Holidays in Sonoma – The Girl and The Fig Thanksgiving

As soon as we picked Sonoma as a destination, one of the first things I had on my must do list was a meal at The Girl and The Fig. This classic restaurant of Sonoma has been around for 17 years – originally in Glen Ellyn but now located in Sonoma Plaza. It’s goal is the same though- celebrating Sonoma seasonal bounty with French countryside preparations. Because of that, the menu changes every week – as does the pairing wine flight they always offer. They were open on Thanksgiving so we decided to make this venerable restaurant our special destination for our holiday meal.

It was a little weird to not be cooking this year, but it freed us to have a very laid back Thanksgiving day that included time for getting a takeout breakfast, watching the Thanksgiving parade, a hike, reading, watching a little Netflix, and even wine tasting at two wineries that were open! And, this was a meal that stuffed me just as much in celebrating American bounty while also spending quality time with people I care about.

For Thanksgiving, each of us was given a complimentary amuse bouche, a choice of starter, entree, and dessert if we wanted to dine from their special Thanksgiving menu (which we all chose to do). I took a bite of the bread as I was enjoying a cocktail called Fig ‘n Awesome with a local fig infused spirit, sweet vermouth, chinato and orange peel. It was a serious sipper with nice layers of flavor. As for the bread, I guess I’m a bit spoiled because I prefer my bread to be soft, and these were a bit hard for me.

Bread service at Girl and the Fig the girl and the fig I started with cocktail called Fig 'n Awesome with a local fig infused spirit, sweet vermouth, chinato and orange peel the girl and the fig I started with cocktail called Fig 'n Awesome with a local fig infused spirit, sweet vermouth, chinato and orange peel

Another interesting cocktail they had which I almost got was the She’s Complicated that includes gin, St Germain elderflower liqueur, melon, cucumber, basil and lemon, as well as a “fig fashioned” and “fig kiss”, so you may want to consider perusing the cocktail list carefully and not just the wine list. They do have a bar and lounge area in the front area (the restaurant is also located as part of the Sonoma Hotel), and as a plus you can also see the cheese and charcuterie plates being made at a station right there! Watching him put it together convinced me that I had to have some at dinner.

The amuse bouche for the girl and the fig Thanksgiving 2014 menu was a cute little country biscuit with house cured ham and mustard aioli (the fourth one, the vegetarian one is on a separate plate without ham).
Amuse at our Thanksgiving Dinner at the girl & the fig of country biscuit with house cured ham and mustard aioli

Not part of the Thanksgiving dinner menu, we ordered separately a cheese and charcuterie selection that also included spiced nuts, olives, fig cake and compote. We asked for meat to be on a separate plate from the cheese for our vegetarian.
Cheese plate at our Thanksgiving Dinner at the girl & the fig  that also included spiced nuts, olives, fig cake and compote Charcuterie at our Thanksgiving Dinner at the girl & the fig

Next, for our starters our group ordered the famous Fig and Arugula Salad with toasted pecans, pancetta, Laura Chenel Chevre and a Fig and port vinaigrette, Butternut Squash Soup with Pt Reyes blue cheese croutons, and the incredibly beautiful Roasted Beet Salad with mache, chevre crema, grated horseradish, and tarragon vinaigrette
the girl and the fig and starter of a Fig and Arugula Salad with toasted pecans, pancetta, Laura Chenel Chevre and a Fig and port vinaigrette Starter at our Thanksgiving Dinner at the girl & the fig of Butternut Squash Soup with Pt Reyes blue cheese croutons Starter at our Thanksgiving Dinner at the girl & the fig of Roasted Beet Salad with mache, chevre crema, grated horseradish, and tarragon vinaigrette

It was a really tough choice for our entree. You had the choice of traditional Thanksgiving with a Roasted Turkey Roulade with cornbread stuffing, delicata squash, spiced cranberry sauce and pan gravy…
Entree at our Thanksgiving Dinner at the girl & the fig of Roasted Turkey Roulade with cornbread stuffing, delicata squash, spiced cranberry sauce and pan gravy Entree at our Thanksgiving Dinner at the girl & the fig of Roasted Turkey Roulade with cornbread stuffing, delicata squash, spiced cranberry sauce and pan gravy

Or go with the always holiday or special event classic of the Slow Roasted Prime Rib with caramelized brussels sprouts, potato gratin and natural jus. Man, this was monstrous!
Entree at our Thanksgiving Dinner at the girl & the fig of Slow Roasted Prime Rib with caramelized brussels sprouts, potato gratin and natural jus Entree at our Thanksgiving Dinner at the girl & the fig of Slow Roasted Prime Rib with caramelized brussels sprouts, potato gratin and natural jus

Even the vegetarian had a choice, with the Wild Mushroom Ravioli with housemade ricotta, sweet onion puree, and watercress and black truffle
Entree at our Thanksgiving Dinner at the girl & the fig of Wild Mushroom Ravioli with housemade ricotta, sweet onion puree, and watercress and black truffle Entree at our Thanksgiving Dinner at the girl & the fig of Wild Mushroom Ravioli with housemade ricotta, sweet onion puree, and watercress and black truffle

And then desserts! Pumpkin Cheesecake with chocolate graham cracker crust, creme fraiche, and pumpkin seed brittle, Pecan Tart with brown sugar crema, and Apple Tarte Tatin with buttermilk ice cream and salted peanuts.
Dessert at our Thanksgiving Dinner at the girl & the fig of Pumpkin Cheesecake with chocolate graham cracker crust, creme fraiche, and pumpkin seed brittle Dessert at our Thanksgiving Dinner at the girl & the fig of Pecan Tart with brown sugar crema Dessert at our Thanksgiving Dinner at the girl & the fig of Apple Tarte Tatin with buttermilk ice cream and salted peanuts

Cheers, Happy Holidays – Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year’s, all of them!
Cheers! Another year with Et Fille wine at our Thanksgiving Dinner at the girl & the fig

Do you cook or dine out for Thanksgiving – and which did you like better and why? What about Christmas?

This post is fourth as part of my series on visiting Sonoma, previous subjects include

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Comments

  1. Loving these posts on Sonoma. I’ve never been but it looks fantastic. What a great way to spend Thanksgiving! Happy new year!

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