On the corner of Center and North streets in downtown Healdsburg, a generational foodie fairy tale is happening every night from 5 to 10 p.m. The story begins in the 1940s with Grandpa Valette, a French-born baker who landed in the Alexander Valley at this very corner (minus the stop signs and cars on the road) to open a bakery. Eventually the bakery closed and the space was home to restaurants such as the now-defunct Zin. Finally, in 2014 Valette’s two grandsons returned to the corner and are now running one of the most popular restaurants in the area, Valette. In a town already boasting award-winning culinary experiences, Dustin Valette and Aaron Garzini have used their longtime roots in the community to their advantage. Aaron runs the front of the house and Dustin, a veteran chef, runs the kitchen. The undecided and adventurous won’t want to miss the “Trust Me” tasting menu offering dishes like Dustin’s signature scallops en croute (a wow-inducing puff pastry) along with whatever he finds at the farmers’ market. $15 per course, four-course minimum. valettehealdsburg.com
Hot Spot: Healdsburg’s Valette
