Travels to the Napa Valley to visit the Culinary Institute of America

Took a 2 hour drive north today up to St. Helena, California. Right in the heart of the Napa Valley to the Culinary Institute of America. A renowned cooking school. What a treat this was.

The buildings are impressive and are all made of stone. To the front of this area was a large herb garden. So you know that when you are learning or eating there, it is all fresh.

I had just missed a cooking demonstration but did pick up some literature on upcoming cooking classes that will be taking place in March. Um, may have to make the trip back up!

In addition to the herb garden, I spotted several lemon and orange trees. Can't get any fresher or local than that!

This building houses a wine school. I peeked in the windows and there was a very impressive set up for students with wine glasses and little sinks at each station. Wish I was a student there!

Graystone Restaurant

The highlight of my trip to the Culinary Institute was eating lunch at the Graystone Restaurant.

There were multiple cooking stations with a combination of resident chef's and students. This station prepared the main entrees.

There was a dessert station and a salad station as well. Notice the copper around the ventaliation system.

My meal was a wonderful apple, pear salad, roasted duck with sauteed spinich and the most wonderful squash hash. What a treat!

Berrnger Winery

Well, we have all heard of Beringer wines but you can not begin to imagine

the beauty of the winery itself.

Quite impressive.

This was the entrance that you see when you enter the grounds

This is the house of the Beginger estate. Just a small place--ha ha.

The stained glass is a panel in the front door. Would definitely make me nervous having a front door like this. The whole interior was of dark wood and elegant furnishings

Fresh Pressed Olive Oil

In between Berringer Winery and Robert Mondavi Winery on St Helena Highway is a wonderful little place called the St. Helena Olive Oil Company. Here you can taste different kinds of Olive Oils that are made locally. Their packaging is plain and simple and the oils are wonderful.

In additionn to the oils, they had wonderful dipping spices, soaps, and local crafts. Take a look at their web site at www.sholiveoil.com

Ended the day at Robert Mondavi Winery

Last stop of the day was the Robert Mondavi Winery
The winery has the look and feel of a mission. This statue, and many others at the winery are done by a bay artist- this one is of St Francis of Assisi

The vines are resting but will soon start to grow at a rate of 1 - 2 inches per day.
The grapes in To Kalon are used for wines sold here at the winery and are also used for Reserve wines and other high end bottles.

These are French Oak barrels each housing wines from the property. Brace yourself- each barrel has $30,000.00 worth of wine in each one. The red color was Robert Mondavi's way of using the 3rd stage press wine from the basket press that is too strong for consumption. These barrels are used are used for about 6 years total at this winery for three levels of wines .

Of course it ended with a tasting-- I have never had a $68.00 dollar bottle of wine before- so the taste I had was fantastic. I did buy a couple of bottles (not the 68 one)- so they will be saved for our 2009 holiday meal.

Another great day in Northern California

Muir Woods National Monument

Went to Muir Woods National Monument on Saturday.

This forest was named in honor of John Muir, an explorer and naturalist who was one of the earliest environmental activists.

The land was donated in 1908 to the nation from William and Elizabeth Kent.

The land has Redwoods, Sequoia's, monster ferns and very large clover.
I took a 4 mile hike, which took me along the main trail, up (literally) the Ben Johnson trail and then across the Dipsea trail.
Dave had bought me a retractable walking stick for Christmas- that was the bomb!
I am so glad I had it, especially for the "UP" climb.


Although you can not see it here very well, at the "V" in the mountain,
you could see the Pacific Ocean.

Rain is badly needed here, and this is the rainy season, with less than normal rain fall but

it was wonderful to have such a beautiful day.

To lean more about Muir Woods go to www.nps.gov/muwo

Sausilito and SF Bay Bridge at Night

Downtown Sausilito is like a lot of other quaint towns around the bay area.

Great little shop, art and photo galleries, and of course fantastic eateries.

The day was beautiful, so the streets were hoppin!

This was a great little Italian kitchen and wine shop.

I could have spent an hour here, but made myself leave.

Ate on the waterfront, restaurant was called Horizons.

As you can see the meal was as pretty as it was good.

Shrimp, lobster, mussels, clams, and crab.

With a good clam chowder and Gordon Biersch, who could ask for more!

There was a glass wall between the dining area and the bay- guess this little guy decided it wasn't fair. He wanted his share as well. There was a little 2 year old at the table close to the window, needless to say she was delighted when the seagull showed up. He did eventually fly off but came back about five minutes later. Made for a special event that is for sure.

Leaving Sausilito and crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, the only way to highway 101 is through San Francisco. So it was stop and go for awhile, a lit of traffic. But the one advantage that I had was that it was getting to be dusk and I was stopped at a light that showed the Bay Bridge in all it's glory and lights.