Sip & Bite Cafe has been quietly operating in downtown San Rafael since May and will celebrate its grand opening on July 12.

Owned by Point Richmond husband-and-wife team Ruchir “Rich” Dave and Samantha Lal, it replaces Sweetly Cali, the dessert shop run by pastry chef Glenda Sagucio that closed earlier this year.

“Our concept is to serve high-quality offerings made with some of the best ingredients, things that Marin County values,” Dave said.

He prefers not to name specific suppliers, explaining that sourcing is central to how they differentiate themselves in San Rafael’s crowded cafe market.

Coffees and espresso drinks are made with fair trade, Italian-style oak-roasted beans from Berkeley.

“The heat produced by the wood has higher moisture content and roasts the beans more slowly, resulting in coffee with lower acidity, fuller flavor and a smoother finish,” Dave said.

The current pastry list includes chocolate and twice-baked almond croissants, cinnamon morning buns, peach scones and both chocolate and hazelnut kouign-amann. Valrhona chocolate chip cookies with French butter are baked in-house.

The menu also features four fruit smoothies made with ingredients like almond milk, oat milk, coconut water, fresh fruit, nut butters and collagen protein, all finished with blue agave.

A rotating selection of gelato and seasonal sorbet from Berkeley’s Almare Gelato is served in cups or cones. Flavors include pistachio; matcha; black sesame; ube; toasted almond caramelized fig; Oreo; stracciatella; dark chocolate; vanilla; mango; and strawberry.

Little has changed since the previous owner remodeled the space in early 2023 after taking over from Rocket Roll sushi. Blush-pink walls, gold-accented tile and a faux flower wall behind the gelato case are focal points in the compact interior. Seating is available at a couple of small tables inside and on the sidewalk.

Originally from India, Dave moved to the United States for college in Massachusetts and later built his career in finance. Lal, who works in health care operations, grew up in Chicago. They share a love of travel and food, and, before launching their own venture, often drew inspiration from local cafes and restaurants in places like Switzerland, France, Italy and Australia.

“While traveling around the world, my wife and I always appreciated places that served really high-quality food with authentic taste,” Dave said. “We would often meet with the business owners or staff and show our appreciation for their art and hard work.”

Sip & Bite Cafe is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays and 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays at 1109 Fourth St. in San Rafael. For more information, visit @sipbitecafe on Instagram or call 415-870-0655.

Harvest time

This season’s heirloom wheat is ready for gathering, and Larkspur-based Honoré Farm and Mill invites the community to roll up their sleeves for its 11th annual Community Harvest from 8:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. July 26 at Tara Firma Farms in Petaluma.

The hands-on event teaches participants how to reap, thresh and winnow wheat, using traditional tools including hand-held sickles, with live bluegrass music by the Wronglers providing the soundtrack.

Gather afterwards for lunch prepared by chef Ryan Luttrell and his team from the Culinary Institute of America, featuring fresh local produce, Honoré’s signature Hourani sourdough bread and handcrafted Hourani wheat beer.

This year’s keynote speaker is Heidi Kühn, founder of Roots of Peace and recipient of the 2023 World Food Prize. A fifth-generation descendant of Petaluma wheat pioneer Capt. John A. McNear, Kühn will speak about her organization’s mission to turn minefields into farmland and the connection between agriculture, peace and healing.

Tara Firma Farms is at 3796 I St. in Petaluma. Tickets for the family-friendly fundraiser, which supports Honoré’s grain-growing and education programs, are offered on a sliding scale from $75 to $125 and include the harvest, lunch and program. Discounts are available for those ages 18 and younger and for Harvest Day Helpers.

Find the ticket link, learn more about Larkspur resident Elizabeth DeRuff’s nonprofit, sign up for workshops, view recipes and purchase Honoré flours, sourdough starter, shortbread cookies and merchandise at honoremill.org. Or find products at the Marin Country Mart’s farmers market in Larkspur, held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

Honoré’s Harvest Raffle includes prizes such as a cooking class at the Culinary Institute of America’s Copia campus, Patagonia gear, a two-day e-bike rental from the New Wheel and an olive oil tasting experience. Tickets start at $20 for one, with discounts for multiple entries. A full list of prizes and the entry form, which must be submitted by mail with payment by July 18, can be found at honoremill.org/raffle.

Leanne Battelle is a freelance food writer and restaurant columnist. Email her at ij.lbattelle@gmail.com with comments and find more local food news at therealdealmarin.com.