Last weekend I was out at Stump Town Brewery for the Big Green Egg on the River cook off, it was sponsored by Asiens Appliance and Stump Town anyway I was presenting a Demo on cooking Pizza on the Egg, its an amazing oven! yes I said Oven because the Egg cooks Pizza as close to a wood fired oven as anything I have seen. So the demo went great and it was nice to share some recipe tips with the people there, and they came from Fresno, Sac town, all over Nor Cal its like a little mini cooking cult!!!! cooks passionate about what they are cooking and eager to learn and share with others of the same mind set!
Chris and Paul the owners of Asiens are two of the nicest guys around so a big thanks to them for including me in the party, the demo was fun and in my rush to get back to the restaurant I almost forgot that I told my friend Brad that I would stop and have a beer at his place, the Rio Nido Road House, just a mile down the road on the right, can't miss it! old funky dirt parking lot with towering Redwood Trees in it, you can see the pool in the back surrounded by lawn and picnic tables off to the left is the stage where the local Bands play on the weekends next to that is the BBQ pit! and I saw all that from the parking lot :) so I walk up the stairs right into the Bar, I see Kim behind the bar as I pass the kitchen and stroll out onto the covered patio, and then it hits me, the sound of splashing, kids laughing, parents lounging on the lawn, a group of Golfers from the local course sitting on the patio and suddenly I am 8 yrs old again! the flood of memories comes right back as I settle into my seat at the bar and Kim gives me a hug and starts mixing me a Margarita I turn around and say hey to Brad who is on the grill in the tiny little kitchen with his two sous chefs grilling up magic and it all comes back.
"I am with my dad and brothers and sis its another Sunday afternoon and we are at Uncle Petes house, swimming, Sinatra and Martin playing loud, all the parents sipping some frozen drink while laughing at the latest neighborhood gossip, and all the boys stair at Darlene's new bikini with smiles filling our faces"
The Rio Nido Road House is one of those places that brings back all the great memories you have as a kid, this is the kind of place that generations of families still come to and share with the new grandkids, friends, or like me a total stranger sitting at the bar with I think her name was Sue and she asked me how long I have been coming to the "house" first time I said as my hands ran across the beat up bar that felt so good, "well we have been coming here for 50 years, every summer and we will never stop" I could go on and on about this place but you really have to go see it yourself, its just 20 minutes from Santa Rosa out Guernville Rd on the right past Korbel, take the whole family, say hi to Brad and Kim, dip those toes in the pool and stay the day, its magical, its one of those places that is so special even when its your first visit.
And thanks you guys, for bringing me back memories that I cherish, can't buy that at any price!
FOOD:
The grinders are off the hook great, they come in a little paper basket with no fan fare except how great they taste. I hear the Margherita Pizza is to die for, and the BBQ tri tip s well.
DRINKS: They have it all! with a great beer that you have to ask for because its not one that is available all over "forgot the name" kim's gonna kill me but ask her she will know what you are talking about.
POOL: Its a great place to kick it and enjoy the sun!
PICNIC: there are lounge chairs, tables and a great area to hang and sip a frosty cocktail and eat some great food.
Have fun, and make some memories with your family and friends.
Cheers, Chef Glenn
