Cabaret in Bodega Bay!

We saw a great show here in Bodega Bay last night! The Cabaret: 2010 A Beach ODDessy was produced and directed by local residents Michael and Diana Bundy and featured local talent lip-syncing to classic hit tunes. Held at the Bodega Bay Grange Hall, the Cabaret benefitted local charities.



We attended the 8:00 p.m. performance, which was sold out. The room was packed with tables of four, each decorated nicely with tablecloths and candles. Refreshments for offered for sale, served by community volunteers including Sophie Powers, owner of The Boat House restaurant. She's so sweet, always has a bright smile on her face.



The show was a huge hit! We took a lot of photos but without a flash, they turned out pretty soft. Steve Hecht, Coldwell Banker realtor and husband of performer Tammi Salas, took terrific, sharp photos during dress rehearsal the night before and was generous enough to share some for this post.


The Master of Ceremonies was the bawdy "Mae West," played by Cathy Wild, a realtor with Prudential in Sebastopol. She gave a lively performance, cracking up the audience all night with her double entendres.


Photo courtesy of Steve Hecht
The first lip-sync act was by Craig Veramay as Elvis. He gave an energetic, gyrating rendition of Heartbreak Hotel.


Photo courtesy of Steve Hecht
Tammi Salas had everyone roaring with laughter during her performance of Stand By Your Man, which she sang to "Tiger Woods." Tammi is a prominent community leader here on the coast. She's Chairman of the Bodega Bay Fireworks committee, the former owner of Gourmet Au Bay, wife of the aforementioned Steve Hecht, PTA President of Tomales Elementary School, and an entertaining performer to boot!


These beautiful ladies performed My Boyfriend's Back. I loved their choreography and costumes. All three are local businesswomen, Patty Fata is an investment advisor; Katy Karrenbrock owns TLC Tutoring; and Kathleen Erba owns Coldwell Banker Coastal Properties with her husband Dennis.


This was an amazing puppet performance of Janis Joplin's Mercedes Benz by Sue Tichava. Sue lives in nearby Occidental and I heard she's a doll-maker and made this puppet herself!


Molly Schar gave a cool performance of Nancy Sinatra's These Boots Are Made for Walking and I'm so sorry we couldn't get a better photo. They came out so blurry. If anyone has a sharper one, I'd gladly substitute! Molly, who is the editor of BodegaBayCa.org, looked really cute!!!


Photo courtesy of Steve Hecht
Wow, this rendition of Proud Mary was one of the most energetic performances of the evening. Kudos to Bob Brabon and his wife Diane Senia as Ike & Tina Turner. Diane teaches yoga at the Yacht Club, no wonder she's got such great energy. Their back-up dancers were Judi Taubman of Berkeley and Bodega Bay, and Diana Bundy, one of the producers of the show. The wild "Tina" had great moves and the back-up dancers were in perfect sync too. This was one of our favorite acts of the evening!


Photo courtesy of Steve Hecht
Michael Bundy, co-producer of the Cabaret, and Bob Blanchard, co-owner of Gourmet Au Bay, performed Soul Man. We loved it and my daughters were impressed that Michael appeared to know all the moves from the original Blues Brothers movie.

Photo courtesy of Steve Hecht
Sissy Blanchard, co-owner of Gourmet Au Bay, brought the house down with her performance of She's Got You. Dressed in a cowgirl outfit with a puffy blouse, she proceeded to pull one hysterical prop after another out of the top, corresponding with the lyrics of the song. For example, she pulled out a photo of Brad Pitt (I've got your picture), a number of CDs (I've got the records that we used to share), a feather boa, handcuffs and even a rubber chicken. Truly one of the best acts of the night!


Photo courtesy of Steve Hecht
Diana Bundy gave a sultry performance of Fever, accompanied by her husband Michael Bundy. Together, Diana and Michael founded, produced and directed the entire show. Michael is a local general contractor, and Diana is a local artist and real estate broker/owner of Salmon Creek Real Estate, founder of the Salmon Creek ArtWalk and a prominent community event organizer.


Photo courtesy of Steve Hecht
Stan and Judi Taubman of Bodega Bay and Berkeley, were hilarious as Sonny & Cher doing I Got You Babe. They also used props, "And when I'm sad, you're a clown" Sonny dons a clown nose, "I've got flowers in the spring" he hands her a bouquet, etc.


Photo courtesy of Steve Hecht
Pam Locke and Abby Killey had everyone in stiches, especially the females, when they sang Middle-Aged Woman. I'd never heard the song before and thought it was a riot. Pam owns Ocean Waves Salon in Bodega Bay and also did hair for the show, and Abby is a member of the Bodega Bay Grange and an active conservationist.


Photo courtesy of Steve Hecht

What a blast! The Cabaret's proceeds will go to Bodega Bay Grange, Bodega Bay Fireworks, Bodega Bay School Art Program, and Bodega Bay Community Center. I think they're planning to do this again next year and we want to know when auditions begin!

Click here to view Steve Hecht's complete Cabaret Photo Gallery, Flyer, YouTube video and more!

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Dinner at Rocker Oysterfeller's

As part of Sonoma County Restaurant Week, last night a group of us went to dinner at Rocker Oysterfellers. We love this restaurant, it's located in the historic Valley Ford Hotel in the tiny town of Valley Ford, 10 minutes east of Bodega Bay. They serve updated southern-style comfort food made from local, farm fresh produce, seafood and meats. I love the old-west ambience of the saloon up front and the casual dining room in the back. Sometimes they have live music and the service is always warm and friendly.

For starters, they serve a plate of these incredible warm, corn-jalapeño biscuits. I'm not much of a food critic so I'll let the following menu descriptions and a few photos speak for themselves. We traded bites and everything was exquisite!

Click to enlarge menu


Crispy Romaine Hearts, Creole Caesar Dressing, Fried Oysters, Shaved Parmigiano Reggiano


They also have a nice wine list of Sonoma County offerings (although a little pricey) and we enjoyed a fabulous bottle of Amphora Chardonnay.


Half of a Local Flash Fried Dungeness Crab in Cajun Spices, Grilled Ciabatta, Little Farms Fingerling Potatoes, Balsamic Onions, Saffron Rouille


Ravioli with County Line Greens, Bellwether Farms Carmody, Truffled Mushroom Broth, Maitake Mushrooms, Crispy Matchstick Sweet Potatoes


Gleason Ranch Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Crushed Little Farms Potatoes, Fried Sage, Lagunitas Ale & Caraway Gravy. The mashed potatoes are hidden behind the chicken in this photo.


Powdered Sugar Beignets, Wild Blackberry Jam


Bourbon Vanilla Milkshake, Pecan Tassie


Scharffernberger Double Chocolate Cake, Bing Cherries in Pinot Noir Syrup, Whipped Cream


Rocker Oysterfeller's also serves lunch on Saturdays and brunch on Sundays, and they have a cute patio area that would be lovely during the day. I highly recommend you check out this fun restaurant on your next trip to the Sonoma Coast!

Rocker Oysterfeller's, Valley Ford Hotel, 14415 Coast Hwy 1, Valley Ford, CA · 707.876.1983

Elephant Seals at Point Reyes National Seashore

Experience elephant seals just south of Bodega Bay at the nearby Point Reyes National Seashore. Weekends and holidays, now through April, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., docents will be stationed at the Elephant Seal Overlook near Chimney Rock, above beautiful Drakes Bay. From the Overlook you can witness the fascinating behavior of these animals, including male dominance contests, birthing of pups and the interactions of mothers and pups. You will hear the distinctive vocalizations of females, pups and the powerful trumpeting of the adult males (bulls) which can be heard for over a mile. The highly trained docents will have binoculars, spotting scopes, and a wealth of information to share with you.

To get in the mood, check out this video, created by the National Park Service's Pacific Coast Science and Learning Center as part of its 2004 "Science Behind the Scenery" DVD.



Due to the high volume of traffic out to the Lighthouse and Chimney Rock areas during the elephant seal and gray whale migration, the park will be operating a shuttle bus system from the Drakes Beach parking lot (usually from New Year's to Easter each year on weekends and holidays - weather permitting). Sir Francis Drake Boulevard from South Beach to the Lighthouse and Chimney Rock areas WILL BE CLOSED during shuttle operating hours. For more information call the Bear Valley Visitor Center at (415) 464-5100.

Many thanks to Lisa Mann at SonomaontheCheap for this lead!

Click here to read more about history of elephant seals in our area.

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Bodega Bay Participates in Sonoma County Restaurant Week!

Three Bodega Bay restaurants are participating in the first-ever Sonoma County Restaurant Week, February 22-28! During this seven day celebration of our county's farm fresh food and premier wine, enjoy three-course dinner menus at $19, $29, or $39, depending on the restaurant.

This is a delicious opportunity to try out Bodega Bay's finest restaurants:

Bluewater Bistro, 21301 Heron Drive

Bay View Restaurant, 800 Highway One

Duck Club Restaurant, 103 Coast Hwy One

You can view their special Restaurant Week menus, websites and phone numbers here.

Tickets or passes are not needed for Sonoma County Restaurant Week. Just choose your restaurant and dine out. Reservations are strongly recommended.

Chowder Day In Bodega Bay, One Taster's Experience

Hi everyone! I’m Kathlene’s daughter and I’ll be doing a guest post today. The opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not in any way represent the views of management (ie: my mom) but she DID raise me for 21 years so I suppose she can’t be free from ALL blame.

Last weekend my mom and I had the fun of taking part in Bodega Bay’s famous Chowder Day, where local restaurants give out free samples of their clam chowder, and we the public vote on who we think has the best. Let’s do a blow by blow of each one!

Map of participating restaurants

The Sandpiper
Most Bodega Bay residents are familiar with the tragic tale of the Sandpiper. After more than fifty years as one of the town’s most beloved restaurants, the Sandpiper’s corporate landlords forced them to pack up and move to a new location up the hill. The whole thing was very sad- you kind of expected Jimmy Stewart to show up and deliver an impassioned speech, melting the heart of a bitter old judge who didn’t believe in Santa Claus, and forcing him to overturn the eviction. Unfortunately, despite more than 6,000 signatures and an overwhelming amount of community support, the Sandpiper was still forced to move.



Their new location (which is actually the old location for Claudio’s Trattoria, another fantastic restaurant) seems to be working out pretty well, however. The place was hopping by the time we arrived. As mom and I walked up to the door, I smiled and waved at an elderly couple that were leaving. They scowled and let the door slam in my face. Thanks, elderly couple! Now the entire internet knows what you did.


My mood improved a lot by the time we made it inside. The employees were warm, friendly, and bearing cups of clam chowder! Yummy! The soup itself was herby and thick with vegetables. It wasn’t what I was expecting, but I thought it was fantastic!

The owner was nice enough to answer all of our questions about the chowder and the new restaurant location. I wished I had the guts to ask for another sample, but I chickened out. Overall, the service was lovely, and the chowder was great. I highly recommend it.

Terrapin Creek Café
By the time we made it to the Terrapin Creek Café, there was a line out into the parking lot. A handwritten sign told Chowder Day visitors to park along the street, probably as a courtesy to the nearby shops.



I was saving a place in line as mama parked the car, when all of a sudden an elderly couple (different one than before) wearing matching Costco parkas just shoved right in front of me, stealing my spot. I wanted to tap them on the shoulder and ask, “Excuse me, is this Chowder Day or Rude Old People Day? Because I’m here for some soup, not sass,” but by this point mom was walking up and I thought better of it.



The soup itself was, well, orange! Mom asked if it was New England or Manhattan, and the man who served it to us insisted that it was New England, despite the fact that it was reddish-orange. Now, I’m not usually a fan of spicy foods, but this chowder was fantastic. I found it EXTREMELY spicy, and many patrons were completely stumped while trying to figure out exactly what was in it. The general consensus was that it included garlic and wine. Honestly, I’d be more inclined to call it a gourmet stew than a soup. Even though the spice was almost too much for me, I’m definitely coming back on another night to try a whole bowl.



As we were leaving, a group of teenagers walked by holding some clam chowder ballots. I overheard one of them say, “Wouldn’t it be funny if we just wrote down that all of them suck?” Yeah, that’d be hilaaaarious! Wouldn’t it be even FUNNIER if I splashed piping hot spicy clam chowder right in your face? Teenagers these days!

Spud Point Crab Company
It’s really, really, really hard to compete with the Spud Point Crab Company. Their chowder is unlike any other kind in the world- it’s more of a garlic chowder than a clam chowder, honestly. After I had my first bowl, shortly after moving to Bodega Bay, it was a long time before I could order clam chowder anywhere else.


Mom and I parked up the street. I heard her say, “Uh oh, compact? This isn’t a compact car,” followed by a loud crash, which was more funny than scary. While walking to the restaurant, we heard an even louder crash as another car made the same mistake we did. Oops!

Spud Point is a family-run operation, and they all appeared to be there. An adorable and unforgettable addition to the usual crew was a little girl wearing a giant hat that looked like a cartoon crab. Fabulous!



Tony Anello, co-owner, was there overseeing the operation. We went up with our little cups of soup and told him what big fans we were- he was very gracious and kind.


The Boathouse
I’m sorry to admit that I had never been to The Boathouse before. They definitely came in first place for presentation- each sample of clam chowder came garnished with paprika in a little dish along with some crackers, bright red napkins and a real spoon. A lot of care and planning seemed to go into their setup; there was even a big gazebo-style tent outside.




The clam chowder itself wasn’t the best. It really bums me out to have to say that, but it’s true. However, The Boathouse isn’t known for its clam chowder. What it IS known for, however, are its fish & chips.

Mama let it slip in the car that she hadn’t had fish & chips since she was a little kid. After sampling the chowder, she and I went inside and ordered some up to share. I took one bite and…OH MY GOD! It was SO good. Like, soooo good! Hands-down the best fish and chips I’d ever had in my life. And their FRIES were fantastic too.



So, I highly recommend going to The Boathouse for lunch or dinner or the next time you get a chance. You may not be particularly enthused by the clam chowder, but boy oh boy you will just LOVE the fish & chips.


Island Style Deli
A few months ago, my mom made an offhand remark in reply to one of the comments on this site expressing her concern that the Island Style Deli seemed, well, out of style for Bodega Bay. Hawaiian food is very tropical, and this is a cool coastal fishing town. It just seemed kind of out of place. Well, she has since received a number of letters totally ragging on the post, defending the Island Style Deli with the fire of a thousand suns.



Let me just say this. Bodega Bay has a lot of awesome restaurants, but they essentially serve the same sorts of food. Seafood, burgers, and chicken/steak/generic restaurant fare. That’s fine though, as they all do it differently and with a particular flare unique to the restaurant itself.

I think it’s nice to have some variety, and that’s all I will say on THAT topic before we get flooded with another 50,000 e-mails about it.


The Island Style Deli’s clam chowder was pretty herby, although in a completely different way than the Sandpiper’s. It was almost sort of exotic. I liked it a lot, and they included a coupon for two FREE cups of chowder with purchase of two lunches or dinners for future visits which I thought was very nice!

The Tides

I saw a guy who looked just like Truman Capote at The Tides while waiting for my sample. As much as I love The Tides, it’s totally depressing to stare at a tank full of live crabs, staring back at you with tiny, sad eyes as you order food. Kind of put a damper on my chowder experience!





Tides’ chowder is super rich and creamy. Unfortunately, I dropped my cup on the pavement shortly after leaving the building. This was a total bummer since I was really enjoying it! I didn’t remember The Tides having such good chowder- maybe they have a new recipe now? Mom insists it’s the same and she loves it, hmm . . . Either way, it was awesome while it lasted, and I apologize to the janitor who had to clean up my spilled soup.



Bluewater Bistro
We just love the Bluewater Bistro. Their chowder was especially unique in that it had salmon as well as clams and the usual clam chowder fare like potatoes, celery etc. It may even be tied with Spud Point Crab Co. as my favorite for this year!



The Bluewater Bistro has a whole new menu that I encourage you to check out. The brand new pizza oven that never seemed to get used (only available upstairs in the bar and only on some nights? Whaaaat?) finally gets to shine on the regular menu! You can order the pizzas to go now, too, so I expect to gain 5-10 lbs in the coming weeks. Yay!

The votes are in, and the official winners are as follows: For the 6th year in a row, Spud Point came in first, with the Tides a very close second, and Bluewater Bistro not far behind. The other four restaurants came within a few votes of each other.

All in all, mom and I had a blast at Chowder Day! Good job everyone!