Eating Our Way through Bodega Bay

On Memorial Day we did what any Californian would do.  

We jumped in the car, and drove to the coast. 

Ok, so maybe not every Californian would choose to spend their day in such a manner, but I can't get enough of the ocean.  I love inhaling the salty, fresh air.  I am soothed by the sound of crashing waves.  I am hypnotized by the jagged rocky coastline.  And I adore exploring the local quaint shops and eateries.

We drove north and ended up in Bodega Bay, along the Sonoma Coast.

We stopped at Gourmet au Bay, for a little wine tasting, or wine surfing as they refer to it.  

The selection was huge and we couldn't decide...

...so we ordered one of each.  

The flights each came in handcrafted wooden wine surf boards.  I tried really hard to find a reason to buy one, but sadly I couldn't justify the need to serve wine in such a whimsical manner.  

What wine tasting isn't better with cheese, crackers, almonds and dried cranberries?

We sat.  And drank.  And soaked up the view.

After a few hours of pure relaxation, we hit the road again and headed north to Jenner.  We had gotten a recommendation to try River's End, a restaurant and inn named for the point where the Russian River meets the sea.  

The restaurant is perched on the edge of a cliff, with spectacular views and a wrap-around balcony from which to take it all in.  It almost feels like you are dining in a tree house.  

After an afternoon of wine tasting, I decided to change things up with a wine soda instead.  The beverage, made from Chardonnay grapes, was a refreshing hybrid of sparkling soda and wine.  

First course- Salmon Poke with cucumber and avocado, infused with an Asian vinaigrette and served with crispy won tons.    

Next,  I was served the best beet salad that I have ever eaten. The Technicolor Beet Salad.  It was made from roasted multi-color beets layered with goat cheese, macadamia nuts and fresh basil then drizzled with an orange balsamic reduction.  Oh. My. Delicious.  

My boyfriend cleverly named it "The Leaning Tower of Beetza".

Still makes me laugh. 

Funny Boyfriend ordered the fish and chips in ale batter, a classic dish that was well suited for a lazy coastal meal.  

To end what was already a wonderful afternoon, we stopped at one of the many beaches along the way and took a nap on the sand.  Zzzzzzz.....

For this Californian, it was a perfect way to spend Memorial Day.  

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Under the Bridge

It was one of those perfect Bay Area days.  The sun was shining.  There wasn't a cloud in the sky.  The air was warm, and the breeze was gentle.  In other words,  the kind of day to leave work early and get outside.  Luckily, my co-workers and I had scheduled a networking meeting (aka very early happy hour) on this beautiful afternoon.  Is this where I confess that we planned it only after checking the weather report, and purposely picked a beautiful outdoor location?  I think our company is very lucky to have such a smart, and forward thinking group of employees.

Cavallo Point, also know as The Lodge at the Golden Gate, is a resort/spa/restaurant destination located at Fort Baker, a former U.S. Army post.  Visitors can wander along the hillside among trees, historic buildings and retired officer's residences, now converted to guest rooms.   

We decided to meet at Farley Bar, a popular, casual lounge at Cavallo Point, known for it's tasty small plates and creative cocktails.  And did I mention that it is located right under the Golden Gate Bridge complete with sweeping views of the bay?

Naturally, we picked an outdoor table....

....with just a simple little view.

Our canine companion was tempted by the field stretched out in front of her, but she patiently waited for us humans to socialize until it was her turn to run around.  

First up, drinks!  The drink menu rotates for each season, and we got to sample Spring. 

I ordered a Strawberry-Rhubarb, a blend of Dubonnet Blanc, Skyy citron vodka and Moscato d'asti that somehow lived up to it's namesake in flavors.    

P ordered The Pineapple, made from Meyer's platinum run, lime, crushed ice and mint.  I'm not sure when mint and lime combined started tasting like pineapples, but this drink did.  

And J?  Well, he was happily sampling a few drinks.  

  We ordered some appetizers, starting with wood grilled Japanese shishito peppers, sprinkled with sea salt.

Next, we got organic Rancho Gordo popcorn, flavored with truffle.  At the time, I couldn't have told you that it is a very rare, red colored kernel, but I could have told you it was delicious.    

The platter of house baked breads consisting of olive and onion focaccia, multigrain flat bread and a pretzel roll, was served with a spread sampler.

The trio of spreads was made up of sundried tomato, marscapone with chives, and creme fraiche with mustard seeds and cracked pepper.  

We ended with the seafood fritto misto (which is Italian for mixed fried items), accompanied by grilled lemon and fresh mayonnaise.  

 Cavallo Point is the kind of place you visit to lounge for hours, enjoy good company, indulge in delicious food and soak up incredible views.  

You can bet that we'll be back.  Maybe next time we'll even invite the boss.

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Made in Canada

I think most of my readers know by now that I am Canadian.  Canadian and proud!  

Proud of the friendly people, the impressive, vast, open landscapes, free healthcare, colourful money and of course hockey.  Even though we are so close to "the States", Canada has a culture all of its own.  It is hard to define, but it falls in the category of I-know-it-when-I-see-it.  My American boyfriend happily points these moments out when he finds them, and I swell with red and white maple leafed pride. 

I have blogged about Montreal bagels, poutine and maple flavored goodies, and thought I would share a few more treats that are found only in Canada.  That's right.  Only available north of the border.   

Let me introduce you to ringolos, aka the childhood snack that I consumed every day on the bus ride home.  Nutritious? No. Delicous?  Yes.  

Imagine potato chips ground up, reformed into rings, baked and then sprinkled with BBQ flavor.  I'm not sure if that is actually how they make them, but I'm satisfied with the description.  

Much like any crunchy snack, these are addictive.  Good luck eating just one.  

When we were kids, we used to put them on our fingers.  Ummm, did I say when were kids?  I also meant now.  

For those of you with a sweet tooth, do I ever have a cookie for you.  Meet the Whippet.  

The Whippet, around since 1927 according to the box, is a cookie composed of a chocolate covered marshmallow sitting on top of a graham cracker.  

I bet there are many Americans out there thinking "Why didn't we think of that?  We have the s'more after all.  It was just one small step away"  

As kids, we used to peel off the chocolate, suck the marshmallow off the base and then eat the cookie last.  I'm starting to think that we had a special way to eat every food. Hmmmm...

After salty snacks and then sweet cookies, you are probably thirsty and would like a drink.  How about spruce beer?  Despite the name, this is a non-alcoholic beer, similar to root beer.  It is made from spruce needles, an evergreen found all over North America.  

I'll be honest, this isn't something I drank growing up but it was worth a try on my last visit home.  The verdict per the American?  "It tastes like melted snow dripping off pine needles".  And there you have it.

For something a little more adult, we also purchased Sleeman beer.

Just seeing the name brought back memories as it was the beer of my university days.  Guelph, Ontario (which is about an hour west of Toronto) is the birthplace of Sleeman and they have been brewing beer since 1851.  It is also the home of my alma mater, The University of Guelph.  

University, beer... I think we can all make the connection there.

Hope you enjoyed a little taste of Canadian eats.  There will be plenty more to come over the years.  Until then, I will be oot and aboot living the food life.  

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