Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport just landed something extraordinary. Flying Ace Kitchen & Taproom opened its doors June 4, transforming what travelers expect from airport food. This isn’t your typical grab-and-go terminal experience—it’s where Wine Country’s culinary soul meets the romance of flight.
Where Runways Meet Regional Flavor
The MINA Group collaboration brings serious culinary credentials to STS Airport. Executive Chef Laura Delgado, a CIA Greystone graduate, with stints at acclaimed Wine Country establishments, leads the kitchen with ingredient-driven philosophy that reads like a love letter to local terroir.
Her signature creations sing with regional identity. Flight Club Sliders rotate through a trio of mini burgers that change with the seasons. Korean fried chicken wings carry heat that builds like summer afternoons in Alexander Valley.
House-made “Jet Fuel” hot sauce adds fire born from local peppers, while the Taproom Pretzel arrives with Sonoma Valley cheese fondue that stretches golden as sunset through vineyard rows.
Beyond Terminal Food
Flying Ace’s aviation-themed design reads like visual poetry. Vintage propeller wall art spins stories of early flight, while a custom Snoopy mural honors Charles Schulz’s Flying Ace character—a nod both whimsical and profound to the airport’s namesake. The “departure board” displays rotating tap offerings instead of flight information, turning beer selection into destination planning.
This represents more than elevated airport food—it signals Wine Country’s evolution from agricultural region to culinary destination that extends its influence beyond traditional boundaries. When travelers can taste terroir at 30,000 feet of preparation, it reshapes how regions share their identity.
A New Flight Path for Regional Dining
Early reviews average 4.5 stars, with diners praising flavor quality and service that defies airport stereotypes. STS Airport Director Jon Stout says it “It’s one more way we’re bringing a taste of place to Sonoma County!”
Flying Ace represents a growing trend of premium dining at regional airports, joining ranks with acclaimed programs in Portland and Asheville. But unlike those cities, Sonoma County brings something unique: a century of agricultural heritage meeting modern culinary innovation, all served with views of planes ascending into California sky.
For Wine Country, it means travelers carry more than luggage when they depart—they carry taste memories of a place that understands food as culture, served in a setting where journey becomes destination.
