Napa Valley: A Harvest Celebration at Quintessa Vineyard

October 29, 2014 By Tam Warner Leave a Comment

By fellow midlife adventurer, Suzanne Simone Stavert at Adventures of Empty Nesters!

by Suzanne on October 6, 2014 in My Adventures

Great friends, heavenly food, delicious wine and a breathtaking landscape are the perfect ingredients for an amazing experience in Napa Valley to celebrate the harvest at Quintessa Vineyard.

We discovered this extraordinary winery in June of this year when we were given a private tour. Quintessa provides guests with a comprehensive look at the vineyard, winemaking facility and underground caves through a unique personal tour. Additionally, we were taken on a walk to the vineyards behind the winery to a scenic overlook of the property and sweeping views of the land encompassing the Rutherford Appellation.

Craig and I became absolutely enamored with Quintessa through this unique experience. We loved the people, the stunning views and of course the phenominal wines so much that we joined their Wine Club. However, to be completely truthful, we truly didn’t want to miss any opportunity to visit! For this year’s Harvest Celebration we invited our dear friends Meg and Doug Pearson to the party on the grounds of the home of the Proprietors Augustin and Valeria Huneeus on the picturesque property of Quintessa.

The celebration was magical from beginning to end. We were greeted with flavorful wine and treated to a vast array of innovative cuisine and lively music. All four of us enjoyed talking with other guests and discovering new friends from Alaska to the Bahamas. The atmosphere was elegant and relaxing and we experienced a memorable afternoon. Augustin and Valeria greeted all of us as if we were family and shared their thoughts about winemaking and invited us to visit the private island on the property as well. Private island? How fun!

The Harvest Celebration

1. Welcome to Quintessa 2. Our empty glasses await. 3. A view of their home and party in the distance 4. A tempting cassoulet with beans and sausage 5. Craig happily bringing us wine 6.Proprietors Valeria and Augustin 7. Amazing oysters 8. Meg and I at the entrance to the private island 9. A peaceful seat on the island 10. The four of us standing in the island gazebo 11. View of the vineyard from the hilltop 12. Craig and I visiting the wine caves 13. Tasting “Illumination” in the vineyard

A big thank you to Doug Pearson for photos 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, & 10

The Estate Tasting Experience is approximately 90 minutes and available by appointment only. Tasting fee is $65 per person.

San Francisco: A wine dinner with Jordan Vineyard & Winery at Campton Place

September 28, 2014 By Tam Warner Leave a Comment

Guest Post from Suzanne Stavert of Adventures of Empty Nesters!

A wine dinner in San Francisco? Yes please!

Lately I have been having a blast interacting with great people on Instagram. I adore photography and truly enjoy seeing what Instagrammers (photographers) are capturing. I had a wonderfully engaging conversation via Instagram with the Campton Place Hotel in San Francisco all about our spectacular trip to the Napa Valley and my great wine and winery photos.

My new friend on Instagram suggested that we come to a wine dinner at the hotel in the “Michelin Star”Campton Place Restaurant where Chef Srijith Gopinathan would prepare a feast that paired excellently with the wine. Prior to the dinner we would be treated to a wine lecture from Rob Davis, the winemaker of the Jordan Vineyard and Winery! Craig and I are always enthusiastic about wine, outstanding cuisine and we absolutely LOVE San Francisco, so this was a very easy decision. We confirmed our seats with Richard Dean:Master Sommelier, one of only 150 Master Sommeliers worldwide. With our reservation confirmed, we were all set.

As you may have heard from me before, chefs are like ROCK STARS to me. I am constantly in awe of how they utilize various combinations of flavors, textures of ingredients, as well as visually beautiful preparations! I love learning about different types of dishes, eating them, as well as experimenting in my own kitchen. I truly appreciate the vibrant colors and the marvelous artistic presentation of each dish. I was photographing my meals way before the trend of taking photos of your food had gone viral. Craig is so patient with me when we are out at a restaurant. He always asks “Are you taking a photo of this? Is the light good enough?” Actually, I have rules about taking photos of my food in a restaurant. I only use my iPhone, no large camera, absolutely no flash, that is such a rookie move. I try to be as discrete as possible and take them very quickly. Unfortunately, many restaurants keep the light low for ambiance, which makes for difficult picture taking! Oh well, I honestly don’t need a photo of everything I eat! Really, I don’t.

Campton Place is an elegant and beautiful boutique hotel, and so welcoming! Attending a wine dinner was another new and special adventure and we were thrilled to participate. The minute we strolled through the magnificent double doors, we were kindly greeted and sent on our way to the tasting room. We arrived promptly at 7:00pm and the party had already started! Note to self: Come early!

The guest of honor, winemaker Rob Davis of Jordan Vineyard and Winery, was already entertaining the room with his compelling stories and enthusiasm. At our beautifully presented table, we were each seated with five glasses, crackers and water to “cleanse the palate”.

Rob Davis began the evening by sharing his personal journey as a winemaker. He has been enjoying this lifestyle (it doesn’t feel like a job to him) and holds the rare distinction of serving as winemaker at a singular winery for more than 35 years. That is remarkable! He shared tales of being a young man traveling with André Tchelistcheff, who was considered America’s most influential post Prohibition winemaker. The two winemakers made many trips to France to visit caves, chateaux and domaines and that experience influenced all aspects of winemaking at Jordan.

We were captivated. He is a great storyteller.

Neither Craig nor I are wine experts in the slightest, however, we are most certainly enthusiastic participants and eager learners! We tasted the five different wines and listened and learned.

We were then escorted upstairs to the exquisite Campton Place Dining Room and as we were shown to our seats, were delightfully surprised to be seated with the winemaker himself! How fortuitous! We were also seated with a friendly group of diners and oenophiles, all with a variety of talents and intriguing personal stories. Meeting and talking with our engaging dining companions was a highlight for us.

Chef Srijith dazzled us with the most amazing meal and was more than accommodating by preparing a special dish for me in place of the Beef Tenderloin (I don’t eat beef). Chef Srijith grew up in Southern India where fragrant and exotic spices were commonly used by his family. This rich family history, along with his vast education and experience was evident in every delicious bite. The food was out of this world!

The dinner was superb and with each course a new wine was served. Evidently we were offered ultra special vintages and for that we were grateful! Of all of the incredible wines we were served, the 2009 Chardonnay Jordan Vineyard Russian River Valley was my favorite and Craig’s favorite was the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Jordan Vineyard Alexander Valley, en Magnum.

And we received gifts to take with us!

I am not a restaurant reviewer or a wine connoisseur, but I do appreciate delicious and exciting food and possess a small amount of wine knowledge just to be a bit dangerous. We were not paid to attend, we were just two curious empty nesters looking for their next delightful adventure…and we found it in the Campton Place Dining Room with a glass of Jordan Vineyard Cabernet.

If you like wine and food and want to learn more, I highly recommend attending a wine dinner and especially one at Campton Place if you are in San Francisco.

Cheers,

Suzanne

Artful Culinary Delights in Cozumel, Mexico!

August 19, 2014 By Tam Warner 5 Comments

La Cocay's Garden Seating — La Cocay’s Garden Seating

Fabulous food should be part of everyone’s vacation. Good food cannot be confused with fantastic food. In Cozumel, the restaurant to go to is La Cocay. La Cocay means “dragonfly” in the Mayan language, but it’s food is distinctly Mediterranean. Here is some good news: they have enlarged their menu!

I confess that La Cocay is my favorite restaurant on the island. I love the location (3 or 4 blocks off the oceanfront, in a non-descript area) because you would never expect to find such a gem there. When my friends walked in, they said, wow, this is beautiful. I was kind of worried about this when you drove by here! No worries, Mexico has all kinds of hidden surprises!

Leslie (my roomie from Mozambique) and I

There is inside seating, which is lovely, but my favorite place is the garden seating. In August it can be a little warm, but the evening we were there wasn’t bad at all. I loved hearing my friends and their “ooooo’s” and “ahhhh’s”. La Cocay has wonderful artistry in their presentation of every dish.

We gobbled the tapas before I could photograph them!

oops. They were really, really good though!

Next up were the Phyllo Rolls…..they melted in your mouth!

Phyllo Rolls with Blackberry Cherry Sauce. Heavenly!

And my favorite salad in the world, La Cocay’s Napa Salad! Loaded with fresh vegetables, fruits and nuts,

it has to be tasted to be believed!

Leslie ordered Mahi-Mahi served with potato augratin….a culinary masterpiece, truly. I’m not a foodie, I have no idea how it was prepared, I only know it was an explosion of flavor! Kamailie and Lana enjoyed a Margharita Pizza from the wood oven. I had a bite of each….muy delicioso.

But I was waiting for the coup de gras! Chocolate Torte! I haven’t had any of their other desserts, though they look delicious. I HAVE to have my torte!

I have so many photos of our family and friends enjoying wonderful evenings at La Cocay. Once all of our kids were old enough to appreciate it, we’ve spent birthdays there (instead of at Carlos and Charlies). I hope our family will continue to enjoy La Cocay for many years to come!

A 2011 birthday celebration at La Cocay.

Suzanne’s Birthday Surprise: Dinner at The French Laundry!

July 7, 2014 By Tam Warner 2 Comments

GUEST BLOG BY SUZANNE STAVERT OF Adventures of Empty Nesters! Check out her blog!

I love surprises! I love to receive them, to observe them and to create them. Recently, I was the recipient of the most extravagant and very unexpected surprise. A surprise of gargantuan proportions! My husband invited me to the dinner of my dreams at The French Laundry!

It truly was the fantasy meal and ultimate dining experience of my life, and it was every bit and more than I could have ever imagined. I honestly felt like the most honored guest at a spectacular, gastronomic feast.

The French Laundry is located in Yountville, in the Napa Valley, in Northern California. The building is quaint and the downstairs dining room has low coffered ceilings (which makes it very cozy) and soft lighting (which makes everyone look great). We were greeted by our hostess in the restaurant’s courtyard even before we walked through the famous blue door with: “Are you the Stavert party?” “Yes” “Happy Birthday!”. As I looked at Craig with my “Yes we are taking a photo face” we smiled for the camera and now I have this gorgeous photo to enjoy forever!

As we were escorted to our table, I was wished Happy Birthday by no less than three servers on our stroll to our adorable, two-seat antique table in the corner. With butterflies of excitement and such personal attention, the evening was so meaningful!

This was my Superbowl, my World Series, my World Cup. The pinnacle of the restaurant world and for this midlife adventurer and food lover, a dream come true.

We were each presented a lovely and lengthy menu made of ivory colored parchment placed in a long blue folder. The menus were embellished with “Happy Birthday Suzanne” typed across the top. Are you kidding me? No I am not. The greatest restaurant in the United States (maybe the world) singled me out on this magical night. AMAZING. At that early point in the evening I was already delightfully satisfied with my time at The French Laundry.

Oh… but we were just beginning!

We were given the choice of either the “Tasting of Vegetables” or the “Chef’s Tasting Menu”. Craig and I decided to order one of each so we could experience every course that was available to us. I knew that I would be taking photos as discreetly as possible and since the room was lit almost entirely by candlelight, I wasn’t sure how many of the photos would be acceptable to share with all of you! Not all of the photos I took represented the dishes in all of their glory, so I will share with you a sampling of the very best photos.

There were seven impeccable and refined savory courses and approximately five magically prepared dessert courses. They were all executed, presented and choreographed like a beautiful dance. Near the end of the meal it was difficult to keep an accurate accounting of the sweet delicacies, so my descriptions are a little sketchy. Most certainly the bottle of champagne also contributed to the culinary euphoria and lack of memory. Each course was very tiny and delicate and consisted of only a few glorious bites. That being said, the dishes were almost indescribably delicious and I was already full by Course #5, but I managed to rally and enjoyed every single course!

Here are a few of the delicious, artistic, masterpieces! They were all truly a work of art in every bite.

The “Assortment of Desserts” – Fruit, Ice Cream, Chocolate and “Candies”

This was the “funfetti” birthday cake served halfway through the dessert courses. Unbelievable! Only The French Laundry would have custom made plates to enhance this colorful and pink (my favorite color) birthday surprise!

Oh… but we are not done yet!

My goal was to attempt to give you a flavor (pun intended) of our glorious birthday dinner at The French Laundry. There were several dishes not represented, not that I didn’t adore each one, but this way it entices you to make a reservation and experience this remarkable restaurant as well! As I wrote this post, I enjoyed reminiscing and recalling (as best I could) all of the details of the meal. It is said that “success is in the details”. This is so absolutely true for this exquisite restaurant in the heart of Napa Valley. I would do it again in a heartbeat, but until that special time comes again, I will be content to sit back and recall the most wonderful dining experience of my life. I am indeed a very lucky girl!

When a Friend Gives you Lemons

June 19, 2014 By Tam Warner 2 Comments

Guest Post by Lisa Richardson at Nonna’s Wanderings on WordPress.com!!!

The box was heavy with Fresh Blood Orange California Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Vanilla & Fig California Balsamic Vinegar, a jar of Preserved Meyer Lemons and a gorgeous reamer made of olive wood.

Both salad creations knocked our socks off. I began with the Strawberry, Fig and Basil Salad on the Temecula Olive Oil Company website and tweaked it to availability and taste. Homemade, fresh vinaigrette is sensational. This paired well with a perfectly grilled filet. arugStrawberry, Fig & Basil Salad*

1 shallot, finely diced

2 TBSP Vanilla & Fig Balsamic Vinegar (so very fragrant!)

1 cup fresh sliced strawberries

4 ripe Black Mission Figs (I substituted slivered dates because my husband couldn’t find figs)

1/2 Cup TOOC Fresh Basil Olive Oil (I used a Tuscan herb olive oil from Napa)

2 handfuls fresh arugula

3/4 C fresh flat leaf parsley (This is where it changed- I used only arugula, a bowlful; no parsley, mint, or frisee) vinaigrette

1/2 Cup fresh mint leaves

1 handful young, tender frisee

Fresh cracked pepper to taste

2 ounces goat cheese, chilled

Sea Salt to taste.

Combine shallot and vinegar in a small bowl with a pinch of salt. Let stand for 10-15 minutes.Trim fig stems, removing anything fibrous but preserving the teardrop shape. Cut into quarters lengthwise and set aside.Whisk olive oil into the vinegar and shallot mixture. Combine the greens and herbs and gently toss with just enough vinaigrette to lightly coat. Place the greens on a serving platter and nestle the fig quarters and strawberries around the greens. Crumble the goat cheese on top. Drizzle any remaining vinaigrette over the fruit and cheese and serve immediately.

*The original recipe featured on the website is by Peggy, Rockville, NY.

The second effort was originally an arugula salad, but we chose spinach. This salad was a tasty complement to grilled chicken. spinparm Arugula Salad with Honey Citrus Pomegranate Dressing*

2 T Orange Juice ( I omitted this and chopped one of the Meyer lemons, plus finely diced shallot, into the vinaigrette)

2 T California Balsamico Bianco Oo-La-Pomegranate Vinegar ( I used straight Balsamico)

1 T Honey

1/4 Cup Citrus Reserve Late Harvest Olive Oil ( I used the Fresh Blood Orange California Extra Virgin Olive Oil; no regrets)

Fresh Arugula (I used spinach)

Fresh Pecorino Romano Cheese to Taste ( Used parmegiano here)

Salt & Pepper to Taste Pomegranate Seeds or Orange Slices (Optional) (I added sliced strawberries)

Blend orange juice, vinegar, honey and olive oil to make the salad dressing. Toss dressing over fresh arugula. Top with fresh Pecorino Romano cheese. Salt and pepper to taste.

*The original recipe from the website is credited to Sue Lipsky – Storrs, CT.

Thanks, Liz, for your passion for good food and cooking, and especially for providing the inspiration!

Food for the Soul in Raleigh, NC!

May 21, 2014 By Tam Warner Leave a Comment

GUEST BLOG BY SUZANNE STAVERT OF Adventures of Empty Nesters!

Mixing business with adventure is so gratifying, not to mention, super fun! In addition to writing Adventures of Empty Nesters, I represent a health company called Touchstone Essentials. I was traveling to Raleigh, North Carolina for our Second Annual Conference and ironically, my husband had business in Raleigh as well! This almost never happens, so we had a 2 for 1 special business trip with a side of adventure!

During the day, I spent my time learning valuable information about health and wellness at the conference, and Craig focused on his work obligations. However, we still have to eat don’t we? Raleigh is an awesome “foodie” town and a great place to find food for the soul. The kind of food you don’t easily forget and want to come back to again and again. It is a relatively small, urban city, so we were able to walk to most of the restaurants we wanted to go to from our hotel in the downtown area. At the suggestion of our dear “Almost Empty Nester” friends who live in Raleigh, we were given a fairly lengthy list with many types of food and libations to choose from. It was definitely a difficult decision!

What I admired most about the restaurants we experienced in Raleigh is how genuine and unprententious they were, yet the flavors were sophisticated and out of this world. Ashley Christensen is a red hot chef in Raleigh and has just been awarded the 2014 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southeast. On a very wet and rainy evening we only walked just one block to Poole’s Downtown Diner. The vibe is super friendly and since they don’t take reservations, it is usually always packed with hungry customers. I don’t mind the wait, because you just plan for the time, talk with friends and enjoy some ridiculously creative cocktails as you wait for your table.

Creatively written on hanging chalkboards, the menu has a Southern flair with a modern edge. Since we live in Southern California, we never eat anything remotely Southern, so we were anxious to participate!

It was so tough to choose that we opted to share two sides and each have an entrée. The “highest” of the highlights for me was the Mac and Cheese side dish (Macaroni Au Gratin). This was honestly the best I have ever tasted. Craig and I consider eating mac and cheese as a rather decadent treat. We like to try it at restaurants that offer it as their signature dish. We have tasted several versions of truffle mac and cheese, lobster mac and cheese and now Poole’s. Poole’s is hands down the very best we have ever tasted. The chef must combine three or four types of cheese and it comes with a crispy cheddar crust. OMG! It is worth every calorie and gram of fat.

Craig enjoyed his chicken fried pork shoulder sausage with grits…. He was so “un” Southern when he ordered his meal he said: “I would like to have the chicken sausage.” The server said: “There is no chicken in the dish, it is CHICKEN FRIED”. Oh is that what that means!

Note: Poole’s was fairly dark and taking photos with a flash is a no-no. So these are not my best work, but you get the idea.

Joule

Our number two highlight in Raleigh was Sunday brunch at Joule, which is also owned by Ashley Christensen. She owns Beasley’s Chicken & Honey, Chuck’s, Fox Liquor Bar, Joule Coffee and has two more restaurants coming soon. At Joule, they make aromatic hand crafted cups of coffee and hand made croissants. Making croissants by hand is extremely labor intensive and they were light and delicious with a slightly sweet almond flavor. We shared a scrumptious almond croissant and homemade yogurt with granola and berries as our Sunday morning breakfast.

We were in Raleigh a very short time, but these two restaurants are a “Do Not Miss” when visiting Raleigh.

Should I really be eating all of this food? YES!

In actuality, I spend most every week eating healthy food and following good diet practices. But when I am out discovering new restaurants and their creative cuisine, rules go out the window. It’s a culinary adventure for goodness sake! I will arrive home from the trip, get back on the proverbial horse, eat well and exercise. Seriously, do you want me to write about eating roasted broccoli, going to the gym and how many miles I walk the dog? Or course not, I save the just interesting stories to share with you!

Napa Valley: A Harvest Celebration at Quintessa Vineyard

By fellow midlife adventurer, Suzanne Simone Stavert at Adventures of Empty Nesters!

Great friends, heavenly food, delicious wine and a breathtaking landscape are the perfect ingredients for an amazing experience in Napa Valley to celebrate the harvest at Quintessa Vineyard.

The Harvest Celebration

San Francisco: A wine dinner with Jordan Vineyard & Winery at Campton Place

Guest Post from Suzanne Stavert of Adventures of Empty Nesters!

A wine dinner in San Francisco? Yes please!

And we received gifts to take with us!

Cheers,

Suzanne

Artful Culinary Delights in Cozumel, Mexico!

Suzanne’s Birthday Surprise: Dinner at The French Laundry!

This was my Superbowl, my World Series, my World Cup. The pinnacle of the restaurant world and for this midlife adventurer and food lover, a dream come true.

Oh… but we were just beginning!

The “Assortment of Desserts” – Fruit, Ice Cream, Chocolate and “Candies”

Oh… but we are not done yet!

When a Friend Gives you Lemons

Food for the Soul in Raleigh, NC!

Note: Poole’s was fairly dark and taking photos with a flash is a no-no. So these are not my best work, but you get the idea.

Joule

Should I really be eating all of this food? YES!

Life is about balance – We should design and live an extraordinary life. Don’t you think?

Have you tried a new and fabulous restaurant lately? We would love to hear about it!

Subscribe to Blog via Email

EAT

By fellow midlife adventurer, Suzanne Simone Stavert at Adventures of Empty Nesters!

Great friends, heavenly food, delicious wine and a breathtaking landscape are the perfect ingredients for an amazing experience in Napa Valley to celebrate the harvest at Quintessa Vineyard.

The Harvest Celebration

Guest Post from Suzanne Stavert of Adventures of Empty Nesters!

A wine dinner in San Francisco? Yes please!

And we received gifts to take with us!

Cheers,

Suzanne

This was my Superbowl, my World Series, my World Cup. The pinnacle of the restaurant world and for this midlife adventurer and food lover, a dream come true.

Oh… but we were just beginning!

The “Assortment of Desserts” – Fruit, Ice Cream, Chocolate and “Candies”

Oh… but we are not done yet!

Note: Poole’s was fairly dark and taking photos with a flash is a no-no. So these are not my best work, but you get the idea.

Joule

Should I really be eating all of this food? YES!

Life is about balance – We should design and live an extraordinary life. Don’t you think?

Have you tried a new and fabulous restaurant lately? We would love to hear about it!

Subscribe to Blog via Email