Thursday, May 31, 2012

Lovely Napa Valley

The Napa Valley is one of the loveliest places in all of California, though there are certainly many to choose from. Situated just north-east of Oakland about an hour's drive away and worlds apart! We flew into Oakland via oh-so-convenient Southwest Airlines (NO baggage fees!!) on the Friday before Memorial Day Weekend. Our son invited us on a fun weekend and we happily agreed. 

We rented a Ford Edge from Budget and it drove smoothly the entire weekend. A big shout-out to Budget for having a smooth check-in process and several choices available to us when we arrived.

We did some research for lodging (on Yelp, of course) and Jeff found an incredible B & B called The Inn on First. It is located on a lovely tree-shaded street near downtown Napa and is uber-charming. There truly is no other place to stay when visiting Napa I have decided. From our first e-mail welcoming us and and asking for our food issues or allergies to a lovely good-bye from the inn-keeper, The Inn on First is a traveler's dream lit up with considerable charm.





The cozy living area has a fireplace, comfy seating, travel and food magazines, fresh chocolate chip cookies, hot water for tea or cocoa, and port to warm your insides. Check Jeff out relaxing in the living room.





We stayed in the First Crush Room and found it to be a terrific respite from the craziness of our real life. A super comfortable king-sized bed, two easy chairs, fireplace, jacuzzi tub, split of champagne, and home-made chocolate truffles. Oh.. and that jacuzzi (or bathroom shower) is built comfortably for two. Our son stayed in the Budding Vine Room and it was just as magical with a queen-sized bed. Ambience is mostly everything but the breakfasts here are to die for! Jim is one of the most creative chefs on the planet. Think extraordinarily unique warm dishes such as breakfast chicken pot pie with flaky home-made puff pastry served with fresh fruit, warm doughnuts, and home-made granola. There is more, but telling you everything would deny you the pleasure of a wondrous surprise each and every morning. Jamie is a gracious innkeeper with a healthy knowledge of the Napa Valley, wineries, restaurants, and fun things to do. We had an idea of what we wanted to do and he helped us hone in on our final decisions. The surrounding area is lovely for a walk as you can see by the photos of the neighborhood below.






... and it's a short distance to downtown shopping and dining. Try the Bounty Hunter for chicken on a beer can or grilled steaks and bbq ribs and a huge wine selection. Or check out Carpe Diem for small plates and terrific food. If you want something casual head up to Gott's Roadside Stand for some of the best burgers ever. Lastly, the Napa Valley Toffee Company has the best milk and/or dark chocolate toffee you have ever tasted. You must drop in and grab a snack box for yourself. Don't blanche at the pricetag either. It's totally worth it.

I'll truly never stay anywhere else in Napa Valley. You can make a reservation for yourself here by checking out their website at www.theinnonfirst.com.

So what did we do all weekend you ask? We visited wineries of course. 

First up was Hendry Winery located in Napa, and a lovely tour with Mr. George Hendry. 




Now, we have been here once before with our good friends, the Ashtons, and wanted to introduce our son to the most knowledgeable winery tour we've ever done. George Hendry is passionate about his vineyards and his winery for good reason. He is welcoming and friendly and his expertise and honesty are the hallmark of this family-owned winery. The tasting is also quite informative and the wines are crisp, fruity, and delicious. Mr. Hendry is a foodie too and he gave us quite a few good mix and match tips for his wines. I'll never forget to 1) eat fatty foods with my higher tannin wines, 2) freeze my goat cheese for an hour before shredding, and 3) prepare more beef bourguinone. Sampled, purchased, sold, and packed for airplane travel. Fantastic! For tour reservations or to purchase their fine wines you can check them out at www.hendrywines.com.

Next up we headed over to Sonoma to visit Gundlach-Bundschu.




This darling winery is also family-owned and we love their German-style wines. The tasting room was quite crowded but we were invited to sample at the wine club bar - thanks GunBun for your friendliness and hospitality! The staff couldn't have been nicer and the wines were quite tasty, especially the Gewurztraminer and the Tempranillo. Can't wait to have them at home with our friends and family. Their website is www.gunbun.com.

We had a very tasty picnic lunch of cheeses and crackers from the Sonoma Cheese Factory (www.sonomacheesefactory.com) located right on the plaza in Sonoma. I got a chance to step into the Solano Mission here on the plaza as well. It is the northernmost mission on the California Mission Trail and I'd never stopped into it before. Lovely.

We tried a new winery after lunch and visited Bartholomew Park Winery in the midst of Bartholomew Park. This public park area is gorgeous! The wines were good as well and the servers were very friendly. We purchased their Sauvignon Blanc and their Zinfandel as well. You can check them out at www.bartpark.com. They are certainly worth a trip.

Day two took us out to Rombauer, one of our very favorite wineries. We love their Chardonnay and we are not big Chardonnay drinkers. Buttery, rich, crisp, and oaky - it's a lovely taste. Also quite good are their zinfandels. The big jammy tastes are tough to beat, so we brought home a few bottles of that as well.

The Rombauer patio is lovely with a gorgeous view of the valley and the Rombauer Gardens. Sampling these tasty wines can happen on the patio or inside the tasting room. Both offer exceptionally friendly hosts, exceptional wines, and a great view.







Look how happy Zach and I are after sampling their Chardonnay and their Zinfandel!

The Rombauer Gardens are meticulously maintained and a lovely place to picnic. Interestingly, the cookbook, "Joy of Cooking" was originally written by Mr. Rombauer's great aunt and it fits in very nicely with their vision here at the winery. Their website can be found at www.rombauer.com where you can plan your visit or purchase some of their delicious wines.


Off we went to Castello di Amarosa. This winery is owned and operated by the Sattui family so it's comprable in taste and ambience to the V.Sattui tasting rooms in St. Helena. The castle is marvelous and a terrific historic replication complete with vineyards and a view.







We loved wandering about and taking pictures before tasting in an underground cellar. The hosts here are friendly and similar to V.Sattui they allow you to taste and taste and taste. So... we bought and bought and bought. We picked up a few bottles of this and that and a half case of their Fantasia desert wine. Oh my goodness - velvety smooth and fruity deliciousness. Can't wait to share. Check out the castle at www.castellodiamorosa.com.

And on to Flora Springs, the Estate. Oh wow! We have sampled at their tasting room and wanted to try something different so we made reservations for the Estate. We are so happy that we did because their wines are that good. From start to finish, Travis made us feel welcome with his wit, humor, and considerable knowledge of the winery and their wines. Every single vintage was delicious and the side by side barrel comparison was enchanting. We know all about extended maceration and French vs. American Oak barrels now. Thanks, Travis!






I heartily recommend a visit to Flora Springs, either the tasting room on Hwy 29 or their Estate. We enjoyed their wines so much that we joined their wine club and look forward to receiving two bottles each shipment. The Estate tour requires a reservation, but you can drop in to the tasting room during open hours. Check out their website at www.florasprings.com.

We wanted to sample some sparkling wines so on our last day we visited both Mumm and Gloria Ferrer. Hint Hint Hint... stick to Mumm. The view is incredible, the staff is gracious, and the sparkling wines were pretty damn good. I never really felt a liking for sparkling wines, but Mumm has changed my mind. I guess I just never put it all together since many times champagne gives me a slight headache. These didn't. We sampled and shared and enjoyed the sunny day and the view from their patio. If you like sparkling, head here straightaway. Their website can be found at www. mummnapa.com. Check out the fun we had...





If you love wine, you may enjoy a trip to the Napa and/or Sonoma Valleys. If you can't make it there, visit some of these wineries' websites and get a glimpse of what they're all about. You can order wine directly from the website, sample them at a restaurant near you, or visit your local wine shop and chat about your personal likes and dislikes. A good sommelier is right around the corner!

Cheers to you,
Deb :)

Next up.... Waikiki Beach and the Island of Oahu

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Sapphire Princess Coastal Cruise - April 2012

If you really truly want to get away from it all... jump on a cruise ship. Nothing like it in the whole world. There was even a sea day where we slept in till 11:00am. Seriously - that has NEVER happened!!

We boarded in San Pedro (a garden spot to be sure) after spending a quick night at the Renaissance in Long Beach. You can easily skip the Renaissance. There must be other properties out there that are not as worn and/or tired.

But you absolutely should not miss "Roscoe's House of Chicken & Waffles" in Long Beach. This local treasure serves up crispy, tender fried chicken and sweet waffles side by side. Their extras are super yummy as well - grits, candied sweet potatoes, collard greens, and even fried chicken omelettes. The fried chicken livers were a big hit at our table as well. Roscoe's is located at 730 E. Broadway Avenue in downtown Long Beach. Here I am with the girls on their staircase in the entry-way.


They've got a website too - hit it at www.roscoeschickenandwaffles.com. Yummy!!!

Princess has done a lovely job with the Sapphire - she is gorgeous throughout! Expanded options include their Vines Wine Bar, an International Cafe with tasty treats, and bright public spaces throughout their piazza. We enjoyed Crooner's for martinis every single damn day - delish. Our room was nicely appointed with a very comfortable bed and a teeny-tiny shower. Oh, well. Balcony cabins looked a lot bigger than our inside on this trip but we were on a budget this time. The food was quite good and the buffet was set in stations that made filling our plates very easy. Sea days brought fun onboard with a very dedicated and entertaining cruise staff and we truly enjoyed our time onboard.

We miss you Ian, Melissa, and Ryan! And those cocktails by the pool too, right hubby??



Visiting California coastal ports is certainly not new for us as we have visited many times before. But they are all fun cities and we had adventures we've never had on previous visits.

Santa Barbara is a lovely town with plenty of shopping and eating. You can meander up State Street or take the trolley or wander the pier and find treats of all kinds. Sunday mornings bring an art walk with all kinds of visual arts and crafty delights.



We walked up the road to Fess Parker's Doubletree Inn and picked up our Budget rental car. Plan ahead here - they were sold out of cars by 9:30am. Our Santa Barbara adventure included visits to Mosby Winery, Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co., and lunch at Firestone-Walker Tap Room. Mosby Winery had some tasty wine and a lovely setting, but we were not met with the warmest of welcomes. Hmm?? Do they think that will entice me to buy any of their wine? Snooty attitude aside, we did buy wine. It was good, and lucky for them my money spends just like everyone else's no matter what I'm wearing!! It was Sunday after all and Sunday pants are the rule for me.... always. I won't pass on their info - you can look it up if you're tempted. There are plenty of other wineries in the greater Santa Barbara viti-cultural area that you may want to visit. Check out http://www.sbcountywines.com/ or http://www.santabarbara.com/winecountry/ to get your research started. We love wine, but we really love beer too. The biggest surprise of our day was the delicious beer and (uber-delicious filtered water as well) at Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. A very friendly and welcoming staff with great beer, pretzels, and a mustard dip - what more can you possibly want on a warm California day? Drop in and give them a try - the Davy Brown Ale was my favorite. Their website is http://www.figmtnbrew.com/.



Firestone-Walker also has wonderful beers but we have sampled them previously, so no surprises here. The burgers and fries are great and you can sit inside or out. We sat on their outdoor patio and enjoyed the sunshine and fresh air. It's a dog-friendly patio too, so you can bring your scruffy friends along too. Firestone makes excellent wine too. Check them out at www.firestonebeer.com and enjoy.

One thing we have never ever done is ride our bikes across the Golden Gate Bridge. This has been a dream of mine for awhile now and Yippee!! We did it. Of course we had to stop for a toasty-warm Irish Coffee at Buena Vista before hiking up the hill to get our bicycles. Of course we did! Now, Blazing Saddles (www.blazingsaddles.com) in San Francisco has the market cornered on bike rentals and we chose the option of having a guide to take us across. Christopher was knowledgeable, helpful, and led us at a very comfortable pace. The day was gorgeous (as all days must be in SF) and we made the 8-mile trek in about 2-1/2 hours with plenty of pitstops. The Palace of Fine Arts is gorgeous and reminded us of a few scenes in "The Rock" with Sean Connery and Nick Cage. It's a great movie really; find it if you've never seen it.



We sampled brownies and macaroons at The Warming Hut before continuing up on our way and darned if those weren't the tastiest little treats ever!



The bridge itself was the easiest part of the ride as it is completely flat and not too terribly windy up there. Gazing out across the bay was a stunning view and one that should not be missed in your lifetime. We flew down the hills into Sausalito, another adorable little city with shops, restaurants, and wonderfully delicious ice cream. The ferry ride back was quite easy and we returned the bikes to continue our day.

Next up was a cable-car ride to Chinatown and lunch at San-Sun Chinese Eatery. I found this place on Yelp and couldn't have been more pleased. Clean restaurant, clean restrooms, and homey wonderful fried rice. The combination fried rice had pork and shrimp, but there were many more choices with a variety of meats. I had the shrimp egg-foo-yung and it was tasty, albeit with a few too many onions. If you've a hankering for the real deal, stop into San-Sun at 848 Washington Street in Chinatown, San Francisco. Their menu is so extensive. Check out their website at http://www.sansunrestaurant.com.



We enjoy watching travel shows and adore the biting sarcasm and wit of Anthony Bourdain. He visited San Francisco on a recent program and stopped into Li-Po Cocktail Lounge for Chinese Mai-Tais. Well... so did we. These sweet little spirits knocked us for a loop as they were loaded with 151 and a few other toxic alcoholic wonders. Li-Po is quite the interesting dive bar located at 916 Grant Avenue in Chinatown, San Francisco. You won't be driving yourself home after this visit. Ha!!



Our visit to San Diego was made complete with a stop into Kansas City BBQ, one of the sites used to film the movie, "Top Gun." Remember the bar scene where Goose is playing the piano? Filmed right here. And yes, we love "Top Gun." And yes, we have our own code names as well. Kansas City BBQ has a poor location right on the train tracks at Harbor Drive, but the burnt rib ends, fries, and cold beer were delicious. Check them out at http://www.kcbbq.net for more information and their menu.


The day was gorgeous and we headed over to The Fish Market for lunch. This place is incredible fresh delicious-ness! Fresh fish, smoked fish, crab salads, sushi, sashimi, ceviche, you name it.. and ice-cold beer to boot. This place sits right on the ocean and the day couldn't have been more pleasant. Sailboats drifting out to sea, the Midway right next door, and some truly inspiring sculptural art honoring our veterans. I haven't been here in about 2 years and was so impressed with the whole harbor area. Visit The Fish Market at 750 Harbor Drive the very next time you are in the San Diego waterfront area - you will NOT be disappointed. Find them online at http://www.thefishmarket.com.



We finished up our cruise with a quick stop into Ensenada and a visit to Papas and Beer. We shared a few cold beers, strolled through the downtown area, picked up a few trinkets, and went right back to the ship where we belonged!

If you're the cruising type or thinking of cruising check out the websites for my favorites: Princess Cruises (www.princess.com) or Celebrity Cruises (www.celebrity.com) or Holland America (www.hollandamerica.com) or Royal Caribbean (www.royalcaribbean.com.) They all have something good going for them. Choose something with a good itinerary and an affordable price. The fun will follow you. Or... drop me a line and I'll be happy to help you make a choice.

Where are we headed next you ask??
Napa and the Wine Country

Relax and breathe...
:) Debbie