The year 2021 was certainly memorable. It started with restaurant closures, curbside pickups for food and beverages, vaccinations, blue skies, GOLD MEDALS and reservations for wine tasting. As the year went by the blue skies were no longer smiled upon as drought loomed all over the west, more GOLD MEDALS accrued, reservations for tastings became […]
Another year That Was! Read More »
In Northern California we usually call crab and shellfish stew Cioppino. However, most recipes don’t call for a pinch of saffron, which I find an important element. Whatever you call it, the dish is the traditional Christmas Eve meal around our house. We were happy to see crabs available this year, even though they came
Kathy and I are riding the train from Paris to Lyon, after a week’s visit with family in Paris, our first trip in almost two years. Paris was wonderful (if cold), aglow with holiday lights and inviting restaurants every few feet. We managed to import a bottle of 2021 Taft Street Pinot Noir Nouveau to
Bonjour from France Read More »
After two weeks of wining and dining here in Paris and Lyon, I’m yearning for the basics-you know; things like butter, sugar, eggs and flour. With Christmas coming, try these sugar cookies. They are easy to make and go well with any Taft Street wine. INGREDIENTS: 2 1/2 cups flour 1/2 tsp baking powder 1
Back to the Basics Read More »
Just returned from a friend’s wedding in Baja California, where a large crowd consumed copious amounts of terrific food and beverages (tequila, mezcal, cervezas and Taft Street wine). Tacos were ever present – here is one of my favorite renditions. INGREDIENTS: 1 3 pound boneless pork loin 1 white onion, chopped 1 pineapple; peeled, cored,
What a difference a month makes! Over 10” of rain fell in just two days last week; more rain fell yesterday, and more is forecast for tomorrow. The drought may not be over, but fire season for this year definitely is. Here’s hoping this continues for a (long) while. Our 40th harvest ended just before the rains
In these first days of September the weather remains (too) dry, the skies are (sorta) blue, and our 40th harvest is in full swing. Unlike recent years, the wildfires that have plagued our state are for the most part not affecting wine growing areas. Though it appears the harvest will not be huge, grape quality
Not only are we in the midst of our grape harvest, but tomato season is at its peak as well. Over the past couple of weeks I have put up 42 quarts of tomato sauce, with more to come. Here is a quick way to prepare a pasta meal worthy of the season. Any Taft
Pasta with Fresh Tomato Sauce Read More »
A friend from Oregon just arrived with a big box of cherries. Pies, fruit shakes, cherry daiquiris later; we still had a pile left. Seared duck breast and cherry compote – easy and elegant. It also goes well with any Taft Street Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. INGREDIENTS: 2 5 – 6 ounce duck breast
Seared Duck Breast & Cherry Compote Read More »
After a surprisingly mild July (which followed a torrid June), we are exercising an abundance of cautious optimism about our upcoming 40th harvest. Water is a major problem, as is the threat of another heat spike or two. And then there is the fire season. But this is California…we’ll keep you posted. The vineyards look good
