New England Get Away

I had a chance to finally take a real vacation, and I went to New York and New Hampshire. I went to New York to 'cat-sit' (an excuse to stay in Brooklyn for free) and I went to New Hampshire to pick up a friend's son from camp and visit another high school buddy who lives there. What a great time. Lot of food, sights and experiences. I will write an article for each highlight.

Mill House in New Hampshire

Cheers,


Renard

Relaxing with Woodruff Bourbon

I am currently enjoying a Woodruff Bourbon after a long day and week. There is something that compels me to seek bourbon while I am in the south. This is the first time I have had a Woodruff and I must say I like it. It has a wonderful vanilla nose and the taste is spicy with a faint rye aftertaste. It is very light and almost melts in your mouth as you drink it. The overall experience is relaxing.

Off to New Orleans

I am on my way to New Orleans. Having lived on the Gulf Coast for three years, I have had the pleasure of visiting New Orleans several times. This is my first trip after the devastation of Katrina. I remember the old world charm and the intense blend of cultures. While the storm may have smashed the buildings of New Orleans, hopefully the spirit of the city did not sway one bit to the onslaught.

Of course the two characters that New Orleans is known for are food and music. Yet it is not just characters that make up a story. If food and music are the characters to the New Orleans story, then the Cajun culture is the plot and the Bourbon Street social scene is the setting. Don’t forget the Mississippi River and the French Quarter as supporting cast as well.

When it comes to food, my favorite place is Café Royale. This multi-storied restaurant sits at the corner of Bourbon Street and Royale Street, This corner building is painted a light pink and it stands out from its neighbors. As with most of the buildings in the French Quarter, it offers wrought iron balconies for its patrons dining on the second floor. I remember one of their untraditional dishes, a jambalaya pasta. The andouille sausage was so fresh and the spices were intense. Another food fare that I can not wait to sample again is an oyster poor boy. This is a sub sandwich made simply with fried oysters and tarter sauce. It is rich and creamy and crunchy.

The seafood on the gulf coast is diverse yet unique from other regions. Seafood is one of my dearest culinary passions. I hope that Katrina did not wipe out the Gulf’s seafood supply.

I will continue to post as my trip progresses.

Up and comming Zinfandels in Amador, California

In August of 2004 I was in Northern California and I knew I wanted to check out a few wineries. While I was thinking of going to Napa or Sonoma, a very good friend of mine told me to go to the Amador Valley area. I knew that Amador had a small winery base, but I had been away from NorCal for so long that I did not know how much the Amador region had matured. My friend assured me that the wines from Amador were excellent and the in-winery experience in Amador was much more personal. This friend is one of my oldest, most trusted friends and his taste in wine and fine food is very respectable, so I took his advice. He said that I had to go to Sobon winery—for it was one of the best and he personally knew the owner.

Amador Valley is on the Western foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The grass of the softly rolling hills are baked California golden brown and are dotted with hearty scrub oaks.

I went to Amador on a warm, very sunny weekday. The drive was leisurely down California Highway 16. While the drive to Amador is not as spectacular as going to Napa or Sonoma, you are rewarded once you reach the old prospecting town of Plymouth. The town has kept its rugged western outpost feel. Once through the town, make a hard right to go up into the hills, and it’s pure wine country from there on.

I arrived at Sobon just after midday. When I left the car I remarked at how hot and dry it was. This was a large contrast to Napa, which tends to be cooled by the coastal weather patterns. I wondered how grapes would hold up to this almost brutally dry heat.

The Sobon Winery is in an old white wash structure. Its court yard is a collection of old wine making and farm equipment. Inside is a spacious dimly lit tasting room and gift shop. It was quiet. I was the only person there.

One of the owners was behind the tasting bar and she readied a flight for me to sample. I started with their Cab, because Cabs are my favorite. She next poured their ReZerve zinfandel. I told her I was not a big fan of zins and she assured me that I would like it. She also explained that Amador was known for zinfandel and that its hot, dry climate was perfect for this grape. Well, after one sip I was convinced she was right and became a Zinfandel fan. It was both bold and refreshingly fruity. I bought several bottles. She told me that the family owned another winery down the road and I should check it out.

Sobon Winery Courtyard

Sobon’s sister winery, Shenandoah Vineyards was a contrast in character. The winery gift shop and tasting bar was contemporary and brightly lit. There were several people looking around. I bought a tasting here as well. The wine that struck me the most was their barbera. It is a gold medal winning wine and I could tell. It is one of the best wines I have ever had!.

There are many more vineyards and wineries in the Amador area. I did not have enough time to go to any more (believe me though, the next time I am out there, I will visit my old favorites and a few new). To find out more, check out the Amador Vintner’s Association webpage.

If you have the fortune to take a trip to Napa or Sonoma, make a point to do a day trip to Amador. You will be surprised and rewarded.