Happy New Year, Mea Culpa and An Update

Hello! Is there anybody still there?

          I should probably start by explaining  my long absence from this space. You see, through working in food and beverage media, recipe writing and many, many injuries I seem to have put on a pound or two. Possibly more. Anyhoo, in early August I decided that it was time to take things in hand and began to change my eating and exercise habits. I didn’t want this to turn into a diet blog, because that isn’t what I want to talk about. I like food and I just needed to figure out a system that worked for me. And so, my posting became less and less and now I am crawling back and hoping you forgive my absence.

          Needless to say, I am pretty well whipped into shape. I’ve still got a little ways to go, but it is all second nature to me now. So, what in the world have I been up to these long months you may ask?

 

          Well, shortly after my last post I got all dressed up as Mattie Ross and went with Phil the Barkeep to the True Grit themed Halloween party at Jordan Winery. I even carried a (toy) gun in my pillowcase purse, played Blackjack and even pulled my (toy) gun on the dealer. Parties at Jordan are always spectacular.

           A couple of weeks later Team Mutineer descended on Napa for our annual Red Carpet Party. Miss Julie Hadjinian Mutineer Designer Extraordinaire came into town a bit early for a visit and it was wonderful having her here all to myself for a bit. We shopped, ate and talked non-stop for three days, but it still wasn’t enough.

           Once the team was all assembled we gathered at Raymond Vineyards for a meeting in their eye popping Red Room. It was wonderful to be together again after six months and there were surprises to come. Some of you may remember, but we had been working with A Child’s Right to raise money to buy water filters for several schools in Nepal. At the meeting we all received letters of thanks and scarves. My scarf was one of two special scarves given to my Editor-in-Chief by the headmasters in welcome. Our Director of Operations and I received them in recognition of the work we put into the project. It was a really special moment and it meant a lot to me.

Photo courtesy of my awesome friend Ryan Clinton and his new iPhone.

           After the meeting we all descended on Chef Todd Humphries (he’s featured in my latest “Off Duty” column) new restaurant Kitchen Door at the Oxbow Market out in Napa. We dined on roasted chicken, various charcuterie, a porcini soup that may have made it onto my death row menu and candy cap mushroom bread pudding. We drank wines from all over the valley like Mumm and Delgadillo Cellars. But mostly, we relished in each others company. I know I hadn’t laughed so much in a long time (Miss LB, if you’re reading this you have a hilariously dirty mind) as I did that night.

           We came together for the Red Carpet Party and Mixology Competition shortly after and I am happy to report that it was a smashing success. Just below are six of the eight competitors. They came to compete from restaurants all around the valley from Morimoto and Bouchon to Solbar and Angel. It was a great night made better by the after-party at Morimoto where I must say, they make a mean Sidecar.

          After the excitement died down we had another house guest in the form of friend and Mutineer Chris D’Amico. We drank and ate way too much during his visit, but no more than the day we spent with Hellocello’s Fred and Amy Groth. The Groth family are more fun than a barrel of monkeys, but instead of monkeys their barrels contain bourbon. Lots and lots of bourbon. It was a great visit, but I definitely am not 21 anymore and drank nothing but water and ginger tea for many days after.

           A week or so later we had our eighth anniversary. We passed it quietly with a nice dinner and a bottle of St. Suprey cab at home. I still can’t believe that in all, we have been together a decade. It feels like only yesterday Phil nervously was trying to talk me out of taking his phone number and scuttling for the door. I am very lucky to have him.

Photo courtesy of Cory Weaver with permission from The San Francisco Opera.

          Two days later we went with Gloria Ferrer to dinner and to see “Carmen” at the San Francisco Opera House to celebrate their successful harvest. The production was spectacular and bubbles delightful. I hadn’t been to the opera since our first anniversary (Aida at Lincoln Center) and I’d forgotten how wonderful it is. Intermission was all about bubbles and chocolate dipped strawberries. It was a lovely evening. The folks at Gloria Ferrer really know how to show their guests a good time.

Photo above courtesy of Cory Weaver with permission from The San Francisco Opera.

          My annual Mutineer holiday extravaganza hit the shelves. It featured everything from a rum breakfast of crunchy french toast, candied bacon, pear parfaits and hot chocolate with rum, nocino and allspice to moonshine liqueur gifts,  cocktails and mocktails.

          More recently one of my favorite people in wine country had a celebration for her new book. Sondra Bernstein of Girl and the Fig fame just released her latest book Plats du Jour. I had been waiting for this one for a while and was really excited to find a lot of the food I have eaten (and loved) at events are featured in the book. There are two in particular that I can’t wait to get to, the wild boar ragu and the rosemary olive oil cake. They are both superb and I am beyond excited to be able to duplicate them at home. Also at the event were two of aforementioned spectacularly fun people in Sonoma County Amy and Fred Groth of Hellocello. They were serving up cocktails and as they are featured in Plats du Jour obliged me by signing my book.

          Beyond  that I turned 33 two weeks ago. I spent the day chatting with friends and getting some serious best friend time in with Leslie who lives much too far away. We had drinks with our friend Chef Sean Z. Paxton where he let us try one of the most delicious beers either of us have ever had, Sexi Mexi from Bend Brewing (They collaborated with Sean on the brew). Phil bought me a fabulous dress, a pair of peep toe heels, made me a cake and took me to an incredible dinner at ESTATE. It was a great way to spend my day.

          Christmas was quiet here as it always is. Work slows down and allow us time to regroup and enjoy the last days of December. We ate lovely meals, drank wonderful beverages and spent time together. Simple. Quiet.

          Today is New Years Day. I am not hungover as I didn’t have a thing to drink last night, since the night before I hosted a small number of Mutineers for a Christmas party and enjoyed far too many cocktails. Last night we celebrated with fresh Dungeness crab and Manila clams with copious amounts of garlic butter and sourdough bread. I may have napped a bit before midnight, but I did manage to wake up at midnight and smooch Phil before heading to bed.

          And so on this first day of 2012 and instead of making new resolutions, I am renewing my commitment to the ones I made last year. I think I made some pretty good headway and am not at all ashamed to still be working on them. I have gotten in shape, given into my imagination to write fiction and I have significantly reduced my swearing. Of course, I watched a few Scorsese films which threw most of my progress out the window on that last one, but I am steadily finding my way back. I will add one thing to my list of things to-do in 2012 and that is getting back to blogging. I will start by posting a recipe for you on Friday. We are eating it for lunch today and I have to say that I am pretty excited to share it with you.

          Any moment Phil is going to remember that the tree is still up and then it will have to come down. For my part, I hope it takes a while, the saddest day of the year to me is the day when the tree comes down.

          Have a Happy New Year and I hope to see you around here in 2012.

                                                   Cheers!