“15 Sonoma County Restaurants for International Takeout”
Published April 2020 by Heather Irwin for BiteClub/Sonoma Magazine
“Walter Hansel Wine Bistro, Santa Rosa: Slightly abbreviated menu includes Chicken Cordon Bleu, rich boeuf Bourguignon, steak au poivre and Valrhona chocolate mousse. Curbside pickup and delivery within five miles of the restaurant. Menu online at walterhanselwinebistro.com; phone orders only, 707-546-6462.”
“Where to eat in Sonoma County: Our Guide to The Best Restaurants”
Published March 2016 by Heather Irwin for Sonoma Magazine
“The menu is Wine Country French featuring de Gaulle-era classics such as Coquilles St. Jacques (scallops with a white-wine truffle cream sauce, naughtier than a night at the Moulin Rouge); Julia Child-worthy boeuf Bourguignon, lobster bisque en croute, and a proper tarte tatin (apples in a flaky crust) with homemade caramel. Prices are steep, but the large wine selection (including many Walter Hansel wines) is impressive. Service is spot-on at this restaurant. It’s perfect for a romantic splurge.”
“Three worldy Sonoma County restaurants to try”
Published January 2016 by Heather Irwin for the Press Democrat
“Boeuf Bourguignon is the most familiar dish you’ve never tried. This traditional French stew of slow-braised beef, red wine, pearl onions, bacon and herbs (among half a dozen other ingredients) hails from the Burgundy region but got a popularity boost by Julia Child. Light years beyond your typical beef stew, this simple-yet-complicated recipe can take more than a day to prepare, but with so-worth-it results.
New to the menu at Walter Hansel Wine Bistro, this winter staple gets a California twist with bits of fried kale and fresh mache atop traditional chunks of tender beef and a velvety reduction of red wine, beef stock, caramelized vegetables and angel kisses ($29). The latter is unconfirmed, but I dare you to challenge it.
Also on the revamped bistro menu are De Gaulle-era classics like Coquille St. Jacques (scallops with a white wine truffle cream sauce naughtier than a night at the Moulin Rouge, $29); lobster bisque en croute with brandy and tarragon ($14), and a proper tarte tatin (apples in a flaky crust) with decadent caramel ($7.50). Prices are steep, but the large wine selection (including many of the Walter Hansel wines) is impressive and service is spot-on. Ideal for a romantic splurge…”
“I was struck by an old-fashioned sense of warmth and hospitality…”
Published February 2016 by Antonio Galloni, Vinous
“During my January trip I also enjoyed a delicious meal at the Walter Hansel Wine & Bistro, a California version of a classic French bistro. The food was delicious, but more than the cooking I was struck by an old-fashioned sense of warmth and hospitality that I have not seen in a restaurant in a very long time. Everything about Walter Hansel Winery speaks to class.”