Restaurant Press Kit
In 1997, Sondra Bernstein quietly opened the girl & the fig in Glen Ellen, California. Slowly people began to discover the rustic French food and the unique way of marketing and presenting it. In 2000, she relocated the restaurant into more upscale quarters on the northwest corner of the square in Sonoma in the historic Sonoma Hotel. Over the past twenty-two years the girl & the fig has made its mark in Wine Country and has been a longtime favorite for both locals and visitors to the area. With a seasonal menu featuring garden vegetables, herbs, and an abundance of creativity, the rustic Provencal-inspired cuisine allows earth’s true and natural flavors to shine.
One of the signature dishes is our Fig & Arugula Salad, prepared with arugula, goat cheese, pancetta, pecans, and grilled fresh figs in season. Other imaginative entrées feature local seafood, lamb, rabbit, and duck—all served with a wonderful array of grains, pastas, and fresh vegetables. The unique award winning wine list concentrates solely on wines made with Rhône varietals from California and abroad. Wine flights paired with local artisan cheeses are a popular light meal.
Sondra believes the dining experience should continue after one’s time at the restaurant. She wants her guests to be able to take home a tangible piece of their experience from the girl & the fig and a memory of their visit to wine country. December 2011 brought the release of Sondra’s celebration of Sonoma’s bounty—Plats du Jour. This coffee-table style book features full page color photos and intimate stories of local food purveyors, along with over 100 unique recipes.
The other way to bring the “fig” experience home is through the restaurants’ signature house wines or the “FIG FOOD” product line. This includes jam, chutney, compote, vinegar, vinaigrette and herb blends that are sold nationwide. All products are natural, artisan produced gourmet food products that are available in the restaurants, at www.thegirlandthefig.com and in select stores nationwide.
With a healthy balance of elegance and offbeat personality, the girl & the fig’s unparalleled cuisine and attentive staff combine for a refreshingly unique and wholly pleasurable dining experience that will linger long after the meal itself. To learn more about the girl & the fig, and the associated businesses, visit: www.thegirlandthefig.com