tell her about this website and what I’m trying to do here. She thrilled and her reaction gives me some confidence. She starts talking: “If you want to know anything about the restaurants here, talk to me.” She uses her thumbs and points at herself. “I’ve been out and about with my husband for two or three years. WE KNOW what’s what on the menus.”

I ask her to clarify.

“Mexican, for examle,” she says. “Mexican. If you want a good taco, you have to try the Al Pastor taco at El Sombrero. If you want the best enchilada, Taqueria Santa Rosa for sure. The cheese enchilada. And they have THE BEST salsa. THE BEST salsa in town.

She’s animated and continues: “And El Taco Grande (and motions in the direction of the Longs Plaza), you have to try the Wet Willi at El Taco Grande.

I raise an eyebrow and question: “Uh…what is a Wet Willi?” I’m not sure if I actually want to hear the answer.

“Oh.” she laughs. “It’s a burrito. Actually, it’s a chili relleno, fried and rolled into a burrito. And it’s big enough for two people. For the entire day! That’s all you need to eat,” she emphasizes. “ALL DAY!”

On Being Chardonnay

[I saw the film Bottle Shock yesterday. I quite liked it. I'll probably see it again today and take my notebook so I can take notes and say something intelligent about it. It did remind me, however, of this entry I wrote on YukonJen.com a few years ago...On Being Chardonnay.]

A friend and neighbour Paul Brasset has been a winemaker in Sonoma County for over thirty years. Over those thirty years, he has won the Sonoma County Sweepstakes award for his Chardonnay (more than once). He has recently started selling wines from his own cellars (Bluenose Wines), but has started with only Syrah and Zinfandel. I asked him why he doesn’t sell a Chardonnay?

According to Paul, Chardonnay takes more. It takes more to grow the grapes. It takes more to harvest the grapes correctly. It takes more to process the grapes and create the wine. Chardonnay takes more energy. Chardonnay takes more refrigeration. Chardonnay takes more attention. It simply takes more to create a good Chardonnay. His Chardonnay leaves a clean, fresh, crisp palette. Unlike the robust, meaty, lingering palette of a Zinfandel, it takes more to be less.

When I heard this explanation, I decided that I was going to be Chardonnay. I was going to do more. I was going to be more. I was going to ask more (of myself and of other people). I was going to be a good Chardonnay. Clean. Crisp. Now.

When I tried this theory out on a few people, one person mentioned in an email:

>”…I wish you all the best with your quest to become
> chardonnay. When all you drink is fine wine it may
> seem as common as tapwater. Some prefer water to
> kool-aid. Some crave pure glacier water much more
> than kool-aid, or the finest of wines, chardonnay and
> champagne included…”

So, then I started thinking about my experiences with glaciers and glacier water. Now, I’ve been thinking I might aspire to be glacier water instead of Chardonnay. Here is what I think when I think about glacier water (based on specific visuals of the Dyea River, Skagway Alaska, the Yukon River, and the Kluane River in the Yukon Territory): Pure. Natural. Rich in minerals and nutrients (substantial but crystal clear). Earthy. Honest. Firm but fluid. Flexible. Travelling. Moving. Independent. Enduring. Essential. Real.

I tried my glacial water theory out on a few people. Yet another person considered that, effectively, I should be Chardonnay made from glacier water. Who makes wine in the Yukon?

[Picture of a glacier feeding the Dyea River, Skagway Alaska. Originally Published 22 May 2005 on YukonJen.com]

Take a break from your labors at Bella!

Saturday, August 30th and Sunday, August 31st, 11-4:30

We hope to see you this weekend at Bella winery. Quit toiling, come on up to the winery and enjoy the lawn, wine, food and music. In the caves we’ll have a barrel taste, current and new release zinfandel, syrah and petite sirah. Food bites will be paired with our juicy red wines. Homemade macaroni and cheese with a crispy crust goes great with our big red wines and our Late Harvest zin will go up against dark chocolate cupcakes. Yum!

Throw a blanket on the lawn, enjoy the view and listen to the rock-a-boogie sounds of Mitch Woods and his Rocket 88s. Tasting, food pairing and music is on Saturday and Sunday and is $10 per person. Wine club members and up to four friends are free!

You may also view our entire website calendar for the latest information on Bella events and wine club shipments.

See you soon,

The Bella Crew
866.572.3552
www.bellawinery.com

Invitation from the Bacigalupi Vineyards and John Tyler Wines

Hi, my name is Nicole Bacigalupi and I am the third generation in a grape growing and winemaking family here in Healdsburg, California. My grandparents—Charles and Helen Bacigalupi—founded our vineyards in Russian River Valley in 1956, and were pioneers in the wine industry. Since then, they have been growing and providing wineries with world class fruit. In 1973, our vineyard provided some of the Chardonnay fruit that went into the Chateau Montelena Chardonnay that won the Paris tasting in 1976, and put the California wine region on the map.

We are excited to announce that our vineyards and new wine label (John Tyler Wines) will be open to the public for the FIRST and ONLY time this August 15th-17th as part of the Grapes to Glass event in the Russian River Valley. Our label, John Tyler Wines, specializes in the production of Pinot Noir and Zinfandel wines with the fruit from the Bacigalupi vineyards. We will be able to share the history of our vineyards, our newest wines, as well as selections of our library wines.

The name John Tyler represents the union of our two families who have been involved more than five decades in winemaking and grape-growing tradition in Sonoma County. My father, John Bacigalupi, is the skilled farmer of our historic Bacigalupi vineyards. My cousin, Tyler Heck, is our winemaker and comes from a well known wine making family. His grandfather Paul Heck was the late owner of Korbel Champagne Cellars.

On behalf of The Bacigalupi Family and John Tyler Wines please come join us for a historic day of wine tasting under the oak trees.

Who: Bacigalupi Vineyards and John Tyler Wines
Where: 4375 Westside Road; Healdsburg, Ca 95448 (map)
When: 10:00AM – 4:30PM
Visit us online at: johntylerwines.com

Alex over at the Costeaux Bakery Cafe

I was over at the Costeux Bakery Cafe on Monday afternoon just to get out of the house and have a bite to eat. I’d taken my laptop because I knew Costeaux has an open WiFi connection. I thought I could get caught up on some emails and maybe make a post.

I’d also talked to Abby (the marketing and PR person) last week about their menu and found out that Costeaux offers a full breakfast all day long. And what is the most important meal of the day? I figured if I were only going to eat one meal, it might as well be breakfast. I indulged in their quiche.

Deep-dish quiche designed with Black Forest ham, bacon, mushrooms, onions, zucchini, spinach, bell peppers, Jarlsberg and cheddar cheeses with a side of seasonal fresh fruit.

As I was finishing up my meal, the staff was tidying up their shift. Alex asked if I would like anything else. A coffee? A treat? He was incredibly courteous. He even just said: “I’d recommend the chocolate chip or chocolate crinkle.” (I’m pretty sure he was talking about a sweet treat to go with the coffee).

And because he offered that recommendation, I asked him what else he’d recommend on the menu. He smiled and immediately replied: “Oh. The chibatta. It’s on the special menu sometimes.” Then he said: “The chicken sandwich.” I’m sure if I’d let him, he would have just rattled off the complete menu.

I’ve been over to Costeaux a number of times lately–because I like their breakfast menu. I’ve been trying something different every time.

It’s all good. And, to top it off, they have baked goods, breads, wedding cakes, catering services, and boxed lunches. Pick up and delivery.

How can you go wrong with any of that?

A Divine Affair: Purveyor of Fresh Local Perishables

As part of my Day-in-the-Life multi-media event last month, I ran into Divine Affair and to ask them to remember to take pictures and snapped this one of my own.

I can’t remember when Divine Affair opened, but they are relatively new in Healdsburg — as a dining entity. I’m sure they’ve been around as a catering entity.

If you end up either inside or on their back patio, I recommend the roast chicken (which–when you ask them, they claim to be the best roast chicken this side of the Rockies). I can’t lay claim that I’ve tasted ALL the roast chicken this side of the Rockies, but I can attest that they offer pretty damn good chicken.

The day they mentioned it to me…I was walking around promoting the Day in the Life event. I talked to Kahleen a bit about pictures. And her mum (pictured right in this photo) mentioned the chicken.

As I left the premises (to continue promoting), they must have been roasting the chicken, because that was all I could smell on the way out.

I returned later–because I just couldn’t get it out of my head–and tried it.

Yes. It’ is pretty damn good chicken.

Todd Reed: A Ranch Hand’s Day

I met Todd at a birthday party for a mutual friend. He sent me his photo submissions with the following text:

Hi Jennifer,
thanks for doing this project. I’ve talk to a lot of people who are really excited about what you’re doing. My name is Todd Reed, we met at a birthday party a couple of weeks ago. I’m the head gardener at the Bishop’s Ranch but I also do ranch work for some other people, mostly in the westside road area. I thought I’d share a few of the ranchy things I did today.

I also want to introduce you to a woman named Liz Schmidt, she’s a writer and a lot of her family lives in the Yukon.

Have a great Healdsburg day!

Five Ways to Stay Cool in Healdsburg

It was roasting yesterday. Absolutely roasting. I thought it would be fun to think of a few ways to stay cool in Healdsburg.

The fountain in the Healdsburg Plaza is the first cool thought that comes to mind. You can always take a minute and join the children. Just jump right in. That’ll certainly cool you off.

You can also buy an inner tube from Big O Tires and take it on up to Del Rio Beach and float down the river to Memorial Beach. Last time I checked, Big O was selling tubes for $15.

Rent a canoe or kayak from River’s Edge and spend some time on the Russian River north of Healdsburg. You can rent for a few hours, a day, or even two.

Rent an inflatable kayak from Soar’s and spend some time on the Russian River south of Healdsburg. I did this last year and had a pretty good time.

Finally, when it’s simply too hot in Healdsburg, you can always just putter on out to the Sonoma Coast and enjoy that huge air conditioner called the Pacific Ocean.

The Best Poke in Town: A Day in the Life of an Acupuncturist

Healdsburg Integrative Medicine at 637 Healdsburg Avenue is where I ply my trade. I practice Traditional Chinese Medicine using acupuncture and Chinese herbs to treat my patients for almost any human health condition. When I heard about HealdsburgMagazine.com’s “a day in the life” feature, I jumped at the chance to record a day in my clinic.

First, I called all my scheduled patients to make sure they were comfortable being photographed while in my clinic. Everyone said “yes”. My friend, Margie Grant, was kind enough to be my photographer and spend the whole day with me.

My first patient brought in her four week old baby who nursed contentedly while I treated her arm for carpal tunnel. Before I brought out my needles, I questioned her closely about her general health since the birth of her son. Any night sweats or palpitations? Headaches or ringing in the ears? Anxiety or insufficient milk production? These can be signs of depletion that I can treat with acupuncture, herbs and diet. Long term depletion can compromise the immunity and leave her and her baby more vulnerable to contagious diseases or other complications.

My next patient complained of fatigue and insomnia. She had some surgery this spring and lost a lot of blood. Her tongue and pulse reflected this. Depleted blood can cause insomnia because blood anchors the mind at night. If the blood is weak the mind is not anchored and thus cannot be quieted to allow sleep. We talked about good foods for building her blood. I inserted needles into tonifying but calming points in her wrists and legs and let her rest for about a half hour while I entertained her son in the waiting room. He and I looked at my acupuncture doll; a rubber woman with all the points mapped on her body. Then I packaged specific herbs for this patient and send her on her way.

My third patient had a sore knee. He needs to get this diagnosed by an orthopedist but his general practitioner insisted that he try physical therapy before she will refer him. In the meantime it still hurts and is slightly swollen. I suspect a torn meniscus. Acupuncture won’t repair it but I can decrease his pain and swelling. I recommended he take an Omega-3 supplement like a good quality fish oil or flax seed oil to decrease inflammation.

My fourth patient doesn’t really have any complaints today. She has been improving her health very successfully with diet, exercise and a “change in attitude”. She was curious about acupuncture and alternative medicine in general. After talking for awhile about her health history I began to see a pattern. Her tongue and pulse confirmed it. “You have excess liver, just by constitution. Everything you have told me so far fits this pattern and it is a very common one. You are doing all the right things so keep it up.” I used a point combination that is like the reboot button for the body. It finds stuck energy anywhere in the body and helps it flow freely. After her treatment I felt her pulse again. It had changed significantly for the better. She left feeling relaxed and refreshed and I was pleased knowing that I had given her a successful tune-up.

My fifth patient just had three wisdom teeth removed. She is healing well but her jaws ached. “Will you let me use points on your face? If it is too sore to be approached I can just use all distal points on your hands and feet,” I say. She wanted the facial points and the others. I inserted needles in her cheeks. I also used the Master point for the face and head which is on the hands. I finished with a Stomach Channel point on the feet to drain excess energy from the opposite end of the channel, which is where her pain is located. (Acupuncture is so cool.) She told me it felt much better as she was leaving. I cautioned her it might ache more tonight and then feel much better tomorrow.

Now for my sixth and last patient. She is six months pregnant and had back pain that radiated down one leg – sciatica. She has been seeing a chiropractor but so far it has only hurt more. She said she knows this can sometimes happen and wants to continue seeing her chiropractor. Pregnant women can be tricky to treat, as they can’t lie on their back or stomach, so I often treat them lying on their side or sitting up in a comfortable chair. I also must avoid the “forbidden points” during pregnancy – they can stimulate premature labor. No points in the lower back allowed. That’s ok because I have many ways to treat low back pain. “Tell me when you feel something, like maybe a muscle twitch or a little electrical zing,” I said as I inserted a needle in her hand. “No zing but the baby just kicked,” she said with a smile. The baby kicked for each needle I inserted into her hands and feet. Fifteen minutes later she got off the massage table and said, “Wow, it really feels better!” I saw her that night at a barbeque and she said, “Lucy, it really worked, my pain is gone!”

I tidy up my office and go home. I saw a nice variety of patients today. I hope this piece can give readers a glimpse into the wide variety of health conditions that acupuncture can treat. I also hope it conveys how comfortable and relaxing an acupuncture treatment can be.

View more pictures of my day in the flickr stream.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Already known as an alternative remedy for alleviating backaches and migraines, acupuncture has found a niche in treating the side effects of cancer treatment, diabetes, eating disorders, infertility, nausea associated with pregnancy, skin disorders, emotional disorders like depression and even smoking and alcohol addictions. Relief can also be found for respiratory, circulatory, digestive and gynecological problems.

I am Lucinda Kotter, a Licensed Acupuncturist. I have a Masters degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Five Branches Institute. I also hold California and national certifications in acupuncture and herbology. My family practice is at Healdsburg Integrative Medicine at 637 Healdsburg Ave. Lucinda may be reached at (707)239-1687 for appointments or questions.