Vine and Barrel Portuguese & Spanish Event

Saturday my sister, Lisa and I attended a Spanish & Portuguese wine tasting event at Vine and Barrel.  If you remember my recent post about my Portuguese heritage, you know that my family is Portuguese and I try to attend anything Portuguese, if I can.

Vine and Barrel is owned by a Petaluma native, Jason Jenkins, whom I went to high school with way back when.  The wine shop is located in historic downtown Petaluma in a building that was once a speakeasy and served as both a brothel and card room at one time.  As you walk into the wine shop, you could almost feel what it was like way back then.  In the front door, you walk into a long, narrow room with high ceilings.   Wine bottles line the dark red and warm tone tan painted walls.  A chandelier hangs from above in the center of the room, giving it a cozy glow. 

Lisa trying out some Portuguese wine.

The tapas that were served were Delicious!  My favorite, of course, were the bacon wrapped dates.  Almost like my Portuguese Roll ups but these had an walnut stuffed inside and a tangy sauce (possibly BBQ sauce) over the top.  SO GOOD!  I think I ate four or five of them!

I've been eating WAY too much bacon lately.

I think I may have a problem.

The tapas were plentiful and all included with the $30 per person cost of the event.

There were a number of wines to taste from the Spanish and Portuguese regions.  I really enjoyed tasting the different varietals.  They're so different from the California wines I'm used to.  This is what makes visiting a wine shop, such as Vine and Barrel so different than wine tasting at wineries......you can taste wines from around the world, all under one roof.

They have over a 600 bottle selection available.  Something can be found for every budget. 

Back for one more snack, before it was time to leave.  I can't say no to cheese either.

If you ever get the chance to attend one of these events, do it, you will not be disappointed!

Happy Sunday!

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For the Dads

To all the Dads out there....Happy Father's Day!

* The word ‘Dad’ dates back to the sixteenth century. It may have originated with the welsh word ‘Tad’ (father), which later mutated to dad. The word ‘father’ is derived from the Old English ‘foeder’.



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Las Guitarras

The other day, after the kids and I finished at the Farmer's Market while walking back to the car, we walked by the Mexican restaurant, Las Guitarras.  Dominic and I have eaten there many times before but the kids haven't.  The outdoor patio looked so inviting, Bryce practically begged me to eat dinner there.

Since Dominic had a meeting that evening, I gave in to Bryce's request.  We picked out an outdoor table to eat at.

With our waters, chips and salsa also showed up at the table.  They bring you two salsas.  Both are on the mild side.....the green was very mild (no heat at all) and the red had a little bit of heat to it.  We dug in.

They do have a children's menu available.  Bryce wanted a burrito, so we ordered the ground beef version for him.  Along with the burrito came rice and beans.

He really liked it.

A peek inside Bryce's burrito shows ground beef, beans and cheese.

Paige wanted a quesadilla......cheese, which also came with rice and beans.

She was diggin it.

I ordered the chicken tostada salad that came with lettuce, beans, cheese, topped with pico de gallo, guacamole and sour cream.  Really good and fresh.

The patio has a huge fountain which the kids enjoyed throwing pennies into, to make wishes. 

I really have to be 'on top of my game' when I take these two out.  Our entire dinner conversation went something like this............

"Mom, do you have pennies for us?"
"Mom, can I tell you my wish?" 

"Will the wish come true?"

"Who grants the wish?"

"How do they know what I'm wishing for?"

"Who gets all those coins in there?"

"How long will it take for my wish to come true?"

"Can I get in the fountain?"

and on and on and on.......

The three of us had a fun dinner date together.  Next time, hopefully daddy can come along too.

Happy Saturday!

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Brand New Calf

We never know what we might find on any given day, going to work with Dominic.  This morning, as we were feeding the Dry Cows (cows that are not milking at the moment) I happened to look over and spotted a Mama cow with some afterbirth discharging........ which can only mean there's a baby somewhere close by.  This type of thing can be a normal happening for Dominic to find, but the kids and I are not usually around during the school year to go to work with Dominic.   We certainly have been enjoying our summer with these daily adventures.

What a cutie!  The healthy calf was only about five or six hours old and had been licked clean and was dry and fluffy. 

Normally, during the winter, the cows are brought into the calving barn to give birth but during the summer they are born outside, like this one.

Having a little snack.

After snack, Mama and baby are moved to the calving barn.

Baby got a ride and Mama walked over to the barn.

Home Sweet Home.

Happy Friday! Cheers!

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An Afternoon at the Farmer's Market

We're lucky enough to have the choice between many different Farmer's Markets in the area to choose from.  The three of them that we like to go to all happen on different days of the week.  But the closest market to us, is the one right here in downtown Novato, which happens on Tuesdays from 4-8 p.m.

This past Tuesday, we decided to take our first Farmer's Market trip of the season.

This is a little petting zoo available at the Novato market.  I loved the 'hairdo' on this duck! 

Can you tell I love carrots?

If you decide to stay the entire four hours, there's plenty to choose from as far as dinner and dessert choices.

RoliRoti Rotisserie chicken is a great choice for dinner.  There's also plenty of street fair food and restaurants that line the street to choose from as well.

Fresh flowers.

Plenty for the kids to keep entertained.  A train ride,

pony rides,

and a couple of  jumpy houses.

We couldn't pass this booth up without buying.  These delicious little things are from a company called Teeny Cake and if you ever get the chance, try one or five.  They also have Cupcake Pops which are frosting and cake mixed together and dipped in chocolate and topped with sprinkles,  presented on a lollipop stick......too cute!

We wanted to take a little break after spending some time at the jumpy house so we bought a cold drink at Flour Chylde Bakery and sat outside at one of their patio tables.  They have great espresso drinks also.

On our walk back, we bought some of these.....

and these......

and Bryce wanted the purple cauliflower so that came home too.  Have you ever tried purple cauliflower?  This was my first time buying it and I found it's very peppery tasting. Bryce was a little disappointed in the taste but he loved the look of it. 

Do you visit your local Farmer's Market?  If so, what's your favorite part?

Happy Thursday!

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The Feel of Cotton (seed) & Shooting Lunch

On a recent visit to the ranch, Bryce and Paige's cousins, Cam and Gavin, had quite the morning!  They love playing with Bryce in the cotton seed.  This can entertain a kid for HOURS.  And as long as there is adult supervision somewhere close by, it's all good!

It's almost like playing in sand.  Okay, okay, it's the farmer's version of playing in sand. 

Even though we live about 25 minutes from the coast, we only seem to visit it when it's 100 degrees inland because that means it's 80 degrees at the coast.....perfect!  It only reaches 100 degrees where we live, around 10 or so times during the summer.

If you missed my post on do dairy cows eat tofu?, cottonseed is one of the ingredients that gets mixed in with the feed everyday.  Here's an up-close look at it.

I find cottonseed all over the house....in shoes, in the laundry, on the floor, in the bedrooms.....you get the picture.

But it doesn't feel good when it gets in the eyes.

Okay, enough playing.  It's time to shoot lunch.

 

Gavin is a great shot!  He got a couple of, I can't remember if they were dove or quail, but I think dove.  They had stew for lunch that day............I did not partake.   Anything that is hunted on the ranch, is eaten.  Bryce really liked it!

Happy Wednesday!

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Nature's Candy

Is there anything better than fresh fruit in season?  It makes such a perfect dessert or treat anytime.  My kids think of it as a dessert, especially with a bit of whipped topping spooned on top.  I tell them it's Nature's Candy.

I've been into buying pineapple lately.  As soon as we finish one in our house, I buy another one.  The other night, after dinner, I threw together this dessert that pleased everyone and had them coming back for more.

Freshly washed raspberries and sliced pineapple.

I bought this mini colander at Cost Plus for $1 and I use it three or four times a day.  It's my greatest 'find' so far this summer.

Everyone would have been happy with the pineapple and raspberries alone.

Loved the combination of the sweet and juicy pineapple along with the tartness of the fresh raspberries.  And the whipped cream just made it extra special.

Happy Tuesday!

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