Devouring life, one bite at a time
Last weekend gave me the amazing opportunity to go salmon fishing on my buddy’s boat. That’s been a major one on my list! Here’s the lovely vessel, Overtime, fitting because its owner has spent 500 hours on her in the last year. He can load …
If you haven’t been seeing so much of me these days, it’s probably because I’ve been busy canning. That’s right, Chuck and I have a new obsession, and when we aren’t talking about it or doing it, we’re thinking about it. As a newcomer to …
We took a short hike at Pinnacle Gulch in Bodega Bay. I love this place if you have a dog and are short on time, but look out! Parking is super pricey, though I like to think it’s for a good cause.
Here I’m helping Mitch identify kelp from jellyfish.
We stopped to say hello to Hitchcock in my beloved Bodega, put on the map with the filming of The Birds.
Wine tasting! But not just yet …
The next day we went for a tour and tasting at Korbel.
Then when we couldn’t get enough champagne, we headed to Iron Horse for more. (With a little lunch break, of course.) This is a local’s favorite I hadn’t been to yet, and it has one of the most breathtaking views of vineyards framed by mountains.
Don’t worry, I also gave Mitch a taste of Dry Creek (Unti) and Alexander Valley (Hawkes) wines, not just Russian River.
On our last day, we met up with the colony of harbor seals at Goat Rock.
Aren’t they cute?
Look out, Mitch found a taffy shop! How is this the one candy I’ve yet to understand? Flavors like vanilla cake? Apple pie? Is taffy the new jelly bean?
All I cared about was that she send some home to her amazing taffy-loving husband, who cashed in some miles so she could have a spontaneous trip with her kooky bestie in California.
Just to letcha know, there will be lots of exciting photos this week, including jellyfish, hissing cockroaches, trees, national parks, baby ostriches, and real, live bear poop! Stay tuned.
My good friends know that I have trouble transitioning into summer drinks, given my passion for porters, stouts and whiskeys during the cooler months. Don’t get me wrong, I love a cosmo or a gin and tonic as much as a gal can, but finding …
The culinary highlight was individual picnic baskets, to cut down on dishes. (She thinks of everything!)
Also included were (French Laundry) lemon tarts, fresh fruit, asparagus flatbread, and smoked salmon tartar on cucumber.
Each basket contained: an abalone po’boy sandwich, personally foraged by Daisy’s husband, Trout; a mason jar filled with potato salad (the classy Alice Waters one, not the mayonnaisy kind); a homemade chocolate chip cookie and wrapped caramel; and my special caesar salad (recipe to be revealed soon).
Now that it’s summer, I recommend food that can be served cold. It’s way easier to assemble and you have a little more leeway in serving time. Get an assembly line going for something like sandwiches, and the sides should be one-dish wonders like pasta salad, cous cous, or greens. Make it easier on yourself and invite friends to bring something, or at the very least, wine and apps.
What kind of parties will you be throwing this summer?
Read my first and second post in this foraging frenzy to catch up! It’s time we took our bounty back to the kitchen to get some food in our bellies. On the menu- miner’s lettuce salad, sauteed fiddlehead ferns, local oyster po’ boy bruschetta, and …
What trip to the Midwest would be complete without sampling some local brew? Ever the organization pro that she is, Mitch scheduled a tour of Summit brewery for her husband and me while she put in a few hours of work in the morning. We …
I woke up in St. Paul yesterday after being in New York, but the midwest is no less dull. I’m visiting my cousins, which means lots of fun activities. Like going to the trampoline park! It was a first for me. And parents, take note. …
