40 Years on the Roadside: The Story of Greg Brummett & Samnzar Smoke Shack
If you’re driving west on Highway 12 toward the coast, your day probably includes redwoods, ocean air, and the promise of fresh seafood. But before you reach the beach, there’s one legendary stop that belongs on your list.
Just outside Sebastopol, Samnzar Smoke Shack has quietly become part of the Sonoma County story. This small roadside trailer may not look like much, but the fish inside tells a tale of flavor, patience, and one unforgettable personality: Greg Brummett.
40+ Years of Smoking, Talking, and Reading
Greg has been crafting small-batch, applewood smoked salmon for over 40 years. He’s not in it for the money—he’s in it for the people. You’ll usually find him in his squat green trailer with a good book, a vintage chair, and his shelter dog, Nudge. Sometimes he’s reading Céline. Sometimes Henry Miller. Always with a story to share.
When asked why he still does it, Greg says it’s simple: “You gotta do something.”
Signature Salmon with a Side of Character
Every Friday, Greg prepares wild-caught Pacific salmon (when available), dry-brined in a custom 13-spice blend and smoked over aged applewood from a century-old Sonoma orchard. The result is hot smoked salmon that’s rich, salty-sweet, and packed with flavor.
Customer favorites include the smoked salmon jerky ends, Steelhead trout, and roadside snack packs that are vacuum sealed for freshness. And yes—Greg still accepts IOUs.
Where Stories and Salmon Intersect
What makes Samnzar unforgettable isn’t just the fish. It’s the human connection. Greg used to work the express lane at a local grocery store. He says it taught him to love quick stories and warm exchanges. That’s what he recreates every weekend with his customers.
He’s smoked fish through rainstorms, read novels between sales, and offered beach trail tips to out-of-towners. Every visit is a little slice of old Sonoma—simple, slow, and deeply satisfying.
Why Samnzar Smoke Shack Still Matters
- Hot smoked and dry-brined fish made in small batches
- Wild-caught (when in season), vacuum-sealed and travel-ready
- Located on Bodega Highway across from Greg’s home in Sebastopol
- Open Saturdays & Sundays, 9 AM to 4 PM
- Rooted in West County tradition since the early 1980s
“Greg Brummett is as much a fixture of West County as apple orchards and Pinot vineyards.”
Come Visit This Weekend
Samnzar Smoke Shack is open weekends only at 9100 Bodega Highway, just outside Sebastopol. No shipping. No delivery. Just real smoked fish, real people, and stories that stick with you.
