Mendocino Flavors: Gluten-free food, Elk Store for sale, McDonald’s in Fort Bragg supports wildfire survivors and more • The Mendocino Voice

MENDOCINO Co., 8/23/24 – Last week my best friend from Indiana, Devon, came to visit me for a long weekend. She is gluten free (GF) and luckily there are more and more restaurants in Mendocino County that offer gluten free options. Here are some of the places we ate at:

Rock Sea’s in Hopland: Chef Roxanne Hampl is gluten-free herself, which leaves my boyfriend overwhelmed by the choices. It’s one of the best gluten-free restaurants in Northern California. Devon was craving a hamburger and devoured Hampl’s creation – a thick, juicy, perfectly cooked burger made from Black Angus beef from Hampl’s Ranch, served on a soft gluten-free bun.

Princess Seafood Restaurant: Princess is a favorite with locals and tourists alike, so it was a must-try during our short visit to Fort Bragg. Overlooking Noyo Harbor, Devon enjoyed a Dungeness crab sandwich on a gluten-free bun, which she really enjoyed. I warmed up with a cup of lobster bisque. Bonus: While we enjoyed our lunch, we watched American river otters hunting in the water!

Los Gallitos – We had margaritas, chips and salsa at Los G’s in Fort Bragg. Devon said the homemade tortilla chips were the best she’d ever had. We liked them so much we ate two baskets!

HarborView Bistro & Bar – Devon and I enjoyed brunch overlooking the Noyo River in Fort Bragg. The service was exceptional and the weather was beautiful. We both had the HarborView breakfast with eggs, applewood smoked bacon, chicken sausage, and roasted marble potatoes. Each came with a choice of bread. I enjoyed the restaurant’s insanely good homemade English muffins and Devon had gluten-free toast with them. She was completely satisfied.

I wanted to take her to Noyo River Grill, also in Fort Bragg, which has many gluten-free options, but unfortunately our time was limited. Please note that we have not verified whether the above restaurants offer gluten-free food.

I’m thinking about putting together a gluten-free restaurant guide for Mendocino County. If you know of any restaurants that offer gluten-free and gluten-free options, email me at [email protected] with your favorite dishes and more information.

Elk Store for sale

Just as Elk is becoming a popular coastal restaurant, one of its most popular spots is up for sale: the Elk Store. Owners Sean and Elise Ferrarese posted on Instagram in July that the shop was for sale. “This is bittersweet for us,” the couple wrote in a brief statement, “but we look forward to starting the next chapter for the store and our family.”

The store opened in 1927 and has been Elk’s go-to place for everyday essentials, deli sandwiches, gifts, and local beer and wine ever since.

The past few years have been rough for the Elk Store. Before the pandemic, the store was gaining traction, primarily as a coastal hotspot for its famous tuna sandwiches and coastal sundries. It was especially popular with Bay Area techies who flock to the coast to escape their workdays and enjoy some sea air. But that ended with pandemic-related stay-at-home orders, which led to the store closing and most of its employees being laid off. Ferrarese’s changed its tune and now offers takeout meals and groceries for pickup. In late 2022, the store was back to full operation when it was robbed, resulting in the theft of thousands of dollars worth of merchandise and property damage. (Read more about the Elk Store here.)

According to the real estate listing, the store is for sale for $975,000. It has been for sale since July 22 and is a mixed-use property with a manufactured home behind the store. The purchase price includes a beer and wine license, as well as all inventory, equipment and the house in the back. The listing states that there is a “steady stream of tourists.”

Let’s hope the right buyer takes the step and makes the Elk Store the true institution it is, while also making it economically viable and sustainable for the community.

McDonald’s in Fort Bragg collects donations for victims of the Grange Fire
McDonald’s employees at Fort Bragg have been stepping up in recent weeks to provide assistance to victims of the Grange Fire, which ravaged 36 acres in the Philo area in late July. Five buildings were damaged and one destroyed, greatly impacting area residents.

According to United Disaster Relief of Northern California (UDRNC), which is based in Ukiah and provides resources and services to wildfire (and other disaster) survivors, McDonald’s employees accepted donations from customers and employees in the form of requested items from the organization’s Amazon wish list. The donations range from non-perishable food items to bedding. “We are thrilled,” UDRNC shared. “Your contributions, which include all new items from our Amazon wish list, have made a significant difference in the lives of fire survivors during this difficult time.”

This is not the first time McDonald’s at Fort Bragg has contributed to UDRNC and its mission. “This act of kindness is just the latest example of the McDonald’s team at Fort Bragg’s ongoing commitment to our community,” the group says. “Over the years, their support has been unwavering and has helped us extend a helping hand to those in need.” UDRNC is accepting donations for direct services and its new location. Learn more about United Disaster Relief of Northern California here.

Sage House at Coyote Valley Casino closes and reopens as Angelina’s Grill
Coyote Valley Casino’s attempt to create a more upscale dining experience was apparently not a big hit with regulars. According to sources, the casino quietly closed the Sage House and turned it into Angelina’s Grill, a grab-and-go joint featuring fried chicken fingers, burritos, corn dogs, pizza, salads, tacos, wraps and more. Sage House opened in April 2023 and offered an upscale dining experience featuring USDA Prime steaks, seafood and pasta.

Members of the Mendocino County Foodies Facebook group voiced their feelings about the closure. Group member Nerak Eloweird of Ukiah described the food as “great” and wished there was another full-service restaurant in the casino. He commented, “It’s a shame that it’s so hard for better restaurants in the Ukiah Valley to stay afloat.”

North Coast Brewing Company receives coveted B Corp recertification
Fort Bragg-based North Coast Brewing Company has received its B Corp recertification. The brewery has been a B Corp since 2015 and must participate in an intensive recertification process every three years. The company met “B Lab’s high standards for environmental stewardship, social responsibility and leadership transparency,” it wrote in an email. “We are pleased to announce that we have achieved these standards again (for the fourth time) and have been recertified as a B Corp. For more information, visit northcoastbrewing.com.

In case you missed it: New documentary presents wine from the Anderson Valley
In July, a documentary about winemaking families in the Anderson Valley was released. The film, Anderson Valley: A love affair between coast and wine, is 25 minutes long and was produced/directed by Barbara Barielle. The film features Zac Robinson of Husch Vineyards, Ted Bennett & Deborah Cahn of Navarro Vineyards, Lulu Handley of Handley Cellars, Allan Green, founder of Greenwood Ridge, winemaker Brad Wiley, Norm and Teresa Kobler, founders of Lazy Creek Vineyard and wine journalist Dan Berger.

A press release from the Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association describes the film as follows: “A group of hippies and wine lovers who sought a more rural, isolated place to raise their families. These pioneers built an internationally recognized wine region that still retains its true rural character.” The film can be streamed for free here.

Tickets on sale for Bonterra’s Organic Harvest Dinner benefiting the Good Farm Fund on September 14
Organic wine producer Bonterra is hosting an exclusive dinner at McNab Ranch to benefit the Good Farm Fund, a nonprofit that provides grants to small farms in Mendocino and Lake County. The event includes a garden reception with food and wine pairings and an optional vineyard tour, followed by a three-course menu using local ingredients by Chef Olan Cox. The dinner and wines will all be organic, in keeping with Bonterra’s deep commitment to biodynamic, carbon neutral and zero-waste wine production. Vegan and vegetarian options are available. Only 50 tickets available. September 14, 5:30 p.m., $200, ticket available here.

August registration round at Ukiah Cooperative supports tribal-led land restoration
Shoppers at Ukiah Natural Foods can round up their purchases to support the Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance. The nonprofit’s mission is to “promote land stewardship, livelihood and leadership skills that create cooperative relationships among tribal members and the community at large for the benefit of all lands and living things.” Mon.-Sun., 7 a.m.-8 p.m., 721 S. State St., Ukiah, (707) 462-4778, ukiahcoop.com.

The August registration drive in Willits supports a senior center
In Willits, customers at the Mariposa Market can round up their grocery purchases to support the Willits Harrah Senior Center. The nonprofit’s mission is to “support seniors in the greater Willits City area, provide needed services to seniors in Willits including, but not limited to, nutrition, financial assistance, social inspiration and transportation, and promote the overall well-being of seniors in Willits by providing a gathering place for social gatherings, education and activities.” Mariposa Market, Mon-Sat, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 500 S. Main St., Willits, (707) 459-9630.

Join Mendocino County Foodies on Facebook!
My friend Serena Alexi and I started Mendocino County Foodies on Facebook to create a place to learn about and share the food and drink culture in Mendocino County, including home cooking and recipes, wineries and breweries, favorite restaurants and farmers markets, and more. Join the conversation Here.

Small but equally important updates
In Redwood Valley – Thai Tasty remains closed and will reopen on September 1st.

In Ukiah – Cultivo now serves an Al Pastor pizza with spicy tomato sauce, onions, pineapple, al pastor (pork) and cilantro. It’s a very trendy pizza nationwide right now.