Check, Please! Bay Area Returns in July With a Wine Country Special

Ready for some summer dining inspiration? The James Beard and Emmy Award-winning series Check, Please! Bay Area continues its 21st season and heads north on July 23 for a Wine Country episode that travels from Sebastopol to Glen Ellen to Napa, with stops for stacked burgers, Sonoma comfort food and bold Filipino flavors. The season continues with a flavor-packed lineup from traditional Afghan plates in Fremont, to thoughtful small plates paired with natural wine in San Francisco, to fall-off-the-bone, slow-cooked oxtail in Alameda.

Local diners bring their personal favorites to the table, joining host Leslie Sbrocco to compare notes, make their case and dig into what makes each restaurant worth a visit. Plus, reporter Cecilia Phillips follows the Napa Taco Trail for a tortilla-wrapped tour of the valley, then heads to the San Leandro Cherry Festival to celebrate more than a century of cherry-loving traditions, complete with a pie eating contest.

Don’t miss four brand-new episodes, Thursdays at 7:30 PM on KQED 9, starting July 23.

Want to be one of the first to watch our special Wine Country episode? Join us and host Leslie Sbrocco for a screening followed by a conversation with some of the featured restaurants along with bites and expertly curated wines at the Culinary Institute of America at Copia in Napa.

Here’s what’s on our summer menu:

July 23

• In Sebastopol, Lunch Box serves over-the-top sandwiches and stacked burgers built for big Sonoma County appetites.
• At The Mill at Glen Ellen, scenic Wine Country charm meets comfort food with American, Mediterranean and Malaysian influences.
• At Carabao in Napa, chef Jade Cunningham brings bold Filipino flavors and fine dining technique to Wine Country.
• Cecilia Phillips follows the Napa Taco Trail for a taste of the valley’s tortilla-wrapped treasures.

July 30

• In Half Moon Bay, Cantina at San Benito House serves classic Mexican fare inside one of the town’s oldest buildings.
• At Wah Jee Wah in Milpitas, smoky Indian skewers and chaat favorites bring big open-flame flavor to the table.
• In San Francisco’s Mission District, Buddy pairs a relaxed neighborhood-bar vibe with thoughtful small plates and natural wines.

August 6

• In Fremont’s Little Kabul neighborhood, Afghan Awasana Kabob House serves generous portions of grilled meats and traditional Afghan plates.
• At Hakashi Japanese Sushi Bar & Grill in San Francisco’s SoMa district, guests settle in for chef-guided omakase and creative sushi.
• In Walnut Creek, Va de Vi brings global inspiration to an eclectic small-plates menu.
• Cecilia Phillips celebrates cherry-loving traditions at the San Leandro Cherry Festival, complete with a pie-eating contest.

August 13

• In Napa, La Cheve serves big brunches, craft beers and Mexican pastries with a creative twist.
• At Copper Mug in El Sobrante, Indian, Nepalese and American bar bites come together in a lively neighborhood setting.
• In Alameda, Bacogai turns Vietnamese hot pot into a celebration of friendship, comfort and slow-cooked flavor.

Have a restaurant you think deserves the spotlight? Nominate your favorite spots and apply to be a guest at kqed.org/checkplease/apply.