Great Seafood Starts with a Great School!

Known for “the best steaks north of San Francisco,” Stark’s Steakhouse near Santa Rosa’s historic Railroad Square is unveiling its new raw bar and adding a number of sustainable seafood items to its meat-centric menu. The public will have a chance to preview the new developments at a benefit for the Santa Rosa Junior College Culinary Arts Program on Monday, October 17.

Proceeds of the event will benefit the B. Robert Burdo Endowment Fund, which provides a permanent source of funding programs to support and prepare students for entry into the professional food industry. Culinary Arts is one of SRJC’s leading Career and Technical Education programs training students for careers in a region famous for outstanding food, wine and hospitality.

Culinary education is a subject near and dear to the hearts of Mark and Terri Stark, owners of Stark’s Steakhouse and three other restaurants in Sonoma County. “So many of our staff come through the Culinary Arts Program at the JC. It’s only natural that we would support this valuable program,” says Terri.

In addition to the extensive raw bar at Stark’s Steakhouse, new sustainable seafood items will include a number of fish dishes served a la plancha. “We’ve always had a really good selection of fresh seafood at the Steakhouse, but the new raw bar and plancha fish dishes, brought to the table on sizzling iron platters, add a whole new dimension,” says Mark. All finfish served at the four Stark Reality Restaurants (Stark’s Steakhouse, Willi’s Wine Bar, Willi’s Seafood and Monti’s Rotisserie), is Safe Harbor® certified.

The menu for the benefit will include familiar favorites such as Barbecued Oysters and Flash Fried Calamari as well as new dishes like Sea Scallops and Tamarind Shrimp a la plancha, a “Toast Station” (popular at Stark & Co Catering events), along with desserts, a selection of beer and wines and two specialty cocktails created in honor of the event.

Event Details: Monday October 17 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM Stark’s Steakhouse 521 Adams St. @West 7th Santa Rosa $65 starks.eventbrite.com Event Hotline: 707.526.3798

About Stark Reality Restaurants

Founded by Mark and Terri Stark, Stark Reality Restaurants’ popular establishments include: Willi’s Wine Bar, Monti’s Rotisserie & Bar and Stark’s Steakhouse in Santa Rosa, and Willi’s Seafood & Raw Bar in Healdsburg, California. Stark Reality Restaurants are the first in Sonoma County to offer finfish that have been Safe Harbor® Certified. www.starkrestaurants.com.