Archive for January, 2009

Osteria Stellina in Point Reyes Station

You Mon Tsang January 23rd, 2009

osteria_stellinaRecently, a new restaurant has popped up in Point Reyes Station. Osertia Stellina, which focuses on rustic Italian food made with local ingredients, sits in the center of town where Rosie’s Cowboy Cookhouse used to be. I have not yet tried it, but the reviews so far are very good.

From the MarinIJ:

I’ve never tasted a better cauliflower side than the one served alongside a perfectly seared halibut ($18). Roasted chunks of this sometimes bland crucifer were brilliantly combined with a creamy mashed potato and together the two resonated with flavor. On the same plate a sauteed tangy Russian kale added a lighter note that brought the entire plate together – it was perfect.

The food here was good enough for me to overcome the slight pretense and one server’s bad attitude. I’ll be going back. Osteria Stellina (named after the owner’s daughter) is an impressive addition to Point Reyes Station. Not surprisingly it remains true to the community’s strong commitment to keeping it local.

Some quotes from submissions on Yelp, the review site:

Rustic provincial Italian meets Marin’s sensible food practices.

My husband compared the food to Chez Panisse.

i have eaten here 3 times and the food and service are so perfect and amazing i had trouble believing someone could give it a bad review.

… organic, fresh, tasty, creative, and rustic. The service is warm, the menu interesting, and the food yummy.

One of the best meals I’ve had in a long time.

Tasty food using local ingredients – that’s the best of West Marin.

UPDATE on 2009-02-06:The Point Reyes Light reviewed the Osteria Stellina as well and they had good things to say as well:

Just under four months old, Osteria Stellina is already bustling with Point Reyes Station locals and tourists anxious to try Christian Caiazzo’s cuisine… The key to Stellina is simply prepared food that lets flavors shine… The antipasti, or starters, are small plates that are perfect to share. Two of them have become very popular and we’ve had them twice at Stellina. The first, slow cooked octopus ($9), is a tomato-based stew infused with mint and chilies. The small tentacles melt in your mouth and you will most likely want to request another slice of Brickmaiden bread-baked a block away—to soak up the remaining sauce. The second, roasted Brussels sprouts with chestnuts and walnuts ($7), is another favorite. The sprouts are browned until their outer leaves become crisp while leaving the insides juicy and sweet.

Read the entire review from the Point Reyes Light…

UPDATE on 2009-03-18: Good thoughts continue to come in, this time from blogger Original Bliss; she says:

Dinner at Osteria Stellina Restaurant in Point Reyes Station was THE BEST MEAL Jeff and I have ever eaten. And WE know how to eat! Three orgasmic appetizers, a kisk-ass pizza, and the fresh, melt-in-your-mouth black cod dinner with a bottle of wine we brought with us … $84. It is worth the drive and an overnighter JUST to eat there!

UPDATE on 2009-05-11: The SF Chroncile weighs in with a great review:

This quiet West Marin town may be off the fine-dining radar, but Caiazzo’s [the chef] combinations have the same integrity and sensibility as what’s served at restaurants such as Chez Panisse and Zuni Cafe… Caiazzo calls his food “Point Reyes Italian” because of his unwavering commitment to local products… Osteria Stellina is a modest restaurant that evokes the spirit of West Marin. It’s a marvelous way to escape without giving up any big-city sophistication.

UPDATE on 2009-07-11: Stellina goes national with the New York Times:

A pizza ($15) followed: sea salt tomato sauce, broccoli spigariello and fresh mozzarella. The crust was crisp and tender, the greens pleasantly bitter; there were no leftovers… [For dessert, a] ruggedly inviting gingersnap Meyer lemon ice cream sandwich ($6), a sweet tooth’s waking dream.

Photo from the MarinIJ

Elephant Seals at Point Reyes

You Mon Tsang January 19th, 2009

elephant_seal_drakes

This weekend (Jan 18), we went out to Drakes’ Beach and saw some elephant seals up close and personal. One camped himself right next to parking lot; the one in the picture was about 3/4 miles south.

To see elephant seals at Point Reyes, get yourself to Drake’s Beach. From there, you can take the shuttle to Chimney Rock where 200+ seals are sparring, pupping, hanging.  It’s a remarkable sight but you’re seeing it from a distance. At low tides (check Point Reyes tides) at Drakes’ Beach, you can probably see one of the loners hanging out as well.

Update: The National Park Service has produced a terrific video on the elephant seals. Check it out.

Photo by Michael Harrold

What’s Going On in the Park: mid Jan 2009

You Mon Tsang January 13th, 2009

Here are some highlights from the National Park Service Park Wavelengths newsletter:

  • “Dismal” counts on live coho salmon and redds (nests) in West Marin creeks.  Everyone, please do your rain dances.
  • The first wildflowers are appearing early due to warm temperatures -pinkish white Milkmaids along Lucas Valley Road and around the visitor center. Daffodils in Point Reyes Station.
  • Whale watching has been excellent this year; weekend counts of 8 to 9 per hour with a daily total of 39 reported on Sunday from the Lighthouse.
  • The elephant seal colonies are full: pups being born, younger males wrestling at the Lifeboat Station (Chimney Rock).
  • All park visitor centers will be open Monday, January 19, Martin Luther King Holiday and shuttle busses will be operating if the weather is clear.
  • There’s a new photo exhibit at the Bear Valley Visitor Center this month, Nadine Heidacker, “Photos of Point Reyes”.

What’s Going On in the Park: early Jan 2009

You Mon Tsang January 1st, 2009

Here are some highlights from the National Park Service Park Wavelengths newsletter:

  • See the first coho salmon in the park.  From the Five Brooks trailhead, walk down the road to the short trail to John West Fork creek for viewing.
  • During the December holiday bird count, there were three bald eagle sitings over Tomales Bay!
  • The road from Drakes Beach to the Lighthouse and Chimney Rock are closed and replaced by Shuttle service on weekends and holidays.
  • The first Northern Elephant Seal pup was born on December 19th, similar to last year’s timing.  From the Chimney Rock Overlook, 70 animals could be seen from that point with more arriving each day. Large males have been seen cruising along the Drakes Bay beach blowing bubbles and flipping their heads up.