Saturday, August 21, 2010

america's wine country

Good morning! Thank you for your wonderful insight yesterday. I was going to form some sort of response this afternoon but then I realized this is my real weekend day in two weeks, and it's been over a month since our last Plates from Around the World post. Don't recall what those even are? I don't blame you :) they are a part of a series that is run on Saturdays and describe a contributor's incredible travel experiences with food. Today I'd like to welcome a wine lover with a thirst for travel (yep, my kind of girl). Meghan, take it away...

I have been incredibly blessed over the years to have many opportunities to travel both in the US and abroad and in the past year to start sharing those travels in my blog, Travel Eat Love. My husband is from Ireland, so many of our trips are based around visiting family there, and I definitely look forward to visiting Europe a few times a year.

However, my recent travel obsession is Northern California, and because it is a food and wine loverís dream come true, knew I had to focus on our trips to Napa and Sonoma for Plates from Around the World. I made my first wine country visit in September of 2009, and this past summer I returned for the 4th time in about 10 months. Love it much? Yes. :)

There is so much to say about Napa and Sonoma that I could probably write a book or two just based on the little time I have spent there. So I thought that rather than get too into detail about one particular place, I would share an overview of some delicious moments.

A trip to Napa and Sonoma is a dream come true for a food and wine lover.
clip_image002
Whether you are sipping bubbly and looking out over the valley at Gloria Ferrer. . .
clip_image004
Or eating pillowy perfect gnocchi at Chef Michael Chiarelloís Bottega. . .
clip_image006
Or tasting wine at Castello di amorosa, a wine country castle. . .
image
 image
Or eating a multi-course lunch at the Culinary Institute of America Greystone. . .
image
Eating chocolate bouchon AT Bouchon, the Yountville bistro of the famed Chef Thomas Keller. . .
image
Befriending a happy-go-lucky wine country puppy at Zichichi, my favorite spot for a good Zinfandel. . .
image
Or eating a birthday dinner at Scopa in Healdsburg. . .
image
A foodie is bound to find something he or she loves in Northern California. There are probably more wineries and restaurants than I could visit in a year, much less a long weekend, so for now, it looks like I will be returning often!

Thanks so much Danielle, for letting me share my love of the food and wine of California with your lovely readers. Have a great summer, everyone, and whether at home or traveling somewhere amazing, enjoy great food!


Alright, change of plans. I am headed to Northern California for the weekend... who's coming with? Meghan, please be our tour guide :) Oh how I wish. Anyway, if you'd like to participate, please email a description of your favorite place & it's foodie memory along with photos to aroundtheworld340@gmail.com. Thank you, and á bientôt.

4 comments:

  1. Yay for Northern California :) I live in Marin County which is right between San Francisco and Napa/Sonoma and I seriously don't go up to the gorgeous delicious wine country enough! Well...now that I'm 21 perhaps a trip up for a wine-tasting is in order!
    That gnocchi looks to die for :) mmmm :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have heard soo much about Napa being a foodie and wine haven. I feel like I just need to show up with an elastic waistband!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh wine country. I love living in San Francisco b/c it's all within distance of a short trip. :) There's a large wine event going on in Livermore (east of SF) that I am considering going.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've only been to California once--now I am certain that I need to make a return trip!

    ReplyDelete

Penny for your thoughts...