Fair Fooding: Biteclub and several lucky food judges headed out for some serious eating (and judging) over the last week for the upcoming Sonoma County Harvest Fair (Oct. 4-6). Five restaurants in five days turned up some high-profile contenders to come up with their most impressive appetizers, entrees and desserts. You’ll have to wait until Oct. 4 to find out the winners, but we can say that Catelli’s 10-layer lasagna (21047 Geyserville Ave., Geyserville), John Ash and Co.’s(4330 Barnes Road, Santa Rosa) raspberry cheesecake and Ole’s Seafood from Thai Time (402 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa)were among our favorites.
‘Tis the season for ripe, juicy heirloom tomatoes and supple figs. We’re seeing both of these seasonal goodies all over menus around Sonoma County. The next best thing to eating warm cherry tomatoes right off the vine? A good late summer BLT.
BiteClub loved the version at Twist. (6536 Front St., Forestville) with toasted Nightingale Bakery bread, thick slices of heirloom tomatoes, slab bacon, fresh lettuce and mayonnaise. Because sometimes simplicity makes for the best of dishes. We’re also loving all the fig dishes that seem to be cropping up, including prosciutto wrapped figs with arugula and melted blue cheese at Catelli’s and of course, the gold standard, the fig salad at The Girl and The Fig (110 W. Spain St., Sonoma). Got an excess of figs in your yard? We found great recipes online for homemade fig bars, fig clafoutis, fig brandy, honey fried figs and fig crostini. But our favorite? A good sliced fig with a dollop of mascarpone. Heaven.