NEWS & EVENTS

Grossman's

Grossman's Featured in LA Times & This Week's "The Bucket List with Jenn Harris: Dumplings"

Willi's Wine Bar

Memories Shared and New Memories Made at Willi's Wine Bar's 20th Anniversary Celebration

Willi's Wine Bar

Willi's Wine Bar 20th Anniversary Contest Winners

Willi's Wine Bar

Willi’s Wine Bar Announces 20th Anniversary Social Media Contest

Stark's Restaurants

We’re Hiring Managers, Front of House & Back of House Staff at All Stark Restaurants!

Bird & The Bottle

Taste the Rainbow!

Bird & The Bottle

Spring Menu Refresh

Stark's Restaurants

Bloody Mary Bonanza

March 22, 2022

Stark's Steak & Seafood

Mark Stark's Tips on Cooking the Perfect Steak

Willi's Wine Bar

Mark Stark cooks up two of Willi’s Wine Bar’s most popular dishes!

Holiday Schedule for all Stark Reality Restaurants

Willi's Wine Bar

Looking for the Ultimate Food & Wine Pairing?

Stark's Restaurants

All Stark Restaurants Have Re-Opened!

November 03, 2019

Willi's Wine Bar

Field Trip to Trombetta Family Wines

Willi's Wine Bar

C’mon over! Walk-ins are Welcome

Bravas Bar De Tapas

Bravas Celebrates Sonoma County 2019 Cider Week Spanish-Style!

Willi's Wine Bar

We Can't Wait to See You!

Willi's Wine Bar

Chef Mark Stark Leads Team of Sous Chefs to Victory!

Willi's Wine Bar

Recreating Our Signature Wine List

Willi's Wine Bar

Eagerly Waiting to Reopen

Willi's Wine Bar

Willi’s Wine Bar: The Santa Rosa restaurant that would not die

Willi's Wine Bar

Owners of Willi's Wine Bar in Santa Rosa reveal road to rebuilding

Monti's

Monti's Named as Michelin Bib Gourmand for 2018

October 5, 2017

Monti's

Press Democrat 'Best Of' Names Monti's Best in Outdoor Dining

October 2018

Stark's Restaurants

Stark Restaurants Win Multiple Categories in Press Democrat's Best 2018 Food and Drink

Stark's Restaurants

Stark Restaurants Win Multiple Categories in Press Democrat's Best 2017 Food and Drink

Stark's Restaurants

Stark Restaurants Win Bundle of Awards from North Bay Bohemian's Best of 2017

March 2017

Stark's Restaurants

Bird & The Bottle, Bravas Bar de Tapas, and Willi's Wine Bar Featured on Sonoma Magazine's Best Outdoor Dining

March 2017

Willi's Seafood & Raw Bar

Willi's Seafood Voted Best Seafood Restaurant in Press Democrat’s “Best of 2016”

2016

Willi's Wine Bar

Willi’s Wine Bar’s: Best Al Fresco Dining Spots in Sonoma County

July 05, 2016

Bravas Bar De Tapas

Bravas Makes List of Michael Bauer’s Favorite Restaurants in Healdsburg

January 15, 2016

Stark's Steak & Seafood

Starks Steakhouse Voted Best Bar, Happy Hour and Server in Press Democrat’s “Best of 2016”

2016

Mark Stark cooks up two of Willi’s Wine Bar’s most popular dishes!

Watch Mark Stark, Executive Chef of Willi’s Wine Bar, cook up his famous Tunisian Roasted Carrots and Moroccan Style BBQ Lamb Chops in this behind-the-scenes video where you join Mark in the kitchen at Willi’s and see for yourself how he artistically layers flavors to create these delectable dishes.

These two dishes are longtime favorites among customers and staff and have been on the menu since Willi’s first opened in 2002.

This video will have your mouth watering and it may even inspire you to get in the kitchen and try making them yourself. We’ve included the recipes below so you can do just that. Or you can just come in to Willi’s and we’d be delighted to make them for you.

TUNISIAN ROASTED CARROTS WITH TOASTED PINE NUTS, MINT & OLIVES 

2 pounds baby rainbow carrots, scrubbed, tops removed

1/4 cup honey

1/2 tablespoon cinnamon

1/2 tablespoon cardamom seeds

Olive oil, to coat

Salt and white pepper, to taste

1/2 cup mixed olives, whole

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 bunch mint leaves

2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted

3 tablespoons butter

1 each small orange

1/2 cup crumbled feta

Toss the carrots with oil, salt, pepper, honey, cinnamon, and cardamom. Place in a roasting pan, or baking dish just big enough to hold in one layer. Cut the orange in half then squeeze the juice over the carrots, add the orange halves into the pan with the carrots. Cover with foil and roast until just tender, about 25 minutes. 

Remove the foil and cool the carrots until ready to serve. This can be done the day before and refrigerated. 

When ready to serve, melt the butter in a large pan to fit the carrots in a shallow layer. When the butter just starts to brown, add the carrots.  Place in a 400-degree oven and cook until warmed through and the carrots are slightly browned.  Remove the pan and toss in the olives, pine nuts, mint, and lemon juice. 

MOROCCAN STYLE BBQ’D LAMB CHOPS WITH MINT CHUTNEY & PRESERVED LEMON COUSCOUS

Serves 8 (with lots of extra BBQ sauce to use on ribs or chicken)

8 each Double Cut Lamb Chops

MINT CHUTNEY

1 cup mint leaves

6 each scallion, chopped

3 tablespoons parsley leaves, chopped

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 teaspoon curry powder

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 each garlic clove, chopped

1/2 cup olive oil

MOROCCAN BBQ SAUCE

1 1/4 cups honey

1/2 cup rice wine vinegar

1/2 cup ketchup

1/2 cup soy sauce

3/4 cup lemon juice

1 each cinnamon stick, broken up

2 each star anise

2 each garlic cloves, smashed

1 1/2 teaspoons cardamom seeds

1/2 teaspoon chili flakes

1 1/2 teaspoons black peppercorns

1 1/2 teaspoons dried lavender

1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger, chopped

1/2 teaspoon whole cloves

1/2 bunch cilantro

1/2 teaspoon salt

PRESERVED LEMON COUSCOUS SALAD

2 cups couscous

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 cup orange juice

1 cup water

1/2 cup golden raisins

½ each preserved lemon, cleaned and minced

1/4 cup toasted slivered almonds

1 bunch scallion, sliced

MARINATING THE MEAT: Place all mint chutney ingredients in a blender with the olive oil and puree until smooth. Toss the lamb chops with just enough chutney to coat and marinate for four hours or overnight. Save the remainder of the mint chutney to use later. 

MOROCCAN BBQ SAUCE: Place all ingredients in a sauce pot and simmer on medium heat until the sauce is reduced to the consistency of a light glaze. Strain and cool. 

COUSCOUS SALAD: Place dry couscous in a bowl and add the olive oil. Mix the couscous until it is coated with the oil. Bring the orange juice and the water to a boil. Season the liquid with salt and pepper. Pour the hot liquid over the couscous, add the raisins and preserved lemon, then stir once. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit until couscous has absorbed all the liquid. Remove plastic and fluff the couscous. Check seasoning and adjust if necessary. 

TO FINISH THE DISH: Season lamb chops with salt and pepper; grill to desired doneness over medium hot grill, or sear in a hot pan on both sides and finish in a 350° oven. While chops are cooking, toss toasted almonds and sliced scallions into couscous; add a little fresh orange juice and more extra virgin olive oil if salad seems dry. Place salad in the center of a serving platter. Arrange the chops around couscous; drizzle with the Moroccan BBQ sauce and remaining mint chutney. Any leftover BBQ Sauce will keep in the refrigerator for 1 month.