Far Niente Chardonnay

I’ve found THE Chardonnay for all of you Chardonnay lovers! I have to admit, I rarely purchase white wine. However, when dinner guest Sherae Q. accepted her invitation, I asked if she had a preference in wine and she expressed her preference for white wine. I really hadn’t thought too much about it until I realized that I didn’t have any white wine at home. I enlisted a fellow wine-loving  friend to make suggestions and ventured out.

My choice for the evening: 2007 Far Niente Chardonnay. A special wine for a special occasion and special guest. I wasn’t surprised that it was good; in fact I expected it to be great - what I didn’t expect was to be blown away. It was absolutely amazing (and I don’t drink Chardonnay, but I may start now).

Sherae Q. seemed pleased, which in turn pleased me. Another night of entertaining with a guest I haven’t seen for almost… 5 years! It was wonderful re-connecting with Sherae Q. sharing simple food while listening to Nouvelle Vague and enjoying a local selection!

Robert Parker says this about Far Niente’s 2007 Chardonnay Estate: “Far Niente’s beautiful 2007 Chardonnay Estate offers up copious aromas of lemon blossoms, poached pears, and brioche, crisp acidity, a hint of tropical fruits, a greenish-light gold color, and medium to full-bodied, elegant, pure flavors. It should drink well for 3-4 years.” He gave the 2007 a score of 91/100 – not bad!

Check them out: http://www.farniente.com, or visit them! I plan on making a visit later this week and wine report back if I feel “inspired.”

Wine, Cheese and Nibbly Things

Isn’t it true that some of life’s greatest treasures are also some of the most simple? The only thing I like more than being entertained is entertaining! Spring is here (finally) and more guests are coming… bring it on I say, there’s room for another!

Having a little get together doesn’t have to be a carefully planned orchestration. Sometimes all it takes is a wedge of cheese, organic berries from the farmer’s market, a few olives, a little salami or other dry cured meat, a sliced bread choice, maybe some other nibbles if desired, and a choice wine! I find that if I keep it simple, I entertain more. This makes me happy, so I keep doing it this way. Why not, it works for me?!

I was thrilled to have Gigi M. come for a visit on Sunday. Once again we spent hours taking about everything under the sun and  laughing until it hurt. I can’t wait for her return visit and for our Summer soiree, which I know she will love. She will once again be the life of the party!

Sharing laughter, food, & wine with those you love and care for makes life worth living! I treasure and cherish these moments. Fortunately, so do my friends.

Cheers!

Mariage Frères

When thinking of Paris, my mind eventually focuses on three things: culture, art, and food. She is a city busting at her respective seams saturated by the weight of her own magnitude, and yet, I realize she reaches far beyond just these three. There is so much significance, so many incredible beauties to be experienced, and endless extravagances to be had. It can be overwhelming at times. I have had to make note of all of the intricacies and parts I’ve managed to fall in love with in an effort to remember them all! Paris is a city that is hard to capture.

Colorful is a visual term in most respects, but for most, extends beyond the obvious. You hear, “oh what a colorful person,” for example and know immediately what that means. Paris is a “colorful” city in every sensory respect. It’s colorful in that wide range of “flavor-emotion” as well. Anyone who has been to Paris will probably make point of telling you of their experiences with any number of culinary masterpieces had.

One of the less obvious things that I remember and long for when thinking of Paris is tea. Not just any tea, but Mariage Frères tea. This tea is an admitted extravagance I allow myself time to time when longing for Paris. It is SO worth it. Check out their webpage for more information: http://www.mariagefreres.com, or find a retailer that carries them and try it! If you insist on thanking me later, you can send me your empty tins!

Hint: Paulette on Hayes Street in San Francisco (you won’t be disappointed)…

Spring?!

“Where’s the sun,” is something I must have heard a dozen times yesterday, followed by, “it’s almost June,” and, “is it really Spring?! It is Spring, it really is, and for the time being, it’s just still raining…

I’m looking out my windows as I write this and the sun is beginning to show herself behind the heavily fog-blanketed hillside to the East. For the moment, the drizzle has stopped. It really is an odd Spring and yes it’s true, that by this time in the calendar year we tend to be farther along; realizing a higher incidence of sunshine, warmer temperatures, and drier realities. No matter however; Spring will arrive with greater anticipation & appreciation this year, which will in turn, make our respective waiting & wanting even more worth it!

I love the Spring. The transition of what feels like “monsoon season” in Sausalito nears an end, and the beauty of sun-filled, gentle-wind days begin to surface. No more sprints to and from the car in an effort to stay dry or “I hope the boat isn’t leaking somewhere we aren’t aware” moments. The “checked” emotion of glee returns with child-like enthusiasm as does the reality of why it is that we live here surrounded by such beauty. Soon we’ll be sailing with friends, having cocktails on-board, and dining outdoors again! I can barely wait!

Stay positive! Change is coming (albeit a little more slowly than we’d like). It won’t be long before we’re basking in the ever-reminding glow of the sun, not remembering our lengthy bout with extended wet realities. The windows and doors will be wide open allowing fresh air to flow through our living spaces, as laughter permeates within them. Even the curtains will dance in excitement knowing that we will be enjoying the firsts of many mojitos, caipirinhas, and glasses of sangria to come, with old friends next to new, living the sweet life, together!

Santa Maria Novella

Santa Maria Novella (the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella) is a product line that maintains the ability to transport you from a state of ordinary existence to an entirely different reality. Their time honored methodologies have been in production since the 16^th Century, many of which are exactly as they were when first introduced.

Santa Maria Novella is a very special place. Located on Via Delle Scala (16) in Florence, the well-established namesake has a fiercely loyal and demanding clientele base. I was lucky enough to be introduced to this gem of a product a few years ago while shopping for holiday gifts and have forever been envious and wanting for their wares. Everything they produce is gorgeous. The deeply musk-like medieval elixirs, hair and scalp and skin care products, oral and dental products and especially their “antique preparations,” are all so very tasteful (and tastefully packaged).

They have wonderfully crafted soaps, beautiful candles, a series of deep colognes; a potpourri that even I can love, and other age-old items like rose petal water. They offer various creams & lotions for every body area and scented burning papers that come in tiny little deep-red colored boxes.

What’s not to love about an establishment started by Florentine Monks over 600 years ago?! Definitely Old School.

Check out Santa Maria Novella online @ www.lafcony.com or seek them out. One shop that carries a large representation of their production is Vintage Home in Saint Helena. Santa Maria Novella has stores in Los Angeles, New York, Dallas, and Bal Harbor. I’m hoping one will open in San Francisco soon!

Traveling (not) from afar.

Sometimes travel lies not only within the act of physically relocating one’s self to another land; travel can achieved through the ability of transport via one’s imagination.

I am forever moved to another time, place, and space now long past, when I see certain photographic images. Stumbling across old favorites, forgotten unsung heroes, and other’s seen through (a now) more experienced eye is like re-visiting via time travel.

Child’s play and make-believe conjure up strong images and feelings if we apply them. Are there other’s that can still remember specific scenarios from their distant past? Scenarios invented with a vivid imagination in an effort to create a change from something it was, to the something we hoped it was? Can you see the imagery seen only by you when you think hard?

The act of filming is a capture of emotion, albeit different, via another route altogether. When I see these images, I remember exactly where I was when I took them, the time of day, the climate, smell within the air, and what I was to do after.

I took these completely unnoticed while hanging out a bookstore window while traveling some 6,000 miles away from home, and yet it as if I were there right now, once more, snapping them.

Ma(i)sonry [mey-suh-n-ree]

Can I just tell you how much of a treat it is to visit and enjoy Ma(i)sonry?! May I Please? Read on…

Last week I stumbled across a review of Ma(i)sonry, which was painted as a destination for art and wine housed in a historical old stone house. Liking all three very much, I decided to make a point of paying them a visit to see for myself.  Monday, a friend invited me to lunch and we headed for the wine country for a slower pace and to try a restaurant on our “list.”It seemed only logical to visit Ma(i)sonry while in the immediate area, and so we did. Now we’re now talking of returning – and soon.

I mean it when I say, “I’m still wowed by the experience.” This establishment is sensual; everything is perfect - they need not change a thing! I’ve added it to my, “what makes me really happy list,” as it’s really that good. We sat upstairs in gorgeous leather chairs within the gallery, enjoying our flight of wines from Brown Estate, while contemplating the perils and pleasures of love, life and… let’s just say we didn’t want to leave. Sadly, we had other obligations and had to, but we will be back - to finish where we left off, or to start anew (does it really matter?)

Ma(i)sonry is definitely worth making  a visit to see. Whether or not you live in the area or are planning to visit, should you find yourself within say oh… 500 miles of them, you must go!

Of note: Yountville is (now) a culinary masterpiece of a town.  Keller has made a name for himself here and now has 3 restaurants (his most famous being French Laundry). So has Chiarello with Bottega. There a few choice hotels (special places) to stay, not to mention dozens of world-class wineries everywhere you look! It might be a smaller town, but is not to be overlooked. As the old cliché goes, “small things come in big packages.” Why not plan a mini-vacation and escape from it all?

You can find Ma(i)sonry online at: www.maisonry.com for more information about them, or just to scour their beautiful offerings and for wine education – everything is for sale and for the taking!

   (thank you)

C’est Cheese…

Would you believe me if I told you that I can still smell this particular shop? The ripe & pungent odor of a properly stocked cheese venue is not one easily forgotten. The scent lingers; sometimes longer & sometimes shorter than a previous experience. It depends. It’s one of those examples of sensory overload of which the olfactory sense wins hands down. I have to admit however, the sight of all of those multicolored, carefully- stacked & artfully-placed selections of “edible art” take a very close second to their collaborative scent! Just being in a cheese shop with such variety makes me happy. I can look, smell, touch, examine and study the variety of cheese all while conjuring up sets of ideas of where I can utilize them (and how). The possibilities are endless, they truly are!

Going to a “Fromagerie,” is almost like going to an apothecary. There’s a certain mysteriousness to it. The act of transforming milk, from whatever animal derived, into something else so vastly different from its origin, is intriguing.  Don’t you agree?

There are hundreds (perhaps thousands) of different cheeses to try. The joy of the “Fromagerie,” is the variety of options before you. An authentic shop will have both a much greater variety of the obscure as well as a selection of more recognizable options from which to choose. Be brave, step outside your comfort level. Try something new.  Perhaps try the Morbier. It has a layer of vegetable ash in the middle (most think it is a “blue” vein) or my favorite, Old Amsterdam – it’s gorgeous. Skip the Brie and Camembert, they’re boring. If you must play it safe, try the Saint Andre. Like mushrooms? How about Champignon. Into rich blues? Cambozola is a tried and true (not very exotic) triple cream blue that’s very appealing, attractive, and almost-affordable.

I hold a very special attachment to cheese. Like the ever-crusty loaf, the deep, full-bodied red and choice rich dark chocolate, cheese is sacred. Do you share my same love for cheese?

I’m interested in knowing what cheeses other people call favorites. What do you serve/pair them with? Does anyone else love fig preserves with Gouda? Am I the only one that can snack on a triangle of Parmigiano-Reggiano and not realize it’s gone before it… is?!  What about Raclette?! What cheese(s) do you put in your fondue?!

By the way…if you’re close to San Francisco, the 24th Street Cheese Company is my favorite. They have a fantastic representation, a really nice (and knowledgeable) staff, and it feels like it’s been there forever. Also, Cow Girl Creamery has a true-to-form selection of almost everything you could hope for. Their display cases are stunning! I know there are others; I just have to discover them. Anyone care to join me for an outing?

the Artisan Bakery

Tell me, am I the only one that slows his pace long enough to make imaginary eye contact with that perfectly formed, golden & crusty loaf of “whatever it’s called,” just before passing by? Do you know what I’m speaking of? The one that’s always stretched out like a model on a chaise lounge within the basket, the one next to one o’clock beside the slightly too-sour small-ish loaf that’s just a little too pale to move? If not, pay attention – the game is on. It’s better to arrive early knowing exactly what you want or you might risk taking off with more than you should. You know what I’m talking about. There are consequences. Of special note:  the Sour Cherry Clafoutis is off the hook… and usually gone by eleven.

How I love to love the Epi at noon, the Pain au Levain at two, the skinny non-sour Baguette at three, and whatever else is left just after four. I am by nature, fairly picky, but willing to sacrifice my desire of the specific for something new when it comes to the carbohydrate heaven known within the artisan bakery. Call me crazy. Nothing makes me bite my lip more than the deeply scored outer surface of the perfectly formed Batard.

Where else can you fantasize about Madeleine’s and Earl Grey and of Proust or of Financier’s, Palmier’s, or of Canele de Bordeaux? Can you tell how much I enjoy distraction? The tiny hazelnut shortbread and chocolate-dipped anise biscotti conveniently placed next to the black and white checkerboard butter cookies or raspberry thumbprints (powdered ever so lightly) with confectioner’s sugar?! Dare I say, “I’ll take one of each?”

I think I’ll stop now or I might actually plan a trip for a half dozen brioche within the hour.  I should however mention that carbohydrates, like sugar, “drink,” or any number of life’s more worthy sins, are meant to be enjoyed, within moderation of course, so go ahead…

Chi Chi

Chi Chi is not food, she’s clearly not wine, and she doesn’t have a passport, so travel is limited. She has however been blessed with incredible looks, charm, and the ability to win hearts over. She belongs to my friend Marianne who was kind enough to grant me permission to show her to everyone. I couldn’t resist. Take a look at this real-life champion!

Signing off for the evening. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post on, the Artisan Bakery!

Good night.

Panforte of Siena

Panforte is heaven. By definition, Panforte literally means “strong bread,” which accounts for it's spicy flavor. It’s a dense, fruitcake-like, candy resembling, honey cake that’s full of nuts and spices that is best served sliced very thin. Italians typically serve it after dinner with wine or port, or even coffee or tea.

Traditionally a dessert prepared and served during the holidays, Panforte has grown to be one available and enjoyed, year around. In Siena, the Panforte capitol of the world, it is said to have seventeen ingredients; seventeen representing the number of contrades within the city walls.

It is agreed that Panforte dates back to 13th Century Siena where Panforte was paid to the nuns an monks at local monasteries as a form of tax.  If only we could pay our tax obligations through food now! Imagine, quarterly taxes paid to the powers that be through the prowess of one’s baking skills. Only in Italy!

The picture above is of a Panforte that I had the privilege of trying the day before yesterday, while out gallivanting through the city. I had a very small piece, and it was divine!

Panforte is relatively easy to make. Try my recipe below. This is one that I’ve used a few times, altering bits and pieces to my liking. I think I may be done now. Feel free to experiment should you wish. Life is short… Enjoy!

Panforte of Siena

• 1 1//4 cup  hazelnuts, toasted and chopped.
• 3/4 cup raw unsalted almonds, toasted and chopped.
• 1 cup candied citron, finely sliced
• 1 cup candied orange, finely sliced
• 1 t. grated lime zest
• 1 t. grated lemon zest
• 1 t. grated orange zest
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 T. unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 t. cinnamon
• 1/2 t. coriander
• 1/2 t. ground cloves
• 1/2 t. freshly grated nutmeg
• unsalted butter at room temperature
• 2/3 cup honey
• 2/3 cup sugar
• Confectioners' sugar

Preheat oven to 300°F.

In a large bowl, combine the nuts, candied fruits and zest,  flour, cocoa, and spices. Thoroughly mix.

Butter a 9-inch spring form pan and line the bottom and sides of the pan with parchment. Butter the parchment and set aside.

In a large saucepan, combine honey and butter. Bring to a boil. Let boil for a few minutes. Remove from heat and pour mixture over the nut mixture and mix. Fold mixture into the prepared pan form mixture into pan evenly.

Bake 30-35 minutes. Cool until semi-hard and then remove sides of pan. Turn Panforte over, remove parchment, and dust with confectioners’ sugar prior to serving.

Serves ~ 8

Designer Mushrooms

San Francisco is no doubt a major player in the universe of the culinary arts scene. She’s proven herself worthy over and over of the type of acclaim previously reserved for larger, older cities, such as New York and Paris; yet she maintains her own identity.

I am amazed at just how sophisticated San Francisco has become in the last few years. The metamorphosis of our epicurean community makes me proud. It seems everywhere you turn there is a new up and coming, culturally significant  representation of cuisine to explore.

Almost any ingredient you desire is available to you, and for the most part, readily. Gone are the days when exotic and unusual ingredients were available only in better restaurants and to “in-the-know foodies,” willing to travel oftentimes at length in an effort to acquire them. It seems everywhere you turn there is a broad selection of items once thought of as unusual luxuries, slowly making their way into the fibers of our everyday lives. It’s no wonder San Francisco has made a name for itself as being an International Food and Wine hot spot.

One such ingredient or item is the mushroom, which has an amazing array of variety within its respective Fungi family. Mushrooms used to be limited in availability from a couple to a few different kinds, within the supermarket or produce vendor. If you wanted something “special,” you were limited to dried mushrooms that required reconstituting them in water in order for them to resemble something of their original state. Now, you have the option of choosing from many different kinds of mushrooms, fresh or even “live,” and can easily step outside your Fungi comfort level should you desire to and explore!.

Far West Fungi (www.farwestfungi.com) is one such retailer that encourages this. They are located within the Ferry Building in San Francisco. Their shop is filled with cultivated and wild mushrooms, as well as a variety of truffles, salts, oils, and various educational and instructional books for purchase. They often have upwards of 40 different kinds of locally cultivated and imported mushrooms to choose from. The Garrone Family operates this modest storefront that represents their farm in Moss Landing, and continues to remain active in bringing mushrooms to various farmers’ markets as they have been for over 25 years!

All of the pictures represented here are shots taken from within the Ferry Building.

The Prisoner, by Orin Swift

“The Prisoner,” is one of a handful of wines put out by Orin Swift Cellars: http://www.orinswift.com/wines/the_prisoner.php, located conveniently in Rutherford, California, a town “tied” as being my favorite in the Napa Valley with Saint Helena. Owner-winemaker Dave Phinney does an incredible job producing excellent wine and “The Prisoner,” is my personal favorite. The 2008 is a very welcoming red consisting of: 46% Zinfandel, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah, 10% Petite Sirah, 2% Charbono and 1% Grenache (approximates).

My finding this gem of a wine was an unlikely story, but I’m so grateful I did. I stumbled across it at Plumpjack Wines in San Francisco:http://www.plumpjackwines.com/plumpjackwines/noe.aspx?loc=noe, en route to a housewarming party and was running terribly behind schedule. While double-parked on 24^th Avenue, my intention was to run inside, buy a bottle of Champagne, and leave in a hurry. I managed to get in and out in about 5 minutes, not wanting to risk getting a whopper of a parking ticket (admittedly deserved), but left with 2 bottles of “The Prisoner,” on the recommendation of not one, but two, store employees.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Champagne. But recommendations this severe rarely take place (at least in my world), so I decided to heed their advice and try something a bit less traditional to offer. The fact that the wine is called, “The Prisoner,” also left me smirking knowing full well that my friend, now the proud owner of a very tasteful house in the Dolores Park area, was more than tied down to it with a jumbo mortgage and was in essence, a prisoner, of his own demise.

The wine, the house, the party – all huge successes, and I, the recipient of such good luck, got to leave knowing that my friend was beaming from ear to ear with joy!

Check out their webpage. It too is gorgeous. I love it!

Mount Tamalpais

 

Mount Tamalpais (http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=471) is the largest & closet recreation center to my home. I’ve spent hundreds of hours exploring this beast of a mountain and know it fairly well now. Exploration early in the morning, mid-day, and later than I’ve ever wished has yielded me some amazing almost-spiritual outdoor opportunities. I’ve been on it in rain and hail, when it is overcast, and in the sun. Every time, the experience is different. I’ve seen many deer, a bobcat, a fox, a few coyotes, a couple of hawks, an eagle, a few snakes, and hundreds of lizards, grasshoppers, dragonflies, slugs, caterpillars, and vermin. You never know what you’re going to see on Mt. Tam, which is the abbreviated name locals have given it. Be mindful when visiting for Mountain Lions and Rattlesnakes (I have yet to see either, but know they exist). Commonsense is advised when dealing with the unknown and unpredictable (or hungry).

Much can be said about the benefits of being alone to think and ponder, but also to get cardiovascular activity. Of course, this can be done with a camera in tow, and memories of days past can be kept for review. All of the pictures here are from my hikes on Mt. Tam. I especially like it when it is very, very foggy. Being in the forest under these circumstances is mystical; almost magical, while listening to the various sounds from within, not knowing just exactly where they are coming from. It can be like another world, if you open your mind to it. I often think of great authors and poets of the past, wondering about the complexities of life on the mountain.

 

There are many, many things to do on Mount Tamalpais, most of which include physical activity, but not all. Tucked into Mill Valley, Muir Beach, Stinson Beach and… the beast of a mountain is large, diverse, and screams for all sorts of attention. Camping can be had at Steep Ravine, Pan Toll, Alice Eastwood and maybe more settings. Day hikes and biking adventures can begin virtually anywhere and can be as easy (or challenging) as you wish for them to be. I prefer to start at the top of Alice Eastwood campground in the parking lot (it’s free) directly across from the Mountain Home Inn (810 Panoramic Highway, Mill Valley) when hiking. It’s less than 15 miles from the Golden Gate Bridge and easy to find. A lot of people drive to and park within Muir Woods, which presents an excellent array of gigantic old-growth Redwood trees to view. Their stunningly beautiful and also magnificent – some are HUGE. Another option is venturing up to Bootjack parking lot or to beyond that to Pan Toll. Others prefer parking at the base of Highway One at the bottom of the hill (after Pan Toll) before turning right into downtown Stinson Beach, or even parking at the beach within the parking lot there. There really is no right or wrong way, it’s all a matter of preference on where to begin and end your activities.

For many, the Green Gulch Farm Zen Center is a draw. Check them out: http://www.sfzc.org/ggf/display.asp?catid=3&pageid=485. Their location is 1601 Shoreline Highway, in Muir Beach. The center is fantastic. They also have lodging options. The Pelican Inn: http://pelicaninn.com is located in the heart of Muir Beach, and is an excellent value. They have very special lodging options, a great dinner menu and a pub. We find ourselves there now and again for a spontaneous dinner, or just to get an order of proper fish and chips and a Guinness or glass of wine in the pub. A few blocks away is the actual beach (Muir Beach), which offers an option for beach goers (especially for those staying at the Pelican Inn or at Green Gulch Farm). It’s smaller than Stinson and less sandy, but equally as beautiful and oftentimes less crowded. Even farther up Shoreline Highway is Stinson Beach with a couple of motels, a small downtown with various shops and restaurants, and of course, the beach! I’ve stayed at the Redwoods Haus: http://www.stinson-beach.com/rooms.htm, and thought it was great. It’s a funky little place with very good vibes and especially good pricing – it’s usually $55 or $65 a night and in the middle of “it all.”It was the perfect place to stay on my weekend away, many years ago when I lived on the Peninsula! The Sand Dollar is my favorite café in town for food: www.stinsonbeachrestaurant.com, and be sure not to miss the wonderful little bookstore, Stinson Beach Books, which has a lot more than just books to offer.