Posted in On My Mind on Feb 23rd, 2010
My life sometimes attacks me at a dizzying speed. There’s plenty to think about…family, home, work, health and friendships. It’s a human condition. I’ve found that happiness and serenity come when I’m not laser-focused on an outcome, but rather viewing each day as a new adventure–what’s around the next corner?
Posted in Lifestyle & Entertaining, On My Mind on Feb 21st, 2010
At a recent party at Palmaz, we were talking about the Napa Valley Mustard Festival kick-off party (in photo) and someone asked, “so where are the best parties?”
My favorite has always been casual private al fresco dinners with 6-12 people at someone’s Napa, Marin or Sonoma home. We all bring food or wine to share. Sometimes they have a theme, like bring a Rosé. Other times the hosts provide sumptuous food & we open lots of wine. Surprisingly, wine is not the topic of conversation usually, of course there is some industry gossip, but mainly it’s an opportunity to escape from our careers & talk about everything else that’s important in life.
I learned a long time ago that it’s not where you go, but who you travel with; the same goes for parties, it’s the people that make it fun.
Posted in On My Mind on Feb 18th, 2010
In my home, we make up little sayings all the time. It’s not a conscious thing, it’s just a part of our personalities. Sometimes, it changes a grumpy mood into something hopeful. Today, my husband left this saying on my desk, Something Wonderful will Happen Today.
* For a dog, there’s something wonderful around every corner.
Posted in Perfect Pairings, Seasons & Holidays on Feb 15th, 2010
Valentine’s Dinner Menu 2010
The trick to dining in courses is to keep it simple and time everything. Set the table and decant the wine before you start cooking. Read the complete menu and recipes and have the timing set in your mind.
Hint: Keep the BBQ at a medium temperature. Put the Filet Mignon on about 10 minutes before dinner. Turn it over right before you sit down and let it cook slowly while you eat your first course.
Another Hint: Serve a wine with a sexy name.
First Course
Lobster should never be boiled, it should be poached. Boiling causes it to cook too quickly on the outside and toughens the meat. Put the lobster in cold water in a large pot and add high quality salt–salt it like the Mediterranean. Once the water gets hot enough to create tiny bubbles, retain the temperature and poach for 20 minutes per pound. Microwave the butter in individual bowls, add fresh lemon juice before serving. Serve the lobster tails on individual plates with lemon wedges. Serve with your favorite chilled bubbly.
Second Course
Prime USDA Filet Mignon is wonderful with just salt & pepper. Sauces are a good idea with Choice cuts (hint–Costco doesn’t carry Prime Filet Mignon.) It’s worth paying a few more bucks per pound every once in awhile. Risotto is fun to make and should be part of every good cook’s repertoire, but frankly, if you can get a good risotto from a local gourmet grocery store (Paradise Foods for me), it makes the 2nd course so much easier.
Third Course
This was a fun pairing. The bananas and ice cream are wonderful with my new favorite dessert wine. Bobby bought the mini cupcakes as a gift to me & I bought the cookies as a gift to him.
The best occasions are fun because we don’t take ourselves too seriously. We enjoy our favorite foods and wines and we share in the preparation of the meal. Bon Appetit!
Posted in On My Mind, Seasons & Holidays on Feb 13th, 2010
My hubby and I have similar views about Valentine’s Day. We see it as an opportunity to spoil each other a bit & be romantic. Yesterday I bought red Gladiolas and pink Tulips for the house. Who cares who bought the flowers? The point is to enjoy them together. (He did say, hey, I was going to buy you some flowers…and I said, so what’s stopping you?!)
This morning, I delivered this cookie with his coffee in bed. (Tulip ate it while B was watching Maverick’s Surf Competition on the laptop, so she got a present too.)
We’ll spend the whole weekend just doing whatever, but we’ll be together. This is what it’s like when people are in love. I see this weekend as a time to be together, hold hands, sit close, and say I love you in lots of little ways.
* For other Valentine’s ideas, click here.
Stolen Cookie, Valentine's 2010
Posted in Learn About Wine, Seasons & Holidays, Wineries & Wine Bars on Feb 9th, 2010
I’ve been winery hopping again! The first words out of my mouth right now, are you bottling yet?
Harvest ends in the fall, grapes do their magic in the winter and voilá! some whites are in the bottles as early as February.
So…if you visit wineries in the early Spring, you might get to taste newly bottled wine and you’ll get first dibs on purchasing small lot wine (meaning they don’t make much of it, so it will sell out quickly).
And when you ask the question, are you bottling yet, you’ll learn about wine and a winemaker’s style.
For instance, at Casa Nuestra*, they’ve just bottled a killer Chenin Blanc that has no hint of “bottle shock” which is quite a feat & wonderful to experience. While, at Loxton*, you won’t be able to get a new vintage until probably April/May because Chris Loxton is making a rosé that takes longer in the barrel. (Of course, wines that are aged in barrels for months can be bottled any time the winemaker deems it’s ready.)
It’s an exciting time of year to visit. If you’d like a guide & tips, let me know!
*Links go to my posts about these wineries.
Posted in Lifestyle & Entertaining, On My Mind on Feb 6th, 2010
I took this photo with my old Canon Powershot at the Napa Valley Mustard Festival Kick Off party. I didn’t photoshop it because the graininess adds to the illusion that this is a painting. Instead, as my title suggests, it’s a live model within a theatrical painted set.
I was touched by this modern woman modelling (in a body suit). With so many women being shy about their body (myself included), it’s lovely to see a strong curvy gal showcased in modern art. Kudos to the model, the artist responsible and the producers of the Festival.
Posted in Learn About Wine, On My Mind on Feb 2nd, 2010
This post was inspired by my Guidebook being a speed dial gift on KQED’s Winter Pledge Drive. I’m so proud to be part of the great tradition of public radio!
Before television (and Twitter) people gathered around the radio for entertainment. I’m too young to have those memories directly, but I loved the TV drama The Waltons, about a depression-era Virginia mountain family. Also, firmly in my memory bank is the War of the Worlds Play read by Orson Welles in 1938. (Available as a podcast.)
Today, I’m hooked on radio story-telling. I love This American Life on my local public radio station, and even if it’s getting a little long-in-the-tooth, Hubby and I still listen to the Sunday edition of Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion.
There are a lot of interesting new shows on Internet radio but I have a hard time finding them–there are so many it’s overwhelming. Any suggestion are welcome. I’ve done a few interviews (audio & video)…fun Tips & Picks from Girl with a Glass!
Posted in Lifestyle & Entertaining, Visiting Wine Country on Feb 1st, 2010
I bought this fun dress at Wildcat in downtown Napa. It’s a small shop with vintage-style new and used clothing for women and men. The jewelry is from Accent’s, a fabulous boutique in downtown Novato (& Petaluma). Hubby bought me this Aquamarine necklace & matching earrings for Christmas. Here’s some fun “facts” about the stone.
Traditionally seen as the birthstone for March, Aquamarine stone gets it’s color from iron ferrous and has been known since ancient times as a stone of hope, happiness, good health, fidelity, eternal youth and lasting love.
Aquamarine stone cleanses and aligns the chakras and the etheric and mental bodies. It helps you to reduce fear and communicate with those around you in a loving and compassionate way, all the while it is flushing out your lymph system.
Aquamarine stone attracts friends and friendly people to you. People you can trust and that show compassion for you. It is often used to calm disrupted situations with it’s ability to bring harmony.
Aquamarine crystal help facilitate communication and is especially good to help couples work out their problems in a friendly and peaceful manner. (Source)
Posted in Lifestyle & Entertaining, Seasons & Holidays, Visiting Wine Country on Jan 31st, 2010
Visiting the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone (St. Helena) makes me happy. I love the old stone building and knowing that there are aspiring chefs on the 3rd floor while I dine in the restaurant. I like the service, the decor, the reasonable wine mark ups and the artsy, interesting food.
When it was announced that the 17th annual Napa Valley Mustard Festival’s kick off party was going to be held at CIA, I immediately bought tickets. I’ll be posting lots of pictures this week. Bobby and I had a fantastic time, but my absolute favorite part? Eating in the chef’s kitchen.
Napa’s famous restaurants (Bouchon, Brix, etc) served small bites in the wine tasting room, but we headed straight for the kitchen. Guests picked up a plate and went through a double-sided buffet flanked by chefs standing next to their stoves offering osso buco, polenta, mustard greens, Italian wedding soup, breaded shrimp with fruit dipping sauce, blood red orange salad, cioppino and more. We sat family style at a long table in the middle of the kitchen. For me, it was a once in a lifetime experience. There are plenty of parties where I can walk around balancing a plate of small bites while drinking wine, but the opportunity to eat in the CIA kitchen…priceless!
I hope you are relaxing, drinking a glass of wine and enjoying being introduced to new people, places and pairings. Contact info: http://www.alanagentry.tel
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