Pinot on the River Runs Through Healdsburg on October 26th!
Pinot on the River is a fun filled weekend of Pinot Noir in the beautiful Russian River Valley town of Healdsburg, California. Guests of the event can sit with the winemakers and other Pinot-loving consumers as the festival focuses on limited productionWest Coast Pinot Noirs. Sunday’s Pinot Noir Grand Tasting will feature over 100 wineries plus guest Artisan Food Vendors all on the downtown Healdsburg Plaza Square, it’s a Sonoma County wine weekend you won’t want to miss.
Here’s the day’s schedule:
Sunday, October 26th
11 a.m. to 12 noon – Grand Tasting Opens –
Artisanal Pinot Noir Grand Tasting Early access.
12 noon to 4 p.m. – Artisanal Pinot Noir Grand Tasting – General Admission
Taste current releases, special bottlings and library wines from 100 top Pinot producers from up and down the West Coast at this “full immersion” walkaround tasting.
3PM
Judges will award “Special Achievement in Pinot Noir” Trophies.
3:30 PM
Giant check Presentation to Boys & Girls Clubs.
Wineries scheduled to be present at Pinot on the River are:
Abiouness Wines
Alexander Valley Vineyards
Alysian Wines
Anaba Wines
Angel Camp
Artisan Wines of California
Attune
August West
Auteur Winery
Belle Glos Wines
Benovia Winery
Benziger Family Winery
Bien Nacido Vineyards
Black Kite Cellars
Blue Farm Wines
Brassfield Estate Winery
Bruiliam Wines
Bucher Vineyard Wines
Canihan Family Winery
Camlow Cellars
Carpenter Wines
Chenoweth Wines
Clouds Rest
Comptche Ridge Vineyards
Conarium Wines
Couloir Wines | Straight Line Wine
DeLoach Vineyards
Donelan Family Wines
DRNK Wines
E16 Wine Company
Emeritus Vineyards
Failla Wines
FEL Wines
Ferrari-Carano Vineyards
Foursight Wines
Freeman
Friedeman Wines
Furthermore Pinot Noir
Geyser Peak
Gloria Ferrer
Gracianna Winery
Willowbrook
Hahn Family Wines
Handley Cellars
Hanna Winery
Hop Kiln Vineyards
Hook and Ladder Winery
J Vineyards & Winery
Jamieson Ranch
Kanzler Vineyards
Ketcham Estate
Kobler Estate
Kokomo Winery
Landmark Vineyards
L Foppiano Wine Co
La Crema
La Follette Wines
Lando Wines
La Pitchoune Winery
LIOCO
Littorai Wines
MacPhail Wines
MacRostie Winery
Maggy Hawk Wines
Martin Ray Winery
Martinelli Winery
Matrix Winery
Masut
Meiomi Wines
Merriam Vineyards
Migration
Morgan Winery
Mueller Winery
Nunes Vineyard / St. Rose Winery
Ordaz Family Wines
Ousterhout Wine & Vineyard
Papapietro Perry
Patz & Hall
Paul Hobbs Winery
Pech Merle Winery
Pellegrini Wine Company
Peter Paul Wines
Ram’s Gate Winery
Riverbench Winery
Roadhouse Winery
Roar Wines
Reuling Vineyard
Rusack Vineyards
Russian Hill Estate
Sea Smoke
Siduri Wines
Skewis Wines
Small Vines Wines
Sojourn Cellars
Spell Estate
Talisman Wines
Ten Acre Winery
The Donum Estate
Thralls Family Cellars
TR Elliott
Trione VIneyards
Valdez Family Winery
VML Winery
Wait Cellars
Walt Wines
White Oak Vineyards & Winery
Windsor Oaks Vineyards and Winery
Wrath
Wren Hop
Do you see any of your favorites? I am looking forward to seeing my friends from Walt! This looks to be the Olympics of Pinot Noir, so if you’re a fan, don’t miss it. The draw of this event is that it showcases very small producers that you will rarely see elsewhere!
Tickets are $75 per person and $100 at the door. You can purchase tickets here. Hope to see you there! 🙂
Pinot on the River is on Facebook here.
Kathryn Hall 2011 Cabernet Release Party: My Heaven on Earth!
The Cabernet Gods looked upon St. Helena with a smile on their faces last Saturday. It was the setting of the Kathryn Hall Release Party, and the release of the Kathryn Hall 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon. The ticketed party was mostly held on the great lawn at HALL Wines, featuring several stations to taste wine and food from Feast Catering.
It was an honor and privilege for Andy and I to be guests of the party and to experience it amongst true Cabernet lovers and fans of Kathryn Hall.
I felt a bit like Alice in Wonderland in the Queen’s croquet garden, surrounded by the big red vinyl couches and the delights hidden behind the shrubs on the Great Lawn.
Upon arrival, we were greeted with a glass of 2013 Hall NV Sauvignon Blanc, and behind the first set of shrubs to the right of the entrance were these tuna and cucumber rolls with finger lime and wasabi in little wooden boats (pictured above). The next station we visited was even better, serving a chilled carrot soup with radish top pistou (pictured below). It was paired with a 2012 Walt “Dutton Ranch” Russian River Chardonnay. The soup was perfect for a very warm and sunny day and its flavor was amplified with a little curry and coconut. I was tempted to have a second. 😉 PS: Dutton Ranch is an excellent place of origin for a Chardonnay. Just google it and you’ll see what I mean. 🙂
Then the Bacon, Duck Fat, and Smoked Sea Salt popcorn happened! Actually, it happened just as Kathryn Hall herself officially announced the release of the 2011 Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon. Andy and I hustled to the nearest station pouring the newly christened cab to have a taste. AND THEN the fatty popcorn happened. 😉 It was made fresh in a large wok and served in little paper bags. I didn’t want to seem uncouth, so I took a small serving in a paper bag instead of taking the scoop and shoveling the delectable kernels directly into my mouth! 😉 Better than anything I had ever had at the movies!
Well, at least popcorn is gluten free… and for vegetarians, there was another flavor: A habanero, green onion, garlic, and chive concoction. And I think it paired a little better with the new Kathryn Hall Release because the Cabernet is still pretty young and stood up to the heat of the slightly spicy popcorn.
We also tried a different Cabernet: a 2011 “T Bar T Ranch” cab from Alexander Valley. I couldn’t say which is my favorite because I liked them for different reasons and asking me to pick a favorite is like asking someone to pick their favorite child, and I know you don’t want to do that to me. 😉
There was a DJ positioned just in front of the great lawn, and he kept patrons happy by playing some current tunes, but also many hits from the 80s. Thanks DJ Adam Bomb, you were great and loved by the crowd. Check out his website and his client list. Pretty impressive! 🙂
Then I visited the grape crushing station and contributed to the 2014 Cabernet. So, that’s a warning to all of you out there. My feet touched some of that juice. 😉 Watch and see! Here’s how you make great wine!
I was having a blast! 🙂 I still pinch myself sometimes because I think I am dreaming. This is the life I saw for myself 10 years ago. I wanted to be in the heart of wine country standing in the sun and sipping some of the best wine in the world!
Andy stayed out of the juice, and thank goodness…you don’t want to know where that guy’s feet have been. Just kidding. I think he just didn’t want to have sticky feet. 🙂 I am so happy I crushed those grapes. I will always remember how happy I was standing in that barrel! I think the only thing that would make me happier is being a judge at next year’s Cabernet Cookoff (also held at HALL Wines).
Man, all that grape crushing worked up my appetite… (ha, just kidding…) but we were looking for another little snack to try, so we headed into the workshop and dining area. It’s basically a full open kitchen with a dining area where patrons can see demonstrations of food being prepared. Today the culinary team were demonstrating how to make sopes.
They began by rolling out the dough (masa soaked in lime) into a ball and then flattening it into a disc with a little but of an impression in it. Then, post frying and draining the discs were filled with ancho chili rubbed carnitas with avocado tomatillo salsa, picked red onions & cotija cheese. They were muy delicioso!
Also in the workshop was a display and check out area where vintage Kathryn Hall Cabernets and large volumes were available for purchase.
The 2011 is available to wine club members in this allotment: 15 bottles (750ml), 1 Magnum (1.5L) and 1 Larger Format (3L or 6L). What an incentive to join the wine club! PS: You get an invite to this amazing release party!
We did a little bit more walking around the great lawn, and went back to hang out with a new friend we made that day! His name is Spencer and he’s straight out of Louisville, Kentucky! 🙂 Congrats on your position at HALL Wines, and what a great place to be so young in your life. Cheers!
After we chatted with Spencer, we found Moroccan Lamb Lollipops with Pomegranate sauce! YAY!
I had a few of the meatballs, and they were spectacular just everything else I had tasted at the party. But, I had my limits, and was pretty full by this time. Andy and I decided to get one more taste of the new release before we left and we sat down at a table in the sun. This was his heartfelt thank you! 🙂
Along with Andy, I want to thank the PR team and social media folks at HALL Wines for making us feel like VIPs. We both had an incredible time. 🙂
Take a look at the fun other guests had by viewing the social media feed from the party here.
Get social with Kathryn Hall by following HALL Wines on Instagram here, on Facebook here, or on Twitter here.
Raley’s Presents River Run for Youth 5K Run/Walk on Sat, Sept. 20, 2014 at 8:30am!
The 1st Annual River Run for Youth sponsored by Raley’s will take place on Saturday, September 20, 2014 at Raley Field, West Sacramento, California. The event includes a timed and untimed 5K Run/Walk and a FREE ¼ Mile Kids Race. Stick around after the main event if your child wants a chance to run the bases!
Race Beneficiaries
The River Run for Youth benefits Collings Teen Center.
A non-profit organization investing in the lives of young people in the West Sacramento Community whose purpose is to Embrace, Engage and Empower.
Race Features
Cotton T- shirts (click here to view the race shirt); Scenic river course finishing inside Raley Field; Timing by Capital Road Race Management; Ideal weather; Delicious post-race food and access to the Raley Field Kids’ Corner.
A chance for any child who wants to run the bases will take place after the main event!
All participants in the Kids’ Race will receive a finisher’s medal. Race shirts are not available for the Free Kids’ Race.
There will be an awards ceremony at appx. 9:30am.
Start Times
¼ mile Kids race (10 & under): 8:00 am
5k Run/Walk: 8:30am
Please arrive early allowing plenty of time before your race start.
Walkers and strollers will start at the back of the timed participants.
Sorry, No Refunds
Register online. CLICK HERE
Race Day Registration
You will be able to register on Race Day starting at 7:00 am.
On Site Registration & Packet Pickup
You can register and/or pick up your race packet on Friday (9/19) from 10am to 7pm at the Collings Teen Center and on Race Day.
NOTE: Pre-registered participants may also pick up their race packets on Race Day starting at 7:00am.
Race Timing
Timing will be provided by Capital Road Race Management.
Awards
All participants in the ¼ mile Kids Race will receive completion medals.
Trophies will be given to the overall 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers of the 5K. Awards will be given out to the top 3 finishers in each age division of the 5K.
Age Divisions
12 and under, 13-18, 19-29, 30–39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+
Awards will not be mailed so please listen for your name at the award ceremony approximately one hour after the start of the 5K race, if you think you finished in the top three in your age group. If you fail to pick up your award on race day, you can pick up your award at Collings Teen Center. Please call the Teen Center to coordinate a time to pick up your award.
Time Limits
¼ mile Kids Race: 20 minutes
5k runners/walkers will have a ONE – hour time limit to complete the course.
Water Stations
There will be one water station at the halfway point (appx.) of the 5K. The water station will be supported by local volunteers and will include water and a sports drink.
Driving Directions
Raley Field is located at 400 Ballpark Drive, just west of Old Sacramento and the Sacramento River.
BUSINESS 80 WESTBOUND/US 50 WESTBOUND
Folsom, Fair Oaks, Rancho Cordova, etc.)
Business 80 West to Jefferson Blvd/Fifth St. Exit
Keep Right to exit at Fifth St.
I-80 EASTBOUND
Interstate 80 Eastbound to Capital City Freeway (Bus. 80/US – 50) to South Lake Tahoe.
Exit Jefferson Blvd./Downtown Sacramento.
Keep to the Left and take the Downtown Sacramento exit.
Turn Right on Fifth St.
1-5 NORTHBOUND
Interstate 5 Northbound to Business 80/US – 50 Westbound toward San Francisco
Exit at Jefferson Blvd./Fifth St.
Keep Right to exit Fifth St.
1-5 SOUTHBOUND
Interstate 5 Southbound to Hwy 50/I-80 Westbound
Exit at Jefferson Blvd./Fifth St.
Keep Right to exit Fifth.
Parking
Please click on the link below to view the parking map at Raley Field.
5K Course
Start Line – On 5th St. at Raley Field between Tower Bridge Gateway and Ballpark Dr;
Mile 1– On Lighthouse Dr.; between Watercolor Ln and Marina Wy
Mile 1.5 (appx) – water station
Mile 2– Located on the River Walk; between the Pers. Building and the Pyramid Building
Mile 3 – Located on the warning track at Raley Field; SE of the centerfield gate.
Finish Line – Inside Raley Field!!
Certified 5k
The River Run for Youth 5k is distance-certified by Fleet Feet Sports. Official race timing by Capital Road Race Management.
The Collings Teen Center invests in the lives of young people in the West Sacramento Community. Our purpose is to Embrace, Engage and Empower.
Designed to be a safe place where young people will always feel welcomed to hangout after school, a place where computers, basketball, games and activities are blended with tutoring, community service, educational seminars, and trips outside the area, job training and connection to men and women who are leaders in the community.
Young people need caring adults in their lives that will be a positive influence, listen to their issues, encourage good decisions, and celebrate their successes.
You can follow the River Run for Youth on twitter here and find them on Facebook here. Hope to see you on Saturday! 🙂
Farm to Fork Wine Dinner Series: Supper Club Fine Catering Presents Todd Taylor Wines–The Digest
Last Thursday evening turned out to be pretty uncomfortable (weather-wise) at the start of the Todd Taylor Wine Dinner at Vierra Farms, but soon enough The Supper Club Fine Catering refreshed guests with a slightly chilled Tempranillo (2012 “Holland Landing” to be exact) and a trio of appetizers: Delta Crawfish Corn Dogs with Lemon Tarragon Dijon Aioli, Bruschetta with Local Fresh Tomato Tartar, Basil, and Olive Fig Tapenade, and the Supper Club’s classic Baby Red Potato Skins with Caramelized Shallot Mascarpone and House Wild Boar Pancetta.
We sat down to one of the biggest menus I have ever seen for the $75.00 per person asking price. Look below and you’ll see what I mean:
We were seated family style at two long beautifully decorated wooden picnic tables to enjoy the first course of the meal called: “There’s a Fungus Among Us”: Wild Mushroom Latte in Demitasse with White Truffle Crema Shacking up together with Grown Up Grilled Cheese with Smoked Portobello, Gruyere, Oven Dried Tomato, and Arugula Pesto
The soup and sandwich course was paired with Todd Taylor Pinot Noir Reserve “Corotto Vineyard” 2012
Some of the guests around me were very excited about the mushroom latte, because they had enjoyed it many times before at Matteo’s (the brick and mortar restaurant owned by Supper Club Catering). The “soup” was indeed everything they described, earthy and creamy, and looked just like a small cup of cappuccino. I gave the bread on my sandwich to Andy, but not before I scraped the goodness inside. Pesto is one of the most incredible things!
Next up was the first family style course: Duck Duck Goose #5: Potato Gnocchi, Shredded Grimaud Duck Confit, House Made Duck Prosciutto, Goose Pancetta, Roasted Vierra Farms Squash, Poblanos, Toasted Pumpkin Seeds and Light Sage Cream Sauce, paired with Todd Taylor Zinfandel “Clockspring Vineyard” 2012.
So, being gluten-free (95-98% of the time), I never miss pasta at all, except for gnocchi. So, I took a little delight was incredibly happy 😉 to cheat on my diet with this dish. It had a myriad of textures and flavors and the soft little pillows of pasta were the star of the show!
Following the gnocchi course, we were served the second family style course:
“3 Little Piggies went to the Farm”: Crispy Pork Belly, Smoked Tenderloin and Braised Shoulder paired with Todd Taylor Primitivo “Blue House” 2012.
Above is the Colossal Runner Bean, Tomato, Fennel and grilled Fig Salad served on the side of the pork dish. This was easily my favorite dish of the night. It had all my favorite ingredients: pork, fennel, pork, fig, pork… 😉 You get the idea. I am pretty sure I could just live on pork alone, and I am pretty sure I am not alone in that sentiment!
Following the pork trifecta was the third family style course:
“Not your Momma’s Steak and Potatoes”: Grilled Lucky Dog Skirt Steak basted with Secret Recipe House Butter, served with White Truffle Asiago Russet Frites, and Garlicky Green Beans. The third course was paired with Todd Taylor Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 337 “Hagen Heights” 2012.
The fries came on a separate platter, so I apologize for not capturing them. They were the tiny matchstick kind and had a distinct truffle flavor. I really enjoyed the steak, which was sliced thin and slathered in the aforementioned “house butter”. I knew people were probably watching, so I didn’t take a second helping…although I would have really liked one! 😉
And the surprisingly savory finale:
“Waiter My Cheesecake is Stinky”: Stilton Cheesecake with Rosemary Walnut Crust and Local Stone Fruit Ginger Chutney (paired with) Todd Taylor Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Clone 8 “Alphawolf Ranch” 2010.
So I was fully prepared to just give my entire dessert to Andy after having a few bites (like I normally do at the food/wine pairing dinners we attend, but I liked this “dessert” so much, that I ate over half of it! It was not a traditional dessert or pairing for that matter. The crust and the filling of the cheesecake were quite savory and the chutney was the only thing on the plate that yielded any sweetness. And that’s why I liked the final course so much!
Finally, I asked a server to help me line up the bottles so you could see a shot of everything we were served that evening. I think the Pinot Noir was my favorite! 🙂
I want to send a thank you to the staff at The Supper Club Fine Catering for having Andy and I as guests for your inagural Farm-to-Fork Wine dinner! Chef Matt is so creative with the food pairings and everything down to naming the dishes on the menus. It was fun to meet diehard fans of The Supper Club and Matteo’s and we hope to be back again soon. 🙂
If you are interested, there are other Farm-to-Fork dinners by the Supper Club Fine Catering coming soon:
10-23-14 Farm to Fork Dinner Featuring Sean Minor Wine Dinner at the Crocker Art Museum
11-20-14 Farm to Fork Dinner Featuring Pruett Vineyards at the Crocker Art Museum
12-18-14 Farm to Fork Dinner (Winery TBD) at the Crocker Art Museum
About Todd Taylor Wines:
Todd Taylor produces single vineyard designated red wines. Napa Valley Cabernet Savingnon, Cabernet Franc, and Pinot Noir. Amador County Zinfindel and Primitivo. Clarksburg Tempranillo. Aged in New Cooperage. Available for tasting Saturday and Sunday 12-5. You can find them online here, on Facebook here, and on twitter here.
For more information on the wine dinner, click here.
You can find Supper Club Fine Catering on Facebook here.
Sax on the River, a benefit for the Karla J. Williams Foundation is Saturday, October 11, 2014
If you’re a fan of listening to live smooth jazz while sitting by the water with a nice glass of wine or two, I have got the premier event for you!
Sax on the River is a contemporary jazz benefit concert held to promote breast cancer awareness and raise funds for the Karla J Williams Foundation. This year’s featured artists include Elan Trotman, Lebron Dennis, Cecil Ramirez and Cynthia Marie Douglas. There will be a live auction, raffle, food, no host bar and an amazing view of the Sacramento River. There will also be a tribute to honor a dear friend of Sax on the River lost to cancer in February, Liz Hooper Gibson.
The event will be held on the afternoon/evening of Saturday, October 11 at the residence of Barbara Walker and Chuck Kelley, 10215 Garden Hwy, Sacramento, CA
The schedule for the evening is as follows:
- 4pm – Doors Open
- 4:30-5:15pm – Cynthia Douglas
- 5:45-6:30pm – Cecil Ramirez Group
- 6:30-6:45pm – Video Tribute to Liz Gibson
- 7-7:45pm – Lebron
- 8-9:15pm – Elan Trotman
- 9:15-10pm – Artists autographs
Unfortunately, there are no VIP tickets left for purchase, but the $50 general admission tickets are still for sale. PURCHASE TICKETS HERE. The $50 ticket does not include food, but there will be food available for purchase, a no host bar, silent auction, and raffle. Tickets will also be available at the door for $60.
You can find Sax on the River on Facebook here and follow them on twitter here.
About Sax on the River
In 2014, Sax on the River is donating 100% of the proceeds to The Karla J. Williams Foundation. Sax on the River was conceived by Trisha Friend while enjoying a Tom Braxton show at Harlow’s almost five years ago. During the final number of the night, several local musicians; Kim Waters, Jeff Clayton and Garrett Perkins joined Tom onstage. Four amazing saxophonists on the stage at one time, playing together, made her heart skip a beat. And the rest is history. The saxophone is an instrument that brings smiles to faces and makes people’s hearts sing and she wanted to bring that to her river event.
As a breast cancer survivor she created the event to promote breast cancer awareness, to give back to a non-profit organization that helps women cancer patients and their families and to share her love of jazz, particularly the saxophone, with all her friends and fellow jazz lovers in the Sacramento area.
Event Flyer:
Nevada City Uncorked: Walk this Way for a Unique Food and Wine Tasting
Last Saturday, Andy and I went up to Nevada City for a food and wine event called Nevada City Uncorked. It was held in historic downtown Nevada City and featured a robust sampling of local Foothill wines and food studded along 40 local businesses all within walking distance.
We didn’t hit all the stops, but made it to quite a few. Our first stop was The Broad Street Inn where Solune Winery was stationed. The were pouring a 2013 Sauvignon Blanc Musqué, a 2013 Barbera Rosé (award winning, we were told) and a 2010 Barbera.
Then we walked over to the unique and quite beautiful Two Room Inn where Chacewater Winery was pouring the 2013 Syrah Rosé, their 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, and their 2012 Zinfandel. Diego’s Restaurant was serving tri-tip mini sliders with chimichurri sauce, but it was early in the game and I didn’t want to use my food tickets up just yet (you get 5 tickets included with your admission to trade in at one ticket per food item) Additional tickets can be purchased if you want more food along the way.
Our next stop was Mana Beads which featured Bent Metal Winery and Sopa Thai Restaurant. I finally gave into my hunger and got a yummy spring roll, while Andy went for a vegetable curry served over rice.
Next on our tour was Sierra Knolls Winery and Jardin del Rio placed in the New York Hotel (also home of The Truffle Shop). I thought Sierra Knolls had made a big improvement in their wines since I tried them last about 5 years ago, and I am happy to have found them at this event. Their 2011 Barbera was very good.
Next up was an actual tasting room, the home of Szabo Vineyards. They were tasting a 2010 Primitivo, a 2010 Zinfandel, and a 2010 Voila (blend). On hand to supply the food were the most gorgeous deli trays from SPD Market. So happy we stopped here, and I happily traded in another food ticket for some lovely fruit and antipasto––grapes, cheeses, olives, ham and turkey!! 🙂
After stopping for quite a while at Szabo, we made our way to Utopian Stone, a jewelry store who hosted Bear River Winery and Harmony Ridge Market. We didn’t stay long, as I wasn’t willing to trade in one of my tickets for a lemon bar. 😉
Andy had volunteered for Nevada City Uncorked back in 2011, and recalled that we was stationed at the very corner Utopian Stone sits on. There’s a big plush purple chair where we sat for a minute to watch people go by. Then we got up and headed over to Bel Capeli Salon and Spa.
Inside Bel Capeli, Coufos Cellars wines were being poured. I liked every single one. I tried a Viognier, a Rosé, and their 2009 Buffo Blanc. The food in the salon was provided by Summer Thyme’s. Andy really liked their take on a tomato and mozzarella salad––it was served on a skewer.
The picture below was taken from the balcony of the National Hotel. Pilot Peak was there with their 2009 Cabernet Franc and their 2010 Barbera. Their hotel restaurant Hoovers was serving Prime Rib sliders.
Then tucked away in the back of Nevada City Classic Cafe, and I mean wayyy in the back (had to send a search party to find her) was Jill of Lone Buffalo Vineyards.
The rest of the crew from Lone Buffalo was hustling the vineyard (it was harvest day!) so it was Jill all by herself sharing Lone Buffalo’s current Viognier and their 2011 Tatonka Tempranillo. Also available was their 2011 Where the Buffalo Roam. It was fun to see Jill and Lone Buffalo, longtime friends of cakegrrl.com and cavegrrl.com. 🙂
Speaking of friends of this website, our next stop was Crazy Horse Saloon and Grill where Fawnridge Winery was assigned and owners Stewart and Stephanie Perry were pouring their 2012 Chardonnay (yes, please!) and their 2010 Barbera (double yes, please!)
A triple yes, please for the delightful goody for which I gladly traded in two of my food tickets. Heck no, it wasn’t Paleo, but didn’t care. 🙂 It was a Reuben egg roll (the program says spring roll, but it was deep fried like an egg roll and had an egg roll wrapper. (Shown below) It was filled with house cured corned beef, sauerkraut, swiss cheese and placed on a bed of spicy mustard. Yum! 🙂
We made it to at a few other last places before time was up: Clavey Wines had their own tasting room as a stop, and we made our last stop at the only brewery on the tour: Matteo’s Public. I had the Chocolypto: a chocolate oatmeal stout which served as a fine finale.
Luckily we had an uphill trek back to the car to work off some of those tastings! What a great day in downtown Nevada City full of great people and terrific wine and food (and beer!) Thanks to the organizers of the event for having us out for the experience. 🙂
You can find Nevada City Uncorked on Facebook here.
Farm to Fork Wine Dinner Series: Sienna Restaurant Featuring Cakebread Wines
Just look at that line up! Those bottles of Cakebread Cellars were the wines featured at Sienna Restaurant’s latest wine dinner last Thursday.
Andy and I were excited to attend this dinner because we are big fans of Cakebread, especially their Reserve Chardonnay.
Pictured below is the menu for the evening, kudos to chef Moses Hernandez at Sienna for making our dinner gluten free!!
We started with the 2013 Cakebread Sauvignon Blanc paired with a Scallop and Tiger Prawn Ceviche over cabbage and a mixed vegetable slaw with red chile and blue corn chips. This dish was the best pairing for a Sauvignon Blanc, as it was citrusy, light and refreshing, just as the wine was. And I was a hungry lady after a semi-stressful day at work. Andy remarked that he was transported to Mexico by this dish. Good thing we’re going in November! 🙂
The second course was a Seared Chilean Sea Bass with Forbidden Rice, Soy Poached Bok Choy, Lemongrass Broth & Thai gremolata. It was paired with a 2012 Napa Valley Cakebread Cellars Chardonnay.
I was so happy to have had this as the second course, as I love Thai food and this was certainly a Thai inspired dish. Again, really refreshing and just amazingly good. The broth was so flavorful, and the rice was cooked perfectly. We had some wine left from the previous course and it went with the Sauvignon Blanc just as well.
The third course was a Roasted New York Steak with Sauteéd Fingerling Potatoes, Citrus Swiss Chard, Pomegranate Molasses, and Roquefort Blue Cheese butter. It was paired with a 2011 Cakebread Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
This was the course that made Sienna as a restaurant really shine. Not only was the steak cooked perfectly along with the accoutrements. I want to comment for a moment on the service and attention to detail I witnessed at Sienna. First, one of the servers halted service of this course for Andy and me. They were not sure if we had been served the gluten-free plates or not. Now, that was highly appreciated, because although we do not have a gluten allergy, maybe someone who requested a gluten free meal might have. The staff at Sienna made sure we were delivered the correct entreés.
Another comment is that special attention to detail was given in handling the wine, as it was going to be pretty tight tannin-wise. The bar staff at Sienna took the time to both aerate the wine and then decant it long before dinner guests arrived, so that it would give its best showing.
And the wine was pretty phenomenal to both of us, and pretty much put a spell on Andy. He loved the Cabernet so much, that he ordered a case. I am pretty excited about that, because I benefit. I get to taste the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon as it matures and develops. Softens and becomes even more magnificent. I think he said we are going to open a bottle every 6 months. Don’t be jealous, maybe you’ll get an invite for dinner to share. 😉
Then, it was on to the last course. The dessert course. Sienna made sure to adjust ours so that it was gluten free as well. It was a Peanut Butter Mousse, topped with Whipped Cream and chopped Peanut Butter Cups. It was paired with a 2012 Red Hills Lake County Cakebread Cellars Zinfandel that to be quite honest, longed to be paired with the prior course. No matter. I gave Andy all but two tastes of my dessert and I enjoyed the Zinfandel pretty much as my dessert. It was spectacular. 🙂
I could pretty much sum this dinner up as pure bliss. It was a beautiful evening under the stars with like minded people. All food and wine lovers like Andy and myself. I want to thank the team at Sienna for making this an incredible evening for all of the guests. No detail was spared and I am pretty sure no one left hungry or the slightest bit unhappy. We’ll certainly be back to enjoy dinner when we come to retrieve the case of Cakebread Cabernet, but we’ll also save the date for your upcoming dinner on October 2nd with Jordan Cellars.
PS: Sienna also does a Monday night Wine and Dine, it’s 3 courses paired with wine for $35 per person. Hook yourselves up by clicking here! Guess what… it’s Monday, you should totally go NOWWWW!!!
OK, that’s the yummy wrap for tonight. I’ll have more Farm to Fork Wine Dinner coverage later this week! Cheers!! 🙂
You can find Sienna Restaurant on Facebook here and on twitter here.
Farm to Fork Wine Dinner Series: Supper Club Fine Catering Presents Todd Taylor Wines, September 11th
presents
Supper Club Fine Catering is kicking off their Farm to fork wine dinner series featuring Todd Taylor wines at Vierra Farms.
The dinner will be held on Thursday, September 11th from 6:30-9:30pm
I am excited about this dinner because I recently had some of Supper Club’s great food at a party in Curtis Park hosted by some friends of Andy and mine.
Here’s the scheduled menu for the evening:
Passed Appetizers (6:30pm – 6:55pm)
Delta Crawfish Corn Dogs with Lemon Tarragon Dijon Aioli
Bruschetta with Local Fresh Tomato Tartar, Basil, and Olive Fig Tapenade
Baby Red Potato Skins with Caramelized Shallot Mascarpone and House Wild Boar Pancetta
Todd Taylor Tempranillo “Holland Landing” 2012
Soup & Sandwich
“There’s a Fungus Among Us”
Wild Mushroom Latte in Demitasse with White Truffle Crema Shacking up together with Grown Up Grilled Cheese with Smoked Portobello, Gruyere, Oven Dried Tomato, and Arugula Pesto
Todd Taylor Pinot Noir Reserve “Corotto Vineyard” 2012
First Family Style Course
Duck Duck Goose #5
Potato Gnocchi, Shredded Grimaud Duck Confit, House Made Duck Prosciutto, Goose Pancetta, Roasted Vierra Farms Squash, Poblanos, Toasted Pumpkin Seeds and Light Sage Cream Sauce
Todd Taylor Zinfandel “Clockspring Vineyard” 2012
Second Family Style Course
“3 Little Piggies went to the Farm”
Crispy Pork Belly, Smoked Tenderloin and Braised Shoulder Served with Colossal Runner Bean, Tomato, Fennel and grilled Fig Salad
Todd Taylor Primitivo “Blue House” 2012
Third Family Style Course
“Not your Momma’s Steak and Potatoes”
Grilled Lucky Dog Skirt Steak basted with Secret Recipe House Butter, served with White Truffle Asiago Russet Frites, and Garlicky Green Beans
Todd Taylor Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 337 “Hagen Heights” 2012
Finale
“Waiter My Cheesecake is Stinky”
Stilton Cheesecake with Rosemary Walnut Crust and Local Stone Fruit Ginger Chutney
Todd Taylor Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Clone 8 “Alphawolf Ranch” 2010
Seating will be community/family style.
The cost is $75 per person (+tax and service charge), so $97.65 inclusive. Reservations and pre-payment are required. Menu substitutions are not allowed. Contact Alissa for reservations at catering@supperclubsacramento.com or call 916-808-1289.
Vierra Farms is located at 3010 Burrows Ave, West Sacramento
Other Farm-to-Fork upcoming dates are:
10-23-14 Farm to Fork Dinner Featuring Sean Minor Wine Dinner at the Crocker Art Museum
11-20-14 Farm to Fork Dinner Featuring Pruett Vineyards at the Crocker Art Museum
12-18-14 Farm to Fork Dinner (Winery TBD) at the Crocker Art Museum
About Todd Taylor Wines:
Todd Taylor produces single vineyard designated red wines. Napa Valley Cabernet Savingnon, Cabernet Franc, and Pinot Noir. Amador County Zinfindel and Primitivo. Clarksburg Tempranillo. Aged in New Cooperage. Available for tasting Saturday and Sunday 12-5. You can find them online here, on Facebook here, and on twitter here.
For more information on the wine dinner, click here.
You can find Supper Club Fine Catering on Facebook here.
I’ll be attending with Andy and we’ll have a post dinner commentary with pictures next week. Cheers and hope to see you out there! 🙂
Kathryn Hall Release Party Set for Sept. 13th, 1-4pm
The “Kathryn Hall Release Party” date has been set for Saturday, September 13 at HALL Wines in St. Helena where the 2011 HALL ‘Kathryn Hall’ Cabernet Sauvignon will be released for a crowd filled with wine lovers, foodies, fans, members and tourists alike. The party will take place on the newly designed Great Lawn from 1pm – 4pm PST.
I have been to another event at HALL Wines, their Cabernet Cookoff, which took place in May this year, and I can tell you that they know how to throw a party, and the grounds at HALL are just beautiful.
The Release Party with feature great music from DJ Adam Jobe, farm to table seasonal fare from Feast Catering and a clutch of wine lovers, foodies and fans coming together to celebrate HALL’s winemaking excellence.
It’s HALL’s largest annual event of the year and they are setting the bar high! Get your daytime sip, stroll, and lounge on at HALL, St. Helena.
Schedule:
Vertical Tasting & Kathryn Hall Release Party
12-1PM: Vertical Tasting of 2008–2013 Kathryn Hall lead by Director of Wine Making Steve Leveque
Kathryn Hall Release Party
1-4PM: Kathryn Hall Release Party including plentiful food and artisan wines, DJ and dancing, photo booth, and special signing and photo opp with Kathryn herself.
As an added bonus: Kathryn will be available for a photo opp with you, and will be signing all bottle purchases of “Kathryn Hall” that day.
Tickets are $200 per person for the Vertical Tasting & Release Party: BUY TICKETS HERE, and $90 per person for the Release Party only: BUY TICKETS HERE
HALL Wines is located at 401 St. Helena Hwy S, St Helena CA.
You can find HALL Wines on Facebook here and follow them on Twitter here and on Instagram here.
2014 Curtis Park Wine Tasting, Silent Auction and Beer Garden is October 4th, 4-7pm
The 2014 Curtis Park Wine Tasting, Silent Auction & Beer Garden Event promises to be one of the best ever! In it’s 24th year, the event boasts more than 20 of the best restaurants in Sacramento, more than 50 wineries, and the always popular Beer Garden orchestrated by Pangaea Two Brews & Bottleshop. There will be special demonstrations by culinary students of American River College and Oak Cafe along with hundreds of silent auction and raffle items.
The annual Curtis Park Wine Tasting, Silent Auction & Beer Garden Event is the largest fundraising event for the Sierra 2 Center and Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association. Proceeds from the event help fund artistic, cultural, educational and recreational endeavors at Sierra 2 Center and throughout Sacramento, including the operations of the Senior Center and community building events. Additional beneficiaries of this event include Bret Harte Elementary School and C.K. McClatchy High School. The event’s success helps fund many different important community activities.
If you truly love fine and eclectic wines, THIS is the event for you! 🙂
Tickets
Advance until 11:59pm, Oct. 1: $40 (SCNA Members)/$45 (Non-members) Membership can be purchased or renewed during your registration process. You can register HERE.
After Oct. 1: $50 all
Online tickets available until 11:59pm, Oct. 1. After Oct. 1, tickets available at Sierra 2 Center office and at the door the day of the event. Tickets are also available for purchase by visiting the Sierra 2 Center office at 2791 24th Street or by calling 916-452-3005. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door prior to the event.
You can follow the Sierra 2 Center on twitter here and find them on Facebook here.
Fogo de Chão in San Jose: A Meat Lover’s Paradise!
When Andy and I visited San Jose a few weeks ago, we dined at a Brazilian churrascaria called Fogo de Chão (pronounced fo-go dée shown). It’s located in Santana Row close to Hotel Valencia, our host hotel for that weekend. A churrascaria is a place where meat is cooked in churrasco style (Portuguese for ‘barbecue’), and it’s pretty much like Paleo heaven. 🙂
If you have never dined at a Brazilian steakhouse before, there is a procedure to the meal, and it’s really quite fun. After being seated, diners are given a cardboard token (looks like a drink coaster) that is green on one side and red on the other. This token is used to signal the gaucho chefs to begin meat service to your table. But first, it’s off to the salad bar!
The salad bar features premium items such as 24 Month, Aged Parmesan, Aged Manchego Cheese, Prosciutto, Brazilian Hearts of Palm, Artichoke Bottoms, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Fresh Mozzarella, Smoked Salmon, Italian Salami, Jumbo Asparagus, Tabbouleh and Shitake Mushrooms, not to mention at least large bowls full of different lettuce mixes to use for the base of your salad. It would be easy to get full on just the salad bar alone, so pace yourself.
When you are ready for the meats to be served, turn your token green side up, signaling that you are ready for our gaucho chefs to begin tableside service. This continuous service is known as “Rodizio” style.
There are 16 cuts of fire roasted meats to choose from including top sirloin, filet mignon, rib eye, bottom sirloin, beef ribs, lamb, chicken, pork ribs, pork loin (encrusted in parmesan cheese and linguica (a Brazilian-style, cured pork sausage). The gaucho chefs are very attentive and efficient. I would advise you to come not only hungry, but starving! Below are some of the meats the gaucho chefs serve on a nightly basis:
Pictured from left to right: Lamb (cordeiro), Chicken (frango) Pork Ribs (costela de porco), Pork Loin (lombo), Pork Sausage (linguica), Top Sirloin (picanha), Beef Ribs (costela), Bacon Wrapped Filet and Bacon Wrapped Chicken. Wow! So very Paleo! 🙂
When you are full, you flip the token to the red side until you are ready for more offerings.
In the photo above, Andy is being served the signature steak of the restaurant, the Picanha (pea-CAN-ya), a prime cut of top sirloin.
The meal also includes limitless service of traditional Brazilian side dishes, including: pão de queijo (warm cheese bread), crispy hot polenta (like polenta fries), garlic mashed potatoes and caramelized bananas. (not so Paleo) 😦
Fogo de Chão is a recipient of the prestigious Wine Spectator Magazine Award of Excellence for eight consecutive years. I chose a reasonably priced Cabernet made by Trapiche (a label I had at least heard of before). It was quite good.
Below, the gaucho chef serves Andy a bacon wrapped filet mignon, and a bacon wrapped chicken.
Someone looks happy! Ask him how many lamb chops he had! 😉
Then, after we had signaled we were done with our meal, one of the gaucho chefs brought out this cake to celebrate Andy’s birthday. What a fun dinner! Thanks so much to the staff at Fogo de Chão, San Jose for taking such good care of us! 🙂
Lunch at Fogo de Chão San Jose is $34.50 | (Salad Bar Only – $24.50) and is served Mon-Fri 11:30-2:00.
Dinner is $54.50 | (Salad Bar Only – $29.50) and is served Mon-Thur 5:00-10:00, Fri 5:00-10:30, Sat 3:00-10:30, and Sun 12:00-9:00.
Children 6 and under are complimentary. Children 7 to 12 are half price. Any beverages, desserts, tax, and gratuity are additional. An 18% gratuity is added to all parties of 6 or more.
You can like Fogo de Chão on Facebook here, and follow them on twitter here.
Farm to Fork Legends of Wine is September 18th, 6:00-8:30pm
I can say in all honesty that out of the whole year, I love the months of September and October most. There are several reasons for that. One of them is the weather. It starts to cool off just enough and the mornings are perfect for running. Another reason is that it is harvest time–more importantly to me, crush time in the vineyards. It’s also getting to be around the time I met Andy, and I am very excited to celebrate our 3rd anniversary this year.
September is also California Wine Month and the month Sacramento celebrates Farm-t0-Fork week from September 13th-28th, featuring several events to celebrate the local sustainability and food production of the Sacramento region by featuring the farmers, chefs and culinary community that make the Sacramento region the Farm-to-Fork Capital of America.
One of the not-to-be-missed events is Farm-to-Fork Legends of Wine featuring wines selected by Darrell Corti and David Berkley. It takes place on Thursday, September 18th 6pm – 8:30pm on the State Capitol West Steps.
Darrell Corti, who was recognized by Saveur magazine as the man “Who knows more about food and wine than anyone else in the world,” and David Berkley, once recognized as “the man behind the White House wine list,” will host an evening of great wines and cheeses during Sacramento inaugural Farm-to-Fork Week.
Paired along-side artisan cheeses and breads, this event will offer free tastes from some of the region’s most celebrated wineries listed below:
Andis Wines
Legendre Cellars
Sierra Starr Vineyard & Winery
Boeger Winery
Matchbook Wines
Six Hands Winery
Bogle Vineyards
Michael David Winery
Sobon Family Wines
Bokisch Vineyard
Miraflores Winery
Spoto Wines
Casey Flat Ranch Winery
New Clairvaux Vineyards
Terra d’Oro Winery
Dancing Coyote Wines
Putah Creek Winery
Terre Rouge & Easton Wines
David Girard Vineyard
Rendez-Vous Winery
Uvaggio Wines
Feist Winery
Revolution Wines
VanRuiten
Family Winery
Jeff Runquist Wines
Scott Harvey Wines
Vino Noceto Winery
LangeTwins Family Winery & Vineyards
Seka Hills Wines
To purchase tickets ($50 per person) head over to the Farm-to-Fork website and the Legends of Wine event page (click here).
You can keep up with all the events during the Farm-to-Fork celebration by liking their Facebook page here and follow SacFarm2Fork on twitter here. If wine and fancy dinners aren’t your speed, there is a free festival on September 27th featuring food demos and fun for the whole family!
Enter to Win a Race Entry to the San Francisco Nike Women’s Half Marathon on October 19th, 2014!
Once again this year, I am partnering with Whole Foods Market Northern California, and I will be running for them in the San Francisco Nike Women’s Half Marathon. I am really excited to have been asked again (by Whole Foods), and I am even more excited that I WILL BE GIVING AWAY TWO ENTRIES to this SOLD OUT race right here on this website (SCROLL DOWN FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO ENTER)!
You might be familiar with this race because of it’s scenic course through San Francisco and the only half marathon series to give it’s finishers a Tiffany necklace instead of a finisher’s medal!! Not only that, but the necklace is given to you by a firefighter dressed in a tuxedo! 🙂
Here I am following last year’s race wearing my finisher’s necklace (and shirt from the race!):
I’ll be sharing some recipes with food provided to me by Whole Foods Market, and providing my training reports from now leading up to October 19th.
It’s been a while since I have run a half marathon (last November), so I will be putting in some hard work from now until race day. Here’s a favorite post of mine sponsored by Whole Foods from last year’s training.
Here’s this year’s course map:
This giveaway is for a race entry only. Once you win, you will be responsible for the $180 entry fee.–The entry does not include transportation, hotel, or parking the day of the race. Keep in mind there is NO race packet pick up the day of the race, so you will need to make arrangements to attend the expo on Thursday, October 16, 12:00PM – 8:00PM, Friday, October 17, 10:00AM – 8:00PM, or Saturday, October 18, 8:00AM – 6:00PM to collect your bib number.
TO ENTER TO WIN A RACE ENTRY FOR THE NIKE WOMEN’S HALF MARATHON ON OCTOBER 19th, 2014 at 6:30am, PLEASE DO ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:
1. Like cavegrrl.com on Facebook here.
2. Leave a comment in the comment section below and tell me why you want to run the race!
3. Like Whole Foods Sacramento on Facebook here or Whole Foods Roseville here.
4. Follow Whole Foods Northern California on twitter here.
4. Share this post on Facebook.
I will be choosing TWO winners on September 1st!
Good luck! 🙂
You can find Whole Foods on Facebook here and on twitter here. My local store is in Roseville on Facebook here.
You can find the Run Nike Women’s Series and more information on the race on Facebook here.
Wine Weekend Getaway at Hotel Valencia Santana Row
OK wine lovers! Looking for a fun alternative to Napa Valley that’s within driving distance of Sacramento and the Bay area?
Andy and I just checked out the Hotel Valencia at Santana Row in San Jose. They’re doing a Wine Weekend Getaway promotion (available Fridays and Saturdays only) that includes luxurious accommodations for two, a bottle of local wine with artisan cheeses and a prepared picnic lunch for a day of wine tasting.
I surprised Andy for his birthday weekend by planning the trip and coordinating some activities we would do during our stay at Hotel Valencia.
Andy did not know much about the birthday weekend in store for him. Just that we’d be driving to somewhere about two hours away, and that wine would somehow be involved (duh!). Speaking of wine, upon arrival, we were greeted with a lovely fruit and cheese plate and a bottle of local wine. Surprise, Andy, and welcome to Hotel Valencia at Santana Row!
For Andy’s birthday dinner that evening, we walked to nearby Fogo de Chao, also located in Santana Row. I’ll be writing a separate blog post about our meal there. It was fabulous! Another benefit of staying at Hotel Valencia is the proximity from your room to delicious places to eat. Just walk there and walk back and no hassles with parking. 🙂
The next morning, I hit the gym in the hotel for a little damage control. The gym is small, but very nice with three treadmills, two elliptical machines, a stationary bike, and a weight station. There are also towels on ice and a large container of water to take care of your thirst. 🙂
Following the workout, Andy and I headed down for the complimentary breakfast buffet at Citrus restaurant (located inside Hotel Valencia) that runs from 6-10am daily.
The hotel’s breakfast buffet is the best I have ever seen for being complimentary. There was an assortment of fruits (melons and berries), an oatmeal station, sausages, and an egg dish (the first day was an omelette of sorts, and the second day was scrambled (as pictured above). There is also coffee and juice bar, as well as a station to toast bread and bagels (if that is your thing) 😉 It was nice to eat a great meal that we did not have to go out and find or pay extra. A very big bonus for Hotel Valencia guests! 🙂
The hotel’s interior is very unique, (as you’ll see in several of the photos below). I would describe it as modern with a Spanish flair that is present in the color and even in the hotel’s logo. It has 212 rooms.
Most rooms are approximately 350 square feet and feature views of the Santana Row neighborhood or the beautifully landscaped courtyard. They are furnished with either two double beds or one king bed with custom bedding, 42″ flat panel color TV, an oversized armchair, desk, and private bar. The full bathroom offers a traditional bathtub and shower combination. Rooms feature complimentary wired and wireless high-speed Internet access and daily newspaper, upon request.
After breakfast, we relaxed by the pool (pictured below) for a few hours. Don’t worry, I didn’t swim for at least 30 minutes. 😉
Following swimming and sunbathing Then it was time for the rest of the birthday activities to be revealed. I told Andy that first, we would be going wine tasting and then I had planned a larger event that evening that would be outdoors and we would be picnicking in the parking lot. So after the hints, Andy assumed we were headed to a Giants game! Ha… silly him. 😛
Equipped with the picnic basket, we set out to explore one of the four wineries to which the hotel has given us tasting passes. After deciding not to purchase wine at our first stop, we decided to head up the mountain to visit and do a tasting at Ridge Vineyards. (We were not given passes to Ridge, but were set on dropping in anyway). Why? Well, Andy and I met over a tasting of Ridge’s Cabernet at the Curtis Park Wine Tasting, Silent Auction & Beer Garden Event nearly three years ago.
The staff at Ridge couldn’t be more friendly and loved hearing about how we met. We tried several of their wines and decided on a full case to take home. Gotta love that industry discount! 😉 A big thank you to Ridge Vineyards. We’ll be back to sit outside with some wine and take in the magnificent view at your winery when we have time to stay a little longer!
By the time we were done at Ridge, it was almost time to head down to the main birthday event! A picnic and concert at Mountain Winery: Creedence Clearwater Revisited.
The view through the trees taken at Mountain Winery.
The picnic basket and blanket (above, provided by the hotel–amazing job on the fruit and meats, by the way), and the tailgate party (below) we had at Mountain Winery before the start of the show. I highly recommend tailgating before a concert at the winery to avoid exorbitant dinner costs.
So happy Andy and I finally saw a show together at Mountain Winery. Stu Cooke and Doug Clifford still rock!
PS: Don’t worry Paleo friends, no crackers were harmed/eaten during our picnic (and were returned with the blanket and picnic basket). 😉
We had such a great time over the weekend and at the show! A huge thank you to my friends at Hotel Valencia for helping me arrange a wonderful birthday getaway for my best friend!
Hotel Valencia Santana Row is located at 355 Santana Row, San Jose, Calif. Information about upcoming events and packages are available online at www.hotelvalencia-santanarow.com, or call 866.842.0100 for reservations and additional information about lodging at Hotel Valencia Santana Row.
You can find Hotel Valencia on Facebook here and follow them on twitter here.
More about Hotel Valencia:
Hotel Features:
- 212 elegantly appointed accommodations
- The only hotel located on Santana Row, away from the hustle and bustle of San Jose and Silicon Valley
- Complimentary deluxe continental breakfast served daily in Citrus Restaurant
- Vbar, an ultra modern lounge with expansive balcony views
- Fitness Center
- 4,000 square feet of meeting and event space
- Outdoor year-round swimming pool
- Complimentary wireless Internet in guest rooms and all public areas of the hotel
- Business center with 24/7 access
- Same day laundry and valet
- 24-hour room service
- Handicap accessible facilities
Nearby Attractions:
- Santana Row – dynamic mix of upscale shopping and entertainment!
- A myriad of dining options from Strait’s with Singaporean cuisine to
Left Bank, a French bistro. There is something for every palate! - Santana Row has ongoing programs of street entertainment from music
to movies. - Across Stevens Creek Boulevard, Valley Fair mall offers more than 250
stores for your shopping pleasure including a new Luxury Wing as well as
Nordstrom and Macy’s. - Winchester Mystery House—the world’s oddest mansion. 160-room
Victorian mansion designed by Winchester Rifle heiress. - Levi’s Stadium – Hotel Valencia is only 11 miles away from the New Levi’s
stadium which is home to the 49ers as well as a multipurpose facility for
other sporting events and concerts. - Home to NHL’s San Jose Sharks!
Win a Pair of Tickets to Sactown Wings on August 23rd, 2014
Sacramento’s booming food festival scene now has a special day to dedicate to the ever popular party food: the chicken wing. That day is August 23rd at 2pm (until 7pm) at Fremont Park (16th and P streets). event flyer below
I was very happy to team up with Xoso Sports to help promote this event because the proceeds from it will benefit the Food Literacy Center! 🙂 I recently interviewed Nick Berruezo (founder of Sactown Wings and Xoso Sports) and here’s what he had to say about it:
Cavegrrl: How did you come up with the concept to have a wings festival in Sacramento?
Nick: The wing fest concept actually came from a friend of mine, and I hadn’t heard of anything like it in Sacramento. There are a lot of wing lovers out there, and some of them might even be considered fanatical about their wings, so I thought it could be a fun, popular event for Sacramento! Plus, there are some great local restaurants and bars who have some amazing wings, and I thought this event could help bring them future business.
Cavegrrl: What made you decide to name the Food Literacy Center as a beneficiary?
Nick: I met with my friend Nicole Rogers with the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Farm to Fork division, who also serves on the board of the FLC and she put me in contact with Amber Stott with the Food Literacy Center. The FLC has a great mission to educate the community about healthy, sustainable eating and Amber and Nicole were very excited about the event. It seemed like a great opportunity to work together!
Cavegrrl: Please tell me about attendee ticket options. I understand there are different levels.
Nick: There are three different ticket options:
-$10 Event Attendee: Admission only. You can purchase food and full priced beer at the event.
-$30 Wing Eater: Includes admission, 15 wings from Chicago Fire, souvenir beer mug with two free beers, and $2 beer refills.
-$40 VIP Wing Judge: Includes Wing Eater package plus additional 10 wings (2 each from five wing vendors) and a Sactown Wings Judge t-shirt. You’ll be one of only 100 people who get to vote on who has the best wings!
Cavegrrl: Do you have any entertainment lined up for guests of the event?
Nick: So far, our entertainment will consist of games: corn hole, bear pong (giant beer pong), giant jenga, and some live bands, which tentatively include the Golden Cadillacs and Musical Charis.
Cavegrrl: What else do you think my readers should know about the event?
Nick: I think the ticket packages are a great value and we’re hoping that this event grows and becomes an annual event. It’s a great opportunity to not only support the Food Literacy Center, but many local restaurants, brewers, and musicians at the same time!
Awesome, Nick! Also, I want to thank you for generously donating a pair of tickets to give away on cavegrrl.com! 🙂
TO WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS TO SACTOWN WINGS ON AUGUST 23rd, PLEASE SHARE THIS POST ON FACEBOOK, “LIKE” THE SACTOWN WINGS FACEBOOK PAGE (CLICK HERE), AND LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW STATING YOUR FAVORITE PLACE FOR WINGS IN SACRAMENTO! Please leave some way I can contact you if you win. I will announce the winner on Friday, August 1st! Good luck! 🙂
Sactown Wings will take place on August 23rd from 2-7pm in Fremont Park. You can purchase tickets here.
You can like their Facebook page here and follow them on twitter here!
The Food Literacy Center’s mission is to inspire kids to eat their vegetables. They teach low-income elementary children cooking and nutrition to improve their health, community and environment.
Roasted Carrots with Curry and Pecans
Every year Andy and I get together with another family for a nice dinner party on the back deck at our house in Incline Village. We collaborate on a menu for our guests and make a fuss over the food and wine. The first year, we tricked everyone into eating a fully Paleo meal. Since then, all the guests know it’s a Paleo meal, and no one seems to mind. 🙂 No one misses the bread or the sugar!
Typically, I am in charge of two side dishes, and Andy grills the meat (main course), makes a big salad, and makes his classic Bacon Wrapped Dates.
I have to say, Summer Solstice Party Number Three was a success and for one of my sides, I made and served these carrots.
I used a stevia sweetener called Pyure Sweet in the recipe. Many thanks to the manufacturer for sending me the samples.
Ingredients:
(feeds about 8-10 as a side dish)
1 cup pecans
5 pounds carrots
8 Tbs coconut oil (or butter)
1/4 cup Pyure Sweet
1 Tbs molasses
1 Tbs curry powder
1/2 cup lemon juice
Sea Salt to taste
Cracked black pepper
First, you’ll need to toast the pecans. You can do this in the oven or in a skillet on low heat. Whatever works for you. Just be careful not to burn them. Let them cool once toasted, and give them a rough chop. Set aside.
So, I personally choose the oven to toast my pecans, because it heats up the oven for my carrots that go in next. I have the temp at about 375°F for toasting the pecans. I heat it up to about 400°F when it is carrot roasting time.
Before the carrots go in, you’ll need to clean them up by peeling and cutting them into “french fry” shapes. It’s up to you what size you cut them down, but make sure they are uniform so they will cook evenly. Then, put them on a sheet tray (or two) that’s well oiled/greased (coconut oil or olive oil works best), salt liberally with sea salt, and roast until browned. I would tell you how long to leave them in the oven, but it all depends on how thick you have cut them, so I am leaving that up to you.
While the carrots are roasting away, you can make the curry sauce. Melt 8 Tbs of coconut oil (or butter) together over low heat in a saucepan with 1 Tbs molasses, 1/4 cup of Pyure Sweet stevia blend, 1/2 cup lemon juice, and 1 Tbs curry powder. Make sure all ingredients have combined over the heat (without boiling) and set aside.
Remove the carrots from the oven when they are close to being done. Drizzle the curry sauce over the pan/pans of carrots. Return to the oven and roast an additional 5-10 minutes.
Then the sauce has saturated and cooked into the carrots, remove them from the oven, and sprinkled the toasted pecans over them.
Serve the carrots warm or room temperature. A perfect party side dish and a true crowd-pleaser! 🙂
Raley’s Food for Families Refresh Dinner at Vierra Farms kicks off Summer Donation Campaign
Last Wednesday, Andy and I attended a fundraising dinner at Vierra Farms held by Raley’s Food for Families. The purpose of the event was to introduce a new program to supply fresh produce to food banks and to kick off the Fresh Summer Donation drive.
The event was catered by Beth Sogaard Catering. The meal began with a House Smoked Salmon Salad on fresh spring greens with grilled apricots, herb and pollen crusted chevre, shaved celery, cucumber ribbons and a shot of honey-lemon vinaigrette.
The main course was a duo of meats: Raley’s Free Range chicken breast stuffed with sweet peppers, spinach, basil and fontina, and an herb-glazed Raley’s Black Angus Beef tenderloin with a grilled young artichoke, on a bed of truffled potato puree and cherry tomato-basil-sweet corn compote with arugula pesto.
There was a short presentation by both Michael Teel and Jennifer Teel-Wolter. Jennifer then kicked off a donate-by-texting program and guests of the dinner could text the amount of money they wished to donate and their name throughout the evening. By the end of the event, nearly $300,000 was raised!
In honor of National Fruits and Vegetable Month (the month of June), Raley’s Food For Families is launching a pilot program designed to increase the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables at local food banks. Food For Families’ partner food banks throughout Sacramento and Placer counties will now be provided with access to a variety of fresh produce, in addition to dry goods, to distribute in their respective communities. This new program allows food banks to choose what they need in their community.
Raley’s also announces their Fresh Summer Donation campaign, beginning June 9 and lasting through July 31, to help increase donations of fresh produce to local food banks.
Food For Families has raised more than $31 million and donated more than 21 million pounds of dry groceries to food banks in our communities since the program began as a holiday food drive in 1986. Raley’s Co-Chairman and Owner, Joyce Raley Teel, and CEO emeritus, Charles Collings, founded the program.
Today, food banks throughout Northern California and Nevada benefit from this non-profit program. Food For Families helps feed hundreds of thousands of hungry families year round.
Raley’s absorbs all administrative costs of the program with 100 percent of every donation going directly to help feed the hungry. All donated food is distributed by local food banks.
Customers can donate in four easy ways: At the checkstand at all Raley’s, Bel Air or Nob Hill Foods; online at foodforfamilies.org; on Facebook at www.facebook.com/raleysfoodforfamilies.com; or by texting the keyword ENDHUNGER to 85944. 100% of all donations go towards feeding families in need in the community in which the donation was received.
Raley’s will provide a matching donation for every dollar donated during the Summer Donation drive, up to $25,000, now through July 31. Customers can donate at any Raley’s, Bel Air, Nob Hill or Food Source store, online at Raleys.com or on Facebook at Facebook.com/Raleys.
You can find Raley’s Food for Famillies on Facebook here and follow Raley’s on twitter here. Get in on the social media conversation with the hashtag #followthecart. To donate to the program, click here.
Special thanks to Raley’s Family of Fine Stores for most of the photos.
Dametra Café: Mediterranean Fusion at its Finest in Downtown Carmel
Faisal Nimri and Bashar Sneeh own what is currently the most popular restaurant in downtown Carmel: Dametra Café.
Since mid-2009, the restaurant has been booked solid (see above photo of line outside the door) for dinner every night, and after our meal there during our second night in Carmel, I can see why. When Andy and I walked into restaurant, we were greeted by Faisal and seated promptly. I thought that perhaps we were being given special treatment (as I had arranged our dinner with the Carmel Chamber of Commerce as part of our trip). But as I watched from our table, I saw him treating all the incoming customers this way––like welcoming a family member into his home.
The name Dametra Café (which opened in 2008) is a combination of their homelands: Damascus plus Petra (the ancient Jordanian city near the Dead Sea carved of rose-colored stone. By 2010, the Carmel Chamber of Commerce named Dametra Café Business of the Year. The Café’s menu is a delightful amalgamation of Mediterranean foods Nimri (from Jordan) and Sneeh (from Syria) loved during their childhood: spanikopita from Greece, calamari from Italy, smoked salmon from France and hummus from Lebanon.
Why did I want to eat here? I certainly did not know the 14 table restaurant was so popular until we arrived. Andy and I actually found Dametra Café passing by the restaurant on foot while wine tasting during our last visit to Carmel a year ago. I remember someone standing outside and beckoning us to come in for dinner (again, very hospitable). We had already made plans for the evening (Fandango in Pacific Grove), but vowed to return to the Café on our next visit to Carmel. We finally made it!
I kicked off my dinner with a split of cava, and Andy had a glass of Malbec (that’s one of his favorite varietals). 🙂
During the meal, one of the servers serenaded us and the other guests in the restaurant, accompanied by Faisal, strumming a six-stringed Greek oud.
It was truly so much fun. As we left, we were greeted again with a sincere “thank you for coming”. Andy and I were more thankful to the owners and the staff for such a memorable meal and music. 🙂
Return to Mundaka: A Spanish-Style Tapas Restaurant in Downtown Carmel
It was less than a year ago when we last visited Mundaka, a small plates restaurant nestled in the heart of downtown Carmel. Since then, the restaurant has continued to thrive and recently celebrated its 5th anniversary!
During our recent stay at The Vendange Carmel Inn and Suites Andy and I were honored to be invited back to Mundaka for dinner to try some new items on the menu, as well as some of our favorites from last time.
Please excuse the photos in this post. They are rather dark as was the room in which we were seated. 😉
We began the meal by ordering the Bravas: Fried potatoes, brava sauce, aioli. It happens to be one of the most classic tapas in Spain, and a must try at Mundaka.
Of course the Bravas were excellent, but I think the Crudo was the first new thing on the menu that caught my eye. When the plate came out, I was surprised to see such a beautiful presentation of multi-colored julienned vegetables: Carrots, Brussels sprouts, beet purée, candied walnuts.
The juxtaposition to the Crudo dish was the Charcuteria! Time to get our fat on! The plate was composed of Serrano ham, Iberico sausages, house cured lomo. Slice upon slice of meaty goodness. And there was more to come!
I guess you could say our main event was the Carne: Hanger steak, truffle fries, free foie butter. The hangar steak was tender and flavorful, and cooked a perfect medium-rare. The fries were the very skinny variety–like matchsticks, if you will–they soaked up the foie butter that had melted onto the plate from the steak.
Next up: A pan fried sole, salad of baby poached potatoes, grapefruit, arugula, saffron vinaigrette. This was probably my least favorite dish of all, but I still liked it, so that’s not much of a complaint. I just felt like the potatoes were a little clunky and didn’t belong on the plate with the fish.
By this point, we were getting full and decided on a few non-dessert items to close out the meal:
Dessert #1: Huevo: Fried duck egg, crispy Iberico bits, toast. It was such a simple dish, but the quality of the ingredients and the richness of the duck egg combined with the Iberico was very rich and indulgent. Highly recommended as a starter dish or for a grand finalé!
Dessert #2! Again with the eggs, ha! Tortilla: Potato, egg, onion, sea salt.
So maybe we worked backwards, but my one of my favorite foods is egg, so these plates were like dessert to me. If you’re more into sweets and coffee for your finalé, Mundaka has a dessert, coffee, and digestives menu, pictured below:
What to drink? Mundaka serves a “Party Wine” house wine (red blend) poured from a giant bottle for $5 a glass (if you don’t ask what is in the blend). We enjoyed 2 different cavas (one, a rosé) and switched over to the Party Wine later in the meal. (Below is a photo of the bottle of sparkling rosé that Andy ordered and the glass of cava that I ordered).
Mundaka uses organic, local, free-range, line-caught, sustainable, fair-trade ingredients, and DOESN’T use ingredients containing hormones, pesticides, high fructose corn syrup, or anything artificial. That’s so Paleo!
Mundaka is located on San Carlos Street between Ocean and 7th Ave and open daily from 11am-5pm for coffee/lunch/pintxos and open daily at 5:30pm for Tapas/pintxos. You can download a sample menu here. You can find Mundaka on Facebook here. You can make a reservation at Mundaka via Open Table here.
A big thanks to Mundaka for their hospitality during our second visit. Always a delicious and memorable meal! 🙂
To finish, a shot of my stunning dining companion. Love that guy! 🙂
Vendange Carmel Inn & Suites: An Original Wine-Themed Hotel Experience
It’s no secret that Andy and I love wine. I mean, that’s how we met. So, when I was invited to stay at the Vendange Carmel Inn & Suites, a beautiful wine-themed inn about a mile from downtown Carmel, I was more than excited to visit.
When we arrived, Andy and I met with one of the Inn’s proprietors, Brian Lee, and he gave us a little background on the property, and the story behind its concept.
He explained that in 2012, he and his brother Jonathan bought the 86 year-old block of lodging with flowered wallpaper and $40 per night rooms. At the time it was called the Carmel Crystal Inn, and was not exactly the type of place travelers would recommend on TripAdvisor.
Brian then told us about coming up with a new name for the property, and how he and his brother remodeled everything they could without ruining the hotel’s historic integrity. As far as what they should call their new venture, Brian had attended UC Davis, (a university well known for its viticultural program) and had a lot of exposure to wine-centric terms during his time there. He also thought about how the number of wine tasting rooms in Carmel had multiplied since his return from college. He figured putting a wine-themed stamp on the new place (especially a local one) would create a solid brand. So, he pulled “Vendange” (a French word meaning “grape harvest) from the wine making lexicon. More specifically, it’s a French word describing late harvest fruit.
Along with the rename, they finished the bathrooms with stone and Spanish marble, gave each room brand new furniture (including one of the most comfortable beds on which I have ever slept), linens, duvets and down pillows. They landscaped the grounds, drained a foul-smelling pond and put in a gorgeous fire pit in its place, and renovated the lobby with fixtures that compliment the hotel’s history and also reflect the family’s love of wine.
The Lee brothers then partnered with local winemakers (beginning with Twisted Roots). The wineries (13 of them now) sponsor themed rooms and suites that reflect their wineries’ personalities and the feel of their winery’s tasting rooms.
“We wanted to do a theme, but we wanted it to be modern and not antiquey, like so many other places in Carmel,” Brian told us, “We live in wine country, so we chose a wine theme. We wanted to work with the wineries because they make very good wines and we support local businesses. It seemed natural to partner with them. It’s a win-win situation: They get the exposure (and references), and we get the theme.”
After learning a little about the history of the Vendange, it was time to check in!
We were a little hungry from our drive (about 3 hours from Sacramento), so Andy and I really enjoyed the wine and cheese reception (5-7pm on weekends in the hotel lobby). There are both white and red wines from which to choose (so you can do a little tasting), and a few cheeses, salami, grapes, nuts and crackers. It was fun to chat with some other people who had also just arrived.
Then it was off to take a look at our home for the next two nights: The Ventana Room:
The Ventana room was decorated handsomely with custom canvas prints, and the winemaker’s story on the room wall. In the living area, there was a Ventana Vineyards wine barrel that had been converted into a custom snack bar, designed to hold Ventana Vineyard branded snacks and wine for sale. There was also a throw on the bed embroidered with the winery’s logo, and the wall had small vines from the vineyard affixed to them.
Here are some scenes from inside the room:
I was impressed to learn about the green features of the hotel including water saving shower heads and insulation made from recycled blue jeans. Also, the gardens on the grounds are on a drip irrigation system.
I can’t say enough about the bed. Not only was the bedding gorgeous, but the mattress was just the right balance between soft and firm. I felt so refreshed when I woke up both mornings. 🙂
One of my favorite things about the Vendange is the landscaping and the fire pit. Andy and I had a great time sitting outside both evenings after dinner and enjoying a little more wine by the fire. There is live music by the fire pit in the summer.
Here’s what to expect at breakfast time: A spread of fruit, bagels, pastries, granola, yogurt and coffee, and it’s there for guests from 8-10am. If that’s not early enough for you, there’s Carmel Bakery & Coffee Company on Ocean Avenue about a mile away from the hotel (they open at 7am).
The parking lot even has a wine theme, and the lines to indicate the parking spaces are painted a deep purple inside of white. Here’s Andy’s car parked just outside our room.
Wineries that have a room decorated at the Vendange include: Blair, Cima Collina, Dawn’s Dream, Galante, J. Lohr (a Paso Robles winery that sources Monterey County vineyards), Joullian, Manzoni, McInTyre, Otter Cove, Ross’ Place, Tudor, Twisted Roots and Ventana. If you belong to one of the wineries’ wine clubs, you’ll receive 25% off the rate when you stay in their room.
Vendange is conveniently located a short drive away from the Monterey Peninsula Airport, just off of scenic Highway 1, with free parking for guests. They are minutes away from downtown Carmel’s shopping and fine dining, scenic 17-Mile Drive, and the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. Vendange Carmel is located at 24815 Carpenter St., Carmel, CA 93923. Telephone 831.624.6400, fax 831.624.5111. Website: www.vendangecarmel.com, email: reservations at vendangecarmel dot com.
You can find Vendange Carmel Inn and Suites on Facebook here and follow them on twitter here. Ventana Wines can be found on Facebook here.
Come Fly with Me at the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon & Half Marathon!
Calling all runners…Come join Andy and me for the 16th annual Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon on May 4th, 2014! We’ll be running the half marathon for the third year in a row, and this year, I will be there as a guest of the race director and reporting on the race itself.
I am very excited about this particular race because it’s held very near my hometown, and during the race, I get to run by my college alma mater, Antonelli. I am happy to be coming home to spend time with family (who I have not seen since last year’s Flying Pig), so I am really looking forward to the trip.
As far as any particular goals, I am just hoping to beat my time from last year, and so is Andy. One of the nice things about this race is that you can get a printout of your time pretty much immediately after crossing the finish line. It looks like this:
I can tell you that the course is pretty tough and very hilly. The hills not so much steep as they are long, but there quite a few of them. I’m not trying to scare anyone away with that disclaimer, I just wanted to warn that this is not a PR course. That being said, the race IS not only fun, but it’s one of the most well-organized races I have ever run. And if you used to live in Cincinnati like me, or you live there now, once you see the course, you’ll agree that it is the best tour of the city you’ll ever take on your own two legs. And the spectators come out and support the runners in droves. Cincinnati definitely has the best cheer section I have ever seen. Mile after mile.
Here’s me finishing my first Flying Pig Half Marathon in 2012. It was my first half marathon and one of the happiest moments in my life!
This year Packet Pick-up (bib, timing chip) is at the Millennium Hotel Cincinnati, 150 West 5th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202, in the Grand Ballroom. You can pick up your t-shirt and other premiums at the Duke Energy Center, across the street from the Millennium.
Here are the hours of the expo: Friday, May 2, 2014, 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, May 3, 2014, 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
All preregistered Half Marathon participants will receive a commemorative moisture-wicking t-shirt, limited edition poster, goodie bag, and a “special gift.” All Half Marathon finishers will receive a finisher’s medal, a mylar blanket, and Finish-area refreshments.
The 16th annual Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon weekend powered by P&G will be May 2-4, 2014. Follow the Marathon on Twitter @runflyingpig and ‘like’ their page on Facebook. Hope to see you there! 🙂
How to Manage Depression Without Drugs: That’s So Paleo!
I recently had the privilege of reading a review copy of Janna Marlies Maron’s (pictured above) brand new book How to Manage Depression Without Drugs: 5 Game Plans to Help Me Get My Life Back.
I was eager to read and help promote the book because I feel it ties in directly with the Paleo lifestyle. I mean, I am not even sure ancient man had the time to be depressed. I don’t even think “depression” existed in the context it does today. A Paleolithic man only had 2 real needs as I see it: 1. Getting enough to eat. 2: Not getting eaten by another animal. I wonder how long it took before real emotions came into play. But one thing is for sure. He didn’t take a bunch of antidepressants to kill the pain. He found ways to deal with pain. Naturally.
In the modern world, there are so many little things on which we hang ourselves. We trap ourselves into thinking we need this or that in order to be happy. We compare ourselves to others, and put immense pressure on ourselves to be the first person at such and such restaurant or the first person to have the latest smartphone. The list goes on. I think it’s a dead end to unhappiness.
And I should know about depression, because I suffer from it, too, from time to time. If you know me personally, you have a little bit of a background about me and know the root of some of the sadness, but I also believe that the most highly creative people (again, me) all suffer from some sort of mental defect. Yes, I am a little mentally defective, but I am still a wonderful human being. And I have a happy song.
Wait, what’s a happy song? You’ll have to check it out in Janna’s new book! 🙂
Speaking of wonderful human beings, that would be Janna, too. I asked her some questions about her new book, and this is what she had to say:
CAVEGRRL: What was the point when you decided you were depressed enough to seek help from a therapist/counselor?
JANNA: I’ve experienced two pretty low points in the past 3 years. One was at the end of 2010 when I had gone through a bankruptcy, I had been laid off from my job, and the church I had been involved with for about 5 years was ending. The second low point was at the end of 2012, about 5-6 months after I was diagnosed with MS. Both times I remember not wanting to do anything except sleep or lay on the couch and binge-watch crappy TV shows like Gossip Girl. Both times I remember having thoughts like, it won’t matter if I don’t get out of bed today. Both times I remember having those thoughts but also knowing in my gut that something was wrong, because it’s not like me to be unmotivated and apathetic. Both times I knew I wanted to change and that I couldn’t do it by myself so I started seeing a therapist.
CAVEGRRL: What made you decide to write the book? (Also: Did I get the whole book, or was it an abbreviated version?)
JANNA: I write because I believe in the power of personal storytelling. I share my story in hope that it will help or inspire at least one person. So I was writing about my personal struggle with depression on my blog, and what I found was that “depression” is the number one search term that sends people to my blog. It made me sad to think that there were so many people searching for help with something that I know from personal experience can be so debilitating. That’s why I decided to write How to Manage Depression Without Drugs. It’s my personal story that is meant to be a concise guide and a quick read (so, yes, you did get the whole book).
CAVEGRRL: Please tell me about a little about MS, and also a little about your bout with shingles. I know both can be provoked by stress.
JANNA: Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that attacks the central nervous system. “Autoimmune” means the body’s immune system attacks itself and, in the case of MS, this reaction affects the myelin sheath surrounding the nerves in the brain and spinal chord causing scars, or lesions, where those attacks occur. There are varying degrees of severity and I was diagnosed with Relapsing Remitting MS, which means that the disease can be in remission for any length of time with intermittent relapses of attacks when symptoms can flare up.
Regardless of treatment, a person with MS has a compromised immune system and can be susceptible to getting sick easily. I believe this is why I developed shingles. It happened this past November, which was a month when I completely overextended myself. On top of running ThinkHouse Collective with my husband, publishing Under the Gum Tree, my client work and teaching three college classes, I also hosted a huge event for the second anniversary of Under the Gum Tree and took two writing workshops. It was too much, and on Thanksgiving day I found myself in urgent care with these strange blister-like sores all over the left side of my face.
Yes, stress can provoke both MS flare-ups and shingles. But my experience tells me that it’s usually a combination of stress and other factors that cause a physical reaction. The body stores information in the form of memory and cellular energy, and it can only take so much before it reaches a breaking point.
CAVEGRRL: What are the most important things (in your opinion) a person can do to keep themselves happy?
JANNA: I think it all comes down to self-care. And that is probably different for every person. In the chapter on ritual in my ebook I write about how for some reason in our American culture it’s not okay for use to take care of ourself, because it’s seen as selfish or indulgent. But that’s exactly what we need to be healthy—we need to indulge from time to time. So I would say that we each need to figure out what we need to be happy, and take care of our self in that way.
CAVEGRRL: Do you think depression is a choice?
JANNA: I certainly don’t think anyone chooses to be depressed. However, when we find ourself in that place, the choice becomes: do we want to stay there or do we want to change and find our way back to health? I believe health is a choice.
To see an interview of Janna about her upcoming book, you can click on the interview below:
Here’s the list of dates and events for the virtual tour Janna will be doing with her new book:
April 1: Podcast interview with Alejandro Reyes at Successfool.com
April 8: Interview with Susan Herman at edit2yourcredit.com
April 10: Interview with Kristy DeVaney at CaveGrrl.com <—That’s me!!
April 11: Review of the ebook by Danea Horn at ChronicResilience.com
April 14: Review of the ebook by Ronna Detrick
April 15: ”Life-change can be an adventure. Really.” Guest post on Jennifer Snyder’s Journal
April 17: A reading from the ebook at TrueStory in Sacramento, CA
April 18: RELEASE DATE! If you preordered the book, you’ll automatically get your copy & it will be available for the Kindle at Amazon.
Additional links:
Janna’s blog post announcing the book & book tour: CLICK HERE.
Janna’s book page on her site: CLICK HERE.
preorder on itunes: CLICK HERE.
preorder on Barnes & Noble: CLICK HERE.
preorder on Smashwords: CLICK HERE.
Would you like a FREE copy of the book for yourself? Please leave a comment or share this post and email/tweet/facebook me that you did so. Or, if you want to contact me privately here to enter, that’s OK, too. The winner will be emailed directly with a coupon code to download the book or receive the book in their format of choice.
Now go out there and have a HAPPY Thursday! A friend of mine said to me, “There are seven days in a week, and SOMEDAY isn’t one of them.” 😉
Wine Wednesday: Don’t Miss TAPAS Grand Wine Tasting, April 27th, 2014
So I am pretty sure that the wine event I am promoting today was specifically designed for me. See, Tempranillo is my favorite red varietal, and the most extensive tasting of domestically produced Tempranillos and other Iberian varietal wines, featuring nearly 40 TAPAS member vintners is about to take place at the seventh annual Grand Wine Tasting held at the Golden Gate Club at the Presidio in San Francisco on Sunday, April 27, 2014. I’m in! 🙂
Trade and consumers will be able to taste Tempranillos, Albariños, Garnachas, Verdelhos, Tourigas, and many other varieties, in a casual walk-around setting where they can chat with the growers and vintners. Explore the diversity of grapes and styles produced across the western United States. Many TAPAS members are limited-production, family-owned wineries and will be pouring small lot wines that are not widely available. Many of the wines will also be available for sale at this event.
This year’s event will highlight Tempranillo’s aging potential with a Kickoff Seminar comparing pairs of Aged and New Tempranillos from the same vintner. See one of the reasons why Tempranillo is the fastest growing variety worldwide!
The event schedule is:
Tickets are $95 and include early admission to the Consumer Tasting.
2:00 – 5:00 p.m. – Consumer Tasting. In conjunction with the walk-around tasting, the TAPAS Wine School (included with admission) will feature these informative consumer-oriented seminars and guided tastings:
Tickets to the Consumer Tasting are $60.
TAPAS President Stuart Spencer noted, “The TAPAS Grand Tasting is a unique opportunity for you to discover, savor and celebrate this treasure chest of exotic and delightfully food-friendly wines. You will gain appreciation for what some visionary winegrowers are doing here on American soil. Don’t miss it!”
About TAPAS: TAPAS started at the 2004 Unified Symposium, when Tempranillo winegrowers from California, Oregon, Washington, Texas and Arizona met for the first time to discuss their avocation. Since that first visionary group pointed the way, the organization has incorporated and grown to over 100 members. The first Grand Wine Tasting was held at Copia in Napa in 2008, and has continued annually since then, as one of many initiatives to promote Tempranillo and other varietal wine grapes native to the Iberian Peninsula and wines produced from them in North America.
To purchase tickets, click here.
You can find TAPAS on Facebook here and follow them on Twitter here.
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