Heather Irwin

Santa Rosa

Dining Editor at The Press Democrat

Dining Editor at Sonoma Magazine

Food, restaurants, dining and mayhem in Sonoma, Napa and the Bay Area. Weekly column in the Press Democrat.

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Articles

New and upcoming Sonoma County restaurants that should be on your radar

1 week ago | sacbee.com | Heather Irwin

The tsunami of restaurant openings slated for May and June has been inching toward me for months - once a distant ripple, now a crashing wave. A high-stakes surge of new ventures from some of Sonoma County's most seasoned restaurateurs (and a few newcomers) is finally making landfall. It's both exhilarating and daunting to witness. As much as I want every restaurant to thrive, not all will succeed.
12 new and upcoming local restaurants that should be on your radar

1 week ago | pressdemocrat.com | Heather Irwin

The tsunami of restaurant openings slated for May and June has been inching toward me for months — once a distant ripple, now a crashing wave. A high-stakes surge of new ventures from some of Sonoma County's most seasoned restaurateurs (and a few newcomers) is finally making landfall. It's both exhilarating and daunting to witness. As much as I want every restaurant to thrive, not all will succeed.
Jeffrey’s Hillside Cafe is a Santa Rosa breakfast institution for a reason

1 week ago | sacbee.com | Heather Irwin

Breakfast is not a meal to be messed with. Chefs can add all the edible flowers, foams and sauces they want at dinner - and maybe lunch - but try that at 8 a.m. and customers will revolt. That's not news to chef Jeffrey Madura of Jeffrey's Hillside Cafe in Santa Rosa. Despite a long career in fine dining, he's spent the last 16 years cooking corned beef hash, biscuits and gravy, huevos rancheros and pancakes at his modest breakfast and lunch café.
‘Just really good food in a comfy environment’: Tucked away Santa Rosa spot nails the perfect breakfast

1 week ago | pressdemocrat.com | Heather Irwin

Breakfast is not a meal to be messed with. Chefs can add all the edible flowers, foams and sauces they want at dinner — and maybe lunch — but try that at 8 a.m. and customers will revolt. That's not news to chef Jeffrey Madura of Jeffrey's Hillside Cafe in Santa Rosa. Despite a long career in fine dining, he's spent the last 16 years cooking corned beef hash, biscuits and gravy, huevos rancheros and pancakes at his modest breakfast and lunch café.
The secret to managing celebrities at BottleRock? Let them cook.

1 week ago | pressdemocrat.com | Heather Irwin

For the past decade, Liam Mayclem has served as ringleader, hype man, cat-herder and emcee of BottleRock Napa Valley’s Williams Sonoma Culinary Stage — a role that demands both crowd-pleasing charm and crisis management skills.
Power tools, raw fish and a flying lobster: Inside BottleRock’s wildest stage

1 week ago | sacbee.com | Heather Irwin

A giant block of ice, flailing circular saws, tequila shots, liquid nitrogen and an ill-advised stage backflip by BottleRock headliner Benson Boone were all part of the most chaotic performance at the festival Saturday - and it didn't even happen on a music stage. Instead, it played out on the Williams Sonoma Culinary Stage, where once-mellow cooking demos have evolved into a wildly unpredictable fan favorite.
Power tools, raw fish and a flying lobster: Inside BottleRock’s wildest stage

1 week ago | pressdemocrat.com | Heather Irwin

A giant block of ice, flailing circular saws, tequila shots, liquid nitrogen and an ill-advised stage backflip by BottleRock headliner Benson Boone were all part of the most chaotic performance at the festival Saturday — and it didn’t even happen on a music stage. Instead, it played out on the Williams Sonoma Culinary Stage, where once-mellow cooking demos have evolved into a wildly unpredictable fan favorite.
It’s official: We’ve hit the tipping point on tipping

2 weeks ago | sacbee.com | Heather Irwin

Tipping culture in America has reached a breaking point. According to a recent WalletHub survey, 9 out of 10 Americans believe tipping has gotten out of control. A whopping 83% think automatic service charges should be banned, half of us admit we tip more out of social pressure than appreciation for good service, and many believe businesses are using tips to avoid paying fair wages.
Sonoma County diners say restaurant fees are out of control. What’s going on?

2 weeks ago | northbaybusinessjournal.com | Heather Irwin

Customers are frustrated by the now-standard 20-25% gratuity, plus additional service charges on top of soaring menu prices.
Sonoma County diners say restaurant fees are out of control. What’s going on?

2 weeks ago | pressdemocrat.com | Heather Irwin

Tipping culture in America has reached a breaking point. According to a recent WalletHub survey, 9 out of 10 Americans believe tipping has gotten out of control. A whopping 83% think automatic service charges should be banned, while half of us admit we tip more out of social pressure than appreciation for good service. Many believe businesses are using tips to avoid paying fair wages.