Where to Eat in Sonoma: Hidden Gems & Food Trends with Heather Irwin

Looking for places to eat in Sonoma Valley and Sonoma County? Heather Irwin, dining editor for Sonoma Magazine and The Press Democrat, joins The Sonoma Spiel to talk restaurant discoveries, brunch trends, burgers, and the stories behind Sonoma’s food scene.

Over milkshakes from Smash, Heather and host Tim Zahner explore everything from Spread Kitchen’s dirty fries to Swiss Hotel’s hidden back patio—and why a memorable meal doesn’t have to come with a fine-dining price tag.

• Is brunch really dead? Meet the “brunchería.”
• Early dinner reservations and the rise of later dining.
• Sonoma restaurant discoveries, including Spread Kitchen, Little Lou’s, Swiss Hotel and Dead Letter.
• Milkshakes, local strawberries, ice cream, and Heather’s soft-serve pick.
• Why local farms and ingredients shape Sonoma County dining.
• How Sonoma Family Meal grew from wildfire relief into culinary training.
• Food journalism, restaurant storytelling, and supporting local news.

Plus, in “We Get Questions,” they cover seafood stops on the way from San Francisco, restaurants for a group of 10, and a Sonoma County outing starting with the ferry and SMART train—with a local driver for the wine-country portion.

And we need your help: Where do you find great nachos in Sonoma County? Tell us in the comments!

READ HEATHER’S WORK
Sonoma Magazine: https://www.sonomamag.com/
The Press Democrat: https://www.pressdemocrat.com/

PLAN YOUR SONOMA VALLEY VISIT
Restaurants, events, lodging, and special offers:
https://www.sonomavalley.com/

SONOMA TASTING PASS
https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

LISTEN TO THE SONOMA SPIEL
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

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