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What's New: Point of order
Murray Circle Restaurant, the first course at Cavallo Point

by Pat Fusco

FULL CIRCLE The very soft opening last week of Murray Circle Restaurant and Farley Bar at Sausalito's Cavallo Point Resort is only the beginning of new culinary adventures on the grounds of old Fort Baker. The setting, with its stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco, is a shining example of using public lands and private enterprise to provide lodging, education, and a showcase of regional foods and wines...Murray Circle is a full-service restaurant under the guiding hand of award-winning chef Joseph Humphrey. He creates a menu of small plates under the headings of vegetables, seafood, meat and poultry, using the best of seasonal ingredients from nearby farms and ranches, with 2,000 wines on a stellar list (full bar service, too). Diners can anticipate dinner choices like black cod from Ft. Bragg with Monterey abalone, toasted seaweed and oyster emulsion or organic rabbit (Devil's Gulch Ranch) with wild Sonoma chanterelles, golden raisins and sherry. Because it's part of the larger conference center, Murray Circle offers breakfast and lunch on weekdays, with brunch on weekends. Dinner is served nightly. Humphrey was formerly chef at Meadowood Resort where he earned two Michelin stars for the Napa landmark. (Reservations: 415/339-4750)...Farley, the casual and relaxed bar, is named for the cartoon journalist and alter ego of Sausalito resident Phil Frank in his long-running comic strip well loved by objects of his satire. Framed favorites from the story line are part of the room's clubby décor. The bar menu has comfort foods like brisket and roasted mussels and burgers...For those who might want to stop for a restorative bite during a look at the grounds, there is The Tea Bar at the resort's Healing Arts Center & Spa...An important part of this mecca for fans of local cuisine is Cavallo Point's Culinary Arts Program for cooking classes, tastings and feasts. On board as instructors are many Bay Area luminaries (among them Traci des Jardins, Quince's Michael Tusk, Humphrey himself). Sessions begin in August. Check out all the details and get an online look at the whole development by visiting www.cavallopoint.com .

MEET ME IN LARKSPUR Many festivals are on the horizon and perhaps the most sentimental is Larkspur's Flower & Food Festival (June 1, 11am-6pm), part of this year's centennial celebration. The downtown (Magnolia at Ward) will be filled with summery displays of blossoms, arts and crafts exhibits, kids' activities and stations offering tastes from the community's famed restaurants along with beverages from local breweries and wineries. Cooking demos by some of the town's top chefs are always a highlight of this annual salute to flowers.

TO MARKET The farmers market scene in Marin continues to grow. Ross Valley Farmers Market will open June 19, with shopping hours 4-8 pm every Thursday. It will be held in the post office parking lot across from Ross Common...Talk is underway about the possibility of a market in Tam Valley on Tuesdays, but decisions are pending. This would be a great convenience for those in the Mill Valley area. Stay tuned.

PLAY IT LIKE IT IS Where were they when I needed them? These days, parents and caregivers of toddlers are blessed with dining places where they can sit down to relax while their children play within a safe distance. Easy Street Cafe in San Anselmo was the first to offer a kids' corner with books and toys, enough to keep little ones occupied while their grown-ups have a bite. The family-oriented spot is a neighborhood hangout for folks of all ages and dogs, too—outside where there is a large bowl of fresh drinking water (Red Hill Shopping Center, 415/453-1984)...More specifically tailored to tots is the new Playdate Café, also in San Anselmo (101 San Anselmo Ave., near the post office). It opened last month and is already a big draw for people whose little ones have a large colorful area for physical play. Activities are scheduled throughout the day (sing-alongs, stories, etc.) to keep them amused while adults can visit, read, use Wi-Fi. The menu is geared to healthful lunches and snacks for everyone, from panini and coffee drinks to grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with milk. A one-day pass for the cafe is $8.95; adults and "pre-crawlers" get in free, family passes and extended passes are available. Details: www.playdate .

DOWN IN THE VALLEYS Two big Sonoma events June 7-8 are worth checking out for in-depth experiences at many wineries normally closed to the public. The Russian River Passport Weekend with 40 open houses and Taste of the Valley, where 25 wineries will host visitors in Alexander Valley, provide chances to sip pre-release, premium and library wines while sampling foods from the area's chefs. There will be live entertainment, as well, at many stops. These are popular warm weather attractions and booking ahead is mandatory. Here's where to go: www.russianriverpassport.com and www.alexandervalley.org.

HOME ECONOMICS Always on the lookout for food and dining bargains, I came across some promising sources this week. Rick and Sun Hwa Kim have opened Grocery Outlet, a retail store in the Nave Shopping Center (1535 S. Novato Blvd., Novato; 415/898-1779), where brand-name products are sold at discount prices. It's part of a chain that specializes in excess inventory and consignment items. Stock varies, of course, but everything is fresh and sells at a lower cost to the customer...Two Marin restaurants offer weekly specials well worth investigating. Hamilton Cafe Restaurant & Wine Bar (502 S. Palm Drive, Novato; 415/382-0155) does a prime rib dinner on Sunday and Monday nights at $15.95 per person. In Ross, Marche aux Fleurs continues its Thursday Hamburger Night when $14.50 gets you a half-pound gourmet burger (bacon, Carmody cheese, all the trimmings). Best to call ahead and reserve (415/925-9200).