The new Sante sophistication

In January, Santé closed, as the flagship restaurant at The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa underwent extensive renovation.

But now, the shiny new space has reopened, and diners are enjoying a fresh new look for the space, which now sports a modern minimalist style with contemporary furniture and lots of local art, plus a brand new, 56-seat Santé Terrace for al fresco meals.

The work isn’t done yet, however – the adjacent lobby bar is getting its own nips and tucks and will reopen in July.

Happily, though, executive chef Bruno Tison and chef de cuisine Andrew Cain haven’t relaxed their high-end cooking style. They’ve added some new dishes in honor of the season, yet it’s still a destination experience, including the signature four-course tasting menu with wine pairings.

Chef Tison

Celebrating spring are dishes such as Salade de Printemps of fava leaves, Easter egg radish, fiddle head ferns, asparagus, mâche lettuce, pickled pearl onions and pecorino con foglie di noce; seared diver scallop and crispy veal sweetbreads with spring nettles, black trumpet mushroom mousseline and garlic soubise; and sweet butter-poached Maine lobster with globe artichokes, sweet carrots, grilled spring onion compote, pickled pearl onions and barigoule vinaigrette.

For a rich immersion into the new experience, guests can visit for Mother’s Day this Sunday, when Santé will offer a sumptuous buffet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The $89 per person feast ($39 for children 5-12 years, complimentary for children 4 and under) spans two entire pages of menu items.

Chef Cain

Starters include housemade Grimaud duck and Mary’s chicken terrine wrapped in Hobbs applewood smoked bacon; organic rabbit rillettes; and salad Niçoise. Entrees feature omelets stuffed with poached shrimp, Dungeness crab, American caviar and smoked salmon; handcarved Niman Ranch prime rib of beef; and organic English pea and ricotta ravioli in black truffle cream sauce.

Desserts span more than two dozen choices, such as yuzu crème brûlée, and profiteroles with Tahitian vanilla bean cream.

Santé, 100 Boyes Blvd. (at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa), Sonoma, 707-939-2415, fairmont.com.

Tip: Spruce up your Santé evening even more, with door-to-door service in a Pure Luxury Transportation limo or Town Car.

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