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'Top Chef' Hearts Healdsburg and You Can Too

November 12, 2009 at 4:29 PM | by | Comments (0)

Top Chef and wine country fans alike will be happy to hear this insider scoop we were passed along: This season's finale was shot in one of Northern California's culinary havens, Healdsburg. Those in the know have long been trekking to Healdsburg to eat at restaurants like Cyrus, which one of our close friends—a nearby Sonoma resident—counts as one of her favorite places to dine. It was at Cyrus that part of the finale was shot, according to our channels.

With all of this Top Chef love being thrown Healdsburg's way, we thought it might be an appropriate time to list some hotel options for foodies whose trips are centered around tasting, sipping, and even gorging in extreme cases.

We've heard a lot of good things about Hotel Healdsburg—once again from Northern Californian natives who know the hotel and restaurant scene well. It's the home of Dry Creek Kitchen, which where chef and TC guest judge Charlie Palmer has made his name. One of the biggest events that the hotel hosts is Parker's annual "Pigs and Pinot" weekend, set to return in March of 2010, and involves exactly what the name implies: a helluva lotta Pinot Noir and pork goodness, with real-life top chefs contributing to the benefit weekend. Booking early for the popular event is a smart call.

Other options include the The Camellia Inn, a traditional cottage that is well-suited for "parent's weekend," so to speak. The crochet bedding and other tapestries in its rooms don't scream sexy, but if mom and dad are looking for somewhere comfortable to stay, this could be the place. Right now they're offering a "Royal Fall & Winter Get-a-way" package starting at $179, including a bottle of Camellia Cellars wine, tasting vouchers, and seasonal breakfast. But we take issue with online reservations, because clicking on "Book Specials and Packages" leads us to an error page. So you'll have to call yourself to ask about said deal.

Something that's much more our speed are the Healdsburg Modern Cottages, four small rental cottages that are located just off of town square and are family owned. There is a private pool on the grounds, and the cottages themselves—named after famous mid-century modern designers like Ray and Charles Eames—are decked out with era-appropriate design. They're reminiscent of the on-site cottages we've seen in person at Napa's Carneros Inn, but a little more slick and less wine country cozy.

These are just a handful of options for your next food excursion to California, where plenty of Pinot and maybe a chef celeb sighting awaits.

What are some of your favorite Healdsburg hotels? Comment below and let us know!

Hotels mentioned in this story

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