Lazy Sundays no more! Since moving back to Santa Barbara, Sundays have become more of a day of fun and exploration than R&R. It’s typically Nick’s one day off (such is the life of a business owner), so we usually find ourselves spending the day out and about. This past Sunday was no exception when we decided to hop in the car with our lab, Joey, for some wine tasting in Los Olivos. Our first destination? Beckmen Vineyards, based on the suggestion of a local wine friend.
Well, it’s finally here. The Santa Barbara Public Market is officially open. I’ve spent the last few months eagerly awaiting its opening not only because I live only a few short blocks away, but because I was hoping that it’d be similar to the Ferry Building that I frequented all too often while living in San Francisco. Although it’s much smaller than the Ferry Building, the SB Public Market is a neighborhood gem providing access to local artisanal and sustainable food.
After spending time in Carmel/Pebble Beach for my close friend’s wedding this past weekend, Nick and I decided to make a stop in Paso Robles for a quick wine tasting on our way back to Santa Barbara. It was a beautiful day, so why not go exploring instead of spending 4 straight hours in a car? Again, any excuse to try new wines in a new place is a good idea in my book. I had never tasted in Paso before, just driven through, but was surprised with just how many wineries there are now. To think that in the early 1990s there were only 20 or so wineries and now there are 200!
Now that it’s summer, I find myself reaching for wines that are easy on the budget and the palate… the types you can throw into the picnic basket (screw cap) or take to a casual bbq (food-friendly) without spending a fortune. It’s a good thing, then, that I was recently introduced to Terroir Selections‘ newest brand of wines, Cultivate Wines.
Nick and I weren’t sure our Pebble Beach Food and Wine experience could get any better, yet somehow it did. We ended up going to one of the final dinners of PBFW, called My Last Supper: The Next Course. Sure, chefs have been playing this game for years… what would you eat for your last meal? There’s even a book about it called, not surprisingly, My Last Supper. The book is a photo collection of 50 chefs and their food choices, captured by photographer Melanie Dunea, who just so happened to be the MC for our dinner.
As you can tell from my previous posts, the 7th annual Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival proved to be a fabulous weekend nothing short of perfect. And, since I’m still reminiscing about the amazing food and wine, I will happily look at these photos over and over again while I head back to Pebble Beach this weekend for my good friend’s wedding. Cheers, friends!
Saturday’s Lexus Grand Tasting at the Pebble Beach Food and Wine event proved to be an exceptionally fun time, but why would we stop there? There was plenty more food, drink and fun to be had and Nick and I were not ready for it to end. (Side note – if you missed my first post on PBFW, read it now!). Luckily for us, we got the invite to an exclusive happy hour at The Inn at Spanish Bay‘s fire pits (sounds rough, right?). Put on by the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, it was an event not to be missed… I mean, if you’re in to really good food, gorgeous views, creative cocktails and chatting it up with famous chefs… no big deal.
Two words: Food. Wine. Those two things definitely make me happy. So when I had the opportunity to attend one of the nation’s premiere food and wine festivals, of course I was beyond excited to attend. After all, experiencing the Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival has been near the top of my list of “To Do’s” for years and, even though I was sick the week leading up to the event, I doubled up on the vitamins and made sure to not miss it. I’m so glad I made it because it did NOT disappoint! If you’re at all into top-notch food, amazing wine and rubbing elbows with some of the country’s most influential chefs, sommeliers and oenophiles, then I would highly suggest making it a weekend.
I’m never one to shy away from a fun challenge, especially if it involves food and wine (duh!). So when fellow blogger, The Wandering Gourmand, asked me to participate in his wine and food pairing challenge, of course I was up for it! The task? Find a wine or beer that would best pair with shrimp and grits, the ultimate Southern comfort food.
I’ve been holding on to this bottle of 2008 Unti Grenache for a while now after having tried the same varietal by this producer a few years ago. My friend Leigh introduced me to them because it’s one of her favorite wineries (thanks, Leigh!). This small California winery, located in Healdsburg, is family-owned and operated by the Unti family, focusing on mostly Mediterranean red wines (think Grenache, Barbera, Sangiovese…). Although I haven’t been to the winery, I really enjoy this Grenache and can’t wait to get my hands on more of their wine!