marin living march 2022

or v a S & Sip Leave the silver spoon at home, fancy food is for everyone!

Down the block or around the world: expertise matters.

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THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO BE AN OFFERING OR SOLICITATION OF SALE IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE THE PROJECT IS NOT REGISTERED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW OR WHERE SUCH OFFERING OR SOLICITATION WOULD OTHERWISE BE PROHIBITED BY LAW. WARD VILLAGE, A MASTER PLANNED DEVELOPMENT IN HONOLULU, HAWAII, IS STILL BEING CONSTRUCTED. ANY VISUAL REPRESENTATIONS OF WARD VILLAGE OR THE CONDOMINIUM PROJECTS THEREIN, INCLUDING THEIR LOCATION, UNITS, COMMON ELEMENTS AND AMENITIES, MAY NOT ACCURATELY PORTRAY THE MASTER PLANNED DEVELOPMENT OR ITS CONDOMINIUM PROJECTS. ALL VISUAL DEPICTIONS AND DESCRIPTIONS IN THIS ADVERTISEMENT ARE FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY. THE DEVELOPER MAKES NO GUARANTEE, REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY WHATSOEVER THAT THE DEVELOPMENTS, FACILITIES OR IMPROVEMENTS OR FURNISHINGS AND APPLIANCES DEPICTED WILL ULTIMATELY APPEAR AS SHOWN OR EVEN BE INCLUDED AS A PART OF WARD VILLAGE OR ANY CONDOMINIUM PROJECT THEREIN. WARD VILLAGE PROPERTIES, LLC, RB-21701. COPYRIGHT ©2020. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY.

WARNING: THE CALIFORNIA BOARD OF REAL ESTATE HAS NOT INSPECTED, EXAMINED OR QUALIFIED THIS OFFERING.

Quality Interiors, Exceptional Views Inspired by the principles of mid-century modern design, The Park Ward Village embraces and creates harmony between interior spaces and nature. The relationship between the residence and the environment has been carefully designed, and as a result, the connection to your surroundings can be felt in your home and as you move throughout the building.

S T U D I O, O N E, T WO A N D T H R EE B ED RO O M S AVA I L A B L E INQUIRE WELCOMETOTHEPARKWV.COM | 808 400 8983 Offered by Ward Village Properties, LLC RB-21701

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DELIGHTED WITH THE OUTCOME ‘Jennifer and her partner Elliott offered a truly unique, full-service experience, expertly managing every detail including coordinating inspections, improvements, painting, kitchen upgrades, staging & more.

The house looked fantastic, sold over the asking price, and I’m delighted with the outcome. I feel exceptionally grateful for their skillful mastery and impeccable service.”

S. Lawson - Seller

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BOWMAN REAL ESTATE GROUP | 415.755.1040 Team@BowmanRealEstateGroup.com DRE# 01933147

PROMOTION

Choose Your Home Now Eco-friendly, all-electric solar townhomes are selling at Hamilton Field. The information center is open — stop by to learn why this is your chance to own a truly innovative home in a spectacular location.

California’s leading eco-friendly, solar builder, City Ventures, is offering a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity to own one of 75 new homes at the verdant Hamilton Field, called Ascend. The project offers a vibrant community with residential neighborhoods, business centers, parks and protected wetlands. These new homes feature all-electric, solar-powered residences with all the latest touches starting in the $900,000s.

Located just 45 minutes from San Francisco and accessible via the SMART train, this community is unlike any other. Part of the Novato’s Hamilton Field redevelopment, the area boasts 70 acres of parks and 50 acres of community facilities, including a library, gymnasium, recently renovated outdoor swimming pool, sports fields and courts, a 15,000-square-foot skate park and an

outdoor amphitheater. Popular Vintage Oaks Shopping Center and Grant Avenue boutiques are minutes away.

You and your family won’t want to miss this opportunity to own one of these ultramodern and attractive Spanish Colonial–style townhomes. Choose from 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath or 4-bedroom, 3.5bath layouts, each with 2-car attached garages and in-demand interior finishes such as quartz countertops, stainless steel appliance packages, keyless entry and NEST thermostats. Residents will also have access to a community garden, picnic area, playground and bocce ball courts.

Now that so many of us are working at home, this is your chance to escape the bustle of the city and enjoy the clean air, technology and amenities offered only at Ascend.

Info Center located at 802 State Access Road, Novato, CA 94949 | Ascend@CityVentures.com @NovatoNewHomes CityVenturesNovato.com | 415.214.5689 |

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LET’S CREATE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL TOGETHER Approachable Living by Design A nimble boutique real estate firm that specializes in navigating the complexities of buying and selling at a competitive price.

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Since 1989 staging • design • construction • planning • permitting • property management • restoration • legal compliance

table of contents. march 2022

34 82

going places.

76 land & sea.

Tiburon is the place to be for bubbles and a California take on caviar.

78 new digs.

New rules are encouraging accessory dwelling units to pop up all over Marin.

Kermit the Frog, the music returns to Fairfax, food and wine pairings and more.

28 local splurges.

Up your bar cart game with these cocktail accessories.

12 march 2022 marin living.

30 eat & drink.

Make your own ​​French patisserie and chocolate confectionery.

34 local getaways.

There is so much to savor at San Francisco’s Ferry Building.

38 take note.

Start your own band at Mill Valley’s WOW! Music Studios.

82 voyager.

Discover the culinary magic and laidback vibe Ojai is known for.

88 drawn together.

Bay Area arts leaders have started an innovative campaign to welcome audiences back.

from the team.

16 from the ceo.

18 from the creative director.

From left: Mariana Schulz; Khalil Robinson

spotlight marin.

20 news.

¤ £ £

· ·

Å £

¥ · · Á ¥ ·

features.

40

Cheese for All

A new cheese delivery service brings curated tastes right to your door.

44

Food for Thought

Irresistible recipes from some of the Bay Area’s tastiest bakeries.

50

Where to Dine in 2022

From Oakland to Petaluma and San Francisco to Marin, we’ve got the story on restaurants you won’t want to miss.

Sip & Savor Leave the silver spoon at home, fancy food is for everyone!

The delicious offerings at The Caviar Co. in Tiburon; photo by Susie Lacocque

14 march 2022 marin living.

Kelly Puleio

On the Cover

from the ceo.

In Team We Trust it was just never a corporate priority. Creating a new definition of what the proverbial work-life balance means translates to more than balance; it requires harmony. Our personal lives must be integrated with our professional lives. I’m grateful we’ve created something different at five19 | publishing.

Experiencing the camaraderie of our group while we sip and savor is real nourishment for our bodies and spirits. Knowing about the daily struggles we all face while supporting each other is the best sustenance of all. Marin’s restaurants and bars are more than just spots for delicious food and cocktails; they are gathering places for us to share our stories with each other and, honestly, what could be better than that?

Jessica Cline, CEO and Co-Founder

Portrait by Becca Teal Batista; www.stock.adobe.com/Svitlana

DO YOU KNOW YOUR COLLEAGUES’ favorite cocktail?

I do and it feels like an accomplishment. Gathering for happy hours, wine tastings and dinners is important to our company. And it is through these get-togethers that we get to explore what Marin has to offer, and what a treat that is. So, you can understand why our Sip & Savor issue is one of my favorites.

Last month, I went to Indiana to deal with a family emergency for a few weeks. While being away, I realized I had something truly amazing: real support and total trust. I was truly present for my family and I was able to do it because my team supported me, picked up a few tasks, and most important, made decisions I could trust. Feeling the pressure of the day-to-day when you are away from work can be stressful and daunting, but my team gave me the space to be with my family and it was a gift. Making sure that every member of the team has that freedom and trust is one of the reasons we started this magazine. And when we created our company values, we made sure to include those elements — my experience last month showed me how important that is.

The Great Resignation is certainly a part of Covid culture, but while workers have always valued freedom and trust,

16 march 2022 marin living.

Ample.

Textured.

Profound.

A pure revelation of our Spring Mountain Estate.

www.newtonvineyard.com

from the creative director.

Sipping & Savoring

18 march 2022 marin living.

Madcap’s Mt. Lassen Trout, with pickled radish and warm dashi broth

Food is the only art that truly nourishes.

Casey Gillespie Creative Director and Co-Founder

Portrait by Becca Teal Batista; Skyler Greene Photography (above)

SOME OF MY MOST TREASURED MEMORIES involve experiences with food. Nibbling Ladurée macarons in Paris with a glass of Champagne on my birthday, rolling up my sleeves in Barcelona and cooking with a revered Spanish chef, stopping (twice) while cycling from Miami to Key West to eat the world’s most delicious Key lime pie, finding my version of the best pizza in New York (it’s on a pumpernickel dough with ricotta and roasted veggies in case you are wondering) — and more recently, sitting by the side of the road, sun glistening off of Tomales Bay, and eating oysters Rockefeller.

In fact, I first fell in love with the Bay Area after a fateful foodie visit back in the early aughts. The final evening of the trip involved a leisurely dinner at French Laundry featuring the newest and what we thought at the time was a revolutionary culinary delight — truffle foam — as the centerpiece.

I knew then and there I would live in the Bay Area one day (and look at me now!).

For me, it’s always been about more than the food. The perfect meal is an experience that happens at exactly the right time and exactly the right place with the perfect company to bring it all together. Another fitting example: the first time I dined at a winery in Napa — the sun was shining, the temperature was an ideal 75 degrees and every time the breeze blew, I caught a whiff of lavender. To this day, a crisp salad and a glass of chardonnay in the sunshine is one of my all-time favorite meals.

This is the first time since we launched the magazine that we’ve really been able to write about restaurants in a meaningful way. We were constantly trying to find ways to support these businesses during the pandemic, but for this issue we were finally able to send writers to meet the chefs, sample the cuisines and share the joyful experience of eating out again.

So much has changed with the food industry over the last two years, but what we have found while putting this issue together is that the industry is nothing if not resilient. That said, local businesses still need our support. Not just the restaurants, but the small suppliers, purveyors, wineries, bakeries and markets. We’ve highlighted some must-visits for 2022, but there are only so many pages in a magazine — I am sure there are tons of places we haven’t mentioned that are well worth your time and appetite. I would love to know where you are dining these days so feel free to email me or DM me on Instagram (@casey.a.gillespie) — I’m always looking for my next great dining experience!

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spotlight marin.

“Promoting systems like ExtraFood and all of us putting food waste into the right bin can substantially reduce methane production. This is the low-hanging (compostable) fruit!”

The Bungalow Kitchen by Michael Mina’s Chicken Paillard — recipe on the following page.

20 march 2022 marin living.

Courtesy of The Bungalow Kitchen by Michael Mina

— COUNTY SUPERVISOR DENNIS RODONI, PAGE 24

How to Take the Leap to Love Innovative Match founder Cassie Zampa-Keim will set you up for dating success.

How can I become a better texter when communicating with new matches?

How can you set the stage for a good first date?

Texting with new matches should lead to conversations and dates, not endless texts. If you want to become a strategic texter, follow these easy tips: don’t give out your phone number in the first text, personalize your opening message based on the other person’s profile, balance the length of your exchanges with theirs, offer to chat after a few texts, exchange phone numbers, and schedule a convenient time to talk.

Make a physical and mental change before a date to set the mood. Start by dressing for the venue. Not too fancy, not too casual. Switch from day to date mode, even if the date is during the day. Women can switch their lipstick shade and shoes and put their hair down. Guys can remove their tie, get out of their suit, or change their shirt if short on time.

What’s the key to planning a fun first date?

The key to planning a fun first date is the planning itself. You should’ve already spoken to each other on the phone before your date, so if you’re the one planning your first outing, you should have a general idea about what the other person likes. Most important is to pick a location that’s easy for your date to get to, in a public place, and make it a relatively short activity.

What should you do if there’s no chemistry on a first date?

Think about every first date as a job interview. Even if there’s no chemistry, the person you just met can lead you to someone you do have chemistry with, maybe your future love. So make a good first impression, be generous with your time and attention by showing your date you value theirs, and stay open to new connections because they can come from where you least expect them.

Innovative Match, Ross | 415.259.8714 | www.innovative-match.com

news.

Wine and Dine Whether you are cooking for yourself or for a bigger group, this delightfully easy recipe is always a winner. And with a selection of expertly chosen wine pairings this good, it’s enough to make you want to cook this dish again and again so you can try them all. Enjoy! —Casey Gillespie

Cakebread Cellars 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, $29

Conn Creek 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, $36

Chicken Paillard Recipe “Start with a 10-ounce chicken breast, pounded thin to about a quarter inch. Then season with salt and pepper and grill over oak and mesquite. It is served with tangerine segments, a soft goat cheese (we use the cavatina cheese from Andante creamery, but another soft goat would be fine), and a salad of watercress and fennel tossed with lemon juice and olive oil and a little salt. We garnish the plate with our Green Goddess Dressing to add complexity and vibrancy to the dish.” — Chef Joseph Offner, The Bungalow Kitchen by Michael Mina

Cliff Lede Vineyards 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, $28

22 march 2022 marin living.

Montagne Russe 2019 Van der Kamp Pinot Noir, $58

All bottle images courtesy of the bands

St. Francis 2017 Old Vines Zinfandel, $52

Newton 2017 Single Vineyard Chardonnay, Beckstoffer Carneros Lake, $120

Chandon Brut, $24.50

Ram’s Gate Estate 2019 Chardonnay, $76

Patz & Hall 2018 Chenoweth Ranch Pinot Noir, $65

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 2018 FAY Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, $150

Obsidian “Pezsgo” 2021 Sparkling Pinot Noir, $36

Jordan 2019 Russian River Chardonnay, $36

Priest Ranch 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, $22

news.

By Jane Vick

Stafford Lake

Jim Henson and his iconic creation Kermit the Frog, in front of a mural by Coulter Watt

For the Love of Kids and Kermit The 2022 San Francisco art scene is off to a beautiful start with two new exhibitions that should not be missed. The Contemporary Jewish Museum presents The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited (www.thecjm.org, March 31–August 14), featuring artifacts from the master puppeteer’s legacy, including Kermit the Frog. The exhibition is a walk through Henson’s imagination and a look at his work’s social impact. The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco hosts de Youngsters Day Out (www.famsf.org) on Saturday, March 5. This is a kid-friendly extravaganza of art and activities created by Bay Area contemporary artists including Ranu Mukherjee and Yétúndé Olagbaju. Entertainment provided

by Hip Hop for Change. Free to the public.

Ending Food Waste In an effort to comply with Senate Bill 1383, California’s compost law that went into effect this year, the County of Marin plans to set a target for diverting 75 percent of organic waste from landfills, saving 20 percent of edible food for human consumption by 2025. County Supervisor Dennis Rodoni says about the plan, “Often we have challenges we can’t resolve, but getting our food waste out of our landfills isn’t one of them — promoting systems like ExtraFood and all of us putting food waste into the right bin can substantially reduce methane production.”

24 march 2022 marin living.

The Sonoma Water agency is bringing three Santa Rosa Plain wells back online to provide another source of water for Marin County. The three wells are being upgraded so that water can be injected into them, a measure taken in response to two years of severe drought conditions.

These wells have been activated for every drought since 1977, but this is the first time they will be upgraded to allow water to be put back into them — creating a water banking system. If not for Russian River pumping and an October atmospheric river, the North Marin Water District’s only reservoir at Stafford Lake in Novato would have been practically empty this season.

Top left: Kermit the Frog © Disney/Muppets, courtesy The Jim Henson Company/Museum of the Moving Image, John E. Barrett; top right: courtesy of Marin County Tourism; bottom: www.stock.adobe.com/jchizhe

All’s Well With the Wells

echmarin.com

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W E ’ V E B E E N BU S Y E VO LV I N G W I T H YO U R N E E D S .

From elevated in-house design & creative services to a leading-edge marketing platform, to a hand-selected cadre of talented resources—we have every base covered to ensure your real estate experience is second to none. your marin calling

Jon DiRienzo

jon@echmarin.com 415.744.4161 echmarin.com DRE 01354297

Heather Thompson heather@echmarin.com 415.756.2395 echmarin.com DRE 02072881

©2022 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Realogy Brokerage Group LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.

news.

By Jane Vick

Great Wines for Good Eggs Good Eggs (www.goodeggs.com) — the Bay Area’s innovative organic online marketplace — has recently partnered with San Francisco–based culinary group Quince & Co, offering a curated selection of sustainably sourced wines from around the world to accompany its assortment of high-end market goods. This is the first time Quince & Co’s stellar wine collection has been available for purchase outside its own S.F. restaurants (Quince and Contogna). Selections will rotate monthly as supplies last and are available in limited quantities by bottle or case on the website or the Good Eggs app. Happy sipping!

Famous for live music every night of the week, Fairfax during Covid has suffered a tough blow, but the music is once again playing at downtown Fairfax establishments. Joyful returns include Peri’s Bar (www.peristavern. com), now called Peri’s Tavern, fully renovated and with an updated sound system, and 19 Broadway, now known as Mac’s at 19 Broadway (www. macsat19braodway.com), under new ownership and reimagined as a ’20s-style upscale cocktail lounge and piano bar: jazz and drinks, anyone?

Fresh on the scene is HenHouse Brewing (www.henhousebrewing. com), opening its first full-service kitchen taproom in the space long held by Iron Springs Pub and Brewery.

“Music brings people together and as musicians we thrive on that connection,” says musician and Peri’s new talent buyer, Jonathan Korty. “Fairfax has always been a music town and it just didn’t feel right without live music.”

HenHouse Brewing

26 march 2022 marin living.

Chef Jacques Pépin

Watch What You Eat Sonoma International Film Festival (SIFF, www.sonoma filmfest.org) is celebrating its 25th anniversary and has just announced two headlining — and mouthwatering — culinary events as part of the festivities. First is Plates and Places, a culinary lunch featuring chef, TV personality, international cooking teacher and James Beard award–winning cookbook author Joanne Weir. Lunch will include a wine pairing and sweets from Thomas Adams Chocolates and segments from chef Weir’s PBS show Plates & Places, where she travels to her favorite culinary destinations bringing flavor from around the world to your plate. If you are hungry for seconds, then don’t miss the Chefs and Shorts event that includes a five-course dinner to honor internationally acclaimed Chef Jacques Pépin with the first ever SIFF Culinary Excellence Award. Each of the five courses will be prepared by a notable chef and paired with a short film and wine selection. Get your tickets now! They won’t last.

Courtesy of: Good Eggs (top); SIFF (middle); HenHouse Brewing (bottom)

Music’s Back in Fairfax

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Your curated vacation awaits

local splurges.

Raising the Bar It’s that time of year again when cocktails are best enjoyed outdoors with friends.

Here are a few ideas for giving your bar cart a spring refresh.

By Casey Gillespie

4

1

2 3

5

1. We are obsessed with this elegant glassware by Caskada — it is at the top of our let’s-addit-to-the-collection list. Mouth-blown in rural Czech Republic and made of leadfree crystal, it has an archival design that feels positively modern. Available at Columbine Home (Corte Madera Town Center), $51 each

28 march 2022 marin living.

2. Even if you aren’t from the South, it’s easy to fall in love with a mint julep and this Woodford Reserve x Williams Sonoma Cocktail Mix takes all the guesswork out of the preparation.

Just add bourbon, ice and fresh mint and your drink is ready in minutes. Available at Williams Sonoma (The Village at Corte Madera), $22.95

3. Spirits drinkers will appreciate this innovative Corkcicle Whiskey Wedge that is designed to cleverly cool each sip. The ice melts more slowly because the liquid only comes into contact with one side of the ice wedge. Genius! The set includes a double old-fashioned glass and silicone mold.

Available at Sur La Table (2323 Magowan Drive, Santa Rosa) or www.surlatable.com, $17.95

4. No one likes a watered-down, warm cocktail and with this Nicholas Collection copper beverage cup, that is a thing of the past. The walls of the stainless-steel cup are filled with a liquid freezer gel that will keep your beverage of choice the perfect temperature until the last sip. Available at Cork Pops (7 Commercial Boulevard, Ste. 3, Novato) or www.corkpops. com, $26

5. Champagne cocktails feel so decadently retro that they they are now one of our favorite spring sips. And Teaspressa’s Instant Champagne Cocktail Kit has become our go-to. The best part? Each cube contains less than a teaspoon of sugar and only 16 calories — just drop one in your glass of bubbly and enjoy.

Available at XOXO Gift Co. (236 Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur), $30

Cork Pops photo by Trevor Henley; other photos courtesy of the brands

5

Your Real Estate Advisor

Thank you to my friends, family and clients for your continued trust, support, and loyalty. I am so very grateful to be able to work with such amazing people. I appreciate being your trusted advisor with all things real estate. From the obvious of buying and selling to helping with decisions about remodeling, big or small, I am here for you in Marin, San Francisco, and Sonoma.

—Lei Ann Werner

Testimonials Lei Ann was great to work with helping us find a great house for our family in an incredibly challenging market. We really appreciated her ability to help us navigate a market that went from a strong market to a very frothy market when COVID changed pricing. Her expertise and ideas helped us avoid potential mistakes and were invaluable in assessing whether we should enter the fray. Our house has made us very happy!

—S.K. and A.K., San Anselmo Lei Ann expertly transformed a tired house into a very desirable property, leading to a sale price that exceeded my expectations. She brought creative ideas, was mindful of the costs, and her crew executed without any delays.

—K.T., Larkspur There are so many things to admire about Lei Ann. Her integrity, her quality, her dedication, and her communication skills. What I most admire most about Lei Ann is her ability to truly listen and understand the needs of my family. She used our time well; we were focused, and when we found the right fit, Lei Ann helped us make a competitive offer and secure our dream home quickly in this hyper competitive market.

—C.J., San Rafael

Lei Ann Werner

The Werner Group 415.710.0117 | l.werner@ggsir.com License# 00994572

42+Million

$

Sales Volume in 2021

Founder Pooneh Yamini

A Sweet Dream

One local pastry chef and chocolatier proves that the joy of doing what you love is sweeter when you share it with others.

By Sydney Segal

30 march 2022 marin living.

Pamela Casaudoumecq (this page); Melania Mahoney (opposite page)

eat & drink.

Create Your Dream Home Flooring Design Center carpet | area rugs | hardwood | laminate

555 E. Francisco Blvd | San Rafael | City-Carpets.com | 415.454.4200

CSL #746886

An in-person workshop at the Mill Valley Studio

32 march 2022 marin living.

could just leave my kids and fly off to Paris and go to pastry school?” Yamini says, referring to the five-month professional program at L’École Ferrandi that she pursued next. “It just so happened I found an apartment at the same time. My mom was available to help. My husband was available.

Everything worked out so beautifully … I was fearful, but something made me feel like I really need to go, and I really need to do this.”

Now, from her own studio in the Mill Valley Lumber Yard, Yamini radiates passion, sharing recipes she picked up from her own teachers. Translated from French, the name “Mon Rêve” means “My Dream.” “I love teaching so much, and I felt like we’re really missing it in the states,” says Yamini. “The reason I’m here today and built the studio is that this is not a commercial kitchen. It’s really meant for teaching.

I try to simplify the recipes such that anyone can make it at home.”

Her enthusiasm for teaching ​​French patisserie and chocolate confectionery is so powerful, indeed, that it can be felt across the room — and computer screen — because when Pooneh Yamini says Mon Rêve is for “anyone,” she means anyone. Since opening in February 2020, Yamini has offered in-person and online classes

for groups of 8 to 12 people, children age 8-plus, beginners, aspiring chefs, corporate teams and others. Coming up in April and May are two virtual master classes on creating Caramelized Apple Cream Puffs and a Dark Chocolate/Salted Caramel Tart, a great treat for home bakers to add to their recipe collections.

But while Yamini enjoys and will continue to teach workshops via Zoom, she values being in-person most. After visiting the studio for the first time, she fell in love: “I wanted to have a beautiful space. When people walk in, they feel good. It’s an inviting environment.”

The studio is settled among tall trees, lined by large windows and washed in soft gray and orange hues — like something out of a storybook. With top-of-the-line materials on hand, the luxury and warmth of the spacious studio are conducive to creativity.

Above all, Yamini wants her students to feel comfortable asking questions — and revel in the fact that it is never too late to learn something new.

Visit Mon Rêve Chocolate Art Studio at 129 Miller Avenue, Ste. 823, Mill Valley, or contact Pooneh Yamini at 415.569.0057 and pooneh@monrevechoc.com.

art credit

ONE GLANCE AT POONEH YAMINI’S artistic desserts and you won’t believe she hasn’t been baking her whole life.

She might as well have been, with a lifelong love and eye for food that inspired her training at everywhere from the renowned Le Cordon Bleu in London to the award-winning Arsicault Bakery in San Francisco.

The founder of Mon Rêve Chocolate Art Studio in Mill Valley (www. monrevechoc.com) did not embark on her culinary journey until age 46 — after getting married, having two kids and leaving her job in pharmaceutical sales. “I would always look out for the best desserts,” Yamini says. “I was just not comfortable to try it myself until later on in life.”

Following a move with her family from the Bay Area to Dubai, homesickness impelled Yamini to look outside of her comfort zone. She found herself thinking What makes me happy? and turned to cooking as a hobby. At first, she would just participate in pastry workshops when visiting Europe: eclair classes in London during one trip, then in Paris the next. However, the bits and pieces of recipes taught in each class eventually became unsatisfactory. Yamini had fallen in love with French patisserie.

“It’s just incredible how everything lined up. Who would have thought I

N E AL WARD PROPERTIES PRESENTS

A S E C L U D E D E N C L AV E O F U N PA R A L L E L E D B E A U T Y & P R I VA C Y Quail Hill offers the unique opportunity to acquire one of the most significant and private properties in Marin County. An estate of this scale and grandeur will never again become available. Its architectural quality and integrity stand as a testament to owners’ desire to achieve a home set in nature that is unmatched in beauty, serenity, and peace.

Its iconic design continues to inspire and influence architects around the world today—this is the legacy of Quail Hill.

Learn more about the legacy at quailhillross.com or contact Neal Ward at 415.269.9933 or neal@compass.com.

N E A L W A R D P R O P E R T I E S . C O M D R E 0 1 0 5 2 2 8 5

Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01527235. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footage are approximate.

$29M

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8 BED

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9. 5 B AT H

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11,565 SQ FT

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14 ACRES

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6 CAR S/S GARAGE

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P O O L PAV I LLI O N

local getaways.

A Day Out (Eating) at San Francisco’s Ferry Building

By Casey Gillespie

34 march 2022 marin living.

Courtesy of: Ferry Terminal Marketplace; Far West Fungi (opposite page)

If you haven’t had the pleasure of taking the ferry into San Francisco lately you are truly missing out. With boats leaving from Larkspur, Sausalito and Tiburon (service has recently been reinstated), it’s both easy and convenient — driving into the city and finding parking, less so. And the cornucopia of foodie delights that await you at your destination are better than you remember.

While the Saturday farmers market is a tried-and-true favorite, the Ferry Terminal Marketplace is a food lovers’ destination in itself. With wares ranging from caviar and oysters to locally roasted coffee and gourmet pantry staples, you might just add this trip to your list of weekly shopping excursions, and we wouldn’t blame you one bit.

Here are a few of our favorite spots.

Boulettes Larder and Boulibar

Far West Fungi

www.bouletteslarder.com

www.farwestfungi.com

Part of the Ferry Building Marketplace since its inception, this women-owned eatery offers a delicious amalgamation of European and Mediterranean flavors. It offers preordering and pickup twice a week (check the website for details), and in addition to the indoor bar and restaurant, don’t miss the charming outdoor space for in-person dining. As for the food, the deep knowledge of ingredients and flavor is apparent with each bite, and really, what more could you ask for?

Great service? Yep, they have that, too.

This is a mushroom lover's paradise.

The family-owned business specializes in fresh organic mushrooms as well as grow kits at hard-to-resist prices.

Want fresh Lion’s Mane? No problem. Shiitake jerky?

They have it. Or maybe something more decadent like truffles?

You’ve come to the right place. They also have teas, tinctures, salts and much more.

Dandelion Chocolate www.dandelionchocolate.com

Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant www.fpwm.com

Described as a “bean-to-bar chocolate factory,” Dandelion offers gourmet goodies concocted from some of the world’s best beans. The San Francisco– made treats are handcrafted in small batches and the results are showstopping (those truffles!). Our personal favorite? The selection of hot chocolate mixes — gorgeously packaged and so many tempting choices it is hard to pick just one.

This charming wine shop offers a wide selection of both California and European wines, with an under $25 bin that should not be missed. Have some time to kill before your ferry leaves?

Take a seat at the wine bar and order a glass and a bite — they offer local cheeses, Acme bread, chocolatecovered figs, olives and even caviar.

Or if you’d prefer to buy a bottle from the store and enjoy it while you watch the world go by, corkage is only $9. marin living. march 2022 35

Golden Gate Meat Company www.goldengatemeatcompany.com This old-fashioned, family-owned butcher shop is a meat lover’s dream come true and has been a San Francisco industry staple for the past 25 years. Carnivores will delight in the wide selection of beef, veal, pork, lamb, wild game and smoked meats as well as the house-made rubs. GGMC prides itself on carrying organic, pasture-raised, hormone- and antibiotic-free meats. It also offers breakfast, lunch and dinner options from the hot deli counter.

Humphry Slocombe Ice Cream www.humphryslocombe.com Whether you are an ice cream aficionado or a more casual lover of the cold creamy stuff, this place is sure to tickle your fancy.

It's known for its unexpected and sometimes seemingly questionable flavor combinations, yet one thing is for sure — you will never be disappointed here. A local favorite is Secret Breakfast (vanilla, cornflakes and Jim Beam bourbon), but don’t be surprised if you see flavors like cheese, mushrooms and foie gras on the menu. You can taste everything before you buy and we suggest you do.

Yes Pudding

Imperial Tea Court The owner, Roy Fong, is revered as both a tea historian and a connoisseur, and when you have a gander at the selection you will certainly see why.

Black, white, green, yellow, imperial, jasmine, blossom — sourced from the highest-quality producers. But Imperial doesn’t just serve tea; you’ll want to stay awhile and enjoy some of the delicious tea-inspired dishes (think wontons in jasmine tea broth and a marble tea egg) as well as the hand-pulled noodles (Roy prides himself on these). Afternoon tea and noodles, anyone?

36 march 2022 marin living.

Mariposa Baking Co.

Yes Pudding

www.mariposabaking.com

www.yes-pudding.weeblysite.com

This is the S.F. outpost of the beloved Oakland-based gluten-free bakery.

Choose from a hearty array of sweet and savory treats — croissants, muffins, cookies, scones, brownies, donuts, bagels and loaves as well as gluten-free flour mixes.

Even if you aren’t gluten averse, it’s worth a stop and nibble — all of the items are as delicious as their gluten-laden counterparts.

Yes Pudding takes your childhood favorites and gives them a grown-up twist with a hefty helping of nostalgia.

Indulge in the classic banana pudding or try something a little more creative like the sweet potato praline pudding or the chocolate avocado with coconut cream option. We love the portable jars (perfect for a snack on the go) and the delightful homemade recipes.

Dessert lovers rejoice!

Courtesy of Yes Pudding

www.imperialtea.com

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take note.

For Those About to Rock Mill Valley’s WOW! Music Studios teaches kids, adults and those with special needs the magic of making music together.

By Daniel Jewett

38 march 2022 marin living.

AFTER YEARS OF WORKING IN ADVERTISING, the endlessly cheerful husband-and-wife team of Tommy Toy and Emily Siskin-Toy wanted to transform their daughter’s home-taught piano lessons into something they could share with other kids.

So, they formed a teaching studio and by the end of their first year in 2015 had already enrolled 80 eager students.

“We jumped out of the corporate rat race because the world doesn’t need more laundry detergent — we need more music,” Tommy says about starting WOW! Music Studios (www.wowmusicstudios.com) in Emily’s hometown of Mill Valley. “We decided to do something we were much more passionate about.”

One reason the studio has been so successful, relocating to a larger space, adding more instruments to the class list and 18 teachers, can be traced to the method used. Tommy believes that everyone is naturally musical — you can walk and chew gun, that’s rhythm; you understand the difference in speech between someone from New York and someone from Texas, that’s tone — and the best way to get to that musicality is to hold off on learning to read music and just start playing.

Courtesy of WOW! Music Studios

The Revolutionary Ducks rock the house at WOW’s December open mic.

take note.

Emily Siskin-Toy and Tommy Toy

“For 300 years reading music has been the standard and it’s part of the reason why the failure rate is so high.

It’s the same as asking students to read in order to speak and no one would ever advocate that,” he says. “It’s amazing how quickly they take off because there is nothing encumbering them. And later when you show them the sheet music for what they have been playing, the lightbulb goes on a lot faster.”

The couple says that the final ingredient to their success came when they started encouraging kids to form bands.

And last year they partnered with Sweetwater Music Hall’s nonprofit arm and started letting the kids take their bands onstage several times a year. “We started realizing these kids, oh my gosh, they’re moving so fast and suddenly we’ve got bands forming,” Tommy says.

“After these performances the kids come off the stage and they’re just buzzing with energy and all their friends are coming up and congratulating them — it’s a huge inspiration.”

Emily adds that there is another benefit to forming musical partnerships — it encourages kids to stick with music even after they reach an age where they might otherwise quit.

“When they get to middle school and high school age, they really want to be social and be with their friends and play music in a setting where they’re sharing it,” she says, adding that this is hopefully building the next generation of stewards for venues like Sweetwater.

“They are working with other people and writing songs or covering songs together and the bonding in some of these bands is incredible.”

The latest evolution of the studio happened serendipitously. The couple had always wanted to start a program for special needs children and when they searched for one, they didn’t have to look any farther than right next door.

Their neighbors at The Helix School (www.thehelixschool.org) were eager to introduce music classes to their autistic and neurodiverse students ranging in age from 5 to 22 and Tommy had just the program for them and something more — eager support from Sweetwater’s nonprofit as well.

“He found a way for everyone to participate and they’re doing something as a group that their neurotypical peers are doing,” says Helix executive director Kristin Schinella, Ph.D., adding that the students are always asking when “music day” is and that it is a class nobody wants to miss. “Music is something you really feel, and they feel it, whether it’s a beat or a particular

instrument they are interested in — they get that sensation.”

And the ultimate fruition of this three-way partnership will occur at the end of the year with a special fundraising concert — likely featuring a notable “opening band” followed by a headlining performance of a band of students from The Helix School (although exact details are still being worked out) at Sweetwater.

“For the parents of these kids and for the kids themselves, never in a million years did they believe that they were going to have an opportunity to play at an amazing venue like Sweetwater,” Tommy says. “Everyone is just over-themoon excited about this.”

Rock band class at WOW! Music Studios

marin living. march 2022 39

e s e e h C forAll The delectable selection of cheeses that Cheese Trail Home Delivery offers

40 march 2022 marin living.

l A new initiative from the founders of the California Cheese Trail allows you to have farmers’ creamy creations delivered right to your door.

By Tanya Henry

Andrea Scher

MARIN COUNTY WOULD be hard-pressed to find someone more qualified for or committed to helping the local agriculture community than Vivien Straus. Not only did she grow up on her family’s farm in Marshall, she also helped her brother launch Straus Family Creamery, where she would serve as VP of sales and marketing for more than 10 years (she is no longer involved with the creamery), and she even coordinated farm tours for Cowgirl Creamery in Point Reyes Station. While she would eventually go off to college in Portland, Oregon, and pursue an acting career in several cities, including San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles, she always returned to the farm. She now lives in Petaluma and manages the Straus Home Ranch on Tomales Bay with her brother Michael.

“Our farm means the world to me — it’s the core of me — I love it,” explains Vivien, who says she feels connected to all farmers and feels she is in a battle to save small farms.

This sentiment inspired her to launch the Cheese Trail Map in 2010. Her firsthand knowledge of the many challenges facing family-owned farms informed her decision to create a resource that would not only generate business for small dairies, but also introduce cheese lovers across the nation to California’s artisan cheesemakers.

marin living. march 2022 41

42 march 2022 marin living.

art credit

Siblings Michael and Vivien Straus, founders of California Cheese Trail Home Delivery

Courtesy of California Cheese Trail (opposite); Rory Stamp and Michael Woolsey (this page)

The map is available both online (www.cheesetrail. org) and as a traditional foldout brochure that showcases small-scale cheesemakers throughout the state. The comprehensive resource that originally included just Sonoma and Marin counties now promotes more than 70 cheesemakers, their locations, the type of cheese they make and visiting hours. Farms as far south as San Diego and north to Crescent City are included. Both the Central Coast and Central Valley are also well represented.

“My favorite thing to do is visit cheesemakers —they are all so unique,” says Vivien, who describes how one dairyman insists that crossbreeding is essential for the quality of the milk he uses for his cheeses, and another never crossbreeds and sticks to one type of cow for each specific cheese. She even speaks fondly of a farmer who provided heated water to all of his animals.

It’s not surprising that Vivien’s love of supporting cheesemakers would inspire yet another venture. This time she has once again collaborated with her brother Michael, and together they have expanded on the Cheese Trail to offer the newly minted Cheese Trail Home Delivery (www.cheesetrail.org).

Their very first delivery in December included a selection of six different cheeses from Marin, Petaluma, Valley Ford and the Central Coast. Along with the varied collection of cheeses, Rustic Bakery’s requisite Olive Oil & Sel Gris Flatbread Bites were also included.

In February the delivery service offered a Valentine’s Day Collection featuring local favorites like Cowgirl Creamery’s Heart's Desire triple cream, Point Reyes Farmstead’s Toma, Estero Gold from Valley Ford and Breakfast Cheese from Marin French Cheese.

“It’s like a very tiny, Harry & David startup, but focused on local and sustainable artisan and organic,” explains Michael, who, like his sister, is passionately committed to supporting farms and like-minded small businesses.

“We are learning as we go, but it’s working well so far,” adds Vivien, who has already shipped their carefully curated boxes as far away as Maine, New York and Florida.

If you are looking for some non-holiday-focused offerings for your spring cheese boards, then you won’t want to miss the Big Cheese Collection and Cows & More Cows.

Both boxes feature artisan cheeses from farmers along the California Coast who specialize in small batch production. It hasn’t taken long for this specialized delivery service to catch on, and already the founders are working hard to keep up with demand.

It makes sense that these siblings, whose name is synonymous with early organic and sustainable farming and dairy practices in Marin County, continue to support the livelihoods of numerous small farms. With their Cheese Trail Home Delivery they have extended their reach beyond Marin and now support cheesemakers throughout the state. No doubt their mother, Ellen Straus, who was a pioneering dairy farmer and a Marin Agricultural Land Trust founder, would be proud.

Cowgirl Creamery's Heart's Desire

“It’s like a very tiny, Harry & David startup, but focused on local and sustainable artisan and organic.”

marin living. march 2022 43

art credit

44 march 2022 marin living.

Food for Thought

By Casey Gillespie

If you kindled your love for baking during the pandemic, here are a few more recipes from some of the Bay Area’s tastiest bakeries to keep your hands busy and your family’s bellies happy.

Slice of Sausalito’s Key Lime Pie www.sliceofsausalito.com

Ingredients For the crust: 2 cups graham cracker crumbs ½ cup sugar 4 tablespoons salted butter, melted

Topping (optional): 1 cup cold heavy whipping cream 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar 1 teaspoon grated lime zest 8 to 10 thin lime slices

Courtesy of Slice of Sausalito

For the filling: 4 egg yolks 1 can (14 ounce) sweetened condensed milk ½ cup fresh Key lime juice (If you can’t find Key limes, regular limes work just as well)

Slice of Sausalito’s Key Lime Pie

To Make 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. For the crust, combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar and butter. Press mixture over the sides and bottom of a 9-inch pie pan (tip: do the sides first). Bake in the middle of oven for 10 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

2. For the filling, whisk egg yolks, sweetened condensed milk and lime juice until well combined. Pour into crust. Place pie on baking sheet and bake for approximately 20 minutes until the filling is almost set; it should wobble a bit. Let cool at room temperature for 30 minutes, then place in the refrigerator to chill, at least 3 hours.

3. If you are adding the topping, beat the heavy cream and confectioners’ sugar with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Top the pie with the whipped cream. Decorate with the lime zest and lime slices. Store pie in refrigerator until ready to serve. marin living. march 2022 45

Tartine’s Baked French Toast (excerpted from Tartine Bread, Chronicle Books) www.tartinebakery.com Serves 2 Ingredients For the custard base: 3 eggs 2 tablespoons sugar zest of 1 lemon ½ teaspoon vanilla extract ¼ teaspoon salt 1 cup milk 2 slices day-old country bread, each about 1½ inches thick 2 tablespoons unsalted butter For the maple-glazed bacon: 4 thick-cut strips bacon 1 tablespoon maple syrup

To Make 1. To make the custard base, stir together the eggs, sugar, lemon zest, vanilla, salt and milk in a bowl. Place the bread slices in the custard base and let stand until the bread is saturated, about 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 350°F. 2. Heat a skillet over medium-low heat. Melt the butter to coat the bottom of the pan. Lift each bread slice from the custard base and place in the pan. Cook the slices for about 3 minutes, occasionally pressing them against the bottom of the pan with a spatula so the bottoms cook evenly. This step seals the bottoms of the slices by cooking the outer layer of custard base. It also prepares the bread for receiving more custard base.

3. Spoon or ladle more custard base into the center of each bread slice. If the liquid leaks out of the bread and onto the skillet, the bread slices are not quite sealed; continue cooking for 1 minute, pressing the slices slightly to seal. When the slices are full of custard base, carefully transfer the skillet to the middle rack of the oven. Do not turn the toast.

4. Bake the slices for 12 to 15 minutes and then gently shake the pan. If the custard base is still liquid, continue baking and check again. Depending on the thickness of the slices, the custard may take up to 20 minutes to cook all the way through. The French toast is done when the custard seems solid and each slice appears inflated, as the custard soufflés when fully cooked.

5. Meanwhile, to cook the bacon, heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until the strips begin to get crispy around the edges, about 10 minutes. Pour the fat from the pan and add the maple syrup to coat the bacon.

Transfer to the oven alongside the toast and bake until the bacon is glazed, about 5 minutes.

6. Using the spatula, remove the French toast slices from the skillet and place them, caramelized side up, onto plates.

The skillet side should be caramelized and crisp. Spread the French toast with the persimmon and serve with the bacon.

Tartine’s Baked French Toast

46 march 2022 marin living.

Courtesy of Tartine Bread (Chronicle Books)

1 very ripe Hachiya persimmon

art credit

Tartine has locations in the Bay Area, Los Angeles and Seoul, South Korea.

marin living. march 2022 47

art credit

Scones are a quick bread, with just baking powder used to leaven them so they can be made and enjoyed in just a couple of hours.

48 march 2022 marin living.

Lucky Penny Bread’s Cinnamon Roll Scones www.luckypennybread.com

Makes approximately 1 dozen

Marin Family Photography

Ingredients For the dough: 43/4 cups all-purpose flour 12/3 cups whole wheat flour 1 tablespoon salt 3 tablespoons baking powder 2 tablespoons cinnamon 1/3 cup granulated sugar 15/8 cups butter 1 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons milk

For the filling: 13/4 cups dark brown sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 cup butter, melted Extra granulated sugar for dipping the tops of the baked scones

To Make 1. In the bowl of a standing mixer, combine all dry ingredients with cold cubed butter. Mix with the paddle attachment on low speed for 2 to 3 minutes until butter is pea-size.

2. Slowly pour in milk and mix on low speed until incorporated and a homogeneous dough forms.

3. Dump dough out onto your work surface and gently push it together until remaining dry bits are incorporated. Form into a rectangle shape of even thickness. Cover or wrap and let rest at room temperature for about 20 to 30 minutes to let the gluten relax.

4. While the dough is resting, make the filling. Mix the brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and set aside. Melt butter in a small saucepan, then pour it over the sugar mixture. Use a spatula to mix all the ingredients together until all the sugar is moistened by the butter. It should have a wet sand consistency.

5. After the dough rests, sprinkle a bit of all-purpose flour over the surface, then use a rolling pin to roll the dough into a rectangle of approximately ½- to ¾-inch thickness, measuring about 12 inches by 18 inches or about the size of a half sheet pan.

6. Spread the filling evenly over the surface of the dough. Then begin rolling up the dough from the longer edge until it forms a roll.

7. Using a sharp knife, cut your roll into 12 even pieces. Take each roll and pull the last-rolled part a couple of inches away, and then tuck that under the end (or tail) of the roll to cover the bottoms. The rolls can be wrapped and refrigerated up to two days or frozen up to one month.

8. Once ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a baking pan or sheet with nonstick spray. Allow about 1 to 1½ inches around each roll for them to expand while baking.

9. Bake for about 15 minutes, then check and rotate your pan(s) if necessary. Bake an additional 20 to 30 minutes or until the tops are golden brown and the centers seem fully baked.

10. Remove from the oven and let cool 15 to 20 minutes before carefully removing rolls from the pan and dipping the tops of each roll in additional cinnamon sugar, or, alternatively, sprinkle the cinnamon sugar over the tops of the rolls while still in the pan.

These are best served warm straight away, but they can also be reheated the next day in a low-temperature oven for about 10 minutes.

Lucky Penny Bread’s Cinnamon Roll Scones

marin living. march 2022 49

e n i D o t e er h W

Kowbird

50 march 2022 marin living.

art credit of Kowbird Courtesy

in 2022

We have seen an explosion of new restaurants recently and we are reveling in the diversity of the cuisines.

From Southern fried goodness in the East Bay to a Marin-based chef making French fare in San Francisco — it’s time to get excited

Kelly Puleio

about eating out again.

Caviar Madeleine at Le Fantastique

marin living. march 2022 51

Where to Dine in 2022

Kowbird

1733 PERALTA STREET, OAKLAND

www.kowbird.com

Atmosphere: With the phrase “chicken is soul” firmly in mind, pitmaster Matt Horn finally opened his casual Kowbird just a few blocks from his runaway hit Horn Barbecue. But here it’s all about the bird, with four Southern-inspired chicken sandwiches (there is a fifth vegan option) as well as chicken and waffles, wings, mac and cheese, fried cabbage, pies and even — yes, you heard it right — bright red candy apples. Expect to see half of Oakland here as you wait for your chance to sit at the vintage lunch counter that wraps around the entire restaurant and watch this small-but-mighty team work.

Check out Matt Horn’s new book (out next month)!

What to drink: To wash it all down there is beer, root beer and cream soda on tap, but regulars love the classic sweet tea and lemonade.

When to go: Starting this month, Sundays are the day to go. That’s when you’ll have the chance to order the specialty Fried Catfish Sandwich in original or Nashville Hot. —Daniel Jewett

52 march 2022 marin living.

Courtesy of Kowbird

What to order: All sandwiches feature chicken dredged in buttermilk and seasoned flour, topped with house-made pickles and “bird sauce” on a potato bun. But for those who like the heat, it’s got to be the Hot Bird, finished and dusted with dried fermented chiles.

RH Marin

Burmatown

60 CORTE MADERA AVENUE, CORTE MADERA

www.burmatown.com

More places to add to your

Must-Dine List for 2022 (and beyond)

Ayawaska Hilltop 850 LAMONT AVENUE, NOVATO

www.ayawaskasf.com This Novato outpost of the S.F. Peruvian eatery goes heavy on the fresh seafood, with a variety of ceviches and octopus prepared three different ways.

Carnivores will love the traditionally made pork and beef dishes.

Keiko Fish 250 MAGNOLIA AVENUE, STE. B, LARKSPUR

www.keikofish.net

Courtesy of RH Marin; courtesy of Burmatown

Chef Yoshihiko Abe and his wife, Keiko Arata, are firsttime restaurant owners, but Abe brings an impressive resume with him, including stints cooking in Japan and at Morimoto Napa. Expect a tempting selection of rolls, sashimi and nigiri as well as omakase experiences.

Atmosphere: A little orange building in Corte Madera — referred to on their socials as “the tiny orange bungalow” — houses Burmatown, the dream manifest of mother-and-daughter duo Jenny Gee and Jennifer Fujitani. In a space conceived as a place where family and friends can join together to share a delicious meal, the vibe at Burmatown — though it’s always packed to the rafters — is inviting and warm, with cozy banquette and two-top seating. Unassuming yet exceptional, Burmatown has the perfect combination: Michelin Guide–worthy cuisine in a casual atmosphere.

What to order: The Burmatown Bao — a playful take on a traditional Chinese dim sum dish called char siu bao — is a steamed bun folded taco style and filled with Asian miso slaw, sesame, cilantro and your choice of ribeye beef, garlic shrimp or ginger chicken. Swoon.

What to drink: Ultraviolet is a Napa winery with a gorgeous sparkling rosé — light, floral, with white flower, strawberry and grapefruit zest notes and tight, fine bubbles. It stands on its own and pairs beautifully with the Burmatown Bao. When to go: It is first come first serve from 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and the kitchen can sell out quickly. In this case, we recommend a sharp 3:30 or 4 p.m. arrival for a late lunch or early dinner; otherwise the spot also offers curbside pickup, and you can take your bao — well, wherever you’d like to enjoy it.

—Jane Vick

“For me, it’s simple: I cook to make the people around me happy. It’s a lot of hard work, but when I hear that I was able to make someone’s night with my food, it’s all worth it.

I take my inspiration and technique from my late mother, who I watched in the kitchen growing up.”

—Jenny Gee, head chef and co-owner, Burmatown

Kientz Hall 625 SAN ANSELMO AVENUE, SAN ANSELMO

www.kientzhall.com San Anselmo’s newest culinary addition is an inviting mix of a decidedly local vibe, an incredible rooftop deck (no extra charge for the gorgeous views of Mount Tamalpais) and a Mediterranean-inspired menu.

Need we say more? marin living. march 2022 53

Stockhome

Le Marais Bakery

www.stockhomerestaurant.com

MILL VALLEY

220 WESTERN AVENUE, PETALUMA

Atmosphere: A wall clock permanently set to display the time in Stockholm tells you where the hearts of the husband-and-wife team of chef Roberth Sundell and his wife, Andrea, lie. A parklet drenched in warm sunlight and a cute retail space tucked inside this corner restaurant tell you everything you need to know about their aesthetic. And those charming aesthetics are reflected in the menu that effortlessly meshes together Swedish, Californian and Middle Eastern tastes.

Step up to the counter in the large open space and try anything; it is all local, farm-fresh and Michelin Bib Gourmand–awarded.

What to order: When in Stockholm — or in Petaluma — you’re going to want to try the Swedish dishes for an authentic experience. We recommend the Shrimp Skagen: a creamy mix of horseradish, red onion and dill with shrimp that you slather on warm toast and enjoy.

What to drink: Although alcoholic beverages are offered, here the sodas are the star. You can’t go wrong with flavors like blackcurrant, lingonberry and elderflower, or try the Swedish Soda Lundquist.

When to go: Pick a sunny day and go for lunch. The crowd is bustling with families and couples, and enjoying this food in the cozy parklet is hard to beat.

—Daniel Jewett

250 E. BLITHEDALE AVENUE,

www.lemaraisbakery.com This is French decadence with a California twist (think avocado croissant toast) and a must-try spot for brunch with friends.

Dishes are artfully presented and every single one of the baked goods are worth the calorie splurge.

Masala Kitchen 227 THIRD STREET, SAN RAFAEL

www.masalakitchenmarin.com A delectable offering of classic Indian favorites includes vegetarian and non-vegetarian curries, tandooris and so many delicious naans you’ll need to try them all. And the sides?

You’ll want to try all of those as well.

Paseo: A California Bistro 7 THROCKMORTON AVENUE, MILL VALLEY

www.paseobistro.com After a two-year hiatus, this Marin mainstay has reopened under new ownership (Ki Yong Choi, a Mill Valley resident, purchased the restaurant from Sammy Hagar in 2019) with a new look, a new team and new daytime hours.

RH Marin 1750 REDWOOD HIGHWAY, CORTE MADERA

While not new, it is one of the most glamourous dining venues in Marin. A glass roof, twinkling chandeliers, a water feature and unobstructed views of Mount Tamalpais only make the food taste even better. We love the elevated take on classic favorites — the truffled grilled cheese and scrambled eggs are so delicious they are worth the trip alone.

54 march 2022 marin living.

Kellie Delario

www.rh.com

Where to Dine in 2022

Le Fantastique 22 FRANKLIN STREET, SAN FRANCISCO

www.le-fantastique.com

Kelly Puleio

Atmosphere: This new addition to the Hayes Valley dining scene offers something different with a menu of cured and dry-aged fish paired with French white wine and vinyl records. It’s the brainchild of Marin-based chef Robbie Wilson and Emily Perry Wilson and is situated in a cozy, subtly lit spot featuring white marble tables, dark woods, leather banquettes and soft hanging lights, all designed by Studio Ren Architecture. Enjoy the unique French-inspired culinary creations in the intimate 44-seat dining room, at the counter where you can watch the chef or in the dining nook and listening lounge just off the bar. No matter where they dine, guests will enjoy the sounds coming from the 1970s-inspired turntable and hand-built McIntosh sound system.

What to order: The heart of the menu is raw fish so, of course, there is caviar.

One item not to miss is also Le Fantastique’s signature dish: miniature eclairs topped with smoked onion crème fraîche and maple glaze and finished with Kaluga caviar.

“There is a unique spirit to Le Fantastique — somewhat enigmatic, a different time, a different place. Curing enhances the purest expression of the fish: its intensity and texture, arguably the fish’s most attractive qualities.”

What to drink: The food practically calls out for the Champagne. White and rosé offerings here all come from sustainably focused producers across eight regions of France.

—Robbie Wilson, chef and co-owner, Le Fantastique

When to go: Book a table on a night when you are also planning on attending the opera or symphony, which are just a short walk away. Bon appétit!

—Daniel Jewett marin living. march 2022 55

Where to Dine in 2022

Madcap

198 SIR FRANCIS DRAKE BOULEVARD, SAN ANSELMO

www.madcapmarin.com

What to order: Madcap serves a nine-course tasting menu, awarded a Michelin star in 2019 and again in 2021 (2020 was a miss for pandemic reasons). Chef Siegel thoughtfully constructs all nine courses, which include Dungeness crab rolls in persimmon salsa, ora king salmon with kohlrabi and cauliflower, and a mascarpone carrot cake with coconut sorbet for dessert.

What to drink: Madcap has an impressive sake selection, of which the Miyasaka Hiyaoroshi Masumi, “Sleeping Beauty,” is a delicious choice.

This sake is pressed in winter and stored cold until early fall, offering a balanced acidity, crispness and light fruit aromas.

When to go: Madcap is an evening experience. Open from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, this is a great early-, mid- or late-dinner spot. —Jane Vick

56 march 2022 marin living.

“We use as many local products as possible. We buy from the farmers market every week. We pick our vendors’ brains to get the best possible product — we’re looking to provide quality that flows throughout the meal. We’ve had to adjust significantly during Covid, and we’re glad to still be doing what we do, despite the many challenges.”

—Ron Siegel, head chef, owner, Madcap

Skyler Green

Atmosphere: Seating just 40, Madcap is upscale and intimate.

Designed by nationally recognized, San Francisco–based artist and designer Michael Brennan — who knows that a restaurant’s design influences the food’s impact — Madcap is all about dark wood, textured Venetian plaster walls, red velvet banquettes and black leather chairs. The feel is close, dark like a promising evening, and splashed with color from paintings Brennan did himself. With all food served on ceramics made by a group of local artisans, Madcap is smartly curated for chef Ron Siegel’s tasting menu.

The Rock and Rye 19 CORTE MADERA AVENUE, MILL VALLEY

La Calenda

6518 WASHINGTON STREET, YOUNTVILLE

www.lacalendamex.com

www.sweetwatermusichall.com Sweetwater Music Hall’s new restaurant is a delicious South America–meets–New Orleans mashup thanks to executive chef Rick Hackett. And what would a live music venue be without a respectable drinks list? Come for the selection of spirits and stay for the craft cocktails.

Tiburon Tavern 1651 TIBURON BOULEVARD, STE. B, TIBURON

www.tiburontavern.com The in-house eatery at The Lodge at Tiburon has a decidedly hip gastropub vibe and tried-and-true favorites with an elevated spin. The bar is fun, but the outdoor seating is where it is at. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Atmosphere: Nestled in downtown Yountville, this Thomas Keller Restaurant Group eatery gets its name from the Oaxacan “calendas,” traditional parties that kick off community celebrations. The celebratory quality shines through in La Calenda’s inviting, Mexican-inspired atmosphere. Everything you touch, from the crockery to the mescal cups, is handmade by artisans in different regions of Mexico, further adding a sense of intimacy and uniqueness to each drink and dish. The outdoor patio is strung with lights and open to the bar, and inside is strung with colorful Mexican fiesta flags, in keeping with the festive feel. The tables and chairs are sturdy, finely carved wood, and the buzz from the open kitchen and fellow patrons creates a warm, lively feeling.

What to order: Tacos de Hongos are a must. Crafted with house-made, heirloom corn tortillas — sourced by Oaxacan-born chef Kaelin Ulrich Trilling from multigenerational farms in Mexico — this taco features wild mushrooms, garlic, poblano peppers, epazote (an aromatic Mexican herb) and salsa avocado tomatillo and is topped with queso fresco and fresh radish. Perfection.

What to drink: The Negroni de Hongos, a mezcal negroni with porcini mushroom–infused Campari, is a fitting explorative cocktail from La Calenda, where the bar specializes in mezcal and tequila.

When to go: La Calenda is an ideal lunch spot. Tacos are a lighter, playful fare, easy to order and enjoy with drinks on a sunny afternoon after working up an appetite wandering through picturesque downtown Yountville. —Jane Vick

Zalta 39 CALEDONIA STREET, SAUSALITO

www.zalta.us Formerly F3 — same owners, same space, new look, new menu — the restaurant has been reinvented as a Mediterranean bistro heavy on Greek, Moroccan and Middle Eastern flavors. The wine list is interesting as well with lesserknown varietals from Greece, Lebanon, Portugal, France and Italy (California wines are available, too).

David Escalante

For more must-dine locations, visit www.marinlivingmagazine. com.

marin living. march 2022 57

PROMOTION

Community Minded Look Young and Feel Fabulous at Marin’s No. 1 Med-Cryo-Spa Ready for a successful reset? Leave pain, stress, stubborn fat, wrinkles and allergies behind. Visit Dr. Cat and Randy Gibson LA.c. at their stunning 9 CORNERS Wellness Galleria where they masterfully blend acupuncture, massage and cryo therapies with infrared saunas, fasting mimicking and nutraceuticals to achieve the lasting results you desire. Trusted for over 24 years, they have delivered over 100,000 successful treatments.

9 CORNERS Med-Cryo-Spa 208 Vintage Way, Novato, CA 94945 Only 12 Minutes North of Corte Madera 415.209.9600, www.9corners.com

Redefining How Your Home Is Exposed to the Market With an unprecedented lack of inventory, there has never been a better time to sell your home. But even in a hot seller’s market it’s the properties that are presented with sophistication and style that sell for record prices.

Outpost founders, Radhi Ahern and Scott Kalmbach, have perfected the formula for marketing the “MustHave Home,’’ compelling buyers to pay a premium for the best-designed homes in Marin.

Radhi Ahern & Scott Kalmbach 415.879.8311 www.outpostrealestate.com @outpost.homes

The Shopping Center at the Center of It All Featuring a mix of local, regional and national tenants such as Peet’s Coffee and Tea, West America Bank and Lark Shoes, Red Hill is the area’s favorite neighborhood shopping experience. It is strategically located on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard to serve San Anselmo and the surrounding communities of Fairfax, San Rafael, Ross and Greenbrae. Designed as a classic town-and-country shopping center, the rustic motif buildings use slump stone, heavy beams and wood shingles to maintain the charm and beauty of the wooded surroundings.

834-916 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, San Anselmo, www.redhillshoppingcenter.com, @redhillshoppingcenter

www.adobe.stock.com/Jacob Lund

inside & out marin.

March is when we welcome spring and it’s the time to start thinking about sprucing up your property

inside and out. Whether it’s selling your home or upgrading your current residence so it speaks more to your design aesthetic, we’re showcasing individuals and businesses that offer proven expertise in these areas. Discover the best providers of real estate solutions, interior design and home improvements.

PROMOTION

inside & out home

Faber Real Estate Team This team of experts knows the real estate business inside and out.

Why are design and staging so important when selling a home?

Style continuity in a property results in higher offers, time after time.

That’s why the Faber Creative Team identifies the home’s original architecture and design to discuss who the likely buyers are. We then create a full design proposal including materials and color schedule crafted to get the highest offers. And don’t worry about finding vendors to get the job done, we got you there, too. This ensures your property is the style buyers want and what they expect to see, inside and out.

Take us inside your outside-the-box approach.

Most realtors and teams are independent contractors paid on commission. Our team of salaried employees with benefits are trained to provide the highest, most consistent level of service to every client. We also handle marketing differently. Unlike other teams, we have a creative director on staff who customizes our marketing and works with a copywriter. Even better, if a client has their money tied up in their home, we can help them obtain a short-term bridge loan through Compass Bridge Loan Service — enabling clients to buy before selling and fronting up to six months of loan payments. We can even help finance improvements when selling via Compass Concierge, which covers the upfront cost interest- and fee-free with no out of pocket. In 2021, our team helped fund $871,900 in renovations.

After

Faber Real Estate Team | Compass 250 E Blithedale Avenue, Ste. D, Mill Valley, CA 94941; 415.686.4980 DRE #01913767 faberteam@compass.com www.faberrealestateteam.com /faberrealestateteam @faberrealestateteam

After

Before

PROMOTION

inside & out home

Michele Affronte Engel & Völkers Sausalito Helping clients realize the dream of owning a floating home.

What is it about you that makes you a great choice for clients?

I have been living and selling the Sausalito floating home lifestyle since 1991. I know what life is like here, and by living it every day I can relate to the wants and needs of the clientele looking to make the waterfront lifestyle their reality. I also have a deep understanding of the nuances of owning a floating home, such as maintenance and the ability to design smaller spaces that are so characteristic of floating homes.

How are you disrupting your industry and thinking outside the box?

I take advantage of both a local and global approach. Locally, I work extensively with Marin publications and am deeply involved within the floating home community. Globally, I leverage Engel & Völkers international presence by working with and marketing to other advisors that are a part of our Engel & Völkers global network.

What unique services do you provide your clients?

Specializing in the waterfront, I often take my clients into my floating home and occasionally a ride on my Boston Whaler to view comparable properties. Providing an opportunity to see floating homes from the water offers a much more involved experience.

Michele Affronte, Engel & Völkers Sausalito 539 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965 415.798.0236 | DRE #00959293 michele.affronte@evrealestate.com www.micheleaffronte.evrealestate.com @marinmermaid18

PROMOTION

inside & out home

Yami Arvelo MOONES HOME, Inc. This passionate design company brings an elevated and detailed approach to remodels and home staging.

What makes your team a great choice for clients?

We think creatively and try to disrupt our industry every day with our eagerness and wide range of services.

Tell us more about your design approach.

Our clients are highly educated and worldly; they recognize quality over quantity. We design and remodel each project while celebrating and respecting the integrity of the original architecture. We bring in all the bells and whistles for visual impact, but we create living objects of desire and spaces that are functional, valuable and timeless.

Have you started any new trends in your industry?

We introduced the Turnkey approach where we truly take care of every detail before launching a property to market.

We partner with real estate agents who can dedicate themselves to marketing and selling — we do all the behind the scenes work to present the property under the best possible light on time and within budget.

What new services in design and staging do you offer clients?

We provide photo renderings and plenty of visual tools and specs for our clients to understand our design perspective and vision.

MOONES HOME, Inc. | 22 Digital Drive, Ste. G, Novato, CA 94949 | 415.845.9746 /mooneshome info@mooneshome.com | www.mooneshome.com | @mooneshome |

PROMOTION

inside & out home

Leigh Bakhtiari with husband Hossein

Leigh Bakhtiari City Carpets Locally connected.

Nationally sourced.

What is it about your business that makes it a great choice for clients?

As a native of Mill Valley and having raised five kids here, we know the community and have a genuine understanding of what people are looking for. This — coupled with the depth of products, remarkable warranties and pricing only available through a nationwide co-op — allows us to best serve our clients.

linoleum and bamboo that contribute to a healthier living environment.

What’s the most interesting new product that you offer?

Waterproof hardwood is a great product for the active Marin household. We also have an expansive selection of natural products like wool, seagrass, jute, cork,

What are you doing to stay connected with the local community?

We are committed to giving back to our community and work with schools and with many agencies supporting people who are experiencing homelessness.

How can your business approach help clients love their home or office?

We offer something unique called the “Beautiful Guarantee.” If we install a carpet or flooring and you just don’t love the style or color, we’ll change it for you. We also provide expert design advice at no extra charge.

City Carpets | 415.454.4200 | info@city-carpets.com | @citycarpetsc1 /citycarpets | www.city-carpets.com 555 E. Francisco Boulevard, CA 94901 |

PROMOTION

inside & out home

Jennifer Bowman and Elliott Fink Bowman Real Estate Group This real estate team always brings cutting-edge service.

How are you disrupting your industry and thinking outside the box?

Anticipating how real estate transactions will be conducted five years from now, or 10 years from now, we are taking steps to move toward the future today. Understanding disruptive technology that will be fully integrated into real estate within the decade gives us a head start with the tech that will shake up the industry once mainstream. We do believe the technology will be the tool to free us up to spend more time with our clients.

What unique services do you provide your clients?

Curating and guiding an in-person Grand Tour of towns to experience the feel of all the unique locations and cultures of the Marin and Sonoma neighborhoods that could feel like home for our clients.

What separates you and your business from the pack?

Our team approach focuses on well-defined dedicated roles based on the strengths of each team member, our hyper attention to detail, our generational foundation of experience, and most important, taking the time to get to know everyone on a highly personal basis.

Bowman Real Estate Group VANGUARD PROPERTIES 1118 Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur, CA 94939 415.755.1040 team@bowmanrealestategroup.com www.bowmanreealestategroup.com @bowmangroupmarin /thebowmangroup DRE #01933147

PROMOTION

inside & out home

Ken Dara Engel & Völkers Sausalito Using the latest technology and a global reach to get the best results for clients.

What is it about you that makes you a great choice for clients?

Through the award-winning global network Engel & Völkers provides, my clients benefit from the vast knowledge and experience of our forward-thinking associates and marketing teams. Due to the evolution of the latest technologies, the increasingly transient nature of the San Francisco Bay Area’s residents, and as the world is getting smaller, “going international” has become a real possibility for many clients.

What new real estate services do you offer clients?

As a global real estate advisor, I enjoy

connecting dispersed real estate markets with similar qualities for the benefit of my clients. I find that the commonalities in what my clients are looking for in real estate in terms of lifestyle, investment and community are the key elements that determine a successful buy/sell transaction.

What unique services do you provide?

I build a genuine relationship with my clients and treat them with care, discretion and professionalism. I have a hard-working team comprised of a buyers’ agent, business development professional, listing coordinator and social media associate that really cares about the people we represent.

Ken Dara, Engel & Völkers Sausalito | 539 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965 | 415.425.3626 | DRE #01331869 /kendaraluxuryhomesmarin ken.dara@evrealestate.com | www.kendara.evrealestate.com | @coffeewithkendara |

PROMOTION

inside & out home

Susie Drysdale Vanguard Properties A good real estate team always takes the time to listen to its clients.

What is it about you that makes you a great choice for clients?

Our primary winning strategy is that we are good listeners. Everyone is buying or selling a home for a reason, and if you aren’t listening to your client, you can’t be effective. Each house has a story, and each client has their goals in mind. Because we’ve lived in Marin County for over 30 years, we have extensive knowledge of the neighborhoods in Marin and surrounding areas.

Hilary Hood Photography

What sets your design approach apart when it comes to improving or staging property?

As interior design alumni of FIDM, we always apply our design experience when counseling clients regarding improvements and development potential on any property that they are buying or selling. We like to refer clients to architects whose work we respect; we are lucky to have so many in the Bay Area specializing in modern design.

What new services do you offer clients?

When getting ready to list their home, we have resources for clients to help them with organizing and donating unwanted items to local nonprofits around the Bay Area.

One of our favorites is Make It Home. They do fantastic work for families in the Bay Area.

Vanguard Properties 352 Miller Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941 415.407.4525 | DRE #02095385 susie@vanguardmarin.com www.susiedrysdale.com www.linktr.ee/susie.drysdale.vanguard

PROMOTION

inside & out home

Payam Ghafoori Compass Enjoy white-glove service with this real estate technology leader.

How are you addressing some of the new real estate marketing trends?

I’ve partnered with a cutting-edge Los Angeles–based video production company that uses indoor and outdoor drones to create industry leading one-take virtual tours of homes. The indoor drones are very small and are equipped with foam padded borders to make them harmless when flying through the home, even in the most luxurious properties. The end result is a home video tour that’s unmatched.

What separates you from the pack?

Just one variable that separates me from the competition is my digital footprint. My loyal, engaged following includes top-tier brokers and real estate contacts. Your home will be positioned for peak performance on my social media accounts. My Instagram page has more followers than any other Marin County real estate agent or broker — I have 37,000 followers across Instagram and Facebook.

What unique services do you provide your clients?

I provide white-glove service to all of my clients. I am with my seller every step of the transaction offering a bespoke suite of home preparation solutions. My services include professional staging, design and tactical home improvements that will ensure a desirable rate of return. All vendors are scrupulously vetted, licensed and insured.

Payam Ghafoori, Compass 415.577.5252 payam@compass.com www.payamghafoori.com @payam_ghafoori DRE #01935373

PROMOTION

inside & out home

Liz McCarthy and Shenna Moe McCarthy + Moe Group Experience and resources make this real estate team special.

What is it about your team that makes it a great choice for clients?

The team members of the McCarthy + Moe Group are known for being down to earth but also for being undeterred negotiators and problem solvers. We have a wealth of experience having sold over $575 Million in Marin home sales. We love what we do and love making clients for life.

What sets your design approach apart when it comes staging property?

We have a broad range of home improvement experience, from building our own properties from the ground-up to minor remodeling projects. These skills ensure our clients get the highest possible return, and we offer a keen eye for how to best utilize a space.

What new services and products do you offer clients?

We help you move when you choose and our testimonials speak for themselves. We are task oriented and have created an organized and detailed process to ensure that nothing is missed for our clients. We have crews ready to go, including handymen, inspectors, painters, stagers and more.

McCarthy + Moe Group 300 Drakes Landing Road, Ste. 120 Greenbrae, CA 94904 415.295.6225 | DRE #01421997 team@mccarthymoe.com www.mccarthymoe.com @mccarthymoegroup /mccarthymoe

PROMOTION

inside & out home

Zach Wahle and Scott Reilly G Landscape Division Working together, Marin’s top landscape design-build and maintenance firm.

What is it about your team that makes it a great choice for clients?

We have specialists in every aspect of the landscape field including design, construction and maintenance, allowing our experienced team to provide for our customers through all phases of their project.

What sets your design approach apart when it comes to improving property?

Because of our team approach, we design with the foresight of a builder, expertise of a landscaper and practicality of a groundskeeper from the beginning, saving costs and preventing headaches down the road.

What services and products in landscape do you offer clients?

We are a design-build firm, offering landscape design, garden design, construction and maintenance.

How has the pandemic affected your industry?

As people are spending more time at home, they are looking for new ways to utilize their outdoor spaces. This has allowed us to be more creative, and also required us to maximize the potential uses for each space, allowing for transitions between gardens and play spaces for the kids, to outdoor entertaining and even outdoor workspaces.

G Landscape Division 415.342.5857 1112 2nd Street San Rafael, CA 94901 www.g-landscape-div.com

Zach Wahle and Scott Reilly

PROMOTION

inside & out home

Steven J. Magner Steven J Magner Photography This photographer is a visual storyteller who knows how to bring your space to life.

What is it about you that makes you a great choice for clients?

As a photographer and filmmaker, with background in design and real estate, I have the privilege of viewing each project through the lens of a trained eye with years of experience.

What sets your approach apart when it comes to photographing property?

While executing a project I like to gain perspective on the space I’m shooting by trying to visualize the space as my clients do. By using this approach I’m able to design my work around visual storytelling as a means to accurately capture and convey the beauty of my client’s home or workspace.

Steven J Magner Photography | www.stevenjmagner.com 310.499.8075 | steven@stevenjmagner.com | @stevenjmagner

Danielle Smith and Laura Lee Pokovich Gotelli Plumbing Co. A local- and women-owned company dedicated to amazing service.

What is it about your team that makes you a great choice for clients?

Our team is truly neighbors serving neighbors. We’ve made our homes here in Marin County and we’ve been proud to serve our community for over three decades.

What unique services do you provide your clients?

With the unprecedented drought, we have just rolled out a special form of leak detection: Flo by Moen. This system gives homeowners an alert straight to their cellphones about possible leaks that could waste precious water resources.

Gotelli Plumbing Co. | 21 Lovell Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901 /gotelliplumbing www.gotelliplumbing.com |

summer solutions Summer is just around the corner and whether you’re looking for the perfect travel destination, the right expert to sell your home, fun summer activities, home design services or advice from the best beauty authorities on how to achieve a fresh look for summer, we’ve got you covered. The industry leaders we’ll showcase in the April issue will feature a wide array of summer solutions. Spotlight your products and services with an advertorial profile that makes you stand out from the pack and highlights what makes you and your business the best solution for summer. Marin Living will enhance your exposure with a sponsored article on our website for one-year, a newsletter promotion to 17,000 opted-in subscribers and social media posts.

For more information contact Jessica Cline, 707.302.0850 follow us on social @marinlivingmag + subscribe to our newsletter at www.marinlivingmagazine.com/newsletter

www.marinlivingmagazine.com

Wind down at Anaba Only fifteen minutes away for an awe inspiring wine country experience

Pizza

Pickle Ball

Tastings

Events

62 Bonneau Rd, Sonoma 707-996-4188 anabawines.com @anaba_wines

Buy the Home of Your Dreams Sellers like cash! Be a cash-like homebuyer in today’s competitive real estate market and close quickly. We offer short-term bridge loans made easy to help your offer stand out in the crowd. Contact us today to learn more.

SOFIA NADJIBI, MBA 1680 Tiburon Blvd, Unit 9 | Tiburon, California sofia@gglendinggroup.com I 415.849.2275 gglendinggroup.com I @goldengate_bridgeloans DRE #1405277 I NMLS #241012

Book to be released Spring 2022

going places.

Caviar reinvented as an everyday food; the culinary delight that is Ojai; and the local project that is shining a light on Bay Area arts.

Chocolate Coconut Meringue Tart at The Dutchess

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Mariana Schulze

Food and Art

Celebrating the Beauty of Organic

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For 100 Years...

Years..

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Shaping the Future of Innovative Care

Aldersly Milestones: Milestones • Purchased and opened the first home in 1921.

• Expanded to four new buildings and purchased two more homes by 1924, to accommodate up to 70 residents.

• The new Minor Building was dedicated in September 1945.

A California Take on Caviar The Caviar Co. offers salt and bubbles under the sun in Tiburon.

CAVIAR MIGHT EVOKE OLD WORLD IMAGES of a well-set table adorned by spirits, cheeses and “salt delicacies’’ as per Leo Tolstoy’s descriptions from Anna Karenina; yet The Caviar Co. (www.thecaviarco.com) is reenvisioning the caviar experience in a California context. Located in Tiburon, The Caviar Co.’s tasting room still glitters with small traditions like mother-of-pearl spoons at place settings, but the menu and experience are designed for approachability.

“Caviar used to only be a special occasion food; we are trying to lay it out in more fun ways,” says Petra Bergstein Higby, a Marin local and CEO and founder of The Caviar Co. The tasting room (and outdoor tables) on Tiburon’s Main Street is well-suited to a beautiful sunny day or as a cozy spot for indulging on a cold night. But when it comes to caviar, Higby aims for the experience to delight folks regardless of their level of familiarity with the niche food. “Our main mission was how can we educate people on caviar, how can we make caviar more approachable ... We think that creating a space 76 march 2022 marin living.

where people can come in and ask questions or see the varieties of caviar is the most important thing.”

In the tasting room, local takes on caviar come in combination with Hog Island oysters or black truffle grilled cheese (featuring Point Reyes Farmstead’s Toma), which occupy the menu beside more traditional offerings including house-made blinis. With a sparkling wine and Champagne menu alongside other beverages, there is little better than the salt and bubbles combination, says Higby, who recommends the chips and dip with smoked trout roe as a starting point both in terms of palate and price point at under $20. Caviar flights are also an opportunity for learning more about varieties of caviar, much as one might taste wines.

California’s fresh produce and the farm-to-table culture initially lured Higby to the area’s hospitality industry away from her West Texas roots and continues to inspire her business. Beyond local food and wine pairings, The Caviar Co. also highlights Northern California farmed white sturgeon caviar

Susie Lacocque

By Joseph Knelman

land & sea.

— among other varieties — in both the tasting room and its San Francisco retail store. White sturgeon is deeply connected to California, being native to the West Coast and Bay Area, where some of the southernmost wild spawning populations are found in the Sacramento–San Joaquin river system — though all the white sturgeon caviar is farmed. California-farmed white sturgeon is listed as a “Best Choice” by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program.

In an effort to appeal to those with diverse interests, The Caviar Co’s tasting room features an active calendar of special events. The location currently offers a traditional afternoon tea service on Thursdays, a chef series with local chef-curated dinners and an upcoming winemaker series. In addition to simply dining, “we still want people to just come in and talk,” Higby says, emphasizing the goal of approachability. For all the fun and learning around the traditions and the nuances of caviar, Higby finds perfection in the casual California caviar experience: “Have a snack with some bubbles and just enjoy sitting in the sun.”

The Caviar Co.’s flights allow guests to learn more about the variety offered.

The tasting room still glitters with small traditions like mother-of-pearl spoons, but the menu and experience are designed for approachability.

Carly Hackbarth (top); Susie Lacocque (bottom)

The Caviar Co.’s sunny Tiburon setting

marin living. march 2022 77

new digs.

Build It and They Will Come

No longer outlawed, in-law and other accessory dwelling units are sprouting up like spring dandelions all over Marin.

By Bob Cooper

78 march 2022 marin living.

SHEILA MAHONEY HAS HAPPILY OWNED a Paradise Drive triplex in Corte Madera since 1978 and lived there until she moved to San Francisco. But the vacant land behind it always intrigued her. “I thought about building on it for years, but the need for housing and the ADU Marin program finally inspired me to act,” says Mahoney. She decided to build two two-bedroom units behind the triplex, which she plans to rent. “The ideal tenants will be teachers or workers in the service industry who need housing.”

Encouraging property owners like Mahoney to build ADUs (“accessory dwelling units” — aka second units, granny flats, in-law apartments, converted garages, etc.) to ease the affordable housing crisis is the impetus behind ADU Marin (www.adumarin.com). Although residents began taking advantage of county incentives as early as December 2018, the county Board of Supervisors’ January 2020 vote to relax ADU construction rules accelerated interest in the program,

Courtesy of Villa Homes

An example of a Villa Homes ADU

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new digs.

which offers property owners instructional videos, online workbooks, floor plans, a cost-estimate calculator and financial breaks on permit fees — up to $10,000 if the new renters have a household income below 80 percent of the local median.

“An ADU webinar I attended streamlined the process as planners, financial advisers and ADU experts discussed how it all works,” says Mahoney. She ultimately chose a local design-and-build team, Villa Homes (www.villahomes.com), which specializes in prefab homes. Construction is scheduled to begin this month.

Jillian Nameth Zeiger, the county’s Community Development Agency senior planner who oversees the program, says that she’s seen moderate growth in ADU applications and points out that a denser population means less traffic and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The trend also offers a sliver of hope for people looking to rent for an affordable price in Marin, where limited rental housing is driving a low vacancy rate and high rents.

ADU webinars have drawn hundreds of participants, a welcome development for county officials facing a mandate by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) to add 14,405 new units by 2030 to boost affordable housing and ease urban sprawl. “Besides giving low-income homeowners housing security,” Zeiger notes,

Courtesy of Villa Homes

RED HILL SHOPPING CENTER “ADU construction allows homeowners to contribute to the county’s affordable housing stock.”

The loosening of street parking regulations by the state in 2019 and 2020 also spurred ADU unit construction as the impact on parking in densely populated neighborhoods was one of the few valid arguments against more ADUs. “We’ve had great success with the development of ADU units since then,” says San Anselmo planning director Elise Semonian.

ADU applications in the town spiked from 10 each year between 2017 and 2019 to 22 in 2020 and 27 in 2021.

Property owners in all Marin towns and unincorporated areas can use the program — described in detail along with advice about obtaining permits, choosing contractors, renting new units and more at www.adumarin.org.

Mahoney can’t wait to see her ADU units go up. “It’s been a dream of mine for many years to develop that land,” she says. The builders she hired are just as delighted to have the work. “Each of our clients’ motivations for wanting an ADU is a little different, but they all seem committed to wanting to help solve the housing crisis,” says Villa Homes project coordinator Aly Becerril. “And it’s exciting when counties like Marin address this need. Our company has grown exponentially over the past two years due to the new ADU laws and the popularity of manufactured homes.”

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Interior of the ADU

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834-916 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo www.redhillshoppingcenter.com marin living. march 2022 @redhillshoppingcenter

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82 march 2022 marin living.

art credit

Rory’s Place

voyager.

The Magic of Ojai

Known for mysticism and wellness, Ojai has become one of the West’s most exciting culinary destinations thanks to abundant ingredients and an unpretentious vibe.

Lou Mora (opposite page) ; photo courtesy of Ojai Valley Inn (this page)

By Casey Hatfield-Chiotti Ojai Valley Inn

OJAI HAS BEEN A HIDEAWAY for wellness seekers looking for spiritual growth and rejuvenation since mystic and philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti had an epiphany in the valley in 1922. The native Chumash people, who gave Ojai its name, meaning “the Nest,” knew of its magic long before. Ojai’s first inhabitants reportedly chose the valley for its unique east-west orientation resulting in the rare “pink moment” that bathes the west-facing bluffs in pink light and believed it was a place of healing. The small town, located 80 miles northwest of Los Angeles, is also a veritable fruit basket where citrus and other fruits, like olives and avocados, grow in abundance.

“I’ve had certain fruits in Ojai I had never eaten, like a ripe sapote. It tastes like apple custard. It’s soft and so good,” says Zoe Nathan. Along with husband Josh Loeb, Nathan

still operates her Rustic Canyon restaurant empire in L.A. while raising their three children on a three-and-a-half-acre farm, called 50/50 Farms, they purchased in Ojai in 2020.

Half of the food grown goes to charity, while the other half helps sustain the family and their restaurants, including The Dutchess, which opened in downtown Ojai in January. “We’ve also met people who have been farming for a long time, and they do it so thoughtfully and so beautifully,” adds Nathan.

Nathan and Loeb aren’t the only ones. In addition to farm stands and health food cafes, visitors will find a diverse array of sophisticated restaurants, some headed by chefs and restaurateurs who have moved to Ojai from L.A. and elsewhere, from a Japanese izakaya to a pop-up for Michelin-starred chefs. Here’s where to eat, sip and stay during a delicious Ojai getaway. marin living. march 2022 83

Where to Eat

The five-star Ojai Valley Inn opened The Farmhouse (www. farmhouseojai.com), a culinary center and pop-up dining venue, in 2019. Designed by Backen & Backen in Napa, the modernist barn feels like a mini Meadowood and sits beside an organic chef’s garden, a two-story outdoor fireplace and a 100-year-old oak tree. Michelin and James Beard–awarded chefs such as Nancy Silverton and Dominique Crenn cook meals throughout the year, including a coursed-out homage to Baja or an Italian truffle feast. The 2022 lineup includes Harbor House Inn chef Matthew Kammerer March 7 and chef Thomas Graham of Le Mermoz in Paris. He’ll be offering a multicourse meal with wine pairings (his first-ever dinner in the U.S.) July 29. Dinners sell out in advance, so book ahead.

Nathan and Loeb’s The Dutchess (www.thedutchessojai. com), on Ojai’s arcade-lined Ojai Avenue, involves a cadre of talent including local baker Kate Pepper (Pepper has a cult following for her naturally fermented and heritage grain bread), pastry chef Kelsey Brito and chef Saw Naing, who grew up in Myanmar. The space, one of Ojai’s original bakeries, is a bakery/cafe by day and a buzzy Burmese bar and restaurant by night. “There’s only one other Burmese restaurant people go to, and it’s in S.F. To say that there’s

Ojai Vineyard

84 march 2022 marin living.

love in this food is ridiculous,” says Nathan. Dishes include lamb biryani, which Naing’s grandmother used to make, featuring local ground lamb, Koda Farms rice, puff pastry, raisins and cashews, and vegan coconut crème brûlée with 50/50 farms lemongrass and lemon verbena, toasted coconut and See Canyon quince.

“Many restaurants claim to be farm to table, but it’s just hype. We buy things from local farms, butchers and fishermen and support the community, who can then buy from the restaurant. Everything comes in a circle,” says Nathan.

Another exciting opening, Rory’s Place (www.rorys placeojai.com), debuted in February and reflects a similar ethos. Meave McAuliffe, former head chef of Saltwater in Inverness and executive pastry chef of Gjelina in Venice and her sister, Rory, collaborated on the project and chose Ojai for its bevy of sustainable ingredients and small-town feel. “It’s full of food and a food mecca without a ton of restaurants,” says Rory.

Rory’s Place has a bustling bar where servers pour natural wines and slice charcuterie using a shiny red meat slicer.

Dishes, mostly cooked over live fire, showcase the freshest local produce and seafood in combinations like tilefish with passion fruit and Channel Islands halibut with citrus beurre blanc and local sunchoke puree. The space beside the old theater is one of the oldest in Ojai and has 100-year-old wood floors and an aluminum ceiling.

Downtown Ojai also has an excellent Japanese izakaya.

Izakaya Full Moon (www.fullmoonojai.com) opened in 2020 and serves exceedingly fresh fish — amberjack sashimi with sesame sauce and creamy uni from Santa Barbara — as well as beef tataki and fried chicken karaage. The sparse walk-ins-only restaurant has seats at the sushi bar or at a picnic table on the patio.

Locals and visitors scramble for tables at Nocciola (www.nocciolaojai.com) for its reasonably priced tasting menu ($75 for four courses) and handmade pastas like pappardelle with roasted wild boar and tagliolini with chanterelles, leeks and Piave fondue.

For a taste of classic Ojai, there’s the romantic Ranch House (www.theranchhouse.com), which opened in 1956 and has long been a celebrity haunt. Today the restaurant is owned by Italian artist Maria Angela Edelson and hotelier Steve Edelson. It stays true to the original owners’ vision with many plant-based dishes, herbs grown on-site and a deep wine list featuring organic and biodynamic wines.

The owners of Farmer and the Cook (www.farmer-andthe-cook.com), one of Ojai’s long-standing health food cafes, fell in love “while buying kabocha squash” at the Ojai farmers market and have been involved in organic farming and cuisine in California for decades. While it has a nutritious bent, the menu isn’t too healthy. There’s crunchy sourdough loaves, swiss chard and cheese enchiladas along with bright smoothies and tonics like the Farm Fennel with fresh pressed apple, fennel and lime juice. It’s also a great choice for mingling with locals enjoying Thursday pizza nights and live music every Sunday.

No visit to Ojai is complete without stopping by the Ojai Certified Farmers Market on Sunday; it showcases the cornucopia of ingredients grown in and around the valley, like sweet and juicy Ojai pixie tangerines that start ripening each March, buttery avocados and peppery olive oil.

Kim Baile

voyager.

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86 march 2022 marin living.

Mariana Schulze (opposite)

The Dutchess

voyager.

Where to Drink

The lean, minimal-intervention wines at Ojai Vineyard (www.ojaivineyard.com), still independently owned after four decades, have a European sensibility, but the fruit is sourced from all the best regional vineyards. Ojai Vineyard’s winemaker experiments with different grapes and vineyard plots. The tasting room in Ojai’s old firehouse has dozens of wines to try, from dark and earthy Fe Ciega pinot noir to a bracingly crisp blush rosé.

Wine lovers should also visit the indoor/outdoor decor and picnic shop, Tipple & Ramble (www.tippleandramble.com), for happy hour, when revelers enjoy copious amounts of sparkling rosé and empanadas in the garden. In warmer months, orders are taken out of a 1950s trailer.

Following a hike in the Topatopa Mountains, plop down at the Ojai Valley Brewery (www.ojaivalleybrewery.com) on Bryant Street, where brewers use pure Ojai water and indigenous herbs and fruits in one-of-a-kind creations like the Pixie, a white wheat ale brewed with Ojai citrus and dried flowers.

Where to Stay

The Spanish Colonial Ojai Valley Inn (from $500 per night; www.ojaivalleyinn.com) was built in 1923 and added to over the years. The bright white buildings including a 31,000square-foot spa and 306 large rooms and suites, most with fireplaces, meander down a hillside. Guest rooms have terraces and views of the mountains and a manicured golf course.

Located on a 600-acre parcel, where trees and shrubs are dripping with fruit including pomegranates and cherimoyas, the Thacher House (from $750 a night with a two-night minimum; www.thacherhouse.com) offers a slice of bucolic Ojai life. Owner Cal Zara fell in love with Ojai more than 10 years ago. “Everyone knows each other. You can still, to this day, go to a farm stand, and it’s an honor system. You can take the food and put the money in the box,” he says. Zara learned carpentry in Greece when he was 16 and renovated the property’s dilapidated buildings into chic accommodations like a loft and a three-bedroom cottage with rustic wood finishes and antique furnishings.

Boutique hotel options in Ojai include a pair of hotels owned and operated by Shelter Social Club. The cabin-like Ojai Rancho Inn (from $250 per night; www.ojairanchoinn. com), a five-minute bike ride from town, has knottypine-paneled walls and a cozy bar where bartenders spin vinyl. The newer Capri Hotel (from $300 per night; www. caprihotelojai.com), once a 1963 roadside retreat, was renovated from top to bottom in 2020. Guest rooms mix midcentury and minimalism with half-moon headboards, artsy chairs and geometric rugs.

Larger groups might consider the Casa Barranca Estate (from $2,500 a night with a three-night minimum; www. casabarranca.com), which sleeps 10. A national historic landmark, the bungalow was built in 1909, and the sprawling property has a pool, hot tub and yoga studio.

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marin living. march 2022 87

drawn together.

Curtains Up Bay Area arts leaders have launched an innovative campaign to encourage the safe return of audiences to venues.

By Daniel Jewett

AFTER A SHOW CALLED TONI STONE had both its opening and closing night on the same evening back in March 2020, the American Conservatory Theater’s (www.act-sf.org, A.C.T.) executive director, Jennifer Bielstein, knew it was going to take a lot for Bay Area performing arts to return to normalcy.

“The pandemic has certainly decimated the arts scene in the Bay Area since it started and really shut us all down,” she says.

“Now, trying to return we’re certainly seeing that there’s a lot of pent-up demand and hunger for what we do.”

To better facilitate that return, this summer she began talking with her colleagues in all types of performance art across the Bay Area who were getting ready to reopen. “We were seeing data about the Bay Area showing that people who live here were more cautious to return to museums, performing arts organizations, cultural centers and such,” Bielstein says.

“What can we do to help rebuild the confidence of people to return to the arts?”

From those conversations and the help of many talented volunteers like Larry Williams, creative director at the San Francisco Symphony, and Jayme Catalano, director of marketing and communications at Shotgun Players, came an innovative public outreach campaign, Bay Area Arts Together (www.bayareaartstogether.org). Now more than 100 organizations strong, and growing, the campaign is working to build confidence for audience members about retunring to live venues.

88 march 2022 marin living.

“They have been hugely supportive and interested; it’s been very wonderfully collaborative,” Bielstein says about connecting with so many like-minded colleagues. “We all do what we do to serve our communities; it seems to have met a shared need that we all have.”

Meredith Suttles, managing director and CEO of the Marin Theatre Company (www.marintheatre.org), agrees.

“It was important for us to join Bay Area Arts Together alongside so many other extraordinary arts and cultural organizations who share a commitment to safely bringing audiences back to our spaces,” she says. “The only way we get through these ongoing challenges is together.”

According to Bielstein, one reason the return of the arts is so important is that they contribute so much to the public and the local communities they serve. “They bring us a connection to our fellow citizens and help us learn about ourselves. They inspire thinking, creativity and collaboration,” she says. “They also build a stronger community and have a real economic impact.”

And now that these connections between organizations have been made, Bielstein expects them to continue to be fruitful. “Hopefully this kind of collaboration across all artistic disciplines and all areas of the Bay Area will lead to future collaboration on different things as we go into the future.”

Kevin Berne

American Conservatory Theater’s executive director, Jennifer Bielstein

SAN FRANCISCO BOTANICAL GARDEN

In Bloom through March

Open Daily in Golden Gate Park

sfbg.org @sfbotanicalgarden for the latest bloom updates!

Image: Magnolia x veitchii

GROWN WITH GRIT

crafted with grace

JAMES HALL, WINEMAKER

A visit to Patz & Hall is more than a wine tasting.

It’s an introduction to California’s top family-owned vineyards. The grit of our grower partners, plus our winemaker’s graceful influence, is evident in each sip. Join us in Sonoma to explore our range of single vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, or savor our new sparkling wine & caviar experience.

21200 8th Street East | Sonoma, CA 95476 | (707) 265-7700 | PatzHall.com PTZ 1532752 ©2021 Patz & Hall, Sonoma, CA 95476

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