Sondra Bernstein

Executive Chef/Owner - The Girl & The Fig

The short story … D.C. born, Philadelphia bred, BFA from Philadelphia College of Art (photography), TGI Friday’s Trainer & Team Leader for their national restaurant openings, graduate of The Restaurant School (culinary & restaurant management), Operations Manager for several restaurants in Philadelphia (The Fish Market & Marabella’s) and Los Angeles (Alice’s Restaurant & Tavern on Main), and Director of Operations for Viansa Winery in Sonoma County.

Currently, Sondra is the Proprietor of the nationally acclaimed restaurant the girl & the fig in Sonoma, the fig café & winebar in Glen Ellen as well as the newly opened ESTATE (Regional Italian Cooking & Festive Drinking) restaurant in Sonoma. Her creative restaurants are her children, each one at a different age, with their own unique personality.  Sondra’s cookbook, published by Simon & Schuster in 2004 is in its third printing and her product line, “WINE COUNTRY FIG FOOD” can be found throughout the country.

The long story … Sondra has spent over twenty five years dedicated to the hospitality business.  With a passion for food and wine, the trip from Philadelphia to Sonoma County was inevitable.  Having restaurants in Sonoma County is a tribute to the efforts of the farmers, ranchers, cheese-makers and, of course, grape growers & vintners in this bountiful landscape.

Sondra has participated in many food & wine events including the Sonoma Valley Wine Auction, Rhone Descouvertes, March of Dimes Star Chefs, Hospice du Rhone, Rhone Rangers, Napa Valley Wine Auctions, Winemaker Dinners throughout Sonoma & Napa Valley, Worlds of Flavor Conference, The World Wine Market, Aspen Food & Wine Classic, The Fancy Food Show, The Olive Festival, Sonoma Valley Film Festival, the Sonoma County Showcase and many more.