Mendocino, California (Day 2)

After warming ourselves with a delicious 3-course breakfast at Agate Cove Inn, B and I head over to the nearby Mendocino Headlands State Park. We went hiking around the park (ok, maybe it was more of a leisurely walk). It was amazing to see so many wildflowers grow so close to the ocean. I loved watching the waves crash against cliffs and feeling the cold, crisp ocean breeze on my face.

I was surprised to see people swimming in the freezing ocean. It turns out there's lots of abalone in Mendocino, and they were abalone divers. I didn't know that abalone diving was legal...or maybe I just assumed that because abalone is so rare and expensive.

After walking around in the cold all morning, we drove back down to Anderson Valley in search of sunshine - such a drastic difference in climate! We did more wine tasting at Roederer Estate. I thought their sparkling wines would be really good since they are owned by the French producers of Cristal...wrong! We had a much better experience at our next winery, Meyer Family Cellars. The Meyers were the original founders of Silver Oak and sold it in 2001. Silver Oak still makes great wine, however, it is much more 'commercial' now. The son of the family, Matt Meyer, then started this winery. B and I actually talked to Matt and his wife, Karen, for a while and learned a lot about their wines. It was such a rare treat to talk to the owners/winemakers, and they were so friendly and down-to-earth! (I call it serendipity: although I rarely order syrahs, our waiter had recommended the Meyer syrah at a restaurant. The wine turned out to be excellent, and I then realized that it was also the same winery that made the beloved port that I had bought at Silver Oak several years ago...and here we are!)

After taking one of my rare naps (like I said this trip was all about relaxation!), we headed to Cafe Beaujolais for dinner. The restaurant is inside a charming, yellow farmhouse in the heart of Mendocino. Inside, the decor is simple and elegant. The sage walls were framed with white molding, and everything was illuminated by candles and the soft overhead lighting. It had the feel of an intimate, yet modern bistro. We were immediately greeted by a very friendly and inviting hostess (and no, I wasn't just buttered up by the way she and the other hostess kept complimenting my dress; everyone at the restaurant was quite friendly). Our waiter was excellent -- he recommended some fantastic wines to complement our meal, was very knowledgable about the menu, and was able to describe the preparations of the dishes and the ingredients in great detail. (Pet peeve: when I ask about a dish, and the waiter says exactly what is written on the menu)

I know this sounds bad, but I can not remember what I had for my appetizer. (This is what I get when I wait too long before I write about it! Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures of it either.) I think I had the crab cakes, but it must not have been memorable since good food usually sticks in my mind. For my entree, I had the arugula-stuffed organic free-range chicken on a bed of prosciutto and asparagus hash with champagne jus. The chicken was nicely roasted on the outside and juicy on the inside. The rich flavor of the champagne jus really accentuated the taste of the chicken. The hash was good, but could have used something tart or acidic to brighten it up.

I then had the chocolate lava cake with Tahitian vanilla ice cream for dessert. Since my ears automatically perk up when I hear anything with the words "warm/lava/molten" and "chocolate cake" together, I have had this type of dessert a LOT and my bar is pretty high. This dessert was wasn't bad, but left something to be desired...it didn't have that warm, rich gooey center.
Overall, the food was good (not great), but the warmth and elegance of the ambience and staff make Cafe Beaujolais feel special.

BITE METER:
Roederer Estate - 2.0 bites (out of 5)
Meyer Family Cellars - 4.5 bites (out of 5)
Cafe Beaujolais - 3.7 bites (out of 5)

Mendocino, California (Day 1)

B and I head to Mendocino to celebrate our anniversary. We wanted to go somewhere relaxing after our big Paris trip and before having to deal with moving the following weekend. On our drive up, we stop by Goldeneye Winery. We really like their Goldeneye pinot noir and have been wanting to make a trip up to Anderson Valley to try more of their wines. Goldeneye Winery is a beautiful property with a great outdoor patio for wine tasting. Goldeneye specializes in pinor noirs, while their sister wineries in Napa focus on bordeaux blends (Duckhorn) and zinfandels (Paraduxx). We had a flight of 7 wines and enjoyed them all so much that we joined their wine club. The information cards with tasting notes that accompanied each glass were a nice and appreciated touch. I typically prefer cabernet sauvignon, but found their pinots to be well-structured and complex.

We then made up way up to Mendocino where it was quite foggy and much colder. We stayed at a wonderful bed and breakfast called Agate Cove Inn. Our room was tastefully decorated and cozy. I especially loved the huge jacuzzi tub in the bathroom. Their towels were also really soft - it was like being at home, since most hotel towels are hard and don't feel like they use fabric softener. And to top it all off, they made the BEST breakfasts, far better than any other B&B that I've been to. Poached pear, home-made scones, blueberry bread pudding, eggs benedict...just to name a few of the things we had during our short stay.
To finish off our long day, we had dinner at La Petite Rive. After reading raving reviews on Yelp, I was looking forward to trying this tiny restaurant that is more off the beaten path. Also, the 5 course pre-fixe menu for $35/person seemed like a great deal. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. When we arrived, we found out that they gave our table to another couple who supposedly claimed to be us. The whole thing was handled very strangely, but we were seated at our table in the end. Our waitress was the daughter of the chef, but she surprisingly knew nothing about the food and could not describe the menu. Overall the food was average. The food served with each course was pretty basic - mushroom soup, green salad, asparagus and mashed potatoes for sides. The highlight of the evening was my peppercorn steak in a cabernet reduction - it was thick and juicy with a nice sear on the outside. However, that was offset by B's sad entree - his scallops were chewy and overcooked. I guess this is a prime example of "you get what you pay for."

BITE METER:
Goldeneye Winery - 4.5 bites (out of 5)
Agate Cove Inn - 4 bites (out of 5)
La Petite Rive - 2.5 bites (out of 5)

Casual Eats in Paris

Paris is one of my favorite eating destinations in the world. In addition to the high concentration of Michelin star restaurants, it is filled with neighborhood shops and restaurants offering all kinds of edible treats – savory and sweet.

Macarons: I looooooooove these sweet and colorful confections. After having coffee and pastries at the famed Dalloyau, I stopped by their downstairs shop to admire their beautiful displays. I couldn’t resist their wide variety of macaron flavors – I had to get one of each! They were wonderfully light and chewy underneath the delicately crisp exterior.


Soufflé: I should have known that with a name like Le Soufflé, the restaurant would have a lot of tourists, but it was still a decent place for large, hearty soufflés at wallet-friendly prices. I liked the cream of chicken and mushroom soufflé – although it was quite heavy for a soufflé, I enjoyed the warm, rich sauce drizzled inside the fluffy dome. For dessert, I tried the chocolate and the Grand Marnier soufflés – neither were very interesting. I’ve had much better versions of both in the U.S.
Baguette: It is so simple, yet so enjoyable - a crispy baguette with cheese. There is nothing like picking up a loaf of fresh baked bread and spreading rich, creamy cheese over it….Mmmm.
Pastries: Éclair, pain au Chocolat, fruit tart, mille-feuille…these are some of my favorite dessert pastries. I dream of their decadent fillings and flaky layers.
Pâté: After walking around the crowded Marché Buci, B and I were pleased to stumble upon Da Rosa while walking down a quiet street. It’s a hip little delicatessen with legs of cured jambon in the windows and a few tables on the side walk. Since this was supposed to be a “light snack”, we ordered a salad (which contained a deliciously fresh and sweet mozzarella), sliced jambon, and pâté. I’ve never had pâté do me in, but this was *the* largest mound of pâté I’ve ever had. It had nice rustic and meaty texture and a fatty, peppery taste.

Ramen: Yes, ramen! After several days filled with lots of wine and heavy French food, my palate was screaming for something different. The huge bowl of hot soupy ramen from Higuma offered a nice break to reset my taste buds…and the perfect hangover cure!


BITE METER:
Dalloyau - 3.5 bites (out of 5)
Le Soufflé - 2.5 bites (out of 5)
Da Rosa - 4.0 bites (out of 5)
Higuma - 3.0 bites (out of 5)