A Proustian Travel Guide: Chef Mary Dumont

What are you most proud of? My marriage.  My wife is the best thing about me.

What is your most cherished possession?  I have a little picture of my late mother.  She's on a cruise ship facing the ocean and looks deep in thought.  I've always wondered what she was thinking. Whatever it was it was it just looks like a special moment alone with her thoughts and that's pretty cool to me.  '

When traveling, what do you never leave home without?  Extra battery charge for my phone so I will never not have a camera ready

Describe the perfect weekend. A perfect weekend would be a couple of days along the Sonoma Coast poking along the back roads, eating outside and sipping wine along the way.

What is your favorite part of Sonoma? Downtown Healdsburg is as close to perfect as possible.  It has everything you need within walking distance with farmer's markets, restaurants, wine tasting rooms, spas, outdoor trails to take a walk, and live music outside every night.  

Tell us about your favorite restaurant, café or bar. In Healdsburg, there a place called The Shed.  It has a Michelin star cafe, little bookshop, cheese shop, bar, and produce shop.  It's all in one and open all day long.  I've had incredible meals there from waffles to dinner to just a glass of Rose outside.  It's everything.

Alive, dead or fictional – who is your favorite local? My favorite Sonoma local is cookbook author, Paula Wolfert.  We became friends years ago and she's just a brilliant writer and a very funny friend.