A great reason to eat out

It is Sonoma County Restaurant Week here in Wine Country.  And while it doesn’t take much of an excuse for Sherry and I to head out to one of our favorite eateries, this seemed like the perfect reason to eat out multiple times this week.  So that’s exactly what we did.

Sonoma County Restaurant Week is a new, and very cool, concept that was extremely well organized and promoted.  We’ve known about it for weeks.  So what is it exactly.  I think I’ll let the organizers tell you in their own words.

“The first-ever Sonoma County Restaurant Week will be a seven day celebration of our county's farm fresh food and premier wine! Enjoy three-course dinner menus at $19, $29, or $39, depending on the restaurant. Don't miss out on Sonoma County's most delicious week of the year!”

Wow!  Three-course dinners at some of our favorite restaurants at those prices.  I’m surprised we didn’t try eating out all seven nights.  However, after reviewing the list, our work schedules, and our finances, we settle on two restaurants.  Since we had already eaten at many of the choices available, we picked two places that we really like but don’t get to very often – Mosaic Restaurant & Wine Lounge and Bistro des Copains. 

We started with Mosaic in Forestville on Wednesday night.  We were joined by our good friends Pat and Julie.  Actually, all four of us had eaten there together once before.  Pat and Julie arrived first and already had the wine poured when we arrived.  I sure could get used to that.  After some quick conversation, it was time to start eating (of course, we never really quit talking and laughing).

I won’t go over the entire menu, which you can see by clicking on the restaurant week logo, so I’ll jump forward to the main course.  The girls had the coffee encrusted filet mignon (Mosaic’s fabulous signature dish) while Pat and I tried the Dungeness crab risotto.  They were awesome and my dish was by far one of the best risotto’s I have ever eaten.

Friday night was a more romantic affair with just Sherry and I.  This time it was off to Bistro des Copains in Occidental.  This is a classic french-style bistro.  Sherry started with a salad while I tried the butternut soup with sage.  Then it was onto the classic steak frites for Sherry and Sole Grenobloise for me.  Then to finish the whole thing off, we both had apple tart tartins for dessert.  Just like before, the food was outstanding.

I hope they consider doing Sonoma County Restaurant Week again next year.  It was a great way to get people out.  It was also the perfect reason for Sherry and I to eat wonderful food, drink wine, hang with friends, and share a little time with each other.  And in the end, isn’t that what life’s all about?

Au revoir!

Hangin’ with the nephews

Last Saturday, Sherry and I got the chance to spend some time with two of our nephews, Jordan and Jared.  They are 15 and 13 respectively and they are great kids.  They are polite, well-behaved, and courteous.  But above all, they are still kids.

The day itself was nothing spectacular.  We took them, and their cousin Kyle, to see Avatar (in 3D of course).  Jordan and Jared had already seen it but it was the first time for Sherry, Kyle and I.  Afterwards, we strolled through downtown Santa Rosa and ate dinner at La Bufa, which is a local Mexican restaurant.

What made the day special was not the activities but simply hanging out with the boys.  It was more then just time with family, which is very important.  It was just Fun, with a capital F, and we had a great time talking about sports, school, girls, or whatever.

I know there are folks out there who start to feel old when around kids.  For me, it is the exact opposite.  Kids make me feel young.  I love their perspective on life.  It’s funny to hear about the pressing issues they face or the things that are most important to them.

If you are feeling overwhelmed from work, or simply life, go hang out with some teenagers for a while.  I can almost guarantee it will change your perspective.

Au revoir!

The Valentine’s Day Lunch

Sherry and I love long lunches on Sundays.  I mean 2-hours and one bottle of wine long.  And if that Sunday lunch is also on Valentine’s Day, well that makes it all the better.

Selecting a fine restaurant in Wine Country is definitely not a problem however this year we decided to go to The City (that’s our reference to San Francisco).  There are a few French restaurants in The City that we have not tried yet.  So on to the Internet and guess what we discover?  The French don’t cook lunch on weekends in The City.  What’s up with that?

Next stop, Napa Valley.  We quickly settled on Bistro Don Giovanni.  After all, if you can’t try something new then stick with the best.  This is one of our favorites.  We settled on 2:00 reservations and were good to go.

After relaxing in the morning, exchanging cards, and eating french toast, we headed to lunch.  When we arrived we discovered the weather was nice enough to dine outside but unfortunately there were no tables.  So we settled for a lovely table in the corner with two windows and it was delightful.

The food was scrumptious.  We started with Fritto Misto, which is the best we have ever eaten.  Sherry then had the risotto with seared scallops and I had classic veal parmesan.   Add to that great wine and fabulous desserts and you have the perfect lunch.  A mere 2 hours later we were driving back through the vineyards of Wine Country, which are in full bloom with mustard. 

It was another great Valentine’s Day.  Sherry and I hope that all of you did something special with the one you love.

Au revoir!

Chateaubriand for 2

Don’t you just love impromptu dinners?  You know, those nights that start with a feeling of not wanting to cook and end with a fantastic meal at a local restaurant.  Well, on Wednesday, Sherry and I had one of those nights.

I was still at work when I got “the call”.  This is the call where Sherry is still at work and will miss her normal Jazzercise class.  So I decide to skip my workout as well and dinner out is on.

The next question is – where?  Sherry decides she is in a French mood.  After a quick phone call to La Gare, we are all set with 7:15 reservations.  After a quick trip to our cellar to pick up a bottle of 2001 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Bordeaux we are off.

La Gare is a Santa Rosa icon and has been serving fabulous french meals for over 30 years.  It is one of our favorites although surprisingly we don’t go there that often.  As I look at the menu I decide on beef although I want one of everything.  Sherry also decides to have beef and the dinner takes a marvelous turn.

For the first time, we ordered the Chateaubriand for two.  This is basically 20 ounces of some of the finest tasting beef you have ever eaten.  It comes on a wooden platter where it is displayed, and then carved, a table (french for at the table).  It was absolutely delicious and quickly ranked as one of our more memorable meals at La Gare.

Since we ordered the Chateaubriand for two, it only seemed right to order the cherries jubilee for two as our dessert.  These were also flambéed at the table where our waiter put on quite a show.  With the food and wine gone, it was time to head home to enjoy the rest of our evening and dream about the next time I receive “the call”.

Au revoir!

Time to refresh

I have a confession to make.  So does Sherry.  I am not updating this blog nearly as much as I would like.  Neither is Sherry.  I took the last couple of weeks off to try and determine why.  Fortunately, I have the answer and it’s related to my cycling blog.

My cycling blog is based on a fairly rigid format.  It is almost always between 650 –750 words in length.  I try to frequently add an element of humor.  And above all, it has to be more than a simplistic diary of my rides.  When I started C’est la belle vie, I was following the same model and it’s not working.

So it’s time for a change.  The new description says it all.  Instead of long stories about adventure, this will be a blog about the day-to-day things that make our life wonderful.  Don’t get me wrong.  There will still be the occasional longer story but mostly, these posts will be short and sweet so you can read them quickly and continue on with your own wonderful life.

We hope you enjoy changes and thanks for joining us on the journey.

Au revoir!

Walking on sunshine

As you might imagine from the name of this blog, I am pretty happy and content with my life.  It’s not about money.  Sherry and I are by no means wealthy in terms of dollars.  No, it’s mostly about celebrating what you have and those spontaneous moments that bring you joy.  This doesn’t have to be a complicated exercise.  In fact, the simpler the better in most cases.  Allow me to explain.

Yesterday afternoon at work I remembered we were out of coffee.  Now being a true coffee snob (this topic may be a post very soon) my coffee only comes from one place – Flying Goat.  If you’ve read my cycling blog, you know how much I like this place.  However, they close at 6:00 pm and that’s when I get off.  So, since it’s pretty close to work, I decide to pop over to The Goat.

I have a few things I am trying to wrap up, so I keep working until the moment feels right.  A couple of finished projects later, I look at the calendar to make sure there are no meetings and I am off.  As I start the 15-minute round trip, I am not thrilled with the song on the radio so I switch stations and that’s when it happened.  The new station was just starting the song Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves.

For reasons I can’t fully explain, this song just makes me smile.  It makes me happy to be alive.  Before I reach the first red light I am bouncing along in the car.  And this is not the first time.  This song lifts my spirits to a higher place every time I hear it.  I guess it’s just my feel good song or maybe it’s the song’s lyrics, which are all about feeling good about life.

I do remember one time in particular this song pulled me out of a funk.  I used to travel in my previous job, a lot.  One time I was delivering a training session in Washington, DC that ended on a Friday and I had to be in Baltimore on Monday to start a new session.  Since I live in California, flying home for 36 hours didn’t make sense so I spent the weekend on the East Coast.

I actually spent the time hiking in Shenandoah National Park.  It was beautiful and I was enjoying the great outdoors but I was also missing Sherry and feeling that certain loneliness that any business traveler can  describe.  By Sunday afternoon I was in a pretty sad state.  As I was driving out of the Appalachian Mountains to Baltimore, Walking on Sunshine came on the radio.  By the time the song was over I was back to my old self and feeling great.

If you don’t know the song, it was released in 1985.  This was just before I met Sherry.  It was also a favorite song of my Coast Guard roommate and we would rock out to it on our drives from California to his home in Oregon where I was always welcomed if I did not go home to Florida over the major holidays.  It was also a favorite at parties.  I imagine it still is a party favorite to this day.

In hindsight, maybe it is easier to explain the impact of this song then I thought.  It brings back great memories with good friends.  It reminds of how much I miss Sherry when I’m gone and how much I enjoy spending time with her when we’re together.

So, is there a message to all of this.  I think so.  I was having a pretty good work day yesterday and this song still made me stop and appreciate what I have.  It also put a big smile on my face.  I think everyone needs something like this.  I truly believe that it is necessary to grateful every day for the things you have and to not dwell on the things you don’t.

Now, why don’t you take a minute and go listen to your favorite song.  I’m smiling already.

Au revoir!

The holiday dinner

Every year, Sherry and I host a dinner party during the holidays.  It started 5 years ago when we invited two couples over for a semi-formal dinner in December.  Since then, it has continued to grow and now there are four couples who join us for a festive night that is all about food, wine and friendship.

The dinner, which was move to January two years ago to avoid the December madness, has become an event.  While the dress code is very informal, the meal is planned out to the smallest of details.  It is typically four or five courses, each paired with a special wine.  We usually spend months planning the menu and selecting the wines.  There is always a cheese course, which receives the same careful attention as the wine selection.

Sometimes there is a theme and this year it was pears, which were featured in the appetizer, salad, cheese course and dessert.  They were originally in the main course as well but we changed our mind at the last minute and went with cassoulet.  This proved to be the right call.  Serving cassoulet, or any single dish, provides tremendous flexibility.  Instead of the meal being ready a specific time, it is quietly simmering on the stove and is ready when you are.

On Saturday morning, Sherry and are up early starting the prep work.  Another trick for this type of dinner is selecting dishes that can be prepped or even completed in advance so you can spend more time with your guests.  We spent the entire day preparing the meals setting the table, and getting the house ready.

I also spent the day offering teasers of the night to come via today’s modern technology.  Every couple of hours I would text a new photo, like this one of the wine selection, to the group. 

As our guest arrived, they were treated to a sample of pear brandy.  Although it wasn’t the favorite drink of the evening it was a fun way to get things started.  As for the rest of the evening, here is the menu along with each wine served.

• St Andre cheese with gingered pears – 1986 Renaudin L’espiegle Brut Rosé Champagne
• Endive, pear & Roquefort salad – 2008 Domaine Auchére Sancerre
• Cassoulet – 2001 Arrowood Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
• Cheese Board – 2001-2002 Chateau Voiture Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
• Pear & gorgonzola tart – 1994 Vintage Foncesca Port

In a night filled with great food and wine, there were two moments that stood out.  During the salad course we offered a wine comparison.  Since we matched the salad with a Sancerre, a sauvignon blanc from the Loire Valley, we also opened a 2007 St. Clement Napa Valley sauvignon blanc for comparison.  The Sancerre won hands down for being more balanced.  In looking more closely the Sancerre’s alcohol was 12.5% while the Napa Valley wine was 14.1%, which explains the smoothness of the French wine.

The second major food highlight was the cheese board.  We kept this out of site so we could make a big deal of the presentation. We also debuted our new cheese curler, which was a huge hit.  Here’s a list of what was included on the cheese board.

• Petit Basque
• Brillat Savarin
• Swiss gruyere
• Tomino cheese in olive oil
• Humbolt Fog
• Date cake
• Fig cake
• Almonds roasted in smoked salt and Herbs de Provence
• Sliced pears

When all was said and done, it was the perfect evening of food, wine, and friends.  We did not rush the meal but instead let each course unfold at a leisurely pace.   After the appetizers, we sat down to dinner around 7:30 and dessert was served at 11:15.  In between each course there was plenty of laughter and conversation (and wine) to fill the time. 

Since there is a fair amount of wine consumed, in this case 10 bottles for 9 people, everyone spent the night.  The next morning we serve plain and chocolate croissants, fresh fruit, OJ and coffee.  We popped one final bottle of California Sparkling wine and a few brave souls drank mimosas.  Almost immediately, we began to tell and re-tell stories from the night before.

This is one of my favorite events each year.  Between the food, wine, and great friends it is a truly special evening.  With that said, the dinner for January 2011 is already being planned.

Au revoir!