For a long time, casinos were associated with stiff drinks around smoky gaming tables. Not anymore. Especially when the casino is in Sonoma County.

The Graton Resort & Casino has recently unveiled a 144,000-square-foot expansion that’s smoke-free and bursting with new dining, entertainment, and gaming areas.

The crown jewel is AYA, a new rooftop restaurant that takes up 27,000 of those square feet, with a dedicated exterior entrance to allow guests to come up to the rooftop without entering the gaming area. It also features two outdoor terraces, one for nightly dining, as well as another for private events. The restaurant looks east toward Sonoma Mountain with impressive views.

Husband-and-wife culinary team Chef Roy Ellamar and Jennifer Murphy-Ellamar are running the show, coming from such esteemed kitchens as Michelin-starred L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon in Las Vegas, Harvest by Roy Ellamar at Bellagio, and Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen, as well as the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago.

After spending two years fine-tuning the menu, the Ellamars are working closely with regional farmers, anglers, and producers to source ingredients, as well as maintaining the resort’s own 40-acre farm on Stony Point Road, which has recently added fruit trees. The chefs also work with William Henpenn of Umbel Roots Farm in Petaluma, himself a Michelin-starred chef.

The cuisine is inspired by Roy’s Filipino-Hawaiian roots but largely sourcing local, seasonal Sonoma County ingredients. That takes the form of such wonderful dishes as his Fireplace Short Rib, smoked 12 hours, a Waygu flight, and local superstar, Liberty Farms Duck.

The Butter Mochi Banana Bread, borrowing from his mother’s recipe, is topped with Strauss Creamery butter mochi and banana ice cream, while the Halo Halo Sundae is a Filipino inspiration with shaved ice milk, tapioca pearls, candied fruits, roasted banana ice cream, and ube jam.

The wine program offers substantial depth, with a large selection of Sonoma County wines, from Aperture to Kosta Browne, Occidental, Anthill Farms and Radio Coteau, among many others available by the bottle, by the glass, or Coravin.

Advanced Sommelier Francisco James Hernandez is Wine Director, coming from Jean-Georges in Beverly Hills as well as San Francisco’s Spruce. He says his vision is to build a wine list that honors local winemakers and sustainable vineyards, highlighting boutique producers as well as iconic labels. In addition to AYA he will oversee the wines for 630 Park Steakhouse, Sky Lounge, and

G Bar, and is hoping to soon introduce monthly winemaker dinners on-site.

As if that weren’t enough to underscore how important wine is to the restaurant, a glass wine tunnel full of rare and collectible wines leads the way into the dining space.

Ellamar will be among the featured chefs at a new resort event called Savor Sonoma, a weekend of great food and wine that will include Sonoma County chefs Dustin Valette and Charlie Palmer but also internationally renowned names such as Marcus Samuelsson, Aaron Sanchez, and the Voltaggio brothers. It takes place August 21-22 and will benefit the Aaron Sanchez Impact Fund for Latino Youth.

Photo By: Graton Resort & Casino