Girly-Bits

The preview party for Samar was wall to wall with foodies and PR gals as far as the eye could see. Apparently 900 people showed up. Everyone was jammed against the bar trying to get a free signature martini. The orange jacketed bartenders couldn’t keep up. We circled a few times and then headed off to Kavala for dinner.

On our way out, we saw these awesome ladies driving down the street. The convertible belongs to the woman in the passenger’s seat. It was her mom’s, whose named is engraved on a little silver plaque on the dash.

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Les talked me into going to Tradewinds Social Club, a revived dive bar near Bishop Arts. It delivered all the dive that it promised, including colorful, talkative regulars.

It really was pretty fun. Something about drinking in a dark smelly bar while it’s light outside just feels really naughty.

Then we went to the far more upscale Tillman‘s where we ran into Martha and Bryan. I fear we spoiled their dinner by plopping down next to them. As usual we were wowed by the cocktails (ginger lemon drop, yum) and underwhelmed by their odd food. I had a chile relleno that was stuffed with nothing but corn. Bizarre.

This morning we’re hanging out reading the news online and drinking coffee. Tonight we’re going to the preview party for Stephan Pyles new restaurant Samar. The party just never ends….

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At the Bishop Arts Block Party Peace Festival. And of course, the cutest puppy of all:

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Had dinner with Howard and Lisa at SMOKE, the re-imagined restaurant at the Belmont Hotel. The same fellows that are responsible for the wonderful Bolsa are now running this restaurant. I’d have to give it somewhat low marks, I’m afraid, even taking into consideration that it was their first or second week. Our poor server, while well intentioned, couldn’t answer a single question without a completely blank look stealing over her face and then running off to ask someone else. The food was fifty-fifty. Lisa’s hanger steak and my fish of the day were great. The turkey and barbecue sandwiches that the boys had were not good. And the sides were totally blah and flavorless.

But hey, they’ve just gotten started so we’ll probably go back and try it again after they’ve had some time to work out the kinks. We didn’t try any dessert, choosing instead to go get some Tasti D-Lite in University Park.

Today, we’re going to take Izzy to be in the dog parade at the Bishop Arts Block Party and Peace Festival!

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Thursday night – D Magazine’s SideDish Supper Club at Nonna.  Too dark to get good pics, but here is a cheese-stuffed Squash Blossom for your review.  The meal included assorted salumi and other amuse bouches for a first course, pici pasta with wild boar ragu (which takes three days to make), roast park loin and honey lavender gelato. Good meal… nice wine pairings.  Would have liked more interaction with our fellow foodies, but a lovely evening. Chef Julian Barsotti is only 28 years old!  Can you stand it… he’s one of the most successful chef/owner’s in Dallas.  Good for him.

Friday night we ended up accidentally eating out at Eno’s Pizza.  Les tried to take me to some dive that he’d read about.  When I wouldn’t go in, we compromised on a beverage at Eno’s.  Then we got seduced by the pizza aromas.  This pic is of the beer mugs of the restaurant’s regulars.  Eno’s numbers them and hangs them over the bar.

Tonight we are going to try out SMOKE, the new Belmont Hotel restaurant with Howard and Lisa, and then on to a friend’s show at 4 Dog Studio.  Sunday – Bishop Arts Block Party and Peace Festival!  Hooray!

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All the rest of our vacation photos are here.  We ended our week with a couple of great meals in Sonoma, a ride on the Wine Train and a beautiful canoe trip down the Russian River.  Now home with all the dogs and excited to sleep in our own beds.

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The rest of our time in Mendocino has been spent wandering beaches, driving to see giant redwood trees and eating.  Below is the breakfast we have enjoyed each morning on the deck outside our room at the Headlands Inn.

Tomorrow, we head to Sonoma and Bungalows 313, the Wine Train and Bouchon.

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Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, eggplant, squash, kale, figs, rosemary, lavendar, onions, tomatoes, peppers, garlic, walnuts, pears and limes.

We bid farwell to them this afternoon and drove up to Mendocino.  We checked into the Headlands Inn and went to Patterson’s Pub.  We had Killer Nachos, which I downed with champagne.  Now we’re snuggled in our bed and debating whether or not to start a fire in the fireplace.  Aaaaaah.    Here is a view of Mendocino’s Main Street, taken from the cliffs:

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A food and wine filled day in California. After our breakfast at the historic Owl Cafe and our lunch from Oakville Grocery that we ate at Dutcher Crossing Winery, we came home to dinner al fresco at Ken and Jose’s. The starter was aspic with hearts of palm and gazpacho. Jose made the aspic from scratch using cow hooves. Straight from Julia Child’s recpe, apparently. Could not bring myself to eat it. I just stirred it around until it was taken away. The main course was a beef cassoulet and canneloni rosetta. Dessert was sweet potato and chocolate jellies baked in phyllo dough. The whole thing was very adventurous, culinarily speaking. Ken and Jose and the Chateau Felice folks talked wine and barrels and harvesting and sugar levels.

Below is the very well-done label from our host’s vineyard.  They mainly sell their grapes, but they do make some wine.

Today, we’ll do something or another, maybe walk to the Russian River, and then head to Mendocino.

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Just hanging around Cloverdale at Ken Knight’s place.  Ken and Jose just harvested all their Sauvignon Blanc grapes and are ready to chill out.  We went to Healdsburg to pick up a picnic lunch at Oakville Grocery and ate  it with a little wine at Dutcher Crossing Winery today.  When we got back, the head winemaker for Sebastiani’s premier wines was hanging out in the kitchen.  Tonight, we’re having dinner with Ken, Jose and the winemakers from Chateau Felice.  It’s all wine, all the time, here in Northern California.  Tomorrow, we head to Mendocino.  Pictures will be accumulating here.

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