The Restaurant at Farmhouse Inn. Photo by John Troxell
HAPPY IN HEALDSBURG Come for the wine, keep coming back for so much more. Written by Bridget Cottrell Some meals are so good, they're worth making a mess of yourself. That was the case at Arandas, the all-day dining spot at boutique hotel 27 North (hotel27north.com), located on the charming square in Healdsburg, California. As soon as I took one bite of their Quesabirria tacos, the warm, rich, savory, and slightly spicy birria consommé dribbled down my wrist, prompting a quick clean-up before quickly diving in for more messy deliciousness. For this visit to the heart of Sonoma's wine country, we enjoyed one moment of culinary decadence after another (along with some outstanding wine). From the pistoriophile's perfect ham and gruyere croissant at Quail & Condor (quailandcondor. com), rivaled only by Parisian pâtisseries; to DIY after-dinner s'mores at Farmhouse Inn (farmhouseinn.com), where we didn't mind sticky fingers courtesy of their homemade marshmallows; a repeat visit to famed vegan restaurant Little Saint (neighbor's with 27 North; littlesainthealdsburg.com), whose culinary plantbased wizardry is flavorful and filling enough to make even the most ardent carnivore eschew their meaty ways for a meal; and sampling our way through a farmer's market, even dry travelers will find there's so much to love about this region. I love Sonoma County—my list of "saved" homes on Zillow (which grows after each trip there) peeks at my pining for a California 50 slmag.net
contemporary lifestyle. Having visited in all four seasons and all types of weather, I firmly believe there's no "wrong" time, as each month offers unique experiences. Summer is ideal for outdoor activities; fall ushers in the busy harvest season; and temperate winter offers fewer crowds for exploring wineries before bud-break on dormant vines heralds the return of spring. In a crowded hospitality market, Foley Entertainment Group has quietly been making significant inroads, most recently acquiring and rebranding the former Hotel Le Mars, a 20-year-old French chateau-inspired property, sited directly on Healdsburg's bustling square. It reopened this past summer as 27 North, offering outsized amenities for a 16-room boutique property. A refreshing watermelontequila cocktail offered at check-in was a primer for a top-notch, finger-licking dinner at Arandas, which serves a solid menu of Mexican staples done exceptionally well. Throughout 27 North, classic French country touches are juxtaposed with contemporary artwork sourced specifically for the property. As the door to our third-floor room opened, I was surprised to discover a stately canopy bed beneath a beam-vaulted ceiling. Placed next to a gas fireplace with a faux limestone hearth, an eightfoot-tall wardrobe with pleated fabric behind the perforated grille on its doors elegantly serves as the room's closet.