Chocolicious

The other day I got home to a surprise package with a note from the cousin:

Hooray for treats! I guess living in the land of Ghirardelli, I tend to forget that there are other fancy chocolatiers out there. From the mini book/map in my box o chocolates:

Jacques Torres Chocolate products are hand crafted with premium ingredients selected by Master Pastry Chef Jacques Torress himself. Every ingredient that goes into a Jacques Torres confection is made from scratch - from the marzipan and the marshmallows to the peanut butter. Each piece is a celebration of chocolate in its purest sense, and never contains preservatives or additives.

Makes it sound super fancy, no? I was too nervous to ruin the delicately designed chocolates, but clearly you can see I had no problem eventually sampling a few :)

How adorable are these?? I've already savored the Got Milk Chocolate (milk chocolate ganache with a kiss of cognac), European Peanut Butter (homemade with fresh roasted peanuts and hazelnuts in milk chocolate), and Grand Cru (fine red wine complimented by rich dark chocolate). All deliciously rich and a great treat at the end of a rough day. 

I think they're worth sampling...maybe not such a great idea to have a box full just hanging out in the apartment though ;)

Presidents' Day...Napa Style.

This past weekend I celebrated the much needed long weekend with my cousin who was in town from New York. Since it was her first time in the Bay Area, a trip to Napa was absolutely necessary. I've really only been wine tasting in Napa once before (my very first trip to the area in 2007), so it was a pretty exciting day for me as well. Unfortunately the weather gods were not on our side and we woke up to a gloomy, rainy Saturday. 

Once we got up to Napa, the weather cleared up a little and we eventually found ourselves at winery numero uno - The Hess Collection

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Hess is tucked away on super windy Redwood Road, just off Rt. 29 (the main highway) in Napa. Not exactly a picturesque drive after a storm, but it sure is quiet and off the beaten path. In fact, it reminded me of trips to the wineries in Healdsburg that required us to drive through these long windy roads that seemed to never end.

We walked up to the winery and the gardens were perfectly landscaped with fun sculptures scattered about - all of which I'm sure look even better on a sunny day. The main building was covered in ivy (or something like it?) and had these huge wooden doors that were as heavy as they looked! 

We were greeted by a very friendly host who told us that we had several options for our visit - we could head upstairs to check out the art collection, go straight to the tasting room, or join one of the scheduled tours for the afternoon. Since we were on a schedule, we opted to go straight to the tasting.

To our surprise, despite the bad weather, the tasting room was packed. We managed to find a small spot and for $10, we began our mix-match tasting of four Hess Collection and Artizen wines.

My personal favorites:

Hess Collection 2007 Mount Veeder 19 Block Cuvee

Blend: 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Malbec, 4% Syrah, 4% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot

You all know I love blends. This one smells wonderful and I think it's the currant I like so much. The tasting notes mention carmel and molasses, but I didn't pick up on those...maybe I just need another taste :)

Hess Collection 2006 Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon

Blend: 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Malbec, 1% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot 

Ok, I either really love blends or I love how Hess blends their Cabs with Malbec. I liked this one almost as much as the Cuvee, but clearly I wasn't buying both. The black cherry and currant are very noticeable in this one and while I also prefer bold reds with lots of tannins, I thought this was a perfectly balanced red. The tasting notes say there are underlying flavors of graphite and cedar box...I don't know about you, but I haven't smelled or tasted graphite lately. Eeh.

Onto winery number two!

Located on Rt. 29 with all the other Napa/Rutherford wineries, Peju Province Winery greets you with a long tree-lined driveway that leads up to a very unique looking building - it looks like someone chopped off the top portion of a tower and plopped it on the grounds! 

After a little searching, I found out it's known as the Peju Tower and was designed by a Southern California architect named Calvin Straub in 1980(ish). Check out all the info here.

This might be one of the most informative and structured wine tastings I've been to in awhile. Upon arriving we put our names in with the host and were told we had to wait for the next available tasting. It wasn't too long of a wait and next thing we knew we were guided up a flight of stairs to the tasting room. 

The tasting room overlooks a ton of barrels and fits about 10 people comfortably per tasting station (there are two). Our pourer was super knowledgable and enthusiastic about the winery and the wines. He started off by saying he tells people to sip the wine three times - first to introduce the wine, second to taste the wine, and third to look for the specific flavors. 

My favorites:

2009 Chardonnay

Not a big chardonnay fan, but this is not your regular chardonnay. It's not oaky or buttery at all. In fact, it's crisp and light...almost like a sauvignon blanc. Hints of crisp apple and apricot. Very nice start.

Provence

Blend: Red & White

Our pourer started telling a story about how Tony Peju created this wine for his daughters who weren't really into the reds or whites and immediately I assumed we were going to taste a rose. Nope. I was introduced to a DELICIOUS red and white blend. Served chilled, this wine is slightly sweet and bright like a white wine, but not too sweet like a white zinfandel *gasp*. You definitely get a hint of refreshing strawberry and oh, it's SO good with everything. I imagine this would be perfect on a spring day. Or, you know, a gloomy day in February after wine tasting.

2006 Merlot

Blend: 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon

Normally I don't like merlot. I think it feels too slimy in my mouth and blech. Pass. This merlot, however, was surprisingly enjoyable. Maybe it's that hint o cab? I think so. It has just enough tannins in it to make my mouth happy, but not too much. I love. You should try it too. 

Tastings are $15 and the fee is waived when you make a $30 purchase. Totally worth visiting and buying since the majority of their wine sales are in the winery and through the wine club. 

We actually ended our wine tastings with Peju (I know, two is kinda wimpy!) so we could squeeze in a trip to the outlets. You think I'm crazy, but it's totally worth it. I went with friends to the Napa Premium Outlets over Memorial Day weekend and the sales were INSANE. Naturally I pointed them out to my cousin on the drive up and we decided that we could totally swap some wineries out to accommodate some shopping. Presidents' Day sales, hello! Do yourself a favor and knock out some shopping AND wine tasting on your next trip to Napa :)

Friday night fun

A long work week and Jamie's arrival clearly meant a Friday night happy hour was in order! A couple friends had mentioned a crazy deal at Maya in SoMa so naturally we had to check it out.

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From 4:30 to close, 7-days a week, they offer $5 drinks (margaritas and mojitos), $3 draft beers, $20 beer buckets (5 beers) and $2 tacos (petite). I think the tacos are by far the best of the deals. They're bite sized, tasty and arrive pretty quickly (the pork belly was my favorite). Unfortunately, getting around to ordering these delectable treats is quite a feat. Even after the big happy hour rush passed, we still didn't get much attention from our server (and we were a huge table of 10, mostly ladies). Not cool.

So yeah, definitely check out the pork belly tacos because they are amazing. Savory, rich and slightly tangy. Just don't go starving after work...you'll be waiting awhile.

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After a couple hours of waiting at Maya, we moseyed on over to District on King Street. It was a pleasant little stroll (much needed after 6 tacos, which btw, make a nice meal) and I was excited to check out a new spot.

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District had a strangely cozy, yet industrial feel to it and I loved the fact that it wasn't packed. A bunch of us grabbed a small table and settled in with a bottle of Siesta Malbec

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At first, I thought it was too fruity and heavy, but after another couple sips, it grew on me...very nice surprise.

Overall, a successful night of fun snack and drink finds!

Exploring the California Coast

This past weekend running buddy V was in town for a mini-vacay and to run the Big Sur Half Marathon. I was super excited since I hadn't seen her since the big move and this was going to be my first real break from the city.

I left work a little early on Friday so we could start our 3 hour journey south to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Equipped with camping gear, snackies, beer and tunes, we drove our zippy little rental car down the o so scenic California coast.

The drive down Highway 1 was AMAZING. Water to the right

mountains & greenery on the left

I think our jaws were dropped the whole time.

I love my new state.

The closer we got to Big Sur, we only got AM radio and it was pretty fitting.

It felt like we should have been driving a classic car with the top down wearing big sunglasses and handkerchiefs in our hair. Cell phone reception? Forget it.

We pulled into the campgrounds just as the sun was setting and immediately started setting up camp.

I must admit that I've really only been camping twice in my entire life. I enjoy the outdoors and I enjoy the idea of camping, but I can't 'set up camp' to save my life. V had our tent and fire started pretty quickly while I got to work on what I do best:

That's right, crack open beers and photograph. Oh, and make dinner:

You know, that headlamp comes in really handy when making PB&J in the dark.

We were up bright and early Saturday morning to pack up and start the trip back north to Monterey, but not before squeezing in a quick morning hike

The park ranger mentioned a couple of hike options and we opted for the shorter (1.5 mi round trip) hike to Pfeiffer Falls and Valley View.

The falls weren't huge, but still a great sight.

Valley views were fantastic...I wish I could have captured them better. Instead I will leave you with me. In a tree.

More to come!

More wine, more food, more fun.

After Rued, we made our way over to Matrix Winery where we looked forward to enjoying some Costeaux Focaccia. They had a couple tasting areas, including one out on the patio. This was where I camethisclose to buying a bottle of their 2006 Nunes Pinot Noir. Again, I don't usually like pinot noirs, but this was pretty good! I resisted the urge to buy a bottle (and by resisted I mean someone had to tell me not to) since it was either $35 or $40 :)

Unfortunately, the food wasn't as good as the wine. The four of us were convinced we were in for a fancy focaccia snack. Wrong-o. It was pretty much plain bread (texture was more like a loaf of regular bread) and some slices of gouda on the side. Eh, there had to be a food let down at some point. Can't have it all!

Next up was Twomey Cellars. Food here was PHENOMENAL. I may have actually gotten a second tasting ;p Definitely going to use the Pumpkin Gnocchi with Brown Butter, Walnuts and Sage recipe!

The wine here was pretty good too. I was hooked on the 2006 Napa Valley Merlot and I've never been much of a merlot drinker! Maybe it's because they snuck a bit of cabernet franc in there. Ah haaa. This bottle was on the pricier side ($50) so I passed on purchasing. Instead I opted for a photoshoot

Pretty sure those chairs were for sale. Weird.

As the day went on, the tastebuds and memory may have gotten a little fuzzy ;p Good thing C. Donatiello was serving up some super flavorful Duck & Shiitake Tinga Tostadas. I don't remember much about the wine, except that it went wonderfully with the tostadas and had a cool label.

I'd definitely visit again since the grounds were absolutely gorgeous. There was a garden with persimmons, limes and other fruits as well as chairs just waiting for a catalog-y photoshoot

We zoomed through pretty quickly so we could make it to Moshin Vineyards for some great wine and Rick's Famous Smoked Salmon in Phyllo Cups. Food wasn't bad...just kinda blah compared to the rest of the wineries. Still tasty.

I walked out with a bottle of their Promoshin Red Blend

A mysteriously delicious red priced at a wallet-friendly $18.

Our last stop of the day was Korbel Champagne Cellars where we caught them right before the festival ended (4pm). There may have been an incident pre-tasting involving dumping rinse water into the clean water pitcher...

We sampled a deliciously refreshing Orechiette Pasta with Melon & Champagne-Cracked Peppercorn Dressing. Normally I don't like creamy pasta salads, but this was AMAZING. The sweet melon went perfectly with the creamy, savory dressing. Definitely going to make this for a picnic!

Afterward we paid a visit to The Gourmet Delicatessen on site to split a pint of the much talked about Pliney the Elder

I had heard about this a few months ago but never really got around to searching for it. I was excited the the Korbel folks mentioned it and had it on tap! This double IPA is brewed by the Russian River Brewing Company and is pretty hoppy. I really enjoyed it. Definitely recommend it.

Awesome weekend.

Last part of labor day. For reals.

Had enough yet? Too bad. I have more photos and recipes for you!

We took things easy on Monday with a leisurely stroll through Russian Hill and Nob Hill. To kick things off, we had lunch at Za...delicious pizzas as usual. Then some neighborhoody shots

And some wandering in Grace Cathedral

I even attempted to walk the Labyrinth (emphasis on attempt), but got impatient. Surprise. I opted to photograph it instead :)

It was incredibly warm out on Monday. I was so glad we went wine tasting the day before...it would have been way too hot to be wandering around up there! We called it quits early and I whipped up a tasty and light dinner for us. On the menu: Pan Seared Tilapia with Heirloom Tomato and Watermelon Salsa and an Arugula and Frisée Salad.

For some reason I had an urge to combine tomatoes and watermelon...I'm very glad I acted on that urge.

Pan Seared Tilapia with Heirloom Tomato & Watermelon Salsa

3 tilapia fillets

1/4 c fresh pineapple with juices, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tsp olive oil

1/2 tbsp salt

1 tbsp mirin or dry white wine

1/2 c watermelon, diced

2 medium heirloom tomatoes, diced

1/2 shallot, minced

1/2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1/2 tsp olive oil

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 c cilantro, chopped

Combine watermelon, tomatoes, shallot, balsamic vinegar, 1/2 tsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp salt and cilantro in a bowl. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes.

Combine pineapple, garlic, olive oil, salt, mirin and tilapia in a dish. Let marinate for 5 minutes on each side.

Drizzle some olive oil in a pan over medium high heat. Cook tilapia for 2-3 minutes on each side. Serve immediately with 2 spoonfuls of watermelon salsa on top.

For some starch, I quickly roasted some fingerling potatoes (garlic, olive oil, salt, rosemary, thyme). Standard. Addicting. Yum.

Arugula & Frisée Salad

1 large head frisée

1 c arugula

1 c spring mix

1/2 avocado, sliced

1 plum, sliced

shaved parmesan

1 tsp dijon mustard

1 tsp maple syrup

2 tbsp champagne vinegar

1 tbsp olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

Whisk together mustard, syrup, vinegar, oil, salt and pepper. Set aside.

Combine greens in a large bowl and coat with half the dressing. Top with plum, avocado and parmesan.

I'm having a rough month with plums. I just can't find one with the right flavor...it's either too tart or too sweet. Gah! I was happy with my vinaigrette though!

Phew. Labor Day weekend is done! We'll return to your regularly scheduled blogging topics shortly :p

Who doesn't love a day of wine tasting?

Sunday was totally devoted to wine tasting in Healdsburg/Geyserville. Have I mentioned it's my favorite place to play with the vino? Well, it is!

I got comfy behind the wheel for the beautiful 1.5 hour drive north so Jamie could appreciate the scenery (slash, I was itching to drive) and we arrived at deLorimier a little before noon.

Are you familiar with my deLorimier backstory? Long story short: fell in love w/a malbec by Mosaic a few years ago and couldn't find it anywhere. Mosaic was bought by deLorimier and I was able to snag a bottle when I visited last November. Unfortunately, I left that bottle in DC with friends because I was too nervous it would break in the move. *BIG SAD FACE*

I was excited to go back and pick up a replacement bottle, but uhh no such luck. New wine maker, not the same. Still pretty good, but just not the same :( I did find a nice Sauvignon Blanc, though.

It smells fabulous and tastes crisp with hints of nectarine. Doesn't hurt that it's reasonably priced at $18. Love it!

We wandered around the winery grounds for a bit, enjoyed the gardens

and then sped off to our next destination: Francis Ford Coppola

Ok, I have mixed feelings about Coppola. My very first enjoyable white wine experience was with a bottle of Coppola however, I usually have mediocre experiences with Coppola wines (with the exception of a Director's Cut Zinfandel Selin introduced me to). I figured we would check it out since it was a bigger winery and I'll admit I was pretty curious.

The grounds are amazing, even though at times it felt a little like Disney World.

The tasting room was PACKED, but we managed to squeeze into a little corner. Our pourer (?) was really easy to get along with and was willing to do some extra pours and swap some out. Hurrah!

I asked to try the Sofia Blanc de Blancs just for fun and o my, that is trouble. It went down like sparkling cider. I also enjoyed a 2006 Coppola Reserve Alexander Cabernet Sauvignon (which I can't seem to find on the website).

I was good and only splurged on one bottle. A big splurge on a bottle of Archimedes (a Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc blend):

I'm a fan of bold reds and this one is bold, yet smooth and not too in your face. Nifty bottle too.

Since our bellies were starting to grumble, we opted to pass on the picnic lunch and dine at Rustic, the new restaurant at the winery. It was only a 20-30 minute wait so we wandered around and explored all the displays before we were seated. Lucky for us, a table opened up on the patio

Pretty sweet lunch view yeah?

The menu had a ton of delicious options, but the weather made me want to go with something light and crispy. Enter Pizza Sofia (arugula, prosciutto, shaved parmesan)

Nummy nummy! The crust was thin and crisp and I LOOOVE arugula, parmesan and prosciutto. Such a classic combo.

Jamie's mom went with the Chicken Mattone which was wonderfully moist and flavorful. I'm not even going to try to describe it for you. Here's what the menu says:

"...alternately called chicken under the stone or brick, has become popular lately, but often too tame compared to my favorite version...Half of a chicken, its bones in but crushed, is sauteed in olive oil with a little paprika and slices of garlic and is put under an iron weight. All the fat is pressed out of it, and it’s flat and crispy on the crushed bones and a little red from the paprika."

Damn good chicken.

Jamie got a monster sammich, of course. Apparently Mammarella's Muffaletta (New Orleans style sandwich with ham, Genoa salami, mortadella, provolone, mozzarella, and giardiniera) screamed at him from the menu.

Biggest. sammich. EVER. It came with the option to get a whole, half or quarter and naturally Jamie went for the half.

Ridiculous. At least he admitted it could use some green. ;p

We lingered for a bit to finish our surprisingly large glasses of wine and soak up the gorgeous weather and scenery before heading off to our last winery of the day: Ridge!

Yep, I say that with an exclamation point because it's one of my favorites. C'mon, how could you not love this view

And it doesn't hurt they also have some great red wines ;p

Unfortunately we stumbled upon Ridge's Fall Debut (I think...something along those lines) tasting weekend, so they weren't pouring some of my favorites. Luckily, I learned that you can always ask for specific wines. Ah haa!

I went home with two bottles of my favorite Geyserville (72% zinfandel, 20% carignane, 6% petite sirah, 2% mataro). This was another bottle I had to leave behind when I moved. SO glad to find out they still had bottles of the 2005!

This blend makes me o so happy. I wish I had a reason to open up a bottle right now just so I could describe how great this wine is. *sigh*

Happy after wine purchases!

In case you didn't pick up on it, Jamie was our DD for the day

We planned on stopping at Lagunitas in Petaluma for some beer tasting on the way home/swap driving duties, but it ended up being way too crowded. Perhaps next time.

Perfect weather, great wines and wineries, delicious eats and calming scenery. Great Sunday. Can't wait to go back in November for the Annual Food & Wine Affair!