Alexander Mountjoy - Blog & CV

Taqueria el Favorito — Mexican Taqueria 

565 Sebastopol Rd., Santa Rosa
Between West and Dutton
(707)526-7444

This is the authentic, quality, inexpensive hole-in-the wall tacqueria you’ve been searching for in West Sonoma County. Located at the front of a vast, decrepit shopping center, in what would have once been burger joint, el Favorito looks like a dive restaurant of no consequence.  But the fact alone that its hours are 9 A.M. to midnight suggests it is great.

“Maximum of 3 beers sold when eating in,” says a sign behind the register. The jukebox offers a selection of Spanish-language music. Drive-through available. Also in San Francisco.  By Salvador Lopez. 

© Alex Mountjoy 2007

Willie Bird Turkeys
Real Wood-smoked
Natural, free-range, no additives
Sonoma County, CA

Outlet store: Highway 12 at Llano Rd.
Santa Rosa (but near Sebastopol)

(707)545-2832
www.williebird.com

“Willie cracks the corn for his turkeys.  He loves his turkeys,” says a clerk in the outlet store. Founded in 1963 by Willie Benedetti, and now the last independent turkey producer in the San Francisco Bay Area, Willie Bird ships its free-range, all-natural smoked poultry products all over the world: Smoked turkey legs to Japan for the American army, smoked chicken breast to Guam, turkey bacon to Hong Kong.  On the Monday before Thanksgiving, 5 tractor-trailers depart the Willie Bird shipping facility loaded with 8,000 mail order whole birds.

Suppliers to presidents, queens and Marthas, at home Willie Bird maintains a low-key outlet store on Highway 12. The prices are great and the array of turkey products is boggling:  Ground turkey, turkey hot Italian sausage, turkey apple breakfast sausage, turkey jerky, smoked turkey bacon, smoked peppered turkey bacon, smoked uncured turkey bacon, turkey steaks, smoked turkey spread….  

You can also find Willie Bird meats at the best markets in Northern California. A valuable holiday tip is to order whole birds through your local grocer, such as the Bohemian Market in Occidental, or Pacific Market in Sebastopol or Santa Rosa.  The prices are about what you’d pay at the outlet store and you’ll avoid the long lines. In summer, you can find Willie Bird smoked turkey legs at many local outdoor events, like the Santa Rosa Farmer’s Market and the Sonoma County Fair. 

Managed by the affable Beagle Brodsky.

(707)874-2797

All-Natural Sausages
Occidental, CA
 
Panizzera sausages are made by Bob Panizzera according to his grandfather Constante’s recipe and some newer ones of Bob’s own invention. They are made with no fillers or preservatives, and in some recipes with ingredients that only he (being grandfathered) is allowed by the USDA to use, such as fresh garlic and wine.  Because Panizzera does everything himself—from cooking and packing to delivering—his distribution list is shorter than a pig’s tail.  Fresh Pannizzera sausages—an especial treat—are available only at the Bohemian Market in Occidental.

4100 Montgomery Dr., Santa Rosa
(707)537-6888
www.asianfoodandgifts.com

Fine Asian Groceries & Gifts

Want to impress your family by whipping up Thai Coconut Soup for dinner like it was nothing? This is the Asian market for you. Recipes in the store are free for the taking. And the proprietors are eager to offer advice and even take you around and help you shop. Clean, open and eminently manageable, the pervasive message of this small grocery is that delicious Asian cooking is not hard, not expensive, and all the ingredients are right here. Also featuring a discerning selection of gifts. By Adam and Jay Jay Dodds. Fresh pork buns on Fridays.

Coffee, Baked Goods & Ambiance

© 2007 Alex Mountjoy

Brasserie

Across the street from the Underwood is the original restaurant by the same owners. Willow Wood was recently and tastefully remodeled.   The food is fantastic, though more modest, the atmosphere less formal than the Underwood.  Also offering beer, wine, great coffee to go and an eclectic assortment of fun gifts, the Willow Wood is the best place for breakfast or lunch if you are anywhere near the area.

© 2007 Alex Mountjoy

Restaurant and Bar

(707) 823-7023; www.underwoodgraton.com
Graton

One of the best restaurants in