Indian food lovers — rejoice! Restaurateur Surinder Sroa, owner of the Lotus family of Indian restaurants, has opened his third Marin location, Lotus Curry House, in Novato. Like Lotus Cuisine of India in San Rafael and Café Lotus in Fairfax, he uses organic, sustainable ingredients and infuses them with the authentic flavors of his homeland in northern India.
Sroa owns the space and operated a restaurant there until 2011 after which it was leased to Golden Egg Omelet House and then the Left Coast Depot. “We are thrilled to be back in our home town to serve our community at this new location,” he shares.
Be one of the first to check the new Novato restaurant and, with the purchase of a meal of $40 or more, receive a free tiffin container, a lightweight and reusable stainless-steel lunchbox.
The new Lotus Curry House is at 807 Grant Ave. in Novato and is open for a lunch buffet from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekdays and 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekends, and dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 5 to 9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Take a look at the menu featuring appetizers, curries, thali, tandoori oven specials and naan at lotuscurryhouse.com.
Sroa also has been juggling an extensive expansion and remodel at Café Lotus at 1912 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. in Fairfax. He more than tripled the size of the interior after taking over a neighboring business and can now seat approximately 90 diners inside and on the rear patio. Find out more at cafelotusfairfax.com.
Forest feasting
The latest Forest Feasts cookbook by Erin Gleeson, “The Forest Feast Mediterranean: Simple Vegetarian Recipes Inspired by My Travels,” takes the reader on a journey to France, Portugal, Spain and Italy. The author, illustrator and James Beard Award-winner who grew up in the middle of an apple orchard in rural Sonoma County will appear at 12:30 p.m. Sept. 22 at Left Bank Brasserie in Larkspur.
The new book includes 100 vegetarian recipes inspired by and including scenic and culinary images from her European travels.
Tickets to the Book Passage Cooks with Books event are $115 or $185 for two, and include lunch featuring her recipes, wine, tax, gratuity and one signed copy of the book. Advance reservations are required and can be made at bookpassage.com or by calling 415-927-0960. Left Bank Brasserie is at 507 Magnolia Ave.
Fearless fermentation
What exactly is fermentation and how can the metabolic process serve you in your kitchen? Certified nutritionist and therapeutic chef Karen Diggs of Kraut Source will answer all of your questions about the good bacteria and provide samples from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 14 in a hands-on workshop at Backyard Farmer in Fairfax.
Get the technical ins and outs on lacto-fermentation and fermented beverages like kombucha and kefir and discover how brines may be used as a starter culture.
Participants will learn the art and science of vegetable preservation, and use herbs and spices to create sauerkraut and pickles to bring home.
Backyard Farmer is at 135 Bolinas Road. The cost is $55. To register or to find out more about Fairfax Backyard Farmer, including a full list of workshops, sample of featured products available at the store and a blog with tips on growing, making and cooking your creations, go to fairfaxbackyardfarmer.com.
Local bites
Local bites are on hand at the Saturday’s Point Reyes Farmers Market when agriculturally driven bakers and makers from Point Reyes-Olema 4H are in the chef’s booth from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 7. On Sept. 14, Christian Caiazzo, chef and proprietor of Osteria Stellina and owner of Toby’s Coffee Bar and GBD Grilled Cheese, is in the booth doing a demo for market goers from 10 to 11 a.m.
The farmers market is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Toby’s Feed Barn at 11250 Highway 1 in Point Reyes Station. For more about the market, go to pointreyesfarmersmarket.org.
Leanne Battelle is a freelance food writer. Send her an email at ij.lbattelle@gmail.com with your comments, food news or restaurant recommendations. Or you can follow the Marin dining scene at instagram.com/therealdealmarin.