Holiday Cheer

Holiday

Cheer

THE BAAN THAI CUISINE

SAN ANSELMO

The Baan Thai Cuisine has been serving up fresh locally sourced Thai food since 2013, and offers a healthy alternative to traditional holiday fare. Just before the pandemic, Jukreewat Suthon q stepped in as the new owner along with head chef Nina Simma (pictured above) bringing his own traditional Thai family recipes to the mix.

Nina

[From Jukreewat ] Dish featured and what makes it

special. The Baan Thai salad. It’s a popular and tasty fresh salad made with minced chicken and prawns topped with our secret dressing — a perfect plate and healthy meal.

What are popular holiday take-out

dishes? A papaya salad is a great fit for holiday entertaining. It’s refreshing and healthy and is in line with the Thai traditional eating style.

What are you looking forward to this

holiday season? Gathering with friends and family, with traditional Thai BBQ, which we make here.

CAFE ARRIVEDERCI

SAN RAFAEL

In 2020, Fatima and Ricardo Lopez bought Cafe Arrivederci from its original owners Carlos and Aurora Scatena, looking to continue the tradition of providing the community with great Italian food. Offering indoor and outdoor dining, sometimes with live jazz music on the patio.

[From Fatima] Dish featured and what makes it special.

Bread pudding. Our special Italian bread is what separates our bread pudding from others, alongside that, our figs and apples provide a distinctive taste that our customers love.

q

Fatima

What are popular holiday take-out

dishes? Popular take-out dishes for the holidays are the ravioli Arrivederci, which is stuffed with butternut squash and pomegranate seeds for garnish. We also have the brasato, our beef short ribs braised in Barolo wine; and our stinco di Agnelo (braised lamb shanks), are another popular dish.

What are you looking forward to this

holiday season? I want to ensure these upcoming holidays are special for every family that dines here; that every time they visit they leave with an enjoyable experience. I look forward to seeing the satisfied look on the customer's faces when they’re eating our food, made with love.

Favorite holiday dishes you love to eat?

Personally, I love to eat crab cakes, brasato and pumpkin pie.

THE CAPRICE

TIBURON

A longtime favorite, special occasion spot, since Kirby Atterbury, a Hemingwayesque bon vivant opened it in 1956, the latest iteration lead by Jerry and Jennifer Dal Bozzo, has put it on the “bucket list” map.

[From Jennifer] Dish featured and what makes

it special. Our Italian potsticker, made with savory sausage, ginger and vegetables. It’s so unique q Jennifer and also the perfect takeout dish — just plate it, pour the sauce over it, and voila!

Besides what you brought, what are your most popular take out items for

holiday entertaining? Asparagus soup, crab and smoked salmon crostini, toybox tomato salad, Caesar salad, farro arugula salad, foggy wharf crab salad, gnocchi with crab and spinach fondue.

What are you looking forward to this

holiday season? Enjoying time with close friends and family, eating seasonal soups and hearty meals, and decorating The Caprice in Christmas fashion.

CREEKSIDE PIZZA & TAPROOM

SAN ANSELMO

In 2016, a year before opening their popular San Anselmo eatery, veteran foodies Pat Townsley and Janet Abrahamson started working on their unique pizza dough starter. Today, the mother (starter) is still going strong, attracting locals and visitors alike.

[From Pat] Dish(es) featured and what

makes them special. One hundred percent angus beef, hand-rolled daily with panko and Chef Janet's blend of seasoning, a.k.a. "Our Meatballs, Our Sauce" on the menu. I also brought our Bald Hill pizza; red peppadews and wild arugula on a white sopraffina base sauce. It's a yearround pizza, but I thought the colors were nice for a holiday picture.

What are popular holiday take-out

dishes? Our most popular pizzas are the Perfect Storm (our combination pizza) and Geronimo (topped with baby lettuces and a premium hand-tied ball of burrata cheese). Our Lion's Share vegetable platter is popular for indoor dining, and everyone loves our garlic parmesan puffs, our version of garlic knots.

What are you looking forward to this

holiday season? Downtown San Anselmo is a magical place during the holidays, a truly unique Rockwellian avenue with quaint shops, passionate merchants and an ever-expanding food destination. We love to see the community gather for the annual Tree Lighting festival in Imagination Park.

Favorite holiday dishes you love to eat and serve?

At Creekside, we have over 50 "California-only" wines, so I love to celebrate with family and guests with a great glass of Pinot Noir from our friends at Skywalker Vineyard, Kosta-Browne or GoGi Wines. For me, My own personal favorite fall/ winter at-home dish to cook is a hearty country-style pork rib sweet and spicy goulash over mashed potatoes or extra wide egg noodles. It's an all-day cook that fills the house with mouth watering aromas. Now I'm hungry. I'm going to the store now to get the ingredients.

qPat

CUCINA S|A

SAN ANSELMO

Cucina s|a has been a popular neighborhood spot for over 24 years serving award-winning Southern and Central Italian cuisine. Owner Donna Seymour added a parklet and expanded the space to include a full bar with a selection of spirits and craft cocktails.

[From Donna] Dish featured and what makes

it special. The dish I brought is our popular kale and Brussels sprout salad with toasted almonds and parmiq giana. Simply toss with the dressing and it is ready to go!

Donna

What are popular holiday take-out

dishes? Brussels sprout chips with honey, sriracha, and lime; our bombolotti al sugo; and contadino misto — a lovely pan roast of chicken, sausage, potatoes, garlic and mushrooms.

What are you looking forward to this

holiday season? I am looking forward to having groups come in to share some meals and make great memories as we enjoy meals like my favorite holiday dish, Feast of the Seven Fishes.

Favorite holiday dishes you love to eat? I love eating seafood during the holidays!

FLOODWATER

MILL VALLEY

The smell of fresh frying latkes wafting through the house is wonderful — brings me back to childhood.

Opened in 2019 by renowned Marin restaurateur Bill Higgins (Buckeye Roadhouse, Picco, Bar Bocce, Bungalow 44) his sons Tyler and Henry Higgins, and executive chef Michael Siegel, Floodwater turns out elevated bar fare and fresh pizzas in front of your eyes, courtesy of a wood-fired pizza oven.

What are popular holiday take-out

dishes? The matzah ball soup and Reuben are regulars on the menu and are usually popular around any Jewish holiday.

{From Michael} Dish featured and what makes it q special. Potato latkes with chive sour cream and applesauce. They can be reheated in the oven on a sheet tray or pan fried crispy as I love to cook them.

What are you looking forward

to this holiday season? My nephew is turning 21 this year and the whole family will be Michael gathering around Hannukah to celebrate with him — in New Orleans!

Favorite holiday dishes you love to eat?

My favorite overall meal of the year is a traditional Thanksgiving feast.

POGGIO

SAUSALITO

Larry Mindel, Proprietor of Poggio Trattoria, set out in 2003 to create a restaurant that reflected all of who he is. With more than 30 Italian restaurants under his belt, Mindel crafted Poggio with a clear eye on the tenants of Italian hospitality and cooking, bringing in Amy Svendberg as managing partner and Ben Balesteri as executive chef to actualize a menu that is grounded in northern Italy but reflects classics of the broader Italian culinary canon.

[From Ben] Dish featured and

what makes it special? The dish I brought q was the burrata with honey confit cranberries, baby kale, delicata squash, candied pecans and crostini — this dish is ready to serve and enjoy!

Ben

What are popular holiday take-out

dishes? One of Poggio's most popular take-out items for holiday entertaining is our grilled porterhouse steak. It's for two or three people and comes with two side dishes. Our arancini — fried risotto balls — veal and pork meatballs and our tuna tartare are also very popular appetizers.

What are you looking forward to this

holiday season? Restaurant-wise, I am looking forward to white truffles coming up, and then hopefully a nice break.

WATERSHED

MILL VALLEY

Nestled in the quaint Mill Valley Lumberyard, Watershed was opened in July 2019 by local restauranter Ged Robertson to much fanfare. Head chef, Kyle Swain, has been involved since the beginning with design, concept and the menu.

[From Kyle] Dish featured and what

makes it special? Our polenta is from Anson Mills, an organic grain collective from the Carolinas, the corn is ground fresh from heirloom varieties. We finish the polenta with milk, parmesan, butter and our secret ingredient of extra virgin lemon oil.

What are popular holiday take-out

dishes? Besides the polenta, I would say a great holiday take out dish is our pappardelle with a pork sugo. Housemade pasta, pork braised with madeira, stock, sofrito and thyme.

What are you looking forward

to this holiday season? One of my favorite things about the fall season and the holidays is the abundance of wild mushrooms that come through our kitchen. Porcinis, chanterelles, black trumpets, yellowfoot mushrooms find their way into pastas and entrees. It is the perfect time of year to enjoy slow braises and drink great wines accompanied by friends and family.

qKyle

SIDE STREET KITCHEN

POINT REYES STATION

Owner Sheryl Cahill and Chef Aaron Wright developed a menu that is centered on a modern rotisserie and smoker, featuring slow-cooked meats, organic vegetables and cold-smoked seafood.

[From Aaron] Dish featured and what makes it special?

Chicken liver pate. We finish the dish with an apple cider gelee which adds a nice flavor with the creamy pate.

q

Aaron

What are popular holiday take-out

dishes? We make extra side dishes for the holidays, turkey gravy, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and our crispy Brussels sprouts are always popular along with our mac and cheese.

What are you looking forward to this

holiday season? We don't have a lot of people over for the holidays so larger classic dishes don't make sense. I really enjoy making red wine braised short ribs or duck confit with roasted duck breast.