Dungeness Crab season is off and running, couldn’t be more thrilled with being so close to the coast right now. I’ve been messing around with baking, had a bit of starter left over and a bunch of other stuff from a week cooking. So I swooped up some crab out by Jenner and decided to try making crab focaccia with a nice white sauce. It needs some tuning up but will be on my Brunch menus this Spring. I can hardly wait 😊
#crab #seafood #foodie #shrimp #lobster #foodporn #food #fish #crabs #instafood #seafoodlover #crablegs #focaccia #brunchmenu #foodstagram #yummy #dinner #sea #sonomacoast #sonomafood #beach #foodlover #seafoodboil #kepiting #seafoodlovers #foodblogger #dungenesscrab #crabcooking #privatechef #foodgasm
Just Carnitas tonight here on the Russian River. Lovely, delicious, tender Carnitas. This was a good 24 hour run, there are certain things that need to be done a certain way. The guests tomorrow night are gonna be STOKED for sure.
As I always say, “Caring isn’t enough but caring enough is”.
Busy weekend coming up with a lot of ground to cover, let’s go! And thanks @lolasmarkets for the epic puerco.
#cheflife #carnitas #tacoparty #taquero #tacos🌮 #privatecheflife #chefmode #cocinero #cocinacasera #estilochingon #puerco #naranja #canelaentera #laurel #guajillo #chilangochido #chilango #jalisco #tspculinary #carnitasrun #roastedpork #sonomafood #sonomacountyeats #foodbeast #sonomatravel #sonomawine #sonomadinner #westsonomacoast #pinchepuerco #gabacho
Was this really two years ago?!?! Time flies and this little stretch of the Russian River has stolen my heart. There’s a lot to love about this place.
Thank you @monteriotheater for being so awesome.
#russianriver #bohemiangrove #bohostyle #communitytheater #smalltownvibes❤️ #riverbend #sonomacoast #cheflife #chefontheroad #chefstagram #californiaviews #californialove #norcalvibes🍄🗻☮ #sonomacounty #sonomaviews #travelcalifornia #adventurecalifornia #californiacoast #riverbibes #monteriotheaterandextravaganza #sonomacountywine #sonomavacation #sonomatrip #russianriveradventures #sonomalove #healdsburg #santarosa #experiencerussianriver #riotheater #westsonomacounty
Bet I’ve done this a couple thousand times over the past 30-ish years. The first time I ever cooked a Tri Tip was at @vermilion_valley_resort when Butch owned it, he was the one that started the weekend BBQ. The crew at @highsierrapackstation taught me the subtleties. Combined with my late brother Chris’ marinade (more on that later) it turned into quite the menu staple in the mountains and at home. There’s an art to trimming these, I like ‘em with just a few patches of fat and all the silver skin gone. But you can’t compare the end results to the magic that happens in the High Sierra.
If someone would have told me all those years ago I’d be prepping one of these with a fancy Japanese knife I would have laughed right in their face btw. But I have expanded my culinary horizons :-)
#tritip #californiabeef #beefbeefbeef #beefitswhatsfordinner #beefiness #beefariffic #beefcake #beefeater #tritiptuesday #tritipmafia #cheflife🔪 #privatechef #sonomafood #sonomacounty #sonomastrong #beefmaster #beeftrimming #kitchenprep #gyuto #japaneseknife #kitcheninspiration #beefmarinade #yoshihirocutlery #japanesesteel #hap40 #norcalchef #thenewwestcoast #sonomavibes✨ #weekendbbq #chefinthekitchen
I was SO STOKED to see this done today in Santa Rosa. My dear friend @lornalip had a wonderfully cozy Christmas klatch (saw @elisa.uribe.realtor & @the_grime too!) and one of the crew brought a setup for Persian Tahdig. I had never seen it done and she nailed it. That was the most perfectly done rice I’ve ever had - easily.
The longer I do this the more I realize how much there is left to learn, at this point the years are precious. So many amazing culinary narratives around me for decades now, yet even more adventure to come. Can hardly wait for the ride and a chance to knock a few things off the list 😊
#tahdig #newthings #rice #basmatirice #perfectrice #wellplayed #kitchendemo #kitchenvibes #californiavibes #norcalchef #sonomafood #sonomacounty #foodstagram #instafood #foodheaven #learningnewstuff #muchlefttolearn #alwaysbelearning #newkitchenstuff #persianfood #persian_chefs #ricedish #stickyrice #ricestagram #ricerecipes #christmasparty #holidayvibes #sonomafoodies #santarosacalifornia #russianrivervalley
Was out and about prepping for some weekend Chef stuff and decided to throw in a little elfery too. @petalumacreamery does a great job and that Petaluma Gold Parmesan style is one of the best cheeses I’ve ever had. So they made the nice list and got a delivery of Grandma Lola’s Holiday mix from yours truly in Santa’s stead.
This place has a lot of history (as well as an excellent brand) and I was really stoked to hear their story. Bonus round was owner Larry Peter happened to be there “putting out fires” as they say, was really glad I got a chance to make his acquaintance. That guy is a legend plus he’s the proprietor of @washoe.house which is possibly the finest old roadhouse/hotel in the state. Oh, and he was kind enough to hand off some rarities from the cheese room, plus a slab of that epic Parm.
#cheflife #cheeselover #parmesancheese #cheesefactory #cheesemaking #localisbetter #localbusiness #dairymilk #cheesecurds #whey #cheesemonger #petalumacalifornia #visitpetaluma #santarosafarmersmarket #petalumafoodie #sonomafood #chefmode #elfery #christmasdelivery #norcalchef #thenewestcoast #californiacheese #sonomacheesefactory #cheeseislife #cheesecheesecheese #cheeseporn #privatechef #norcalvibes🍄🗻☮ #thefeedfeed #chefsroll
Quick trip this time but managed to get a little Christmas going 🎄🙂🎁🎉
#cheflife🔪 #holidays #christmastree #yuletide #norcalchristmas #cabinchristmas #fireplace #chefontheroad #christmas2023 #sonomachristmas #sonomacounty #sonomavalley #somomafood #christmaswreath #decor #holidayvibes #christmasontheroad #chefchristmas #privatecheflife #goodfriends #christmaslights #countrychristmas #californiachristmas #thenewwestcoast #thingsthatmatter #russianrivervalley #sthelena #santarosa #sonomavibes✨ #sonomachef
Russian River summer with a side order of culinary adventures.
Stoked.
#sonomacounty #sonomafood #thenewwestcoast #russianriver #norcalchef #norcalvibes🍄🗻☮ #chefmode #privatechef #dinnerplans
Thought of this today, many great lessons in this life. Be good, be smart and be centered. Long game always.
#bladerunner #doandroidsdreamofelectricsheep #wisewords #chefmode #headspace #longgame #endgamememes #chefsroll #thefeedfeed #chefswisdom #dontburnout #cooksillustrated #foodandwine #sfchroniclefood #sonomacounty #sonomachef #chefstable #becarefuloutthere #chefsofinstagram #chefstagram #chefs #kitchenlife #backofhouse #souschef #burningbright #cheftalk #realtalk #privatechef #culinaryexcellence #restaurantlife
That was a nice day of fun on the River but alas it’s time to work. Prepping some California Potato Salad and Tri Tip Sandwiches for the #rrff2023 crew @monteriotheater tomorrow. And, of course, always using my late brother Chris’ sort-of-kind-of-but-not-really secret marinade with @sierranevada Pale Ale. Big day tomorrow and heading back to the OC pretty quick. It’s been a great trip filled with all sorts of adventures and really top notch company. Lots of great guests and the food was good too 😊❤️💪🤞👍
Rascal knows what’s up btw, he a super kitchen snack lurker…..
#cheflife🔪 #chefmode #prep #chefsroll #russianriver #sonomavalley #sonomacounty #chefontheroad #privatechef #norcalchef #norcalvibes🍄🗻☮ #sonomafoodscene #sonomastrong #foodandwine #cooksillustrated #takeachef #airbnbexperience #stoked #culinarytales #goodcompanyiskey #foodforthought #thefeedfeed #michelinguide #thenewwestcoast #californiaadventure #westcoastvibes #norcal #foodstagram #thefeels
Took a rainy jaunt up and over to see the fine folks at @chmontelena today. Was quite a spectacular drive with a little bit of fresh snow up top. The word “legacy” doesn’t even really cover this place and I was honored to guest Chef there many years ago before I was even much of an actual Chef. A lot of growth over the intervening years, more than I thought possible. A special thank you to @blanckenseegeorge and @oliviadrinkswine for hosting and the kind company, I’ll be back :-)
(Oh, it was ugly enough out to don my @filson1897 highlanders, I don’t wear them nearly enough. Noted)
#calistoga #chateaumontelena #napawine #privatechef #sonomafoodies #cheflife🔪 #winecountry #sonomavalley #chefsoninstagram #chardonnay #thenewwestcoast #norcalchef #sonomacounty #russianriver #sonomachef #thefeedfeed #chefstalk #chefsroll #sfchroniclefood #michelinguide #jamesbeardfoundation #sonomamagazine #winecountrychef #sonomavacation #sonomafoodscene #sonomaca #airbnbexperience #inspirato #chefmode #wine
