Passion for Sonoma Food and Wine Passion for Sonoma Food and Wine
Bruce Reizenman
Chef Bruce Reizenman has gone from the crucible of New York City restaurant operations to authoring wine pairing apps for the iPhone, but he believes Sonoma County - specifically the Russian River Valley - is the centerpiece of his lifelong passion for food and wine.
"I've lived here for 20 years," Reizenman says, "and the Russian River Valley is an absolute paradise for people who love food and wine." Bruce embraces the Sonoma lifestyle and revels in the joy of creating simple, lively flavors to enjoy in the company of friends.
When it comes to pairing food and wine, Bruce chooses the wine first. He then considers which foods will fit best with that wine, because, he says, "You can't change the wine, but you can change everything in the food."
Gia Passalqua
Sonoma County Chef Gia Passalqua has one foot in Alexander Valley, and the other in Dry Creek Valley. Her great-grandfather emigrated from Liguria, Italy, 150 years ago and found his way to Northern California. In a cool corner of the Alexander Valley, along the Upper Reach of the Russian River, he bought 500 acres of empty land for 10 gold coins. He began a family food tradition, growing produce for this home, then for the expanding markets in nearby cities and towns.
Gia grew up on the old ranch, just north of the wine country town of Healdsburg. "It was easy for our family ranch to become self-sufficient," she says. "We grew everything, including grapes for wine. The cuisine and the wines developed together."
Today, Gia continues the family food tradition as a chef and caterer, however, her base is in the neighboring Dry Creek Valley. She buys her ingredients from local growers and at farmers' markets in both valleys. "Sonoma County is a paradise for food and for wine," she says.
