Barndiva is about “all things local.” Situated in the center of Healdsburg, the place is warmly lit with candles, spartan walls/floors and a menu to die for. Owner Jil Hales tells me that on their site, you can type in the ingredients and see images and descriptions of how they make various dishes, including ones they made several years ago and are no longer on the menu.
Their philosophy is that a great meal should have elements of both celebration and tradition, and that optimally it should be a sensate hunt for what the French call “Gout du revenez-y” – “The taste you return to.”
In addition to the restaurant, there’s a gallery attached – a must visit if you’re in town. They also do events where they pair wine with a set menu. For example, one they did in late February was $35 a person, or with a special wine pairing to go along with, was $18. The menu for that event included little gem lettuces, Kumquat, Radish, Gaufrette with a green goddess dressing. Wine Pairing: Azur, Sauvignon Blanc, Rutherford, 2010.
This was followed by their Fritschen Vineyard Leg of Lamb, served with Artichoke Cassoulet, Tomato Marmalade and Manzanilla Olives. Wine Pairing: Jaffurs, Syrah, Santa Barbara County, 2009. Dessert was a Mandarin Ice Cream Sandwich served with chocolate shortbread and salted caramel.
They pride themselves for working with a number of local farmers, ranchers, fishmongers and small batch purveyors, including Barndiva Farm, Bellwether Farms, Casa de Case, Cheese Shop of Healdsburg, Costeaux French Bakery, Cowgirl Creamery, Da Vero, Dragonfly, Earlybird Place, Fork & Shovel Network, Fra’ Mani, Kendall Farms, Laura Chanel, Mix Garden, Nana Mae’s, Painted Hills, The Patch, Pendleton Farms, Philo Apple Farm, Preston Family Farm, Pt Reyes Cheese Co., Quivira Farm, Rafanelli Family Farm, Redwood Hill, Sausalito Springs, Snake River Farms, Sonoma County Poultry, Sonoma Direct, Sonoma Grower’s Exchange, Sonoma Vinegar Works, Sparrow Lane, Straub Family Farms, Tierra Vegetable, and Zoe’s. In other words, a mighty impressive list.
Jil runs the establishment with Geoffrey and Lukka: Barndiva, Studio Barndiva, and Fork & Shovel all grew out of a simple desire to celebrate the exquisite food shed surrounding us, and to help people recognize the effort it takes so many talented people to keep it going. (photo right: Jil and Geoffrey, taken by Drew Kelly)
Sometimes this homage has a direct link: used cooking oil runs farm tractors, while organic trim from the kitchen feeds the chickens that lay our eggs. Sometimes it’s more oblique: Barndiva is a founding member of Fork & Shovel, a farmers and chefs collaborative that includes 30 other restaurants – see above.
While I was there, they also had a special menu for Restaurant Week, although we opted to order off the menu so we could sample a few different things and while I wanted to order the beef, which sounded exquisite, I opted for a more healthier tasting that evening. Below is the salad started I ordered off the menu – it’s hard for me to pass up butter lettuce when on offer.
They serve their salad with a champagne vinaigrette, orange and shaved carrots. Also not to be missed is are the Caramelized Florets, Raisin, Caper, Almond served with Caviar.
And, with prosciutto and avocado.
The scallops were divine and yes, that’s a Quails egg thrown on top for good measure. Add to it, gnocchi, brussels sprout pesto and pancetta and you’ll be in heaven all night long. Their dishes are as delicious as they are beautifully presented.
You can also get Dungeness crab as a starter with Satsuma Mandarin, beets, avocado, crisp proscuitto and petite radish. While we’re into decadent, how’s this for mouth watering? Creamy Lobster Risotto served with garlic chips, tarragon, celery root, watercress and Crème Fraîche Nage. OR, garlic basted halibut with carmelized brussel sprouts, sage polenta and Marscapone Agnolotti and bacon? So many choices for the serious foodie. If I were hungrier, I can assure you that I would have ordered the Sonoma Duck, served with spinach, glazed Cipollini onion, carmelized pear and Foie toast. Perhaps next time.
Other great options to test out in include their crispy pork belly with poached egg, Yukon potatoes served with a Béarnaise sauce, and a fun one: steak and eggs (filet mignon actually), also served with a Bearnaise sauce. Their quiche is Roasted Hen of the Woods Mushrooms served with Goat Cheese and a Heirloom Beet Salad.
It was an incredibly delicious night.
Disclosure: I was hosted by the restaurant and Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce to visit a handful of restaurants & vineyards however all opinions expressed here are my own and honestly reported.
Note: The photos were taken on an iPhone in a dimly lit room (which of course added to the great ambiance). Rest assured, the dishes are a lot more vibrant than what is shown here or what would be displayed with a professional camera, the right lens and a flash.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
