Floodwater about to open in Tam Valley
Illustrious restaurateur Bill Higgins, with a string of successes like Bar Bocce, Buckeye Roadhouse, Bungalow 44, Picco and Playa, is adding another restaurant to his lineup with the Nov. 29 debut of Floodwater in Mill Valley. This time, he has joined forces with sons Tyler and Henry. The three have been hard at work extensively remodeling the former Frantoio Ristorante and creating what they believe will be an energized social gathering spot.
Executive chef Michael Siegel, most recently chef and cofounder of San Francisco’s now-closed Shorty Goldstein’s Jewish deli, and alum of Bix and the former Betelnut restaurants, is heading up in the kitchen. Season-specific ingredients are the focal point of a menu that features grilled burgers, steaks, fresh fish, pizzas, salads and vegetarian dishes. A few deli favorites show up, too, like a house-made pastrami sandwich and chicken matzo ball soup.
The bar menu is in the able hands of James Beard-nominated Julian Cox (Tartine Manufactory) and will offer custom cocktails, wines, including eight on tap, and plenty of local craft beers.
The 7,200-squarefoot urban rustic interior makeover was accomplished under the direction of Whitfield Architects (Hog Island Oyster Co.). The 240-seat space is centered on an expansive bar and divided into five distinct dining zones — an intimate main dining room, two private dining spaces, including a clubby den-like area with leather sofas and chairs, and an outdoor patio with weather-protectant glass walls, fire pits and heaters.
Floodwater is at 152 Shoreline Highway in Tam Valley. Doors open for dinner nightly from 5 to 10 p.m. starting Nov. 29. A late-night menu is available from 10 p.m. until midnight. On weekends, a limited brunch menu is served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., along with a lunch menu from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information, go to floodwatermv.com.
Thanksgiving feasting
One of the most anticipated and indulgent meals of the year is about a week away. For some, planning is well underway. But if recipe sourcing, ingredient gathering and greasy dishes aren’t on your holiday agenda, here are a few places to make a reservation at or place an order for an outsourced meal.
Dining out
• Gravity Tavern in
Mill Valley is celebrating its first Thanksgiving with a five- course prix fixe menu ($85; $35 for children). Start out with shared smoked trout deviled eggs and sheep’s milk ricotta toast, followed by roasted kabocha pumpkin soup; autumn salad; and a choice of roasted turkey, red snapper or red kuri squash ravioli, along with an array of sides. End the meal with pumpkin white chocolate pie or dark chocolate bread pudding. The tavern is open Thanksgiving Day from noon to 8 p.m. at 38 Miller Ave. in Mill Valley. Make reservations at 415-888-2108 or go to gravitytavern.com.
• Left Bank Brasserie is serving a four- course prix fixe menu of Thanksgiving favorites — butternut squash soup; Waldorf salad; roast turkey, glazed rack of pork or autumn risotto; a variety of sides; and pumpkin pie ($59, excluding beverages, tax and gratuity; $12 for twocourse children’s menu). A limited à la carte menu is offered at the bar. The restaurant is open for the holiday from noon to 8 p.m. at 507 Magnolia Ave. in Larkspur. Call 415-9273331 or go to leftbank.com.
• Mediterranean restaurant Insalata’s in San Anselmo has a full Thanksgiving menu in store, including house-baked breads; family-style appetizers; and a choice of soup or salad, entrée and dessert ($68; $28 for children) from 12:30 to 7 p.m. at 120 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Call 415- 457-7700 or go to insalatas.com.
• Get a taste of England near Muir Beach at the Pelican Inn, where a traditional Thanksgiving buffet awaits — turkey, ham, stuffing and more ($54; $29 children). Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 10 Pacific Way. Call 415-3836000 to reserve a seat. Find out more at pelicaninn.com.
• Creativity is deeply woven into the culinary culture of Sir and Star in Olema and the menu for the Thanksgiving holiday is no different ($125; $42 for children). Temptations include a West Coast relish tray; Olema butternut squash soup; soufflé of local goat’s milk cheese with mushrooms or crab “crowned with crisped curls of her parsnips”; heirloom turkey with sourdough dressing laced with rabbit; and for dessert, fresh ginger cake with salted caramel sauce. Leave with a bag of sandwich fixings for the following day. Dinner is served from 5 to 9 p.m. at 10000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. in Olema. Make reservations at 415- 663-1034 or go to sirandstar.com.
• Head to Rancho Nicasio for a traditional threecourse meal, including homemade New England clam chowder or butter lettuce salad; roasted turkey, glazed ham, salmon Wellington, prime rib with Yorkshire pudding or grilled portobello mushroom; and desserts ($42 to $50; $25 for children). The restaurant is open from noon to 7 p.m. at 1 Old Rancheria Road in Nicasio. Call 415- 662-2219 or go to ranchonicasio.com.
Taking home
• Flour Craft Bakery & Café has a medley of breads and desserts for gluten-free guests, including stuffing mix, dinner rolls and desserts — pumpkin, maple bourbon, apple cranberry crumb pie or vegan apple galette. Orders must be placed by Saturday and picked up Nov. 27 at either location, 129 Miller Ave. in Mill Valley or 702 San Anselmo Ave. in San Anselmo. Order online and indicate pickup location at flourcraftbakery.com/thanksgivingQuantities are limited.
• If it’s just dessert you’re after, Kyle Caporicci has lots and lots of pies at Posie, from cranberry and pear oatmeal streusel to smoked chocolate bourbon pecan to salted caramel apple and malted pumpkin ice cream ($38 to $42). Your a la mode is available by pint. Ordering and pickup must occur on or before Nov. 25. Stop by the store at 250B Magnolia Ave. in downtown Larkspur or call 415-891-8395.
• Impress guests with San Anselmo’s M.H. Bread and Butter’s holiday offerings including sweets, sides and breads. Think roasted winter squash soup with chicken and bacon; roasted cranberry sauce; caramelized apple pie with almond crumble; and spiced pumpkin pie, to name a few. Order by 4 p.m. Sunday. The bakery and café is at 101 San Anselmo Ave. in San Anselmo. Find out more at mhbreadandbutter.com or call 415-755- 4575.
• Favorite classic and holiday specialties are on the takeaway menu at Comforts in San Anselmo. Start with a Mediterranean antipasto platter or roasted red beet hummus; pick-up an oven-ready whole turkey or just a few slow-roasted slices; or choose a house-made lasagna. Comforts can handle the sides and desserts, too. Go to comfortscafe. com for the full list. Place orders by Friday at 415454-9840 and pick up at 335 San Anselmo Ave. by 3 p.m. Nov. 27. Comforts is closed Thanksgiving day.
• An extensive number of options are available to gather and bring home from Farmshop at Marin Country Mart. The restaurant is offering everything from artisan cheese and charcuterie platters to turkey and all sorts of sides and desserts. Fill out an order form at farmshopca. com/thanksgiving-2019. Pick up between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Nov. 26 or 27 or from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Nov. 28 at 2233 Larkspur Landing Circle in Larkspur.
• There’s always something creative cooking at K & A Take Away in Tomales. Supplement your dinner menu with bacon apple fennel or shitake hazelnut stuffing; lemon Parmesan caper Brussels sprouts; maple ginger thyme mashed sweet potatoes; or sangria-spiced cranberry sauce. Call 707878-2969 or visit the shop at 27005 Highway 1 to place an order by Saturday with pick-up on Nov. 27.
• Stock up on the farmfresh building blocks for the holiday meal at the Marin Civic Center Farmers Market, which moves to Nov. 27 next week to accommodate Thanksgiving Eve shoppers. The market is at 10 Avenue of the Flags in San Rafael and runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Creating community
More community is something we could all use these days, is the message from Avatar’s Restaurant in Sausalito. And as it has for the past 31 years, the Indian fusion restaurant will serve a free Thanksgiving Eve meal from 3:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Nov. 27, or until everyone is fed. This year, the hope is to serve 1,800 people of all ethnicities, orientations, beliefs and economic classes who will sit down together, share a free meal, give thanks and celebrate life.
Avatars Restaurant is at 2656 Bridgeway in Sausalito. For additional details, call 415-332-8083.
In a similar vein, all three Lotus Family of Restaurants are opening doors from 5 to 9 p.m. for a no-reservations and nocharge Indian buffet from 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 27.
“Thanksgiving is a time of giving thanks and this is how we thank our customers, friends and community,” says owner Surinder Sroa. The free feast can be found at Lotus Cuisine of India at 704 Fourth St. in San Rafael (415- 456- 5808), Café Lotus at 1912 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. in Fairfax (415- 4577836) and the new Lotus Curry House at 807 Grant Ave. in Novato. All Lotus restaurants are closed Nov. 28.
Leanne Battelle is a freelance food writer. Please send her an email at ij.lbattelle@gmail.com with your local food news, restaurant experiences and general feedback.
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