Wild Mushroom Weekend in Sonoma

In ancient Egypt, only pharaohs were allowed to eat mushrooms, which were not only delicious, but also prized for their many health benefits and healing properties. Now you no longer need to walk like an Egyptian to partake of the gastronomic pleasures of the mighty mushroom — merely head for Sonoma.

READ MORE HERE

Photos Courtesy of Marcy Gordon and Relish Culinary Adventures

My Love-Hate Relationship with LÄRABAR

These days it’s a matter of self-sufficiency to travel with some food items in case of an emergency. For years I carried crackers. But crackers, while tasty, are not practical for long distance travel, unless of course you are the type who enjoys snorting pulverized peanut butter and cheese flavored dust out of a cellophane sleeve.

After I stopped carrying crackers I began to bring crush proof snacks like cans of Pringles and mini M&M’s in little plastic tubes. But the problem with these items was I could barely get past the pre-boarding announcement without devouring them. If the need for emergency food arrived my supply was depleted.

Enter the LÄRABAR. These no dairy, no soy, no gluten, non-GMO, kosher, vegan bars are the perfect travel stash. They don’t melt and they can maintain their blocky shape for years. If you like dried fruit and nuts mashed together in a tiny dense brick, the LÄRABAR is for you. I’ve tried other fruit and nut bars but LÄRABAR is the only one with the half-life of plutonium. They seem to last forever.

CONTINUE READING HERE...

5th International Wine Tourism Conference 2013 - Croatia

In less than thirty days, wine lovers, tour operators, and educators will gather in Zagreb, Croatia for the 5th International Wine Tourism Conference on March 15-16th. I can’t think of a more dynamic and exciting place for a conference on wine and wine tourism than Croatia. I’ve written more posts about the food and wine of Croatia than any other region.  {See the full list of links below.}

Once again I’ll be speaking at the conference and you can see the list of talk and speaker bios here. I’m especially looking forward to the Wines from the Balkans Grand Tasting led by Caroline Gilby MW. I'm also looking forward to expanding my experience of this popular destination for fans of great wine, food and natural beauty. If you'd like to attend you can register here.

Links to my Croatia series posts:
Croatia Series Preview: Zivili!
Croatia Part 1: Bibich Dégustation
Croatia Part 2: The Splendors of Split
Croatia Part 3: Šibenik Caressed by the Sea
Croatia Part 4: Zadar, The Perfect Date
Croatia Part 5: Pilgrimage to Pag: Land of Paški Sir
Croatia Part 6: Istria--Truffles, Olive Oil, Prosciutto & Wine!
Croatia Part 7: A Taste of Zagreb
More Croatia Posts:

Ajvar Smackdown

Croatia: Memories Lost and Found

Eli's Caffé in Zagreb--Wake Up and Smell the Coffee

Maraschino - Wrapped in Tradition
The Wines of Croatia: A Preview Tasting
Croatian Wines Making Waves

Country of Good Vines: Countdown to Wines of Croatia
I Can Almost Taste It! Croatian Wine is Near
Wines of Croatia Tasting: The Recap

Cruising the Caffine Causeway -- Best Coffee in Sonoma

Highway 116 in Sonoma County is known as the Gravenstein Highway, named after a local apple, but it could easily be renamed the Caffeine Causeway, as some of the best must-stop coffee shops for the coffee connoisseur are set along this scenic ribbon of road. Including local favorites such as Hardcore Espresso, Ninja Star Coffe Bar, and Flying Goat.

READ MORE HERE...

Photos Courtesy of Marcy Gordon, iStock-da-kuk and Facebook-Sunshine Roasters

8th Annual International Alsace Fest Preview

When most people think “winter whites,” images of department store linen sales may pop to mind, but the first thing I think of is wine. Nothing perks up a dark winter day better than a crisp white wine. If you’re a fan of fragrant and luscious whites, the 8th Annual International Alsace Varietals Festival is for you.

This year’s event takes place February 9 through 10 in Boonville, Calif., located in Anderson Valley — the wine sweet spot of Mendocino County — tucked between rolling hills, coastal ranges and many exceptional wineries and vineyards.

READ MORE HERE... 

Books 2012- What I Read in Print and E-ink

Last year I received a Kindle for my birthday just before I left on a three week trip to Italy. It's funny, I would not have bought the device for myself but it really was the perfect gift since one of my greatest packing challenges is deciding how much reading material to bring.

The Kindle came in very handy during a lengthy flight delay in Frankfurt and when I got snowed in Rome. There were great challenges in travel transportation last year, but having a Kindle made waiting tolerable. Faced with a 5+ hour delay in Frankfurt in January, I downloaded the 600 page Steve Jobs Bio and the time passed very quickly, plus I was thankful I did not have to lug around that beast of a book in print. I love the portability of the Kindle when I travel, but miss having the hard copy books for my bookshelves. A few months ago I won a Kindle Fire--so now I have two Kindles and all the books on my first kindle show up on the Fire. Although I much prefer reading on the flat non-back lit screen of my first Kindle.
Note to Publishers: I’d pay extra for a bundled print book that included all formats including audio, so I could read anyway I choose.

This year several friends published books, and my book, Leave the Lipstick, Take the Iguana, a travel anthology I edited, came out as well. So cheers to all the readers, writers, and editors who make the world a better place to wait --especially in airports.

2012 Book Stats
Total Read: 57
Print: 31
Kindle: 26

My Jess Walters Jag--

Around the middle of May I downloaded The Financial Lives of the Poets by Jess Walter and spent two days glued to my Kindle reading it. This lead me to seek out more of his work and I also read Citizen Vince on my Kindle. But as soon as I as saw the cover for Beautiful Ruins, I knew I had to have the real thing. I’ve spent time in the Cinque Terre, back in the days before it became inundated with Steveites, and their guidebooks. I love having the actual book, and what a great satisfying read it was. I found the characters in Beautiful Ruins so strong that I had a hard time keeping them out of my mind as I read other books afterwards.

Favorite Reads of 2012:
Green Water, Green Sky by Mavis Gallant (published in 1959)
Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter (2012)
The Financial Lives of Poets by Jess Walter (2009)
Miami by Joan Didion (1987)

Read with Caution:

Akhmed and the Atomic Matzo Balls by Gary Buslik -- This book will spin your head like Linda Blair in the Exorcist.

Don’t Get What All The Fuss Was About:
A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
The Tender Bar by J.R. Moehringer

Tell me...What did you read last year that was memorable and worth recommending?  Let me know below. I’m always looking for a good read. 

Where Can You Get the Best Views of Napa and Sonoma?

The best views in my opinion are from wineries where in the event it’s a cloudy or overcast day you can always console yourself with a glass of wine and imagine the vista before you. But seriously, some of the best views are at found at wineries and here is my list:

Napa
Sterling Vineyards—
When you have to take a gondola ride to reach the winery you know a stunning view is on the agenda. Sterling is perched 300 feet above Calistoga, and the panoramic views of Napa Valley are indeed tremendous.

VinRoc—
Call for an appointment first and and then make your way up to VinRoc for the most extraordinary views of the valleys and vineyards below Atlas Peak. This tiny winery is well worth the drive up the long and winding road.

Silverado Vineyards—
Sunset on the terrace at Silverado is a guaranteed “peak experience” for those seeking the best views across the valley. From any angle Silverado has a vista worth viewing.

Sonoma
Gloria Ferrer Winery—
Enjoy sweeping views over the vineyards and of the valley from their tasting room patio. Nothing pairs better with a fine sparkling wine than a great view and you’ll find both here.

Everett Ridge—
This birds-eye view of Mount St. Helena, the surrounding mountains and valley below, is one of the best you can get without being airborne.