Celebrities praise Nevada County restaurants

WHEN HE WAS GOVERNOR THE FIRST time, Jerry Brown and singer Linda Ronstadt would eat at The Willo Steakhouse, a Nevada County institution on historic Hwy. 49. The Willo has served more than 1 million choice New York steaks, carefully aged and cut daily.

Comedian Andy Samberg also is a regular diner in our region. Andy married singer-songwriter and harpist Joanna Newsom of Nevada City last year. The Hollywood newlyweds celebrated Thanksgiving in the Gold Rush-era town, Joanna recently told us.

One of their favorite restaurants is Nevada City’s New Moon Café, with a menu that rivals any big-city dining experience. Joanna recently praised New Moon in an interview in The New York Times. “It’s delicious food,” she said. “It’s got farm-to-table, local, organic, influenced by all sorts of different cuisine.”

Nevada County’s casual dining restaurants also draw the stars. In Truckee, Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives on the Food Network featured Burger Me! and JAX at the Tracks.

During a recent visit to Lake Tahoe for a show, Daniel Tosh, who hosts Comedy Central’s Tosh.O, enjoyed breakfast at the Squeeze In in Truckee.

In 2010 the Squeeze In was featured on Throwdown with Bobby Flay on the Food Network. The family owned restaurant was honored when celebrity chef Flay visited their restaurant and said they were “the nicest competitor in the history of Throwdown.”

To highlight its dining, Nevada County is hosting its first restaurant week January 23- February 1. Nevada County Tourism and GoNevadaCounty.com, the county’s official tourism website, in partnership with the Grass Valley Downtown Association, Greater Grass Valley Chamber, Nevada City Chamber, Penn Valley Area Chamber, South Nevada County Chamber, Truckee Donner Chamber and Sierra FoodWineArt magazine.

The event is being held in conjunction with Visit California’s statewide California Restaurant Month. During Nevada County Restaurant Week, restaurants located throughout the county will be offering deals, specials and prix-fixe menus enticing locals as well as visitors to come and experience a new restaurant or a favorite. For more information, visit GoNevadaCounty.com.

(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)