Good evening!
We are back to Healdsburg safe and sound. I already miss the coast!
Sigh. Must go back soon!!
This morning, made the usual oatmeal for my dad and I:
Used 1/2 cup oats, 1 c water, 2 egg whites, 1 banana, 1 T almond butter and….a little brown sugar!
I did one last 60 minute yoga podcast facing the ocean…..Dave got me good this time! I’m telling you, the podcast from May 24th, 09 is the HARDEST one their is. Do it at your own risk of not being able to move later. Don’t say I didn’t warn you……
And then my dad and I ventured into the town of Gualala to grab some sandwiches to go. Gualala is quite the little surf town!
The weather was SPECTACULAR today!
Doesn’t he look like a movie star?! 
Naturally, I hopped a fence to get a better shot.
And, for lunch, had the same sandwich I had yesterday (mega veggie!) on a whole wheat baguette. It was HUGE….and delicious.
After a 2 hour road trip back inland, my parents checked into their hotel and I grabbed an all natural frozen yogurt for a snack. This is eggnog (flavor of the week) with organic gingersnaps!
And then, in the words of Christie and Alissa, we “let the wine tasting commence!”
I was stoked to have both my parents finally at Murphy-Goode.….where it all began!!!!
Next up: La Crema!
And tomorrow I’m going to take them to the Kendall-Jackson Wine Center…my favorite! 
For dinner, we hit up one of my very favorite establishments again—-Scopa! You know you really love a place when, upon walking in the door, the servers know you by name. Yep, that’s Healdsburg for you.
We shared everything and first ordered the grilled calamari:
Roasted brussels with bacon and Parmesan:
Lamb’s tongue!!! (don’t knock it till you try it….it’s quite delightful actually)
My very favorite dish of the evening—polenta with braised pork shoulder, cabbage and sausage….the ultimate comfort food and probably the best polenta I’ve ever had!
And last but not least—carbonara!
Whew! It was quite the Italian feast but I stuck with water with my meal instead of vino for a change. I also might have eaten two mini oatmeal chocolate chip cookies from the lobby of my parent’s hotel afterward.
My house is a mess! Must go clean now.
{ 71 comments… read them below or add one }
He really does look like a movie star!
Jenna, You are so hot!
The beach pictures are beautiful! What a great place to have an DSLR camera!
I think you’re the only other person in blogland who loves wine as much as I do =]
Lamb’s tongue?! You are waaay more gutsy than I am and have a much stronger stomach
Although, the carbonara looks wonderful! I find it very hard to make at home – can never seem to get it to taste as good as it does in restaurants 
Your dad DOES look like a movie star! And I’m not afraid of the lamb’s tongue so much as the pink stuff on top…what is that?!
I thought “man, he looks like a movie star” when I saw the picture, and THEN I saw your caption. Too funny. Maybe he should hop down to LA for an audition or two while he’s out there!
I miss the coast too
Sigh. I miss the coast through your blog
Dinner looks delightful…thanks for sharing! Hope you have a successful cleaning of the house tonight!
Oh wow! I don’t think I’ve ever gotten so excited about veggie sandwiches and brussels sprouts. You know the saying “Everything is bigger in Texas”? Well, everything looks BETTER in California
Lovely photos and food!
wow great pictures and wow amazing food!!!! Have a blast with the rents!
Ohh, wonderful photos!! The food looks amazing! And the eggnog froyo + organic ginersnap combo = genius.
Wow! What an amazing meal and your dad does look just like a movie star! Thank you so much for your bog, Jenna! You have been such a great inspiration for me this year.
Those Brussels look amazing! Yum!
Gaaaaaaahhhhh, so many things about this post that I love:
1) Coastal prettiness
2) Your dad totally looks like a movie star! One that’s a serious actor, I might add!
3) That lunch and yogurt!
4) Everything you ate at Scopa (Even the lamb’s tongue. The thought of it makes me wince, but I bet the tongue is super meaty and tender.)
Such beautiful photos! Makes me miss the coast soooo much
You have the most delicious meals! I’m so jealous!
Egg nog yogurt with gingersnaps sounds delicious!
GREAT photos! Yes, in fact, your Dad does look like a film star. Am swiping your dinner photos for FB post with link/credit to your site!! Love that Calamari!! The brussel sprouts amazing, too.
that the Bruins aren’t going to the Rose Bowl. I’ve gone to many Rose Parades and Rose Bowl Games…the Parade is amazing….fun to walk around where the last minute decorations are going on the night before. Anyway, here’s the carmelized onion-blue cheese burgers I’m fixing for the game. Champagne and Eggs Benedict for breaky with the Parade. http://tinyurl.com/oe4ezq
BTW–I went to UCLA so was
Thanks again for the photos!! Was like a mini-trip.
P.S. Went back for a second peek of ‘Dad’. Whoa!
Your dad totally looks like a movie star!
CJ
every single one of your posts makes me drool. that pasta looks so divine.
Your scenic pictures are incredible! It just makes me want a Rebel more & more. I stopped at The Goat today on my way home. I had to, just because it’s your fav. You can check out my mini review on my blog
)
- Hillary
P.S. That is the best-looking sandwich I have ever seen!!!
Glad you arrived home safely!
Thanks for the warning about the Dave Farmar, I will keep that in mind
hooray! i’m SO excited i landed at your blog a couple of weeks ago via carrots ‘n cake- love it! my husband & i made our first trip to CA last christmas with our destination being healdsburg, and we totally fell in love with everything there. we started out driving up the coastal highway from SF (stopping at stinson beach and jenner/goat rock), then cut across the russian river road. we spent a whole day in the armstrong woods – bliss – and just hung out in healdsburg (cafe gratitude, vin, ravenous). our fav vineyard was preston vineyards by far. thanks so much for posting such great pics and stories of healdsburg – it’s like getting to relive our favorite vacation all over again. =)
Jenna, I’m just loving your pictures at the moment and your dinner looks so yummy. Don’t know if I could do the lamb’s tongue though
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Oh my gosh the food looks soooo good!
That picture of your dad really does look straight out of a movie. Beautiful pictures. Hope you get to go back soon!
That’s awesome that the servers know you by name at Scopa.
No wonder you are such a nice girl! your parents look so nice/hip! That’s why!
I love trying new foods! I will have to put lamb’s tongue on my list. Also I finally got almond butter!!! I love it!
Your dad really does look like a movie star, leather jacket and all! Never had lamb’s tongue, though I’ve seen duck’s tongue before.
Eggnog fro-yo and roasted bacon-parmesan brussels sounds amazing!
The coast is gorgeous!
And yes your daddies look like a movie star!
Your Sammie and yog look delish!
But dinner looks even better- glad you got to try all those unique foods!!
Jenna
Your dad DOES look like a movie star Jenna. How beautiful everything is. I wish I had your physical abilities/opportunities, you are blessed!
your dad is totally a movie star! great pix too
Before I even read your comment, I thought “Wow – movie star for sure!!” – hello Robert Redford!!
Great food spread!
I should check out these Podcasts, but I don’t know about 90 mins of yoga yikes…
Jenna, is writing something you’ve always wanted/intended to do – or did you expect to go more along the lines of the cooking, etc.???
eatmovelove,
yep, I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was very, very young.
We drink La Crema chardonnay every night!
Great pictures! Glad you made it home safely.
I have been mainly lurking lately, but came out to say that those pics are amazing…just beautiful…I could taste the salty air!
Courtney
adventures in tri-ing
I truly enjoy reading about all of the beauty you’re experiencing in California! It must be really wonderful to finally share it with your parents too
You’re so lucky to have parents who love all of the same things you do! And your dad totally looks like a movie star with the jacket and distinguished gray hair.
Looks like a fun day. Your dad DOES look like a movie star in that photo…nice work!
Okay, you HAVE to get the picture of your dad framed! It’s a classic!
Your Dad DOES look like a movie star! haha
That pasta looks like something I need to be eating right now.
I conquer with the lambs tongue! I also bet Kevin would ROCK a version of that polenta pork shoulder dish, no>? I love living vicariously through your gorgeous eats, sights and adventures. I hope Im the FIRST to buy your book!
MA
PS what did you sip at SOPA? Did you find a nice red that paired well with the diversity of your courses or did you change it up. Definitely NOT a wine snob here, I just started working in a wine shop and love to hear about surprising, well balanced vinos.
mary ann,
I sipped on water
i think i spelled conquer wrong… concur? essentially, i agree, hehe
Looks like you’re having such a great time with your parents, Jenna! I’m definitely going to download that Dave Farmar podcast, too. He loves those chatarangas.
JENNA! where can i get the Dave podcast from 5/24/09? i can’t find it anywhere online. And it is not in my itunes podcasts either
do you have a site with a bunch more free ones?! thanks.
Blueberrybabe,
its available on itunes!
Looks like you have had an awesome Christmas Jenna! Absolutely gorgeous scenery and delicious food enjoyed with family – what could be better?? Enjoyed the re-cap :O)
Your Coast pictures are incredible – totally makes me miss the beach!
It looks like you had an incredible time with your family, great photos!
I love how adventurous an eater you are, Jenna – you are a true foodie! I feel the same and am always up to try something new… you never know if you like something unless you try it!
What a good looking family you have!
jenna- i still can’t find it on itunes
. at any given time i have 12 free podcasts available to me. as new ones are added the older ones dissapear… is this the same for you? what about other people?
thanks!
Love your pictures! And that sandwich looks delish
Wow-everything looks incredible. I’ve eaten a lot of weird things, but never lambs tongue. The scenery is gorgeous!
Your pictures look SOO amazing! I want to be at the coast too!!
Those ocean pictures are amazing and the veggie sandwiches you keep finding are KILLING me!!! I can only get veggie sandwiches like that when I make them myself. Keep up the awesome work. I’m following in some writers foot steps myself (also my dream since I was a little girl!)
I love the picture of your dad. He looks more like a model, for a Nautica ad or something. Haha.
All your other pictures are awesome too! That sandwich…I WANT! Hope you had fun!
I love that Jenna…did you ever think it was never going to happen? The writing? Was is hard for you to break into? Did you have a definite idea of what you wanted to write???
I have so many ideas but never get anywhere because I don’t know what to follow…and I have to work full-time and have no choice with little time…(I don’t mean to have excuses! really, it’s just how it is though…)
I’m with the other person who commented above. What is the pink stuff on top of the lamb’s tongue….that’s not the lamb tongue is it?!? My mind is imagining all sorts of delicious horrifying stuff….cuz that’s what I do….
Rori,
Those were pickled red onions…yummmmy!
Jenna,
How do you incorporate the gg whites in your oatmeal?
Brooke,
I just add the egg whites when I add the water on the stove. Works like a charm!
i can’t find the podcast from 5/24/09 either and I subscribe. hmmm. Love Dave Farmar.
Hey Jenna! Just an oatmeal question – when you use egg whites, how do you cook your oatmeal? Thanks!
I recently tried putting vanilla soy milk in my oatmeal instead of water, and it seemed to really enhance the flavor. Do you prefer water or milk in yours? Also, do you use Blue Diamond almond butter on your oatmeal? I use MaraNatha but it won’t drizzle on oatmeal the way yours does!
OHHHHHH! Thanks…..I feel so much better.
Okay, I might have to cave and actually go to Scopa sometime.
The 90 min download sounds great but I can’t find any Dave in May of 09. Hmm. Am I looking in the wrong place? Please help.