MENDOCINO Co., 8/15/24 – Last weekend I was at the tasting room at McNab Ridge Winery in Hopland for a Johnny Young concert. Johnny is a talented country western musician who drew a nice crowd on a hot day who enjoyed not only his music but also McNab’s delicious wines and smash burgers from Smash Daddy’s. Not only was the music and wine excellent, but the burgers blew me away.
I grew up in Indiana eating smash burgers – ground beef rolled into a ball and smashed on a griddle. The edges of the meat become crispy while the inside remains juicy. It is then topped with cheese and placed in a bun. Sometimes the finished burger is stacked – two or three smashed patties on top of each other – enough to fill a hungry belly. So when I heard that three of my favorite things (music, wine and smash burgers) were happening in Hopland, I knew I couldn’t miss it.
Smash Daddy’s had a pop-up tent on McNab’s porch and cooked single and double burgers to order with a side of fries for $15. All of the beef was locally raised and the lettuce and tomatoes served with it came from the chef’s garden.
My single burger was delicious. It was perfectly fried, had crispy edges and was gooey from the American cheese, rounded out by the garden-fresh tomatoes and shredded lettuce. Paired with crispy French fries and a glass of McNabs 2022 Grenache Rosé, I was in burger heaven.
McNab Ridge Winery hosts live music every month and the Smash Daddys are regulars. Sign up for McNab’s mailing list to stay up to date. Johnny Young played a great show and is going on tour this month, so check his website for upcoming tour dates.
Maritime Cafe opens in Elk
Elk is quickly becoming a dining hotspot in the county, and now another restaurant is hoping to contribute to the small community’s dining scene – the Maritime Cafe. The restaurant opened in late July and is owned by Alexa Newman and Rodney Workman, the original founders of the Wickson in Philo. The Maritime Cafe is located in the former Queenie’s.
The Maritime Cafe features seasonal cuisine and locally sourced ingredients. A recent dinner menu included appetizers of oysters ($24), a butter salad with Romano beans ($15), tomato and lentil soup ($12), albacore tuna confit ($15), cucumber salad ($15) and small bites such as olives ($7), sourdough bread and butter ($8) and potato chips ($6). Main courses included lingcod with zucchini and tomato broth ($32), grilled chicken with cannellini beans ($26), grilled cauliflower with heirloom tomatoes, chickpeas and curried vegetables ($24) and pork sausage with potato salad, Romano bean chutney and mustard ($26).
The restaurant also serves brunch and lunch on the weekends. Last week’s brunch menu included a smoked cod spread ($15), a green rice bowl with kale, rice, avocado, broccoli, tomatoes and an egg with jam ($18), grilled cheese ($10), a BLT ($17), buttermilk pancakes ($15), a breakfast sandwich ($14) and a two-egg breakfast with hash browns and a choice of protein ($18). Maritime Cafe is open Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 6061 Highway 1, Elk, (707) 918-4886, maritimecafeelk.com.
Jumbo’s Win Win opens in Philo
This week a new burger joint opened in Philo – Jumbo’s Win Win. According to the San Francisco ChronicleJumbo’s is owned by Scott Baird, a James Beard Award-nominated bartender who moved to Anderson Valley when city dwellers began leaving their urban homes for rural areas during pandemic-related stay-at-home orders. Recognizing the lack of affordable, solid dining options in Anderson Valley, Baird and his family opened Jumbo’s Win Win, named after Baird’s son.
The menu includes burgers, hot dogs, cod sandwiches, chicken sandwiches, salads, a veggie melt and hand-cut French fries. The beef for the burger comes from Mailliard Ranch in Boonville. Jumbo’s Win Win also offers apple pies and Strauss soft serve ice cream. Jumbo’s is open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., 8651 Hwy 128, Philo, jumboswinwin.com.
Buster’s Burgers and Brews closes in Willits
Popular burger joint Buster’s in Willits announced it will close its doors on September 2. Heather Hathaway, co-owner of Buster’s, posted on social media that the bar and restaurant would be closing. “We want to thank the Willits community for supporting Busters for the past 17 years. Unfortunately, due to the economic situation, we are no longer able to continue operating successfully,” she wrote. Hathaway owns the restaurant with her husband, Peter.
And while I could wax poetic about the number of times I’ve sat at Buster’s and had a drink on the patio with a friend, watched football at the bar, or devoured a juicy burger and crinkle fries under historic rodeo photos, I’ll pass on that for now—we still have a month to enjoy this place. Buster’s Burgers and Brews, 150 S. Main St., Willits, (707) 459-3233.
Hopland chef closes restaurant to feed firefighters during Grange fire
Roxanne Hampl, chef and owner of Rock Seas in Hopland, closed her farm-to-table restaurant last Thursday to prepare breakfast for over 100 emergency responders battling the Grange Fire in Anderson Valley. Hampl closed her restaurant for two days to prepare over 200 meals that were delivered to the Cal Fire assembly point in Boonville at 4:30 a.m. each morning. Anyone who has ever eaten at Hampl’s unconventional fusion restaurant knows it’s one of the best places in the area, which means firefighters were well-fed while battling the blaze. Thanks, chef! Dinner reservations recommended, Rock Seas, 13456 S. Highway 101, Hopland, 7) 670-6054, rockseas.com.
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
At Fort Bragg – Tall Guy Brewing has homemade root beer on tap.
In Ukiah – Schat’s now offers Mexican sandwich buns called Teleras. Teleras are perfect for tortas and burgers.
