Mondavi Vineyard, Napa Valley

After 2 weeks away from my kitchen, I’m having a hard time getting back into my routine. We’ve reunited with the cat and dog, and adjusting to our new time zone. I was so inspired by the dishes I ate in Northern California - not so much the over fried plates from Honolulu. We got to go to some of the best spots in San Fran - Nopa, Foreign Cinema, Hog Island Oyster, and Dottie’s. I also got to take a day trip up to Napa to scope it out - my parents want to take their dream vacation there next year. It was stunning - once the fog burned off - which seemed later and later every day. I stopped at the Marin Farmer’s Market - the best I’ve ever been to. This blows Union Square out of the water - and I went on the slow day (Thursday). There were a lot more purveyors, and vendors set up to cook - and there were places to sit!! I had a wheat crepe with heirloom tomatoes, brie, and pesto for breakfast - great way to start the day. I also tasted the best strawberries I’d ever had, and actually had great conversations with people there. I think the longer people live in New York, the lower their expectations are for everyday encounters - I was shocked how friendly, helpful, and interested people were there, and at the restaurants we ate at.

If you’ve ever been to the Bay Area, especially in San Fran itself, it gets chilly, and fast. It didn’t rise about 70F the whole time we were there. It did get a bit toasty in Napa, but Fall was certainly in the air. I woke up this morning to a muggy 86F and was dripping by the time we walked back from the crappy, stressful market with eggs, bacon, and cheese for breakfast. However, I’m still in Fall mode, even if NYC isn’t, and it might not be till late October. So this week’s menu is a bit homey, warm, and rich. We also have a friend of a friend from England via Figi (not sure how that works yet) staying with us Wednesday and he requested a good old American roast, which I’m so happy to do. Now I’m not sure how traditional this recipe is, but beetroots are in season and a rib of roast beef can’t be too bad. So if you can crank up your A/C here in NYC and pretend it’s fall or if you’re lucky enough to be experiencing it right now, enjoy these homey treats!

Monday - Mushroom Soup with Hazelnut Gremolata

Tuesday - Belgian Leek Tart with Aged Goad Cheese

Wednesday - Rib roast of beef with Beetroot and Horseradish

Thursday - Cheesy Baked Penne with Cauliflower and Creme Fraiche

Friday - Risotto with Butternut Squash and Sage/ Carrots with Ginger-Honey Glaze

*** WARNING!! Movie Spoiler ***

My husband Johnathan, who makes his living building large WordPress based sites, informed me that I must state that this may spoil a movie for you, even though this particular movie does not have a surprise ending or an unpredictable plot. So read on at your own risk….

The other night we saw Bottle Shock the new Alan Rickman (he’s my favorite) film that depicts the rise of California wine onto the international wine stage in the 70s. It was a great foodie/wino movie with dry humor, family struggle, and sure victory for the little guy. I even smelled some red wine being enjoyed in our theatre - people really get into this stuff. Just like Sideways with Paul Giamatti, it moved at a good pace, had great foodie/wine verbage and makes you lust to go to Napa Valley and learn the art of the vine. Bill Pullman, I think, has one facial expression, but plays the disgruntled struggling vineyard owner so well, as well as the disappointed dad. Inevetibaly the son (Chris Pine) saves the day and represents the Napa winemakers at the French tasting that Alan Rickman’s character has conjured up. The Napa Chardonnay tricks the expert French palates and they accidentaly (it was a blind tasting) ruled Chateau Catalena the winner of the tasting. And no one would pay to see the movie if there wasn’t a shallow love interest in the hot blond intern (Rachael Taylor). Very entertaining, with lots of “full bodied” Napa Valley shots, and descriptions of phenomenal wine ingredients I just don’t seem to taste. But, Johnathan and I are quickly planning a pilgramage to Napa as soon as the “Chardonnay clears” (cryptic I know, but this will make sense once you see the film).