Last minute film festival food news

Reel & Brand welcomes new partner

Kevin Kress seems truly pumped about welcoming a new business partner at Reel & Brand.

The new Reel & Brander is Kent McGrath who is even more enthusiastic about joining Kress.

Kress says that McGrath is super experienced in the business of the service industry, is 100% committed to improving everything connected to Reel & Brand and brings new energy to the venue.

Some longtimers might remember the Little Switzerland and property owner Max Young’s other tenants, most recently The Reel that emphasized fresh fish.

Reel & Brand might be one of the oldest original Springs resort restaurants, bar, and dance halls left in Sonoma Valley, dating from 1806 and later when trains brought vacationers to local resorts and cabins focused on the hot springs of Sonoma Valley.

Schermeister tasting room reopens

With a creative approach to making and marketing their products, including just plain closing down their tasting room when they ran out of wine last year, Laura and winemaker Rob Schermeister just reopened their Glen Ellen tasting room much to the delight of their many fans.

Laura Schermeister, co-owner and general manager, told the Index-Tribune, “We are thrilled to announce the re-opening of our Glen Ellen tasting room with a couple of newly released wines to share for a limited time. We’ve gained a lot of fans over the past few years and are proud to turn curious tasters into true believers of our limited production wines.

“Our winemaker, Rob Schermeister, is hosting all guests as always and we are looking at another sellout by the end of May 2022. We’re currently pouring rosé, viognier, pinot noir and syrah, which are all native fermented, unfiltered, unfined and vegan-friendly.

“Come by to see us (and meet our wine dog, Eli!) by booking online via Open Table. We’d also like to thank the community for their support and shared excitement for the wines we make with passion and expertise. The tasting room will close in June with a waitlist for membership in place until we reopen again in November.”

“Unfined” wines are unfiltered or natural wines, which means they might have sediment that has settled in the bottom of the bottle from pulp, grape skins and microorganisms. Seeing those participants, as I call them, always makes me smile. Tasting room: 14301 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen. 934-8953.

Filipello Whole Foods Leader of 2021

Justine Filipello was just named Sonoma’s “2021 Team Member of the Year” by Whole Foods’ Northern California regional president, Omar Gaye.

You might remember Justine from when I wrote about her as a person who grew up in the food business, graduated from Sonoma Valley High School in 1998, and became an All-American Water Polo player. She is also an accomplished artist, photographer and designer.

And you also might have encountered her helping at Paul’s Produce at Sonoma’s Friday morning farmers market, working at Oak Hill Farm’s Red Barn on Saturdays, in hilarious outfits on the Trashion Fashion runways, or even in defferent departments at Sonoma Whole Foods.

While her award certificate shows her title as “Produce Team Trainer,” she knows every department so ends up working the cheese counter and even in the meat department.

Filipello really knows food, and for good reason. Her parents, Joanne and Keith Filipello, have been chefs and caterers for decades and used to host their Wild Thyme Dining Club Rive Gauche, originally outside under the stars at their then Railroad Avenue catering kitchen, and later at FAHA on Verano Avenue.

Congratulations, Justine! Hard work and honesty really do pay off.

Soroptimists’ Easter candy for scholarships

Again partnering with Sonoma’s Chocolate Cow, Soroptimists are again taking orders for handmade chocolates to “raise funds to benefit women and girls in Sonoma Valley, encouraging teen girls and head of household women to go to school or training to improve their economic status.”

The Chocolate Cow four-pack includes one each of chocolate espresso cream, chocolate peanut butter cup, chocolate covered marshmallow and a milk chocolate bunny truffle ($14).

The six-pack consists of the above plus a dark chocolate bunny truffle and a Black Forest truffle ($18).

With Easter on April 17, the last day to order is April, 13, but don’t put it off. Chocolate Cow has to make your chocolates to order. Orders over five boxes will be delivered.