Jacob Harth, an Oregon chef renowned for his commitment to sustainable seafood, brings his culinary expertise to the Bay Area with a new restaurant named Winnie's, expected to open in early summer 2025, per their Instagram. Harth, previously acclaimed for Portland's Erizo, which earned recognition as one of Eater's Best New Restaurants in 2019, is teaming up with operations director and Suited Hospitality co-founder David Sisler to provide a sneak peek of their upcoming venture during a pop-up event at Healdsburg's Maison Wine Bar on September 1 and 2, SF Eater reported.
Harth's approach to seafood is deeply rooted in environmental consciousness, focusing on invasive species and bycatch, as demonstrated by his previous work at Erizo. "My biggest regret with [Erizo] was that it was so inaccessible — three days a week, 20 seats," Harth told SF Eater. At Winnie’s, he aims to make a broader impact by featuring underutilized seafood and supporting local harvesters. As an example of such commitment, the menu for the Maison Healdsburg pop-up will include a variety of grilled and raw bar items that may change based on what local fishermen have available.
The pop-up's offerings are advertised to potentially include dishes such as purple sea urchin buns, geoduck with husk cherries, and rare finds like gooseneck barnacles and abalone skewers. Harth and Sisler's collaboration not only spotlights underappreciated seafood but also serves as a precursor to the sustainable dining experience they plan to establish, according to Sonoma Magazine. The upcoming eatery promises to focus on traceable, responsibly sourced seafood from the West Coast.
Harth's passion for sustainable dining runs as deep as the waters from which his ingredients come. Particularly notable is the inclusion of under-celebrated species, such as line-caught sardines paired with calamansi, a nod to Harth's philosophy of elevating overlooked seafood, which he shared in an Instagram post. Winnie's, named after Harth's first child, symbolizes a new chapter for the chef, who ventures to create an intersection between exquisite dining and eco-friendly practices. "We've been traveling, learning, getting better, and keeping this in mind as we worked on other projects for the last four years. We’re ready to open our very own place," Harth expressed on SF Eater.
Guests at Maison Healdsburg will have the opportunity to sample the innovative seafood dishes firsthand, with prices ranging from $14 to $35. For those unable to attend the September 1 and 2 pop-up, additional previews are set for September 15 and 29, where the public can experience a taste of what's to come when Winnie's finally opens its doors in the Bay Area's vibrant food scene.
