Chef Mina Serves Thoughts on Novato; Coffee Roasters on South Novato Boulevard

Novato resident Michael Mina, one of the top chefs in America, is not only a Bay Area celebrity but also owns 18 restaurants from San Francisco to Las Vegas to Washington D.C. to Miami. This year he opened both Bourbon Steak and Michael Mina restaurants in San Francisco.

He is also a family man very much involved with his two sons' sports activities. His older son, Sammy, plays center for the Novato Yellow Jackets football team, which just won a national championship last week in its age group. Mina's younger son, Anthony, plays for the Novato Mighty Bees.

Mina's wife, Diane, is one of the coaches for the Bees and also coordinated the Yellow Jackets' victorious trip to Orlando, Fla.

We heard that in the past Mina and his wife took a look at the former Capra's restaurant on Redwood Boulevard when it was for sale. It is now Chianti Cucina.

We had to ask: How about opening something in Novato to bring some Mina caché to our town?

"No, not at this time," he explained. "If I did it would be a family-style restaurant, Italian, that Diane would run."

He says that the reason they were interested in the Capra space a few years ago was because of the land that was adjacent to it.

"We wanted to do a big garden, because of everything you can grow here (and to supply the restaurant)," he said. 

Whiffs of java

Folks driving down South Novato Boulevard will have the engaging scent of coffee roasting when Tim Mock gets things fired up at his  company after New Year's Day.

In 2004, he partnered with Sal Bonavita and Arnold Spinelli to open Coppa de Oro in Mill Valley, in Nicasio and a drive-through next to the Tresch Triangle Center at Center Road and South Novato Boulevard.

Mock sold his interest in Coppa in 2007 and bought Marin Coffee Roasters. The Coppa location on South Novato Boulevard was converted to an outpost of Marin Coffee Roasters. He has a popular location in San Anselmo, too.

So, up to 500 pounds a day will get toasted in Novato starting in January and both locations will continue to serve coffee drinks to the caffeine-obsessed.

"I like this location better as compared to San Anselmo or Nicasio. It's busier," Mock said.

His plans include getting his coffees into more Novato eateries.

Bargain of the Week

At Sam's Place in the Nave Center Shopping Center, diners can have a hearty breakfast for just $4.99 between the hours of 7-11 a.m. They can choose three items from this list and add one more item for just 99 cents:

— Country potatoes or hash browns

— Diced ham and scrambled eggs

— 2 strips of bacon

— 2 link sausages

— Toast or English muffin

— 2 pancakes

— One biscuit and gravy

— half waffle

— 2 eggs any style

On a recent cold and foggy morning, this writer enjoyed two eggs over easy, two strips of bacon and a biscuit with gravy. The eggs were perfectly cooked, the bacon crisp and best of all, the biscuit was light and fluffy, napped with a black pepper-flecked cream sauce. 

In fact, the biscuit was so good, I had another, served with soft butter, not foil wrapped packets like most diners.

Sam Jarjoura, the owner, was cooking breakfast. Locals might know him from Points South, formerly Sam's Road House, at 271 Alameda Del Prado (382-6196; open daily breakfast, lunch and dinner).

Several people opted for the breakfast special while I was at Sam's Place. Yvette, the speedy and friendly waitress, also mentioned that there are lunch and dinner specials every day. I'll be back to check those out.

Sam's Place

1545 South Novato Blvd.

Novato, CA 94947-4142

209-6668; open daily breakfast, lunch and dinner