I enjoyed a brief and hedonistic weekend in Sonoma, the highlight of which was a stunning meal at El Dorado Kitchen (within the El Dorado Hotel). The kitchen makes a mouthwatering array of charcuterie, and I was blown away by the ham hock rillette (served atop a jewel-like mound of intense, just-sweet-enough pickled red onion and black pepper marmalade); another dazzler was the whisper thin paprika-cured pork loin. The meal’s accompanying Zinfandel was disconcertingly sharp-edged and restrained (when I had hoped for something more generous and jammy), but I had no problem polishing off the half bottle I ordered. If you have travel plans to Sonoma, don’t miss this popular, sophisticated restaurant (located on the town plaza) and its marvelous “farm-driven” cuisine.
http://www.eldoradosonoma.com
