Marin oyster lovers can anticipate a more easily accessible score for mollusks with the opening of Hog Island Larkspur at Marin Country Mart this winter. The full-service restaurant will boast a view of the water and Mount Tamalpais, and offer a seafood-centric menu of small plates, salads, bowls, mains and, of course, Marshall-based Hog Island Oyster Co.’s signature hand-raised fresh and grilled oysters. Seasonally driven cocktails, beer and wine are on the full bar menu.
Founding partners John Finger and Terry Sawyer are looking forward to expanding the bay-to-bar philosophy they established in 1983 when they planted their first oyster seeds in Tomales Bay. This is their first Marin restaurant outside of West Marin, where they have their flagship oyster bar location and, in the spring of 2019, revitalized and reopened Tony’s Seafood. Like their outposts in San Francisco’s Ferry Building and Napa’s Oxbow Public Market, the restaurant will be part of a larger community-gathering marketplace. It fills the space left empty by Togo’s at 2401 Larkspur Landing Circle.
Stay tuned for details about the grand opening. In the meantime, find out more about Hog Island Oyster Co. at hogislandoysters.com.
Feeling cheesy
While New Year’s Day might prompt reflection and resolutions, it’s also time to start making plans to celebrate the best in California cheese at the 14th annual California Artisan Cheese Festival from March 27 through 29. Ticket sales for farm and producer tours, grand tastings, educational seminars and pairing demonstrations begin Wednesday.
Join artisan cheesemakers, farmers, chefs, brewers, winemakers, distillers and cheese enthusiasts for three days of revelry, in support of California farmers and cheesemakers. This includes Marin County tours on March 27 and 28 at Cowgirl Creamery, Bivalve Dairy, Marin French Cheese, Nicasio Valley Cheese Co., Point Reyes Farmstead and the Fork, Tomales Farmstead Creamery, Double 8 Dairy and AppleGarden Farm.
At Cheese, Bites and Booze from 6 to 9 p.m. March 28, vote for your favorite cheese creation during a lighthearted competition among cheesemakers, mongers and chefs when they come together to craft and share their culinary inventions. Pair with regional wines, beers, ciders and spirits, while meandering the Jackson Family Wines aircraft hangar at the Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa (ages 21 and older).
Wind down the weekend from 9:30 to 11 a.m. March 29 with a champagne multicourse brunch and interactive live cooking demonstration. Tickets for the event include an 11 a.m. early entry to the artisan cheese tasting and marketplace from noon to 4 p.m., where more than 100 artisan cheese and specialty accompaniment producers, wine and cider makers, beer brewers, spirit distillers and chefs will congregate to share their best with guests.
For a list of events and to purchase tickets ($50 to $150), go to artisancheesefestival.com. Events are at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds at 1350 Bennett Valley Road in Santa Rosa, and on the grounds of farm and cheese producers throughout Sonoma and Marin counties.
Soup banquet
Welcome winter’s temperatures with a flavorful, clean “soup banquet” from nationally known San Rafael wellness expert and cookbook author Rebecca Katz of the Healing Kitchens Institute in Bolinas.
At the next Fresh Starts Chef Event, Katz will prepare and share her recipes for ruby-red beet soup with parsnip chips; coconut cauliflower soup with ginger and turmeric; Latin America chicken stew with greens and polenta croutons; orange salad with olives and mint with pomegranate vinaigrette; and macaroons and chocolate chip cookies.
The event takes place at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 16 in the showcase kitchen at the Key Room at 1385 North Hamilton Parkway in Novato. Tickets ($65) include dinner and can be purchased at bit.ly/FSchefevents or by calling 415-382-3363, extension 243. Proceeds support shelter, housing and training programs at Homeward Bound of Marin.
See a calendar of future chef events at cookingschoolsofamerica.com/freshstartscookingschool/index.php?page=calendar.
Leanne Battelle is a freelance food writer. Please send her an email at ij.lbattelle@gmail.com with your local food news, restaurant experiences and general feedback. You can follow the Marin dining scene at instagram.com/therealdealmarin.