One might think a renowned local restaurant would be satisfied resting on its laurels—hanging a well-earned hat on a long-established reputation for fine dining, and then hitting cruise control. But not Farmhouse Restaurant. The high-end, prix fixe restaurant in Forestville is operating as if it’s still trying to prove itself more than 20 years after transforming from a roadhouse burger stop for Russian River paddlers into a Michelin-starred destination named by epicureans among the finest Cal-Mediterranean restaurants in the country.
Aside from a stiff determination to provide great food, wine and service, there’s a practical reason the restaurant heavyweight is still throwing punches: It’s hoping to earn back its Michelin star.
The restaurant first earned its coveted ranking from the French tire company’s esteemed foodie guidebook back in 2006. But last year’s retirement of longtime chef Steve Litke was the kind of change that leads Michelin to tighten its grip on those star rankings until a restaurant demonstrates its new kitchen can continue to carry the weight. Add to that a series of changes at the helm—Trevor Anderson is the new executive chef, following the departures of two prior post-Litke cordons-blue—and its no wonder Farmhouse is eager to once again prove its chops.
And, based on our recent visit, Michelin might want to make a reservation in Forestville pretty soon.
Despite its reputation, Farmhouse isn’t all about the food and wine—its interiors are designed for the mood to match the seasonality of the cuisine. Michelin aptly described it as “rustic-elegant” and winter is an optimal time to dine by the fireplace or in one of the corner nooks of the warmly lit dining room.
The prix fixe meal consists of six courses with optional wine pairing; guests are given a choice between the Land & Sea and Garden menus—with featured courses subject to change, seasonally. My wife Joanne and I dined over the holidays and sampled one of each on our visit (that way we could share each of the small plates) with the first courses offering black cod and foraged wild mushrooms, respectively, an excellent foray into the seasonality of the cuisine—the former a bite-sized portion of fish flanked by sea grapes and sea lettuce; the latter featuring mushrooms in a savory black trumpet custard. Abalone with osetra caviar followed on the Land & Sea course, with an appetizer of roasted root vegetables as part of the Garden. Subsequent courses included roasted squash and quail served in a sumptuous sweet/savory persimmon glaze, in itself a highlight (and guests would be wise to keep any extra sauce on hand to sop up with the accompanying house bread).
The arrival of each course is accompanied by paired wine tastings—poured by house sommeliers who helpfully shared their expertise about why the 2020 Okonomierat Rebholz Trocken Riesling goes well with mushrooms, or the 2016 Joseph Swan Vineyards Chardonnay was a match for the Garden menu, etc. Their brief stories about how each vintage made its way from near or far to Farmhouse adds interesting context to the pairings and further emphasizes the serious thought that goes into the menu.
Standing out among other course highlights were the main entrees: a delicate beet-root scarpinocc on the Garden, and a locally sourced duck breast in braised mustard greens on the Land & Sea. The scarpinocc, a traditional shoe-shaped pasta originating in Lombardy, was served with a rich garlicky parsnip puree; while the duck featured tender meat from Oz Family Farm in Mountain View. Both were worthy climaxes to the meal—but guests would be wise not to put aside their utensils just yet. The finishing touches to the dinner included a cheese course—featuring house-smoked ricotta and shaved sheep’s milk—plus a chocolate marquis (topped by candied pear) and a white chocolate tahini mousse, whose subtle sweetness was nicely offset by a salty tuile wafer.
It’s been more than 20 years since siblings Catherine and Joe Bartolomei bought Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant, beginning its transition from a modest bed-and-breakfast (Joe Bartolomei once described its former state as “an absolute dump” in the Press Democrat) into a world-class foodie destination. And since the departure of longtime guiding hand Litke—it’s almost unheard of for a restaurant of this stature to have the same top chef for 20 years—Farmhouse, for the first time in quite a while, is having to reestablish its credentials. If our recent visit is any indication, it won’t have to wait very long. Stars all around.
Farmhouse Restaurant
At Farmhouse Inn, 7871 River Road, Forestville
707-887-3300; hello@farmhouseinn.com
Six course menu: $175 per person
Wine pairing: $125 per person
Thursday to Monday, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
223 thoughts on “Farmhouse Restaurant”
Some really interesting information, well written and loosely user genial.
An interesting dialogue is value comment. I feel that it’s best to write more on this subject, it might not be a taboo subject however usually people are not sufficient to talk on such topics. To the next. Cheers
I love the efforts you have put in this, thankyou for all the great content.
magnificent post, very informative. I wonder why the other experts of this sector do not realize this. You should continue your writing. I am confident, you’ve a great readers’ base already!
What i don’t realize is actually how you’re not actually much more well-liked than you might be right now. You are very intelligent. You realize therefore significantly relating to this subject, made me personally consider it from numerous varied angles. Its like men and women aren’t fascinated unless it is one thing to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs outstanding. Always maintain it up!
I really like your writing style, good information, regards for putting up :D. "I will show you fear in a handful of dust." by T. S. Eliot.
Hey, you used to write great, but the last several posts have been kinda boring?K I miss your super writings. Past several posts are just a bit out of track! come on!
Great post. I am facing a couple of these problems.
Hello, you used to write fantastic, but the last few posts have been kinda boring… I miss your tremendous writings. Past few posts are just a little bit out of track! come on!
Your place is valueble for me. Thanks!…
It?¦s really a nice and useful piece of information. I am glad that you shared this useful info with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to more added agreeable from you! However, how can we communicate?
fantastic points altogether, you simply gained a new reader. What would you recommend in regards to your post that you made a few days ago? Any positive?
Keep working ,impressive job!
You really make it appear so easy together with your presentation however I to find this topic to be actually something that I feel I might never understand. It kind of feels too complicated and extremely large for me. I am taking a look forward in your subsequent post, I¦ll try to get the cling of it!
Its superb as your other content : D, thanks for posting. "A gift in season is a double favor to the needy." by Publilius Syrus.
I’ll right away seize your rss feed as I can’t in finding your e-mail subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Kindly allow me know so that I may subscribe. Thanks.
I’m not sure where you are getting your info, but great topic. I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more. Thanks for excellent information I was looking for this information for my mission.
I conceive you have remarked some very interesting points, appreciate it for the post.
I do agree with all of the ideas you have presented in your post. They are really convincing and will definitely work. Still, the posts are too short for starters. Could you please extend them a little from next time? Thanks for the post.
Very interesting points you have noted, thanks for putting up.
fantastic post, very informative. I wonder why the other specialists of this sector don’t notice this. You should continue your writing. I am confident, you’ve a great readers’ base already!
I like this post, enjoyed this one regards for posting. "The reward for conformity was that everyone liked you except yourself." by Rita Mae Brown.
I am no longer certain the place you are getting your info, however great topic. I needs to spend some time finding out much more or understanding more. Thank you for excellent information I was looking for this info for my mission.
Today, I went to the beachfront with my kids. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said "You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear." She placed the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is totally off topic but I had to tell someone!
Perfectly composed subject material, thanks for information .
Whats Happening i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It absolutely useful and it has helped me out loads. I am hoping to give a contribution & assist other customers like its helped me. Great job.
Thank you, I’ve recently been looking for info approximately this subject for ages and yours is the greatest I’ve came upon till now. However, what concerning the conclusion? Are you sure concerning the supply?
I am not real wonderful with English but I find this rattling leisurely to understand.
Together with every thing which seems to be building inside this specific area, a significant percentage of viewpoints are actually quite refreshing. Nonetheless, I appologize, because I can not subscribe to your whole strategy, all be it refreshing none the less. It seems to everybody that your comments are generally not totally rationalized and in fact you are generally your self not fully convinced of the point. In any event I did enjoy reading it.
I’ll immediately grab your rss feed as I can’t find your e-mail subscription link or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please let me know so that I could subscribe. Thanks.
Hello my loved one! I want to say that this post is amazing, nice written and include approximately all significant infos. I’d like to see extra posts like this.
Hey just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words in your post seem to be running off the screen in Chrome. I’m not sure if this is a formatting issue or something to do with web browser compatibility but I thought I’d post to let you know. The design and style look great though! Hope you get the problem resolved soon. Kudos
Heya i am for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out much. I hope to give something back and help others like you helped me.
There are certainly a lot of details like that to take into consideration. That is a nice point to carry up. I supply the thoughts above as common inspiration but clearly there are questions like the one you carry up where a very powerful thing might be working in sincere good faith. I don?t know if best practices have emerged round things like that, however I am sure that your job is clearly identified as a good game. Both boys and girls really feel the impression of only a second’s pleasure, for the rest of their lives.
This is a topic close to my heart cheers, where are your contact details though?
I like this post, enjoyed this one thanks for putting up.
Heya i am for the primary time here. I came across this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out a lot. I am hoping to offer something back and help others such as you helped me.
so much wonderful information on here, : D.
I as well conceive hence, perfectly indited post! .
Good day! This post could not be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my good old room mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this write-up to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!
Dead composed subject material, Really enjoyed looking at.
Appreciate it for all your efforts that you have put in this. very interesting information.
Excellent read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little research on that. And he actually bought me lunch as I found it for him smile Thus let me rephrase that: Thank you for lunch!
There are actually plenty of details like that to take into consideration. That is a great point to bring up. I provide the ideas above as general inspiration however clearly there are questions like the one you convey up the place crucial thing shall be working in trustworthy good faith. I don?t know if best practices have emerged round things like that, however I am certain that your job is clearly recognized as a fair game. Both girls and boys feel the influence of just a second’s pleasure, for the rest of their lives.
I appreciate, cause I found exactly what I was looking for. You have ended my 4 day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye
I loved up to you’ll obtain carried out right here. The comic strip is attractive, your authored material stylish. nonetheless, you command get bought an edginess over that you would like be handing over the following. sick definitely come further until now once more since precisely the same nearly a lot often inside case you defend this hike.
hello!,I like your writing so much! share we communicate more about your post on AOL? I need an expert on this area to solve my problem. May be that’s you! Looking forward to see you.
My spouse and I stumbled over here coming from a different web address and thought I should check things out. I like what I see so now i am following you. Look forward to checking out your web page again.
You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be really something that I think I would never understand. It seems too complex and very broad for me. I am looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!