Sonoma, CA
As COVID sheltering eased up, a romantic trip to Sonoma was just what we needed. This was our first time back to indoor dining, and Kenzo was perfect. The dishes were all very well balanced in flavor and, of course, beautifully presented. Downtown Sonoma features a central park with plenty of walk/shop/dine opportunities surrounding the park on 4 sides. It’s enough for a day or 2. We stayed at the very lovely Cottage Inn, which was one block off the main area. The room we chose is a former carriage house. It has a kitchenette, which we didn’t end up using, and the noise of the fridge during the night was annoying, but despite this, the whole place felt luxurious. Drives to local wineries are what most tourists come for, and though that was not part of this trip our favorites include: Chandon–many years ago Dan coordinated a business school wine club visit to Chandon, and the pairings of sparkling wine and food really impressed both of us, cementing the idea that sparkling wine is not just for toasting special occasions. It should be remembered for soups and main courses and more. Chandon’s cave and grounds are lovely, but that’s really the standard for any winery in the Napa area; Chandon has good drinks too. Cakebread Cellars–is hands down our favorite. Good wine and the grounds get prettier each decade. We’ve been fans for several decades and visited in May, 2021, with our friends to celebrate friendship and also Sarah’s announcement of retirement. The food pairings are delicious and creative, if sparse.
Our room at the Cottage Inn (Arroyo Suite)
The shared outdoor space at Cottage Inn
Bluefin tuna sashimi
Dan with seasonal hassun
Hassun
The full menu
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