Sonoma got an unexpected star turn this week when Elizabeth Olsen casually told a nationally streamed interview show that she lives in town and is hooked on the spicy XO eggs at Valley. The Marvel actor’s offhand endorsement has thrown a Hollywood spotlight on the cozy wine bar off the Plaza and has locals suddenly curious about the buzzy dish.
According to The Press Democrat, Olsen revealed her Sonoma residency during an episode of the YouTube series "Last Meals" and called Valley’s XO eggs one of her go-to comforts. The paper reports that the segment is already gaining traction online and includes reactions from Valley’s owners, who suddenly find their low-key spot in the center of a very public moment.
Olsen's appearance on Last Meals
In the "Last Meals" episode that aired Tuesday, Nov. 25, Olsen traded stories about comfort food and singled out Valley’s XO eggs during the conversation. The TV listing database TheTVDB confirms the episode and notes the show’s run on Peacock and YouTube, which has made Olsen’s Sonoma shout-out easy for fans to track down and replay.
Valley: a small Plaza spot
Valley, often referred to as Valley Bar + Bottle, opened on the Sonoma Plaza in 2020 and has since built a reputation for intimate seating, natural wine and shareable plates, according to Decanter. The profile calls out the XO eggs as one of the bar’s standout small plates and underscores how compact and neighborhood-focused the restaurant is despite the growing attention.
What goes into the XO eggs
The Press Democrat reports that Valley’s XO sauce starts with chicken skin, bacon and an anchovy-based fish sauce. The kitchen finishes the dish with hens’ eggs sourced from Silver Sky Ranch in Petaluma. Owners Stephanie Reagor, Emma Lipp, Lauren Feldman and Tanner Walle told the paper they created the recipe as a local spin on traditional Chinese XO sauce.
In a town the size of Sonoma, a celebrity name-check can quickly translate into full reservation books, and Valley’s snug dining room means staff will be juggling longtime regulars with curious newcomers in the days ahead. Expect at least a short-term rush as locals and out-of-towners try to taste the same plate that made it onto Olsen’s list.
Whether you have been quietly loyal to Valley for years or are just now hunting for a table because of the "Last Meals" clip, Olsen’s shout-out is a reminder that a single celebrity craving can send a small Plaza spot into the national conversation.
