Two-Time James Beard Award-winning chef Chris Bianco is bringing his exceptional talent to Northern California, transforming two eateries at the luxurious Carneros Resort and Spa.

Valley Swim Club, a new seafood shack in Sonoma, opens its doors with a varied menu influenced by New England, California clam shacks, Mexican mariscos, and San Francisco seafood culture.

Ferrara Candy Company is set to acquire family-owned Jelly Belly in a move that aims to strengthen both candy brands while ensuring continued innovation and growth.

New Michelin-starred sushi spot opens Dec 1 in Healdsburg.

Shake Shack is opening a new location in Santa Rosa, featuring local menu items, and will donate part of its proceeds from pre-opening sales to the Redwood Empire Food Bank.

The Dirty Dive Bar in Santa Rosa is closing on March 1 due to unfortunate circumstances, with a final celebration on February 25 and a decor liquidation sale from February 23-25.

Napa Valley is hosting its first Cookbook Fest from June 21 to 23, featuring a lineup of top chefs like Tyler Florence for a culinary event with meals, talks, and signings.

A new culinary venture, "Under-Study", is set to open in Napa Valley's former Dean & DeLuca location by the Michelin-starred PRESS team, offering gourmet foods, wine classes, and other delicacies next summer.

Mill Valley's new Corner Bar, a luxury cocktail lounge, opens on April 24, offering gourmet Mediterranean dishes and daily $10 cocktail specials, with a menu by Chef Michael Siege and drinks by Jason Sims.

A fire, following a car crash, caused significant damage to the Napa Valley Distillery, but the establishment plans to rebuild. No barrels or employees were harmed.

Vintage Wine Estates, facing financial difficulties, has declared bankruptcy and announced plans to lay off 377 employees across ten Bay Area facilities.

Chef Michael Mina's Bungalow Kitchen in Marin County is introducing a sushi experience with an omakase menu by Chef Yukinori Yama, starting August 1st.

Stateline Road Smokehouse, a Kansas City BBQ-inspired restaurant created by Chef Darryl Bell Jr., has opened in Napa, offering traditional barbecue with innovative sides.

Chef Jacob Harth plans to open a sustainable seafood restaurant, Winnie's, in the Bay Area by early summer 2025, previewing with a pop-up at Maison Wine Bar.

Mary's Pizza Shack Corporation has filed for bankruptcy to protect its legacy but will keep all locations open, transitioning to family-run operations.

Land and Water Coffee in West Santa Rosa closed temporarily due to a bee infestation but reopened the next day after bees were safely relocated by a beekeeper.

Folktable, a Sonoma restaurant led by Chef Casey Thompson, is closing. Despite not disclosing reasons for the closure, Thompson shared her feelings on Instagram. Cornerstone, the restaurant's location, is linked to a controversy with its developer.

C Casa, a Mexican restaurant in Napa, has closed after 15 years. Economic factors, the pandemic, and low visitor traffic contributed to the closure. The restaurant also faced a fine for child labor violations but has taken corrective actions.

Joe Matos Cheese Factory in Santa Rosa closes after 45 years, citing economic challenges and increased insurance rates. The company was known for its traditional Portuguese St. Jorge cheese.

The Sonoma Valley launches "Sonoma Sips" event with $15 wine tastings at nearly 40 wineries to attract visitors and counter the industry's recent downturn.

Bistro Lagniappe, a new California-French bistro by Chef Jacob Harth, is set to open in Healdsburg on May 29, emphasizing locally sourced ingredients and sustainability.

The historic Jimtown Store in Healdsburg has reopened with new owner Michelle Wood adding dim sum to the classic menu, while maintaining community spirit and familiarity.

Healdsburg’s Simi Winery was sold to WarRoom Cellars after a rapid ownership shuffle this year, with the small buyer promising to refresh the historic 1876 label.

A bureaucratic error allowed Little Caesars to bypass Sebastopol's chain ban. Despite mixed local reactions, the city admitted the mistake but permits stand.

SingleThread shares the No.1 spot on LaListe’s 2026 Top 1,000, bringing international recognition to Healdsburg’s tasting‑menu scene.

Petaluma's first Chick-fil-A opens Thursday at 6:30 a.m. at 5012 Petaluma Blvd N, promising roughly 70 jobs and a $25,000 donation to Redwood Empire Food Bank.

El Tucan Tacos and Beer has opened on the San Rafael waterfront, bringing charbroiled Tijuana‑style tacos, new seafood tacos and eight local beers on tap. The former Pier 15 space now seats roughly 120 indoors and out.

Pastasciutta, a new Italian bottega from the owners of Diavola, has opened in Geyserville selling housemade pasta, prepared dishes and holiday panettone. It’s a grab‑and‑go complement to the restaurant next door.

Michelin plans to start awarding one‑to‑three “grapes” to wineries in 2026. Napa and Sonoma producers could face fresh market pressure and new attention.

Fieldwork Brewing opened its first Sonoma County taproom at Montgomery Village in Santa Rosa, pairing rotating drafts with pizzas and non‑alcoholic options.

La Cheve owner Cinthya Cisneros has opened Con Amor Botanas y Tequila on Main Street, pairing remixed La Cheve dishes with a tequila-forward bar and local murals.

Oxbow Cheese & Wine Merchant will leave Oxbow Public Market on Dec. 31, 2025. Owner Peter Granoff says he’ll refocus on the Ferry Building and a new cheese concept next spring.

Elizabeth Olsen told the 'Last Meals' show she lives in Sonoma and named Valley's spicy XO eggs as a favorite, sending local interest to the Plaza spot.

Bob Costarella’s Red Eye Barbecue is smoking Central Texas–style ribs and beef cheek at a Saturday pop‑up in Santa Rosa’s Roseland. Preorders close Thursday at 5 p.m.

Pick's Roadside will reopen in mid‑January, preserving classic burgers and shakes while adding Wagyu upgrades and a curated drinks program.

After 61 years, Rio Vista’s Point announced it will close; owners blamed failed lease talks and high costs as the property is listed for sale.

After months of permits and upgrades, Papermill Creek Saloon cleared county inspections and its new owner aims to have beer flowing by New Year's Eve. Live music will follow and a grand reopening is planned for January or February.

Chef Rob Larman is closing il Fuoco on Jan. 1 after a decade; he cited rising costs and a shrinking customer base. The pizzeria will serve through Dec. 31.

Cobb Wines opened its first tasting room in Healdsburg as it celebrates its 25th year, aiming to support sales and offer an accessible location to customers.

A new California law requires most store‑bought corn tortillas and masa products to be fortified with folic acid starting next week, with small bakers exempted. Officials say the aim is to reduce neural‑tube birth defects.

Napa Valley rolls out a 31‑day Restaurant Month in January with prix‑fixe menus, stay‑and‑dine packages and valley‑wide promotions. Reservations are recommended.

The Fink turns part of the Historic Napa Mill into a nautically dressed cocktail bar — salvaged boats, heavy brass portholes and a vintage piano anchor the room. Live music and late-night hours give downtown Napa a new spot to linger.

The Trident, Sausalito’s long-running waterfront restaurant, quietly closed on New Year’s Eve after 127 years. Owner Bob Freeman cited slow tourism, rising costs and a failed sale.

Cyrus will open Kisetsu Ramen in its Bubbles Lounge on Jan. 29 — a 12-seat, three-course ramen pop-up priced at $75. Reservations release weekly.

Sizzling House has opened on Mendocino Avenue, serving donburi, ramen and sizzling plates with large portions and fast-casual prices. The bulgogi donburi and takoyaki are early standouts.

Eiko's will close its Oxbow Public Market stall after 11 years and consolidate operations downtown, citing declining visitor traffic and a shift in the market. The downtown restaurant will expand seafood offerings.

Jean‑Charles Boisset has closed Chateau Buena Vista and the JCB Tasting Salon, trimming his splashy Napa footprint as the collection reshapes its tasting strategy.

The Spanish Table’s Clement Street shop has been closed since November and now faces an unlawful detainer for nearly $25,000 in unpaid rent, leaving a hole for Spanish imports. Neighbors and chefs are watching court filings for clues about whether the shelves will return.

A Sonoma company recalled select tamales sold at Whole Foods in California and Nevada after an FDA inspection found inconsistent cooking‑temperature records. No illnesses reported; check date codes 10/22/24–10/22/25.

Patrick Cappiello is bringing a 1,000-bottle wine bar to Jenner next to Café Aquatica, pairing retail bottles with picnic tables and by-the-glass service. The team hopes to open by August 2026.

Tiburon restaurateur Conor Flaherty is buying Larkspur’s Silver Peso; the shuttered dive bar should reopen once repairs and a liquor-license transfer are completed.

Mendocino Farms opened in Persimmon Place, Dublin, and says it will add Mill Valley and Concord locations in 2026.

Cousins Ann Groux and Sheneen Brown opened Lil Sista’s Goody’s, a downtown Napa soul‑food restaurant serving shrimp and grits, oxtails and a popular Sunday buffet.

A nonprofit-run food truck staffed by culinary students began serving global lunches at the Petaluma Fairgrounds, with proceeds supporting training and community meals.

Three former Master Sommelier candidates say the Court of Master Sommeliers rushed a 2018 inquiry that stripped 23 titles; a jury trial in San Francisco will test those claims.

Calistoga Depot announced a short-term shutdown after owner Michael Madden said "March 8 will be our last day for now." A few vendors — including the Wine Collective and Earth & Sky Chocolates — will remain open.

The Villa will reopen in May as The Junction — a family-friendly beer-and-pizza spot with a 4,000-square-foot beer garden, 30 taps and sweeping hilltop views.

Thomas Keller’s Burgers & Half Bottles turns an In‑N‑Out memory into a Yountville pop‑up with wagyu burgers, half‑bottles of wine and a vintage Brew Bus.

Alinea co-founder Nick Kokonas is opening Elsewhere, a wine-first bar at 1429 Main St in St. Helena with a large by-the-glass program and stemware options.

Acme Burger founders Todd and Erica Kniess will open Bohemian Bistro in the former Hazel space in Occidental. Chef James Millar will lead multi-course prix‑fixe dinners.

Juice House Co. will shutter its five Bay Area stores on April 4, founder Tiana Duvauchelle announced. Gift cards remain usable in‑store but refunds won't be offered.

A bright new brunch spot on East Washington mixes Champagne pancakes, global omelets and a selfie‑ready interior from chef Debra Cargile.

Chef Jason Pringle has opened Juju's, a Moroccan‑inspired pop‑up in the Acorn Café space on Healdsburg Square, serving tagines, mezze and small plates Thursday–Sunday.

Chef Ari Weiswasser is opening SMASH, a fast‑casual smashburger and fried‑chicken spot on Sonoma Plaza. The restaurant will occupy the Taub Outpost and aims to open in May.

A Michelin‑starred veteran from One Market has taken over Hestan Napa’s kitchen, bringing fine‑dining chops back to downtown Napa. The move pairs seasonal menus with Hestan wines.

A new Petaluma lunch spot is drawing buzz for a half roast chicken rubbed in a 17‑spice Levantine blend.

A San Francisco investment firm bought the Cain label and stock after the Glass Fire; the mountain estate is being sold separately while winemaker Chris Howell stays on.

Normandie opened on Main Street with tableside soufflés, a martini bar and a wine program that mixes French classics with Napa bottles.

George + Kin's opens next Sunday in Bel Aire Plaza, folding family Japanese recipes into diner staples like milk‑bread French toast, katsu parm and curry udon.

Heidi Barrett has opened La Sirena’s first public tasting room in Calistoga, pairing small-production wines with a gallery of her paintings.

Redwood Gospel Missions opened a bakery in Santa Rosa on April 14 that pairs croissants and espresso with hands‑on job training for program participants.

Sandpino's Coffee & Brews opened in Rohnert Park, pairing Black Oak coffee and Don Luis pastries with a tap list of Sonoma beers and wines.

Parkside Eats has taken over the former Lepe’s Taqueria in Santa Rosa and is drawing crowds for a $21 Parkside cheeseburger and a menu of Mexican‑leaning comfort food.

The Playground Café returns May 1 to St. Stephen’s with a weekend-first menu, grab-and-go bowls and a kids’ play area. The relaunch emphasizes family-friendly outdoor dining.

Bob Cabral quietly opened a reservation-only tasting room at Paradise Ridge in Santa Rosa, mixing rock memorabilia with small-lot Pinots and a charity focus.

Kollar Chocolates owner Chris Kollar announced the Yountville shop will close later this month. The store will remain open briefly as the team winds down operations.

Mobile tortillerías — full tortilla factories on wheels — have started popping up across Sonoma County, selling hot corn tortillas by the pound and reviving neighborhood food traditions.

Sapori Ristorante opened on Fourth Street in January, bringing pizzas, pastas and a regional wine list from Jaime and Esther Wence. The couple moved from Isleton and renovated the space over a year.

Chef Albert Park’s Seoul to Tokyo Kitchen brings long-simmered broths and Korean comfort dishes to Marlow Road in Santa Rosa's Coffey Park.

Healdsburg’s four‑day food‑and‑wine festival returns May 14–17 with tastings, chef dinners and a Grand Tasting on the plaza. Tickets and packages are moving fast.

The Mina Group will step back from managing Tiburon’s Bungalow Kitchen on June 1. Arizona’s Clive Collective will take over management while the restaurant stays open.

Arborum purchased a 24‑acre parcel from Vineyard 29, expanding its Spring Mountain estate to roughly 44 acres, with plans for organic plantings and charitable giving.

Matthew Accarrino is consulting on Vetra and a casual café at The Elene in Napa, pairing Cal‑Italian cooking with a cycling program tied to the Napa Valley Vine Trail.

Baci Café & Wine Bar in Healdsburg will be closed after an SUV crashed into its dining room; the owner says repairs will take weeks and no one was hurt.

Addendum, Thomas Keller’s backyard takeout spot behind Ad Hoc in Yountville, reopened last Friday for weekends through Labor Day with pizza, fried chicken and new sandwiches.

A&M BBQ’s future on South Main is in doubt after neighbors and city staff clashed over heavy smoke and zoning enforcement ahead of a council hearing.

Dos' Bar, a downtown Sonoma collective tasting room for natural wine and cider, has closed after roughly two years as founders say the model couldn't sustain operations.

Downtown Joe's has finished a yearlong remodel and debuted a Second Street terrace with river views, expanded menus and live‑music nights. The upgrade also sets up a future rooftop and bigger kitchen.

Sommelier Morgan Gray will open Frenchie’s this summer at 642 Fifth St., bringing 300+ wines and three themed clubs to downtown Santa Rosa.

Napa Valley College unveiled the Donna Altes Hospitality Training Center on June 2, adding a tasting bar and classroom to its Wine Education Complex. The privately funded facility will train students for tasting‑room and wine‑sales roles.