Demos and Discussions

Our latest trip to Sonoma brought us to the lovely town of Healdsburg. A nice stroll through this historic town offers too many choices for a wonderful wine country meal.  However we were very attracted to Spoonbar.   Walking past Spoonbar on a summer evening with the walls open, you can not help but to want to step inside.  The decor is so sophisticated and airy. The tables and overhead sculpture are made from a re-claimed acacia tree, and all pieces are from the same tree!  The bar is absolutely irresistible and features locally-grown garnishes that line the bar.   We discovered that...

I caught this sturgeon fish in the waters off of Astoria Oregon. This fish died about 6 hours before I cooked it.   I stopped along the way and picked up some strawberries right off the farm to go with a mango that has been ripping in the kitchen. Now these are just not any strawberries, they are Hood strawberries.  They are smaller than regular strawberries and they are much sweeter.  I minced about 10 hoods and 1 mango and mixed them with the juice of 2 limes, and a couple of tablespoons of seasoned rice vinegar, plus salt to taste....

This past holiday season, there were many new dishes shared between our friends and family.  This beautiful chanterelle mushroom dish was one of them.   Chanterelle mushrooms are wild mushrooms that grow all over the world,  and are known for their delicate taste and hearty texture. Common in North America, Europe, Asia and the Himalayas, chanterelles tend to grow in clusters around the bases of trees. While an ancient spore, chanterelles were first widely consumed in 18th century France, where they gained recognition through the menus of chefs which served the royal and ruling classes of Europe. The friend who brought...

It is the weekend before Halloween and the weather forecast has us at a high of 72%.  With the exception of some morning fog, we are experiencing some pretty nice sunshine breaking through the clouds. We started our wine country journey this weekend in Roseburg OR where we have recently discovered a treasure hunt of majestic scenery and some pretty awesome vineyards and wineries.  This is our second trip to this authentic and rich region located in Southern Oregon along side of the Umpqua River. First up as we arrived Friday early evening is dinner at True Kitchen and Bar. True...

It's no secret I love food, but what goes best with food? Of course that would be wine. And needless to say, I love wine too. I live just a stones throw from the incredible Willamette Valley which is Oregon's prize wine country and truly a breathtaking place to visit. If you have not been there, I highly recommend you add it to your bucket list. Late September to early October is when the grapes are picked and the crush for that year begins. You will find me in one of the many exquisite tasting rooms in the Willamette Valley...