Adventure!
Nov. 8th, 2008 08:14 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
learnteachI am one lucky dude.
I mean, friend of a friend (who is friendly with me, but we don't know each other all that well) has come to California to go wine touring in Napa, and we've gone along. I brought Mom's Van (tm), which fits 7 (everyone) in style, so we can all pile in the car.
YESTERDAY, we motored up (after a latish start.) I was cranky, as I have been since Tuesday, because of (possibly) the free form nature of things and the pain in my knee. Once we got here, the nature of things resolved itself (have very nice conversations, drink wine, tool around Napa). We had lunch at Taylor's, which did a great white bean and sausage soup, but the chili dusted yam fries were a bit limp. Coffee good. (Pretty much at any point you can apply the "Coffee good") comment. Before bed I took some anti-inflammitories, and that really helped with the knee.
Then we hit Phelps, which I had never been at before. One of the group is a member of the wine club there, so the tasting was free. The winery is in a valley in the eastern foothills, and so in the afternoon blanketed in a warm lovely light, looking down over its fields of vines and olive trees. One of the greeters was a man who had been in the "War of the Worlds" broadcast.
After that, we skeddadled back to the hotel, where we tubbed for a bit, then wandered up to CIA for dinner. I love the building, but it's a bit noisy. Meant to be exciting. I had an "unPEARable" cocktail (alcohol free) which was refreshing initially but didn't stand up to the flavors of the later dishes, and JW! (J! is taken, so she's JW!) had a pumpkin cocktail that was exquisite--brandy, pumpkin liquoer, something for bubbles (ginger ale?) garnished with star anise.
We all shared the Trifles, a course of little amusements, which included a small cup of mushroom soup, a shrimp pate', a pork terrine with mustard and a tiny slice of gherkin (well, the french equivalent pickle--the cornichon), and several other bites, but all pretty much a prepared meat on a carb base with a sauce, excepted for the...deep fried something with bell pepper aoili, hmm, meat surrounded by carb with a sauce.)
Soup for me was the ginger pumpkin, which was absolutely excellent and delicious, and I had the chickpeas, done in a relatively subtle Indian style. What was I thinking? I have access to great Indian food...shoulda had the chicken or the steak, or the California redfish, all of which were very good. It wasn't that the cauliflower/chickpea in mild yellow curry with popped spices and cilantro were bad, it just wasn't a signiture dish if you eat Indian food locally.
Dessert was (good cup of coffee) and a port wine ice cream that we shared all the way around, yum!
So, the plan for today is a swim/calesthentics/soak knee in hot tub, breakfast, Frog's Leap, Prager's Ports...and whatever else. Perhaps a mudbath in Calistoga; perhaps searching for the Chapel of the Barrel. Perhaps just enjoying the beauty of the vineyards and scenery, which are amazingly nice. Is this really November? Anywhere but California, perhaps!
Today the weather forecast said rain, but the sky is clear. Being inside for port is great in the rain...being outside in an organic garden...heck, why am I not in Napa more? Especially with (thanks to Daibhhiedbheg) a big van!
Onward!
I mean, friend of a friend (who is friendly with me, but we don't know each other all that well) has come to California to go wine touring in Napa, and we've gone along. I brought Mom's Van (tm), which fits 7 (everyone) in style, so we can all pile in the car.
YESTERDAY, we motored up (after a latish start.) I was cranky, as I have been since Tuesday, because of (possibly) the free form nature of things and the pain in my knee. Once we got here, the nature of things resolved itself (have very nice conversations, drink wine, tool around Napa). We had lunch at Taylor's, which did a great white bean and sausage soup, but the chili dusted yam fries were a bit limp. Coffee good. (Pretty much at any point you can apply the "Coffee good") comment. Before bed I took some anti-inflammitories, and that really helped with the knee.
Then we hit Phelps, which I had never been at before. One of the group is a member of the wine club there, so the tasting was free. The winery is in a valley in the eastern foothills, and so in the afternoon blanketed in a warm lovely light, looking down over its fields of vines and olive trees. One of the greeters was a man who had been in the "War of the Worlds" broadcast.
After that, we skeddadled back to the hotel, where we tubbed for a bit, then wandered up to CIA for dinner. I love the building, but it's a bit noisy. Meant to be exciting. I had an "unPEARable" cocktail (alcohol free) which was refreshing initially but didn't stand up to the flavors of the later dishes, and JW! (J! is taken, so she's JW!) had a pumpkin cocktail that was exquisite--brandy, pumpkin liquoer, something for bubbles (ginger ale?) garnished with star anise.
We all shared the Trifles, a course of little amusements, which included a small cup of mushroom soup, a shrimp pate', a pork terrine with mustard and a tiny slice of gherkin (well, the french equivalent pickle--the cornichon), and several other bites, but all pretty much a prepared meat on a carb base with a sauce, excepted for the...deep fried something with bell pepper aoili, hmm, meat surrounded by carb with a sauce.)
Soup for me was the ginger pumpkin, which was absolutely excellent and delicious, and I had the chickpeas, done in a relatively subtle Indian style. What was I thinking? I have access to great Indian food...shoulda had the chicken or the steak, or the California redfish, all of which were very good. It wasn't that the cauliflower/chickpea in mild yellow curry with popped spices and cilantro were bad, it just wasn't a signiture dish if you eat Indian food locally.
Dessert was (good cup of coffee) and a port wine ice cream that we shared all the way around, yum!
So, the plan for today is a swim/calesthentics/soak knee in hot tub, breakfast, Frog's Leap, Prager's Ports...and whatever else. Perhaps a mudbath in Calistoga; perhaps searching for the Chapel of the Barrel. Perhaps just enjoying the beauty of the vineyards and scenery, which are amazingly nice. Is this really November? Anywhere but California, perhaps!
Today the weather forecast said rain, but the sky is clear. Being inside for port is great in the rain...being outside in an organic garden...heck, why am I not in Napa more? Especially with (thanks to Daibhhiedbheg) a big van!
Onward!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
Huzzah for you!
Date: 2008-11-08 02:41 pm (UTC)How great for you!
no subject
Date: 2008-11-08 04:05 pm (UTC)Today I am off to work at Marilyn Remark Winery for The Monterey Wine Escape Weekend.
no subject
Date: 2008-11-08 05:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-08 09:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-09 07:29 pm (UTC)Yesterday there were at least two moments when I thought, "I wish John T. was here" at Bardic. Just thought I'd let you know you were missed.
no subject
Date: 2008-11-10 10:05 pm (UTC)Glad you're having a good time!