A great reason to eat out

It is Sonoma County Restaurant Week here in Wine Country.  And while it doesn’t take much of an excuse for Sherry and I to head out to one of our favorite eateries, this seemed like the perfect reason to eat out multiple times this week.  So that’s exactly what we did.

Sonoma County Restaurant Week is a new, and very cool, concept that was extremely well organized and promoted.  We’ve known about it for weeks.  So what is it exactly.  I think I’ll let the organizers tell you in their own words.

“The first-ever Sonoma County Restaurant Week will be a seven day celebration of our county's farm fresh food and premier wine! Enjoy three-course dinner menus at $19, $29, or $39, depending on the restaurant. Don't miss out on Sonoma County's most delicious week of the year!”

Wow!  Three-course dinners at some of our favorite restaurants at those prices.  I’m surprised we didn’t try eating out all seven nights.  However, after reviewing the list, our work schedules, and our finances, we settle on two restaurants.  Since we had already eaten at many of the choices available, we picked two places that we really like but don’t get to very often – Mosaic Restaurant & Wine Lounge and Bistro des Copains. 

We started with Mosaic in Forestville on Wednesday night.  We were joined by our good friends Pat and Julie.  Actually, all four of us had eaten there together once before.  Pat and Julie arrived first and already had the wine poured when we arrived.  I sure could get used to that.  After some quick conversation, it was time to start eating (of course, we never really quit talking and laughing).

I won’t go over the entire menu, which you can see by clicking on the restaurant week logo, so I’ll jump forward to the main course.  The girls had the coffee encrusted filet mignon (Mosaic’s fabulous signature dish) while Pat and I tried the Dungeness crab risotto.  They were awesome and my dish was by far one of the best risotto’s I have ever eaten.

Friday night was a more romantic affair with just Sherry and I.  This time it was off to Bistro des Copains in Occidental.  This is a classic french-style bistro.  Sherry started with a salad while I tried the butternut soup with sage.  Then it was onto the classic steak frites for Sherry and Sole Grenobloise for me.  Then to finish the whole thing off, we both had apple tart tartins for dessert.  Just like before, the food was outstanding.

I hope they consider doing Sonoma County Restaurant Week again next year.  It was a great way to get people out.  It was also the perfect reason for Sherry and I to eat wonderful food, drink wine, hang with friends, and share a little time with each other.  And in the end, isn’t that what life’s all about?

Au revoir!