John Ash, the ‘Father of Wine Country Cuisine,’ Dies at 83

John Ash, ‘father of wine country cuisine,’ dies at 83

John Ash, the celebrated chef and founder of John Ash & Co. restaurant, died Aug. 7. He was 83. Ash had been suffering from a heart condition and died last week following a brief illness, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported. Ash’s namesake Santa Rosa restaurant originally opened at Montgomery Village in 1980. His innovative use of local-sourced ingredients to pair with regional wines was a culinary game changer for California menus, and he be…

John Ash, the ‘father of Wine Country cuisine,’ dies at 83

By Heather Irwin, Kerry Benefield and Jennifer Graue Sonoma County chef John Ash, considered the father of Wine Country cuisine and founder of the restaurant John Ash & Co., has died. He was 83. Two of his children, Tyler Ash and Emily Ash Lamb, confirmed the news in a phone call Friday night. Ash died Thursday of a heart condition and after a brief illness, they said. Ash opened his eponymous restaurant in 1980 in Santa Rosa’s Montgomery Villag…