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The idea for Danny Sorentino’s new CD materialized unexpectedly last July. The local songwriter had just played a benefit concert on the gazebo stage in Cotati’s La Plaza Park, and as Sorentino stood there with KRSH-FM broadcaster Bill Bowker, he mentioned that his very first show took place on that same little stage, not long after the gazebo was first built. “Suddenly,� he says, “I was talking about other places I’ve played in the area. I started thinking about all the places in Sonoma County I’ve had experiences at. And I kind of had this epiphany—that I know Sonoma County better than I know any other spot on the planet. So I thought, ‘Maybe I’ll write some songs about this.’� The next day he wrote a song titled simply “Cotati,� with the catchy chorus, “C-O-T-A-T-I, you can let your freak flag fly in Cotati!� “And then,� says Sorentino, “I just kept coming up with more songs.� The result is ‘Sonoma County Sweet,’ the newest pop-rockfolk-country effort by Danny Sorentino, performing without his usual band the Sorentinos. A nostalgic, surprisingly deepfelt recording, SCS contains some of the warmest and most emotional songwriting Sorentino has undertaken since his 1997 album Family. The song titles read like chapters in a guidebook to Sonoma County, where Sorentino has grown up, raised a family and written hundreds of songs: “Salmon Creek,� “Liberty Road,� “Gravity Hill,� “Inn of the Beginning.� Running throughout the music is the inescapable sense that Sorentino has made peace with his youthful ambitions of becoming a world-traveling rock star. “Sonoma County Stars� in particular takes a lovingly affectionate look at his own feelings about choosing to stay in Sonoma County all these years. “So high in the sky, looking up and wonderin’ why / You did not travel very far / Star light, star bright, there’s no place else I’d rather be tonight / Than under these Sonoma County stars.� “I was surprised at how emotional I was writing these songs,� Sorentino says, looking forward to a show at the Russian River Brewing Co. in Santa Rosa on Dec. 18. “These places I write about, they’re all part of my life. Yeah, I always did assume that someday I’d move to Austin or London or somewhere. But now when I do travel and then come home, I remember why I decided to stay here for the last 30 years. Sonoma County really is my favorite place on earth.� —David Templeton
24
12.08.10-12.14.10
THE BOHEMIAN
Massive windows overlooking a bend in the Petaluma River allow plenty of light to enter the expansive offices that house one of the largest sticker companies in the country. On any given month, Mrs. Grossman’s Sticker Company has up to 500 sticker designs on store shelves worldwide, and on a recent Monday morning, nearly 5,000 miles of stickers wait on spools at the Petaluma headquarters to be packaged and sold. That’s what happens when you’ve been at it for so long. Founder Andrea Grossman began making stickers as early as 1972, continually expanding her product line to suit the growing needs of paper crafters. “Stickers appeal to anyone,� says Jason Grossman, the founder’s son and current head of the company. “They’re a cheap form of art. Kids go crazy for them.� The family-owned-and-operated digs, combined with a dogsallowed policy, makes for a friendly workplace. “Employees like to stick around,� says Grossman, who admits he was fired from various positions at the company while growing up. He returned in 1989 and channeled his passion for manufacturing to keep sticker production to the home base. The team railed against manufacturing overseas, relenting only for products with too much handling to produce domestically. Butterflies, birthdays and Christmas designs rank as consistent favorites year after year, and along with printing colorful creatures, elaborate pirate ships and shiny vegetable stickers, the company branched into labeling 11 years ago. Paragon Label creates detailed tags mostly for local wineries, but “it’s not just a label to me,� says Grossman with pride. “Not everyone can do it.� “It� means using high-quality papers, foil, embossing, digital printing and laser-cut designs to create an accessible piece of sticky art. Comfortable on the cutting edge, Mrs. Grossman’s remains the only sticker company in the nation with a laser built specifically to cut out intricate sticker and label designs. The $1 million machine was built by Lasercraft in Santa Rosa. This technology, combined with a workroom of 10 printing presses, allows for the creation of both the iconic red heart sticker (the first design, by Mrs. Grossman herself) and dramatic silhouettes for high-end wine labels. Outside of the online store, where stickers can be ordered direct from a complete list of designs, customers can find Mrs. Grossman’s stickers at nearly 4,000 retailers worldwide. Mrs. Grossman’s Sticker Company, 3810 Cypress Drive, Petaluma. 800.429.4549. —Sara Jane Pohlman
F74A4½B C74 1445. As long as mankind has been hunting and fishing, jerky has been in existence. By cutting meat into long, thin strips then salting and drying it, humans were able to preserve their catch to tide them over barren winters or sustain them on long treks. Sadly, this once lean, protein-rich staple went the way of the mastodon, and developed into the salty, fatty, super-tough, additive-laden junk food found at quickie marts and truck stops. That is, until Krave Jerky. Leave it to John Sebastiani, a native Sonoman, athlete and member of a family steeped in the traditions and production of good food and wine to reinvigorate a stale market. Inspired by the house-made beef jerky sticks made at Angelo’s Deli in Schellville, Sebastiani and partner Yens Hoj have developed new recipes and methods for making gourmet jerky. “We wanted to do for beef jerky what Ben and Jerry’s did for ice cream,â€? says Sebastiani, a lean, fit man of 40. “We’re athletes, and we believe in the idea of snacking on healthy food that is protein-rich, low in fat and builds muscle, strength and endurance.â€? The sliced whole meat (all their pork and beef is sourced in California) and natural seasonings boast great nutritional content. The jerky is 97 percent fat-free, contains no trans fats, and is high in iron, zinc, B vitamins and vitamin E. In addition to being healthy and delicious, the array of flavors and the moist, soft texture of Krave jerky distinguishes it from any other on the market. A dual-marinating and drying process retains much more moisture than standard jerky, avoiding the chewy, cardboard texture of other products. And, this being Sonoma County, consumers can naturally pair it with wine. From the sweet pineappleorange beef and smoky grilled teriyaki pork to the savory lemon-garlic turkey and chili-lime beef, the flavors progress from mild to more peppery. Blasts of flavor and heat peak in intensity with curry beef, honey chipotle beef and garlic chili pepper beef. Krave comes in three-ounce packages, trim enough to slide into a stocking, or can be ordered as a sample pack of five flavors chosen by the buyer. Better yet, join or give the gift of the “Jerky of the Month Club,â€? and five packages of Krave will be delivered to the door each month for $25. Krave is widely available at chain and independent markets throughout northern California, and is distributed nationwide and sold online. Krave Jerky, 117 W. Napa St., Ste. C, Sonoma. 707.939.9176. www.kravejerky.com. —Suzanne Daly