Fisherman's Festival Coming Up

The 36th Annual Bodega Bay Fisherman’s Festival is coming up next weekend April 4 & 5, from 10 AM to 5 PM. It's a big deal and we're looking forward to attending for the first time this year.

The event includes Live Music, Wine Tasting, Seafood, Food Booths, Beverages, Crafts Fair, Exhibits, Children’s Events, Kite Flying, and Raffle Prizes. SPECIAL EVENTS: Golf Tournament, Boat Challenge, Parade of Pets, Llamas on Parade, Boat Parade, and Blessing of the Fleet.

We’ve had lots of family visiting from out of town to celebrate my husband’s birthday this week so I haven’t had much time to blog. We enjoyed some wonderful meals at the Bay View Restaurant in Bodega Bay and Nick’s Cove in Marshall.

We also barbequed delicious Hog Island oysters here at home. We cleaned and shucked the oysters first, then placed them in the shell on the hot grill and topped them with a dollop of Smokey River Barbeque Sauce and some garlic parsley butter. Wow, they were incredible. PC couldn’t cook them fast enough, people were lining up and eating them hot off the grill!

That barbecue sauce is outta this world. Whenever my sister comes up from Southern California, she always picks up a few bottles at Valley Ford Market to take back home with her. And my daughter, who usually doesn't like barbecue sauce at all, LOVES this one.

We’re looking forward to the "Fish Fest" next weekend and hope to take some good photos to share.

A Beautiful Day in Bodega Bay

It’s another spectacular day in Bodega Bay! The sun is shining, the sky is blue and the water is sparkling. There’s a slight breeze and families are flying kites down on the beach.


Flowers are starting to bloom so I took a few shots on my walk today. Yesterday was the first day of spring. We’re not in full-blown wildflower season yet, but it’s coming. (If you click on the photos, they will enlarge.)



While shooting this field of wildflowers, a bobcat jumped out and darted away. Rather than running in a straight line, he darted back and forth, looked back at me, and zigzaged a few more times until he disappeared in the meadow. I often see bobcats this time of day so I was on the look-out but nevertheless I think we startled each other. The local bobcats usually ignore people and can be aloof, but this guy didn’t feel like sticking around for a photo op today.

Looking toward Tomales Point, Tomales Bay, and Dillon Beach.


Check out this tiny red hummingbird!

A neighbor and I were marveling about the amazing weather and how it’s one of Bodega Bay’s best-kept secrets. She and her husband attended the Barrel Tasting events here in Sonoma County recently and someone commented to her, “Oh too bad it’s so foggy in Bodega Bay.” We both laughed because we used to think so too, before we moved here. The truth is, it isn’t foggy nearly as often as people seem to think, and when it is, it comes and goes. The weather here is dynamic, changing frequently throughout the day. Sun, fog, wind, rain, it’s all part of the wonderful, vibrant life at the coast.

Live Crab for Sale in Bodega Bay

Bright orange, hand-painted signs throughout Bodega Bay advertise “Fresh Crab from Fisherman.” If you follow these signs, they’ll lead you up Highway 1, left on Eastshore, right on Bay Flat, and eventually to Dock C down at the Spud Point Marina on West Shore Rd. This is where Cathy and Steve Anello sell fresh, live crabs onboard their fishing boat, the Robert Croll (named after famous sea captain).
Note: Photos show other employees onboard. Steve Anello not pictured.


Steve has been a local fisherman for 37 years. Cathy’s been at it for 7 years and has come to love the life of a fisherwoman and in fact is becoming something of an advocate for the local commercial fishing industry.

Today they had a tank filled with dozens of large, active crabs. These guys were lively, moving around faster than any crustaceans I’ve ever seen in restaurant or fish market tanks.

I’m a total novice so Cathy gave me a complete rundown on how to prepare them. First and foremost, she recommends boiling them in sea water from the ocean if possible. “It’s the ultimate, the salinity of their own natural environment gives optimal taste. The crab meat will be incredibly sweet, not at all salty” she insists.

“If you don’t have sea water, add enough salt to your pot to achieve the same salinity, anywhere from ¼ cup to 1 cup, depending on the amount of water.”

Boil the water, add the crab, then cook for 20 minutes after the second boil. They’re full of meat this year and require the full 20 minutes. The backs will lift slightly when they’re done.

Next, chill them in sink bath of ice water. This makes it easier to get them out of the shell. Lift the back off and rinse off the crab butter (although some people like to use it--in cioppino for example). Remove the gray area on each side, those are the gills. The rest is 100% delicious dungeness crab meat.

When I still looked squeamish, she said she can also do much of the advance work for us and all we’d have to do was steam them.

Cathy was a delight and loves her life as a fisherwoman. She and her husband are related to Carol and Tony Anello who own Spud Point Crab Company across the street (with the award-winning clam chowder). Steve and Tony are brothers.


Crab season runs November-June. Cathy says she’s there most days until about 6 p.m., but recommends we call first to check availability. Prices are higher than she’d like this year, $5.99-$6.99 per lb., but it’s due to the limited availability. She expects there will be more crab next year and hopes for a banner season in 2011.

Contact: Cathy & Steve Anello, C&S Fish, 707-494-7612.

Great Burgers at The Dog House!

The Dog House serves one of the best hamburgers in Bodega Bay. We love this place and have been eating here for years--long before we moved to town. It was the perfect destination after a long day at the beach, before heading back to Petaluma.

The Dog House has been voted “Best Burger in Sonoma County” numerous times and it’s no wonder. Their generous ½ lb. burgers are made from 100% fresh beef (no fillers), hand shaped, grilled to perfection, and served on a roll. The burgers come with delicious “all you can eat” fries with skins on. They slice the potatoes themselves throughout the day.


You have to apply your own fixin’s over at the condiment bar, which gets a little messy for me. But nobody said dining at The Dog House was a neat and tidy affair.

As their name implies, they also serve several versions of hot dogs and more. One of our daughters is a vegetarian and she LOVES their grilled cheese sandwiches and fries. Others might like the garden burgers. Beverages include soft drinks (they have Stewarts!), beer and milkshakes. And for dessert, we often opt for an ice cream from the little shop next door. Oh yes, this can be a very low-cal outing! (Click on any image to enlarge it, including the menu board.)


You can count on excellent, friendly service from Shannon, Harry, or the long-time Dog House owner, Van. No kidding, one day I saw Shannon single-handedly prepare orders for about 15 hungry people without breaking a sweat—or making a mistake. She’s amazing.


Although this is a casual, “fast food” establishment, it’s not McDonalds. Everything is fresh and made to order, so allow plenty of time. Relax and look out at the stunning view of Bodega Harbor across the street. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a free show from the windsurfers and kiteboarders!


The Dog House offers indoor and outdoor seating, and is located just off Hwy. 1 on Smith Brothers Rd., next to the post office, in Bodega Bay. 707-875-2441. Open 11 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Bird Walk in Bodega Bay

Last week I wrote about watching The Birds. This week I’ll write about real bird watching opportunities here in Bodega Bay. This is a bird watcher's paradise! The Audubon Society says “Bodega Bay is probably the hottest birding spot in Sonoma County. More rare birds have been spotted here than in any other area in the County.” It’s not unusual to see groups of bird watchers with their cameras, binoculars, or telescopes perched on tripods, along the marshes, harbor and bay.

We have a wonderful new path that connects Doran Beach Regional Park and Bird Walk Coastal Access Park. It runs from Doran Beach, along Doran Park Marsh and tidal channels, over a spiffy new 110' bridge that spans Cheney Creek, and connects to the Bird Walk Park up on the levees.


A Sonoma County Parks press release says “Doran Beach Regional Park offers a wide variety of coastal recreation opportunities, attracting 300,000 annual visits from people enjoying the spectacular views, two miles of sandy beach, and camping, fishing, and boat launching facilities. Bird Walk Coastal Access is a revitalized saltwater marsh offering a unique opportunity for coastal wildlife viewing.”


The popular one-mile Bird Walk path loops around 26’ high, 10’ wide levees that were constructed to hold spoils from the dredging of Bodega Bay in 1980. In the 1990s, the County improved the two resulting ponds for the benefit of bird and wildlife habitat and they continue to flourish. (We lived in Petaluma for 14 years before moving here and so it reminds me a little of Shollenberger Park.)


The 14-acre marshland area fills with water in winter (usually) and is frequented by waterfowl and shore birds. During a recent walk, we saw a great white heron, snowy egrets, Canadian geese, mallard ducks, seagulls, and little ones that looked like miniature sandpipers. I’ll have to look them up in my Audubon book.

From this elevated path, you’ll also see gorgeous views of Doran Marsh, Doran Beach Park, Bodega Bay and Harbor, and Bodega Head.

Last weekend, volunteers planted 200 native plants as part of an on-going habitat restoration effort. I've also seen them pulling out the non-native, invasive ice plants. If you're interested in helping, check this out.

I’m happy to report dogs are allowed on leashes and most people stick to the rules. It’s an easy walk and our small dogs love it.

To access this trail, there’s a 10-space parking lot right off Hwy. 1 at the south end of town (between Smith Brothers Rd. and Doran Park Rd.), or you can start at the other end by entering through Doran Beach Park. Have fun!

The Birds by Alfred Hitchcock

Well I finally watched The Birds. I had to. Everyone who hears I’m living in Bodega Bay asks about it, and they’re shocked when I admit I never saw the film. As you may know, this classic Hitchcock thriller was set out here in Bodega Bay, many scenes were filmed on location, and it seems to have put this heavenly coastal village on the map.

As a publicist, I talk to media people across the country every day and when they find out where I am, they invariably mention The Birds. One radio show host back east is a Hitchcock fan and actually came to Bodega Bay just to see the locations. Others say they’ve vacationed on the Sonoma Coast and visited the famous Hitchcock sites while they were here. And many just ask if I’m afraid of the birds. Ha ha!

Before watching the movie, I visited several websites that provide a wealth of background information about the making of the movie as well as photos of scenes that were shot on location,
FilmInAmerica, The Tides, and our local visitor’s site.

Local sites include the Potter Schoolhouse and St. Teresa’s Church in the nearby town of Bodega, Bay Hill Rd., Taylor St., Westshore Rd., Bodega Head, Diekmann’s Market (earlier incarnation) and The Tides restaurant.
The Tides has also been expanded and remodeled since then, but I totally remember it as it was in the movie, smaller and painted white with orange trim. It was one of my grandparents’ favorite spots along the coast.

I loved the movie! What a masterpiece. Here’s a quick summary from IMDB. “A wealthy San Francisco playgirl pursues a potential boyfriend to a small Northern California town that slowly takes a turn for the bizarre when birds of all kinds suddenly begin to attack people there in increasing numbers and with increasing viciousness.”

Bodega Bay and the surrounding area looked beautiful, postcard perfect. And it really was a thrill to see all the local shots throughout the film! In fact, instead of being concerned about the children getting attacked by birds, I found myself saying “Hey, there’s the old Diekmann’s Market!”

Tippi Hedren was gorgeous, wasn’t she? (Turns out she’s Melanie Griffith’s mother.) In recent years, she has come back to Bodega Bay for public appearances to raise funds for her animal conservation work.

The film also stars Rod Taylor, Jessica Tandy, and one of my favorite actresses, Suzanne Pleschette.

I’m so glad to have finally watched this world-famous classic. Not only was it a wonderful film, now I’m prepared for the next time someone says “Oh, you’re in Bodega Bay? Isn’t that where they filmed The Birds?”

Clam Chowder Contest Winners

Spud Point Crab Company won first place in the Bodega Bay Clam Chowder Contest for the fourth year in a row!

The 6th annual free event took place on Sat., Feb. 7, and we had a blast. Our friends Karen and Jim came from Petaluma, and Robin and Jeffrey from Oakland, and together we visited each of the seven participating restaurants to sample their special clam chowder recipes. Jeffrey developed an elaborate rating system that judged by creaminess, texture, "spiciness," number of clams, and overall flavor, but I preferred the Forrest Gump method, "I like it a lot."

Participating Restaurants:

• Spud Point Crab Company

• Bluewater Bistro

• Sandpiper Restaurant

• Claudio’s Trattoria

• Brisas del Mar

• The Boat House

• The Tides

It’s no surprise that Spud Point won first place, we all agreed their bold, creamy, garlicky recipe was our #1 favorite. Opened in 2004 by locals Carol and Tony Anello, their distinctive clam chowder quickly became famous and garnered tons of publicity from near and far. (Coastal Living Magazine recently said they serve the “world’s best clam chowder.”) Tony has been commercial fishing for 35 years and he provides all the fresh fish from his own boat and that of his son and brother. Carol and daughter Lisa run the mostly-outdoor restaurant. (A granddaughter and employee are pictured.) Our family loves this place and we often bring out-of-town guests here. Once I brought a huge batch home for some lunch guests and Carol explained how to carefully reheat it without ruining it. No, I didn't try to take credit for it, I admitted to my guests that it was from the famous Spud Point!

The Visitor’s Center said all six of the other restaurants tied for second place (what?), so allow me to share our second and third place favorites.


Several of us felt that Bluewater Bistro in Bodega Harbour and the Sandpiper Restaurant tied for second place. In fact, in last year’s contest they tied for second along with The Tides Wharf. Bluewater Bistro’s chowder was very gourmet, perfectly seasoned, and had generous chunks of salmon in addition to clams. It was refreshingly light, not as thick and creamy as some of the others.


The Sandpiper’s chowder was deliciously traditional, creamy, and had the perfect blend of herbs. I wanted seconds of this one! The Sandpiper has been getting a lot of press lately due to a dispute with their landlord—apparently he’s been threatening to evict them. They have a big “Save the Sandpiper” banner across the roof, and many locals wear buttons sporting the same slogan.


Karen and Jeffrey really liked the only Manhattan-style chowder on the list, served at Claudio's Trattoria. Maybe because their restaurant is Italian, their chowder had vegetables making it almost like a minestrone. Karen said whenever she craves a perfect bowl of soup, this is exactly what she pictures.

All of the other chowders were tasty too, and it was especially nice to meet and greet the local restaurateurs and thank them for participating in this wonderful annual event. (At The Boat House, the owner’s delightful school-age daughter helped check in tasters who were waiting patiently in long lines, while her mother brought out endless trays of chowder and crackers.) Just imagine how many pots of clam chowder they all served so generously for free that day.

Fortunately we got an early start, the Visitor’s Center said they were overwhelmed with people who came out for this event. They were expecting around 300 people but by noon 400 had shown up and by 2:00 p.m. they had to shut down because they ran out of maps and clam chowder. They ended up counting nearly 800 ballots!

The weather couldn’t have been more inviting. It was a gorgeous, sunny day with no wind. And talk about lucky, the very next day was overcast, chilly and windy, and of course it seems like it has been raining ever since. In fact, I sure could go for some more clam chowder about now. Decisions, decisions…