Check, Please! Bay Area Showcases Walnut Creek Bistro

WALNUT CREEK, CA — KQED's Check, Please! Bay Area returns for its 21st season on July 23, with an episode featuring a Walnut Creek bistro and wine bar.

Walnut Creek's Va de Viwill appear on the James Beard Award- and Emmy Award-winning series, which pairs local diners with host Leslie Sbrocco to discuss restaurants they recommend.

Va de Vi on Mt. Diablo Boulevard describes itself as a neighborhood restaurant serving internationally inspired small plates, an extensive wine selection, and a full bar.

Va de Vi was co-founded and is co-owned by John Walz and Dale Raaen. The pair left careers at an international consulting firm to open the restaurant in 2004, bringing a wine bar and small-plates concept to downtown Walnut Creek at a time when that style was still relatively uncommon in the East Bay, according to reports.

Executive Chef Marco Lera joined the restaurant in 2012, became sous chef in 2019, and now oversees operations.

Va de Vi invited diners to attend filming on April 10 for the episode, which airs Aug. 6. The episode also features:

• Afghan Awasana Kabob House in Fremont
• Hakashi Japanese Sushi Bar & Grill in San Francisco's SoMa neighborhood

Each restaurant is presented by local diners, who explain what sets the establishments apart before joining Sbrocco for a roundtable discussion.

The episode also includes a segment with reporter Cecilia Phillips at the San Leandro Cherry Festival, highlighting the city's long-running cherry tradition.

Wine Country Special

The new season includes four episodes airing Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. on KQED 9, beginning July 23.

The season premieres with a Wine Country-themed episode featuring restaurants in Sebastopol, Glen Ellen, and Napa.

The episode highlights Lunch Box in Sebastopol, The Mill at Glen Ellen, and Carabao in Napa.

According to KQED, Lunch Box is known for its sandwiches and burgers, while The Mill at Glen Ellen serves comfort food influenced by American, Mediterranean, and Malaysian cuisines. Carabao showcases Filipino-inspired dishes created by Chef Jade Cunningham.

The Wine Country episode also follows Phillips as she visits taco vendors across Napa Valley as part of the Napa Taco Trail.

Additional episodes will feature restaurants in Half Moon Bay, Milpitas, San Francisco, Fremont, El Sobrante, Alameda, and Napa.

Featured restaurants include:

• Cantina at San Benito House — Half Moon Bay
• Wah Jee Wah — Milpitas
• Buddy — San Francisco
• La Cheve — Napa
• Copper Mug — El Sobrante
• Bacogai — Alameda