Plant-Based Eating in Sonoma
Check out Sharon Palmer’s guide to plant-based eating in Sonoma, CA.
I just got back from 5 blessed days in Sonoma County, California—one of my very favorite places on the planet. Just over the hill from Napa Valley, Sonoma produces award-winning wines in its own right, and the region has deep roots in agriculture. Rolling hills, charming villages, Victorian farmhouses, farms, wineries, winding rivers, redwood groves, and amazing farm-to-table restaurants are part of the landscape in this region. Above is one of our winery visits—this time of year the mustard is in bloom, and the vines are being trimmed in preparation for bud break, signaling the birth of the new vintage. Sadly, we saw the damage of last fall’s fire in Sonoma County, however nature is bouncing back beautifully. Read on to learn more about my favorite plant-powered things in Sonoma County.
Glen Ellen Farmhouse
We rented a charming little farmhouse in Glen Ellen—my favorite town to stay at in Sonoma County. Charming homes are available just a few miles from the small town, which has good restaurants and a wonderful natural food store.
Glen Ellen Farmhouse
The climate is amazing in Sonoma—cool evenings, warm sunny days. No wonder the local produce in the region is so incredible. Our farmhouse had these cute raised vegetable beds, olive trees, and herbs growing all over the property.
Wild Turkey, Glen Ellen Farmhouse
There is a lot of indigenous wildlife in these parts—we saw deer and all number of birds, such as this clutch of wild turkey, which came by every morning.
Fire Damage in Sonoma County
Last fall’s fire here was devastating, we saw burned out homes, structures, vineyards, and cars all over the place. However, reconstruction is in progress. And the hillsides, trees, and plant life are bouncing back.
Wild Mustard, Napa Valley
Sonoma County is just right over the hill from Napa Valley, so you can easily make the little jaunt to go wine tasting, shopping, or dine out. Napa Valley is bright gold now with the wild mustard. It’s one of my favorite times of year here.
We also tried this gorgeous wine, which specializes in making vintages from fruit of the various mountains of Napa Valley, such as Diamond, Spring, Howell, and Veeder. It’s amazing how each mountain in Napa produces completely different styles of wine—one redolent with acid and mineral, with another one is deep and rich.
The view from Lokoya, looking over the Napa Valley.
Here’s a look at the four types of wines Lokoya produces from the various mountains.
While in Napa Valley, we had to stop by the lovely Farmstead for lunch. I just love their farm to table approach, and the setting is just lovely. Just check out the tractor and farmers market on the property.
While the Farmstead has a disappointingly meat-heavy menu (as many Napa Valley restaurants do), they also always have a few really delicious plant-based options. They always have a vegan heirloom bean dish, which is fabulous. And then they always have a gorgeous, seasonal salad. So this makes me very happy!
You can always count on the Farmstead to have gorgeous seasonal décor, such as these flowering tree branches in milk bottles.
We also stopped by Adamvs Winery in Napa Valley while we were there. Adamvs is one of our favorite wineries—it’s very special. A small boutique, critically acclaimed biodynamic winery in the hilltops of Angwin. They have these sheep on property to promote biodiversity.
We took a vintage range rover up to the vineyard with our friends Mark and Cheryl Purdy during this trip. Such a gorgeous day!
This is one of my very, very favorite restaurants in Sonoma County. It is ALL about local, seasonal food—especially veggies. This photo at the restaurant of a little girl biting into a beet just makes me happy.
Caulilfower, Glen Ellen Star
This is one of my favorite cauliflower dishes on the planet. I talked to the chef while we ate here and told him that he could NEVER take this off the menu, to which he agreed. Apparently, I’m not the only one who loves it. It’s a whole cauliflower head, served with tahini and almonds, and roasted to perfection.
Carrots, Glen Ellen Star
Didn’t I say the veggies were great at this restaurant? Roasted browned heirloom carrots with Middle Eastern spices, nuts, and herbs.
Pasta with Trumpet Mushrooms, Glen Ellen Star
This savory pasta dish with mushrooms was utterly satisfying. The chef told me that he now owns a farm called Glentucky Farms where he sources most of the veggies for the restaurant now.
Jack London State Historic Park
We went hiking one day in this gorgeous park, which is the home of Jack London. You can see his historic sustainable farm here, too. This is a wonderful place to hike, with shaded groves of redwoods, meadows, and beautiful vistas.
Jack London State Historic Park
We made it all the way to the top!
El Coqui, Santa Rosa
We had time to enjoy a quick lunch in Santa Rosa and it was fun to stumble upon this Puerto Rican spot. It was like pure comfort to find so many vegan and vegetarian dishes on the menu, such as this black bean, yellow rice, and plantain dish. Took me back to my time in Puerto Rico.
Shed, Healdsburg
A trip to Sonoma is never complete without a stop at Shed. It is everything I love—plant-based, seasonal dishes, organic produce, artisanal goods, kitchen wares, gardening equipment, heirloom plants, education—all under one roof! We enjoyed these delicious salads for a quick dinner.
Shed, Healdsburg
It was citrus season at Shed!
We also enjoyed a special dial at farm, a restaurant featuring fresh, local, seasonal foods. The plant-based options were amazing, such as this beautiful salad with beets, apples, and cara cara oranges.
This carrot dish was so pretty!
The Girl and The Fig, Sonoma
A stop for lunch at this classic restaurant was a wonderful plant-based experience. The fresh radishes for an appetizer were incredible!
The Girl and The Fig, Sonoma
Look how pretty this chickpea, squash salad is!
Old World Winery, Sonoma County
It was so fun to visit Derek at Old Vines Winery to learn up close how he farms his family’s historic winery. In the back you can view some of the old vines—some of which are 120 years old. The varietals are old world—many of which I’d never heard of. He farms biodyanimically—he doesn’t use trellises to support the vines, and he uses no inputs other than compost and biodynamic applications. It’s all about the soil—supporting a microbial community that increases the fertility. The vines are completely dry farmed. So lovely!
Old World Winery, Sonoma County
Wine-maker Derak, showing us how he cares for his old vines and soil. Just look how beautiful this historic property is.
This is just a glimpse of some of my favorite things in Sonoma County, and there is just so much more. If you find your way out to this beautiful spot in the world, let me know and I’ll share more of my tips.
For more plant-based eating guides, check out:
Plant-Based Eating in Walla Walla, WA
Plant-Based Eating in the Big Island, Hawaii
Plant-Based Eating in New York City
Plant-Based Eating in Austin