Zazu Restaurant-Entertaining Sonoma Style

Zazu Restaurant located at the Barlow in Sebastopol-image via Irene Turner

Owned by Duskie Estes and her husband/partner John Stewart, Zazu is a gathering place for foodie’s, pork lovers and local aficionado’s. Passionate leaders of the farm-to-table movement, their new location at the Barlow is in my opinion an award winning combo of great ambiance/decor, and amazing food and wine.

The center bar at Zazu Restaurant-image via Irene Turner

As a designer the feel and look of a restaurant is as important to me as the food and wine; part industrial, lofty in size and with quirky accents and wonderfully imaginative lighting. Created in collaboration with their architect Archilogix and their contractors FDC, they have an environment that perfectly reflects our local community as well as our support of and adherence to the slow food movement.

Industrial lighting at Zazu Restaurant-image via Irene Turner

Duskie and John’s kitchen offers both of their food sensibilities – playful Americana and rustic Northern Italian – featuring their own locally grown produce, as well as salumi and bacon from their award winning Black Pig Meat Co. All combined with our amazing Sonoma County Award winning Wines. And, with drinks served in my favorite turquoise mason jars atop of bright yellow stools, the color scheme is right up my alley!

Salumi from their very own Black Pig Farm, is there anything better?-image via Irene Turner

Recognition for their shared commitment to sustainability has earned them the Star Chefs Sustainability Award in 2009. They have been featured on the cover of Wine Spectator and in the national California Tourism TV commercial. Duskie was a popular cheftestant in Seasons 3 and 5 of Food Network’s “The Next Iron Chef”. They are indeed the King and Queen of Pork!

Bigger then life Crown at Zazu Restaurant, designed and built by Klaus Rappensperger-image via Irene Turner

Duskie and John are adamant about using pasture raised animals and respecting the life given by using every part. Firm believers in the “snout to tail” philosophy, they swept the Cochon 555 competition in Wine Country and then went on to take the Cochon 555 national title during the 2011 Food & Wine Classic in Aspen.

Mascot at Zazu Restaurant-image via Irene Turner

Congratulations Duskie and John on your new home and one of my favorite local hangouts. All of the above reflect some of the reasons I love living here in Sonoma County!

Zazu Restaurant-image via Irene Turner

(Follow Irene-turner)