Affronti

By Carol & Joe Davis
Dining Detectives

The town of Healdsburg surrounded by over 100 wineries is a great Wine Country destination for both dining and shopping. Some of the best restaurants in the Bay Area are located here, as well as some of the most interesting specialty shops. We recently dined at Affronti which is a new restaurant and Wine Bar in downtown Healdsburg that features Mediterranean Cuisine small plates and over 30 wines by the glass chosen by their Sommelier Adam Jed.

This contemporary and stylish restaurant offers Courtyard Dining and a beautiful Wine Bar all tucked away, just off the Square. The inviting environment has a horseshoe shaped wine bar, very stylish interior featuring local art, Venetian plaster walls, leather chairs and outdoor waterfall with lush plants. All the cuisine is made with locally sourced ingredients by Executive Chef-Owner Jude Affronti who was Chef d Cuisine at Mario Batali's Restaurant Po in NYC and taught at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco for the past five years.

We enjoyed Prosecco di Voldobbiadene and Thumbprint Pinot as we perused the small plate menu. We loved the variety of small plates. Nonna's deviled eggs were quite tasty. The Squash Soup with bacon and the Country Pate with cornichon, grain mustard and toast were also excellent. Our favorite dish was the house cured Sardines with horseradish-celery root. The Pacific Red Snapper en papiote with white wine and leeks was also very tasty and healthy. There is Live Jazz on Thursday nights and a Sunday Jazz brunch. Affronti is a perfect place to enjoy small plates and big wines. We look forward to returning!

Affronti
235 Healdsburg Avenue
Healdsburg, CA. 95448
707-431-1113
www.affrontihealdsburg.com