A Press Democrat Blog

Meet the Chefs

Profiles on chefs participating in Sonoma County's Wine Country Weekend

Carlo Cavallo, Meritage Martini Oyster Bar & Grille

Monday, at 4:16 by

Carlo Cavallo, Executive Chef, Meritage Martini Oyster Bar & Grille Carlo Cavallo began his career in 1991 working at the famed L’Assassino Ristorante in Milan, Italy.  He then spent the next three years as the Executive Chef for Giorgio Armani’s Restaurants in Beverly Hills, Boston and Costa Mesa where he developed an ardent following of Hollywood celebrities and was honored  as “Best New Chef of the Year” in Los Angeles Magazine. In November 1999, Carlo Cavallo opened Meritage Martini Oyster… Read More »

Justin Wangler, Kendall-Jackson Winery

Monday, at 7:50 by

Justin Wangler, Executive Chef, Kendall-Jackson Winery. Photo credit: Alan Campbell. Justin Wangler’s appreciation for fine food began at a young age in his hometown of Asheville, North Carolina. He credits his mother for being his first teacher in the kitchen, before receiving his formal training at A.B. Tech Culinary School in Asheville. His career has included stops at several family restaurants in Asheville, Cherokee Town and Country Club in Atlanta and upon moving to California, the Culinary Institute of America… Read More »

Douglas Keane, Cyrus

Friday, at 1:24 by

Douglas Keane, Executive Chef / Owner, Cyrus Restaurant Chef Keane began his culinary career at The Four Seasons in New York. He perfected his trade in the kitchens of Lespinasse in New York and Jardiniere in San Francisco. In 2005, Chef Keane opened Cyrus, his “dream restaurant” with partner Nick Peyton. Since then, Chef Keane and Cyrus have amassed a wealth of accolades including the James Beard Award Best Chef Pacific, Food and Wine Magazines Best New Chef, Two Michelin… Read More »

Sondra Bernstein, The Girl & The Fig

Tuesday, at 4:48 by

Sondra Bernstein, CEO/Proprietor, the girl & the fig, the fig cafe & winebar, and the girl & the fig CATERS! Sondra is the Proprietor of the girl & the fig in Sonoma & the fig café & winebar in Glen Ellen. She is also the author of the the girl & the fig Cookbook published in 2004 by Simon & Schuster and her newest book, Plats du Jour: the girl & the fig’s Journey Through the Seasons in Wine Country, which was called “enchanting”… Read More »

Josh Silvers, Chef/Owner, Petite Syrah and Jackson’s Bar & Oven

Tuesday, at 9:28 by

Josh Silvers, Chef/Owner, Jackson’s Bar & Oven and Petite Syrah Chef Silvers combines classical training with a slightly unorthodox style and an abundance of influences found in the Bay Area. Josh credits his father for launching his interest in restaurants. Don Silvers, a former Chef, renowned author and professor at UCLA encouraged his son to begin his professional apprenticeship when he turned 17 by arranging for him to train under Chef Barry Marcillac at the City Hotel in Columbia.  It… Read More »

Jeff Mall, Zin Restaurant & Wine Bar

Tuesday, at 4:36 by

Jeff Mall, Executive Chef, Zin Restaurant and Wine Bar, Healdsburg Jeff was born and raised in the small town of Newman, the son of a second generation California farmer.  One of his first memories is that of walking into the fields where he would pick and eat fresh green beans. His dad and grandfather raised everything from walnuts to shelling beans, spinach to summer squash. Jeff spent summers on a tractor in the hot fields and decided farming wasn’t for… Read More »

Andrew Wilson, Carneros Bistro & Wine Bar

Tuesday, at 11:21 by

Chef Andrew Wilson, Chef de Cuisine, Carneros Bistro & Wine Bar Chef Andrew Wilson brings his signature style highlighting seasonal ingredients paired with 20 years of restaurant experience to the team at Carneros Bistro & Wine Bar. Andrew’s inspiration for simple, seasonal cooking came from summers at his grandmother’s house in Greenwich, CT. An honors graduate of the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, Andrew has mastered his craft at the elbow of some of the nation’s most renowned chefs.… Read More »

Duskie Estes & John Stewart, Zazu

Tuesday, at 5:23 by

Duskie Estes and John Stewart, ZAZU restaurant + farm Duskie Estes began cooking at the age of five in her EZ-Bake oven. Growing up in San Francisco, she fell in love with everything restaurant through her weekly Wednesday night dinners out with her father. Her resume includes restaurants in  Rhode Island, San Francisco, Oakland, Washington DC and Seattle, where she was voted City Search’s Seattle Best Chef in 2000. She was coauthor on Tom Douglas’s Seattle Kitchen, which received the James… Read More »

A Press Democrat reader exclusive coming August 1st

Thursday, at 2:10 by

Have you ever wondered what inspires your favorite chef? What their favorite guilty food pleasure is? The Press Democrat in partnership with Sonoma Wine County Weekend brings you an exclusive look at the chefs of Sonoma Wine Country Weekend, from their humble beginnings to their favorite recipes. Look for this 8-week series starting with Chefs Duskie Estes and John Stewart of Zazu Restaurant + Farm on August 1st.