KANCHA

Bringing Much-Needed Flavor + Libations to Downtown Santa Rosa

BY MELISSA VOGT

In downtown Santa Rosa, jovial chef and sommelier Angel Cayllahua has put down roots with his new Kancha Champagne Bar & Tapas restaurant. Kancha comes after a series of restaurant closures during the height of the pandemic and is a much-needed addition to the downtown scene. While staples like La Rosa and the newer Perch & Plow continue to offer flavorful cuisine and great lineups of libations, a wine-bar style dining experience has been missing from downtown Santa Rosa for far too long—trailing behind the offerings in other wine country downtowns like Healdsburg and Sonoma.

The Kancha location is at 643 4th Street, just steps from Courthouse Square, and Cayllahua offers an eclectic tapas menu driven by his unique culinary background and Peruvian culture. And the extensive beverage list includes top-shelf Champagne from producers like Lanson, domestic sparkling wines such as Gloria Ferrer and Domaine Carneros, and varietals from around the world.

Cayllahua’s visionary menu combines his unique Japanese culinary training with the flavors and dishes of Peru, highlighting the Peruvian staple maiz (corn) and paying homage Nikkei—the fusion food comprised of Japanese and Peruvian cuisine. The tapasstyle menu offers small share plates crafted from farm-fresh and local produce and comes highly pairable with the well-curated wine list.

The menu is split into five categories, with the addition of an obligatory wine country cheese platter that features local favorites like Laura Chenel Goat Cheese, Marin Brie Cheese, and Point Reyes Farmstead Bay Blue. The quince paste, garlic confit, and French bread served alongside are a bonus. There’s also an option to add Creminelli charcuterie, some of the tastiest, domestically produced cured meats you can get in the states.

From the Cold Plates, the Salmon Tartare brings with it the Japanese culinary influence with a tangy ponzu foam combined with serrano chilies, pine nuts, and avocado mousse. It’s served with root chips made from the maca plant, native to the Peruvian Andes mountain range and closely akin to ginseng. This is a dish full of texture and showcases the quality of the salmon nicely. The root chips are a flavorful way to scoop from the trio of Ceviches.

The Causas are a classic Peruvian entrée that incorporates a bed of whipped potato over protein. Three protein selections offer Dungeness crab, octopus, and vegetables. The octopus is tender and balanced nicely with texture and flavor, with just a touch of heart. From the Hot Plates, a nice selection of fish, meat, and vegetables offers a favorite for all. The Very Adult Mac & Cheese comes with a kick of chili oil; the Mushroom Risotto Fritters are served with a chimichurri sauce; Mussels in Coconut Cream Sauce offer a new take on this classic wine country favorite, and the Pork Belly Lettuce Cups are wonderfully flavored with honey miso and pickled breakfast radish. Don’t miss the Dungeness Crab Cakes, whose crispy outside is perfectly dipped into the delicious huancaina sauce.

With a warm welcoming to Santa Rosa, wine country locals hope Kancha is here to stay.

Don’t Miss Happy Hour: Daily 4:00 – 6:00pm$1.50 - $12 Small bites $5 - 8 Wine, sangria + sake

643 4th Street, Santa Rosa // info@kanchasr.com // 707-623-9793 // www.kanchasr.com