HALL OF FAME BUSINESS RESTAURANT
J OHN ASH & CO.
“It’s a great honor and I just think it gives us a level of responsibility to continue to carry that torch. We have a responsibility to honor that induction.” —Brian Sommer, general manager
By Janet Perry
J ohn Ash & Co. at Vintners Resort has been inducted into our Hall of Fame after winning Best Business Restaurant of the North Bay over 15 times. NorthBay biz spoke with Brian Sommer, general manager of Vintners Resort, about what makes John Ash & Co. an award-winning restaurant. He says it all begins with the legacy of founding chef John Ash and the beautiful 82 acres of vineyard that serves as a backdrop for the restaurant. Sommer explained that the restaurant has really attempted to keep alive that farm-to-table legacy that John Ash himself emphasized. “We’ve started recently paying homage to John Ash, who is our sort of spiritual founder of the restaurant,” Sommer says. “He founded it. We’re creating menu items that are based on the recipes from his cookbooks and just really trying to pay homage to the farm-to-table movement that he created in Sonoma County.” Regardless of the culinary transitions that restaurants invariably go through—at John Ash that includes the recent departure of former executive chef Tom Schmidt—Sommer emphasizes that sourcing ingredients from their production gardens or from neighboring farms is of the utmost importance. They are in the process of revamping their extensive wine list to continue giving customers the latest and greatest. “But
business is repeat guests—from local industries such as wineries, banking, technology and the health care industry. We’re very well known for our happy hour and a lot of business meetings and business deals happen in the front room and in the restaurant. “It’s an incredible honor to be inducted into the Hall of Fame,” Sommer says. “I’ve been here for a very short time considering that it’s been over 15 years of awards. I’ve been here for just over two of those years. It’s a great honor and I just think that it gives us a level of responsibility to continue to carry that torch. We have a responsibility to honor that induction.” v The John Ash & Co. restaurant pays homage to its founder John Ash and his commitment to farm to table dining—guests enjoy views of the Vintner Resort vineyards as they dine.
primarily, our wine list is really designed to showcase the wines of Sonoma County first and then the rest of the major wine regions from around the world,” Sommer says. The farm-to-table cuisine, the wines and the beautiful setting are why the restaurant has been one of the premier dining establishments in Sonoma County since opening in 1987. Sommer says most of their
Brian Sommer
vintnersresort.com/john-ash-co/
16 Northbaybiz
Best of the North Bay 2024
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