Bruncherias & Where Else to Eat in Sonoma: Restaurant Discoveries with Heather Irwin (plus Milkshakes!)

Come hungry: Sonoma Magazine dining editor Heather Irwin returns to The Sonoma Spiel for a lively conversation about Sonoma Valley and Sonoma County restaurants, food trends, and the people behind the plates.

Heather and host Tim Zahner sip milkshakes from Smash while talking about Spread Kitchen’s dirty fries, burgers at Little Lou’s, Swiss Hotel’s back patio, and the pleasures of discovering a restaurant you’ve overlooked for years.

Is brunch really dead? Heather makes the case for the “brunchería,” where Mexican-inspired breakfast dishes, family gatherings, and mimosa flights keep the brunch spirit alive. We also discuss early dinner reservations, later dining, and why Sonoma’s farms and local ingredients remain at the heart of its food scene.

Heather shares the story of founding Sonoma Family Meal after the 2017 wildfires and its evolution into culinary training. She also explains why her food writing focuses on people and stories—and why supporting local journalism matters.

In “We Get Questions,” we tackle seafood stops, restaurant ideas for a group of 10, and a wine-country outing that begins with the ferry and SMART train before meeting a local driver.

One question remains: Where are the great nachos? Send us your recommendations!

Read Heather’s work:https://www.sonomamag.com/https://www.pressdemocrat.com/

Plan your visit and find Sonoma Valley restaurants, events, lodging, and special offers:https://www.sonomavalley.com/

Explore the Sonoma Tasting Pass:https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

The Sonoma Spiel is hosted by Tim Zahner, CEO of the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau.