Nick's Cove

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Stories from the Coast - The Nick's Cove Blog

Events

Reflections

Dena Grunt, author of Table with a View

In the middle of 2010 I walked onto the Nick’s Cove property for the first time as an employee. While in my office, that I fondly call “the upstairs” which is just a short walk across historic Route 1 and up the hill, I would take in my views: the property, restaurant, Tomales Bay, Hog Island to the west and the overgrown hill to my north which is now our beautiful, rich, producing hillside of vegetables we call “The Croft” … and I would think, THIS is where I get to work! Pinch me! Back then I had no idea just how much I would fall in love with the location, the property and most specifically the history of this magical location in West Marin. I am honored that I am now an owner and will continue to be an advocate and an ambassador of this historic world-renowned destination through our first ever cookbook, “Table with a View: the History and Recipes of Nick’s Cove”. It is for sale now exclusively at Nick’s Cove and in your local bookstore, nationally, May 11. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it. 

Join Dena at our Intimate Cookbook Brunches in the Croft starting May 2nd and continuing through August. These limited capacity events will feature favorite recipes from the cookbook and include a signed copy for each guest. Click HERE for more information and to buy tickets.

Cheese Fest

The California Artisan Cheese Festival is coming up at the end of March, and if you are a lover of cheese, this is the event for you! There are cheesemakers from all over California that come out with all sorts of amazing and unique cheeses. Among the participants are some of our local favorites that we’ve used here at Nick’s over the years like: Point Reyes Farmstead, Marin French, Nicasio Valley Cheese, and our good friends at Double 8 Dairy. There is more than just cheese; there are also fantastic wineries, breweries, candy makers, bakeries, and so much more. 

A couple of my favorite aspects of the Cheese Festival to take part in include California Artisan Cheese Week and the Cheese, Bites and Booze event. California Artisan Cheese Week gives us the opportunity to feature one of my favorite local cheesemakers in the restaurant for the week leading up to the festival. And the Cheese, Bites, and Booze competition takes place on Saturday the 28th and is a fun competition where I come up with a small “bite” that features our paired cheesemaker. It’s a delicious walk-around tasting event and all of the bites get judged by professionals as well as the public attendees. It’s definitely a fun evening with lots of cheese, food, and drinks, and tickets are on sale now at CaliforniaArtisanCheeseFestival.com. I hope to see you there! 

Santa Coming To Nick’s Cove

When I first became connected to Nick’s Cove in 2010 I immediately knew this was the kind of place where memories were made. I wanted to further those opportunities by creating a Nick’s Cove signature event: an annual gathering that would bring our local community together and be something fun for our guests coming from all over the Bay Area and beyond. My son was 8 at the time and anyone who knows me knows I love the holidays. And Santa. And the magic of Christmas!

So, I wrote a letter to Santa and asked if he would make a special trip to Marshall every year. To take photos with kids and adults and to hear their wishes. He joyfully agreed. I told him, “There’s just one catch … you’ll need to arrive by boat!”  

santa arrives at nick's cove
Santa Arrives at Nick’s Cove

This year we celebrate 9 years of the magic of watching Santa arrive by his trusty water sleigh. We have hot cocoa and treats and a professional photographer to take portraits. And it’s all our gift to the community.  I especially love watching the magic the kids’ smiles and waves as they first see Santa in the distance. It’s my kind of magic.

Summer Events at Nick’s

Summer is one of our favorite times of year here at the coast. The weather is cooler here than it is inland complete with beautiful views of the bay, and of course breathtaking sunsets! The weekends are picking up and we now have our waterfront Oyster Bar open from 12-4 on Saturdays and Sundays. Here we serve up fresh oysters, clam chowder, select salads and of course, hand-crafted cocktails.

And new this summer, we invite you to visit our Bayside Market which is held the first Saturday of every month from 1-4pm on the waterfront lounge. We are happy to have some our favorite local vendors join us each month, including Freestone Farms, Folly Cheese Company, Tomales Bakery, Boheme Wines and many more!

Come join the fun with us all summer long!

 

 

 

 

Santa’s Coming to Tomales Bay!

The most magical time of year is upon us! The holidays are a wonderful time to get together with family and friends, eat all kinds of goodies, and take pictures with Santa. Luckily, we have you covered for all of the above.

Mark your calendars, because Santa is making his seventh annual visit to Nick’s Cove on Sunday, December 3rd from 3-5 pm. Complimentary photos and treats will be available out in our festive Boat Shack for all participants, and even your four-legged friends are welcome!

This year we also want to give back to the local children affected by the horrendous fires that recently tore through our community, so we are teaming up with Toys for Tots. Throughout the month of November, and ending on Sunday, December 3rd, Nick’s Cove is a Toys for Tots donation site, so please remember to bring a toy (or two) with you next time you come out to visit. Anyone who brings a new, unwrapped toy to share will receive a special gift from Nick’s Cove. We hope to see you out here soon!

Happy Holidays,

 

 

The LOVE PLANE Experience

As a farewell tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love, Antenna Theater’s artistic director, Chris Hardman, plans to have a skywriter sketch a big heart in the sky between the arches of the Golden Gate Bridge on Sunday, October 1st.

The event is dotingly named The LOVE PLANE Experience and is set to occur at 4pm sharp on Sunday, so if you are in the area be sure to find a great spot to view it! The aerial display is only expected to be visible in the sky for three to seven minutes before being swept away; a nice reminder that although the 50th Summer of Love may have passed, the beauty of the message remains.

To learn more about the event and get a “behind the scenes” look at the tribute, visit this article posted in the Marin IJ here.

Much Love,

 

 

 

 

4 Nearby Spots to Visit this Summer

With the wonderful weather of Wine Country, it seems like summer is nearly a year-round joy as the fun stretches into fall.  If you are looking for a special and unique way to spend a day in Sonoma County, here are a few ideas from our staff of locals:

Stroll and Shop Downtown Petaluma. Browse the town, go shopping, antiquing, wine tasting or enjoy a book in the park. Whether shopping for the home and family or for gifts, there are boutique clothing shops, hand-crafted jewelry stores, bed and bath shops, fine furniture stores and unique art galleries. And don’t forget to grab an ice cream cone or a craft beer to treat yourself afterwards!

 

Go on a Safari at Safari West. Who knew you could experience an African adventure in the heart of wine country? Spend the day exploring the Sonoma Serengeti on an African safari alongside romping herds of exotic wildlife or relax in a luxury safari tent under the gaze of a graceful giraffe.

 

Learn about a beloved local artist at the Charles Schulz Museum. Housing the largest collection of Peanuts strips in the world, the Museum explores the art and nuances of Schulz’s craft. View original comic strips, learn about the art of cartooning and Schulz’s role in its development, view a re-creation of Schulz’s art studio, and draw your own cartoons in a hands-on education room.  An added bonus is the adjacent ice-skating rink which is a great way to beat the heat on those warm summer days.

 

Soak in Live Music at the Green Music Center. The GMC Summer 2017 lineup features 15 concerts on the stage of Weill Hall + Lawn, featuring some of the biggest names in blues, soul, hip-hop, country, jazz and mariachi. Whether you’re bringing your picnic basket and blanket to sit on the beautifully landscaped lawn, or getting front row seats inside the unparalleled Weill Hall, you’re sure to enjoy your Summer at the Green!

 

Adventure on,

 

 

 

 

Best Bite Competition Recap

In case you missed it, last weekend was the 11th Annual California Artisan Cheese Festival held in Petaluma.  It was an amazing weekend full of educational demos, fun competition and the creamiest cheeses.  To kick start the weekend, Nick’s Cove participated in the “Ultimate Best Bite Competition” on Friday night where we won 3rd place! Chef Joshua Seibert dazzled the judges with his Deep Fried Arancini made with Marin French Petite Breakfast Cheese and chipotle aioli, topped with micro cilantro from our on-site garden, “The Croft”.

We had many fans of this dish; each coming back for second and third bites.  Many thanks to our supporters — we’re so grateful for all who voted for us at the competition. Be sure to come into the restaurant soon, as it will be featured on our menu for a limited time.

Happy Eats!

 

 

Santa is Coming!

santanickscoveThanksgiving is a beloved holiday here at Nick’s, but I will let you in on a little secret– I think I actually enjoy Santa’s visit more. Now that Turkey day is behind us, we can forward to Santa’s arrival with joy and anticipation!

This year, Santa will make is annual visit by trusty water sleigh and will be full of treats and holiday wishes! Santa will pull up to the dock at the Boat Shack on Sunday, December 4. We would love it if you could join us for complimentary pictures with Santa, hot chocolate, and other tasty treats. The full menu, including seasonal cocktails, will be available throughout the day in the restaurant. If you are 21 and over, you’re also welcome to order a cocktail inside at the bar and take it out to the Boat Shack.

And in the spirit of the holidays, during the month of December, we will be donating the proceeds of a special winter cocktail, the Good Neighbor, to Toys for Tots. The Good Neighbor is a play on a Brandy Alexander, using fresh buffalo milk from neighboring farm Di Bufala Dairy, Tempus Fugit Crème de Cacao from Petaluma, Germain Robin Brandy from Ukiah, and a dusting of nutmeg and truffle for $14. I know what my favorite drink will be this month– won’t you join us?

Cheers,

David

 

 

Unforgettable Weddings

027 (1)Wedding season is in full swing, and here at Nick’s Cove, we’ve had the pleasure of hosting a lot of fun groups.  Choosing an intimate venue such as Nick’s allows the flexibility for some creativity.

A traditional wedding has a quiet ceremony, mingling during the cocktail hour, and plated dinner during the reception. If you’re interested in infusing your wedding with a little more action, there are some ways you can accomplish this.  Here are our top three favorite suggestions:

 

Have games during the cocktail hour and/or reception.
Outdoor games such as bean bag toss (corn hole), horseshoes, lawn bowling, giant Jenga, and bocce ball are increasingly popular. Set up a few stations to keep guests occupied while you’re having your photos taken or when they need a break from dancing.

Create a flash dance.
This can be quite a challenge, but if you are able to pull it off, can be very rewarding. Get a group together that consists of your wedding party and other close family and friends.  Create a dance that is upbeat and catchy and send a video for the group to learn. Your guests will love the surprise and it will become the talk of the evening. Hey, maybe you’ll even become the next YouTube sensation.Games3

Have a photo booth.
Hiring a professional photo booth can be really helpful because the booth attendant usually does a stellar job of encouraging guests to take pictures. You could also use the extra copies to double as your guest book. Have your friends and family attach their silly photos next to their wishes – it will always be entertaining to look through.

I hope this gives you a little inspiration for your big day. Just remember that the day is focused on celebrating your love, so stay true to that and have some fun.  Happy Planning!

 

Cheers,

Erikka

 

 

 

 

photography by Frankie Frankeny, Cindi de Channes, Val Atkinson
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