heyo!
Hope y’alls Saturday is going just peachy. I worked at the Wine Center all day and ran my tail off. Glad that I ate a hearty (and red?!) lunch before heading in:
Reheated homemade baked beans that I made, then froze, last month along with millet toast, cherry tomatoes and a few strawberries. Red for the <3!
A couple of the boyfriend’s friends are in town, so we decided to hit up Underwood for dinner last night. The coolest part of Underwood is the fact that it is in Graton, California. Where is Graton, you ask? Enough said.
I tried their soup of the day, which was a sweet corn chowder with pumpkin seeds and bacon:
The flavors were great but the soup was a lot thinner than I thought. When I think of the word chowder I’m thinking soup so thick that when you turn your spoon upside down there is zero dripping. Perhaps I’m just stuck a childhood obsession with New England clam chowder with oyster crackers and need to get with the new fangled California ways….I don’t know.
I also ordered the beet salad because it was beet salad.
Meh. Not terribly impressed. There were only like three tiny beets and it just needed a little somethin’ somethin’, ya know? I mean don’t get me wrong, I cleaned my plate and liked it, but it wasn’t the best beet salad I’ve ever had in my entire life.
Now, this masterful creation on the other hand blew my socks off.
That would be a walnut, caramelized onion and blue cheese flatbread and it was clearly send down from heaven above. The flavors were perfect and it was gone in about .5 seconds.
The rest of the night entailed of Mario Cart and white russians and somehow I managed to wake up at 7:30 for work today (yes, I work Saturdays. Fail). It’s going to be a pretty crazy day (we have several really large groups coming in that I’m assigned to) but I’m fueling up on coffee and a soon-to-be very large bowl of oatmeal.
Whewwwwwww!
{ 42 comments… read them below or add one }
I agree, chowder is supposed to be thick! Thus, thin chowder = Fail too.
I work Saturdays, too
Your job is more fun though, promise!
That flatbread looks yummy! Enjoy your Saturday
Wowzer, the flatbread looks and sounds delicious! You totally deserved that after having to work a saturday
I agree about chowder!
Strange… that just looked like broth.
You’re so fortunate to be around excellent restaurants!
Where I live, the food I make at home is ALWAYS better than what I can buy.
Love those pictures! Hope you have a great weekend!
Mario Kart & White Russians! That’s a combo I’ve never heard of before!
Hmmm. .. those baked beans look out of this world. I’ve been wanting to make some (never tried it on my own) but I think I’ll try them Sunday. Your restaurant also looks amazing
I hear you on the chowder thing! I’m a New England girl who loves a good, thick bowl of chowder now and then. Boston is the place to hit it up when the mood strikes.
Your homemade baked beans look so yummy. I need to make some of those! Also the flatbread looks absolutely delicious. I’m glad something was nice in the restaurant. You are so right, chowder should be thick and creamy for sure!
Those are impressive shreds on the beet salad! I love the way beets taste
Like the flatbread. Do you enjoy eating out often? Seems heavenly.
the bread looks like bacon…good thing it’s bread
Seriously – I lived in CA for 26 years (northern and southern) and I’ve never heard of Graton! Looks yummy though.
Hey, “California ways” aren’t necessarily frou-frou chowders haha. You’ve been to SF now right??? Nothing like a hearty bowl of chowder (with crackers!!) in a SF sourdough bowl!! YUM
I NEED that flatbread. Like now.
mmmmm flat bread = <3.
I agree, chowder should be thick. That flat bread looks like heaven!
That soup sounds amazing! But yeah I would imagine it to be a little thicker. I love thick soup – it’s my fave. x
Homemade baked beans on nice crusty bread have got be one of my ultimate comfort foods- yours look plain delicious
That flat bread looks pretty incredible too! Hope you’re having a good day at the winery!
I worked today too, so I understand. That flatbread sounds amazing.
Just had to let you know that I bought my first bottle of Kendall Jackson Riesling today, very excited to find it in my Indiana grocery. Can’t wait to try it!
Beets and flatbread. YUM!
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I never walk into a restaurant with expectations anymore since I started food blogging.
Restaurants always surprise me with they’re fabulous & unexpected concoctions!
The flavors on the flatbread sound so perfect, with just a little tang and some crunch…I’d have demolished it crazy quickly too!
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White Russians and Mario Cart?! Heck yes! Two of my favorite things:)
I work Sunday mornings, so I understand working weekends! But I LOVE teaching Sunday School, so it’s all right. =)
haha Mario Cart and white Russians…..sounds awesome. You’re a trooper for getting up early after that for sure.
Hopefully you survived your day OK
Sounds like you had a fun night! It’s always funny to see how different meals at a restaurant can be! The appetizer might not be all that great, and then the main dish may be fabulous! Have a good rest of the weekend!
I agree with you about the chowder. My chicken bacon corn chowder is so thick, it’s almost a stew. I’m really not into thin soups. I don’t think I’ve had a White Russian since my 21st birthday.
That flatbread looks incredible. I think it’s fun to work on the weekends sometimes and have weekdays off. Places like the mall are less crowded on the weekdays and I can get more done. Plus it gives me an excuse to have weekend breakfasts all week long.
That flatbread looks heavenly!
Holy cow.. that flat bread!!
Graton is such a cute little town! I was there many years ago when I raced bikes
Ditto on the chowder. It’s not chowder unless your spoon bends while you try to stir it!
Ooohhh, white russians are dangerous for me!!!!
That flatbread would be my dream come true!
oh my…that flatbread DOES look AMAZING!
Never ever thought about chowder being thin and watery. Ewww! Your main dish looked delicious however I would have goobled that all up.
BTW, white russians are one of my top favorite drinks…haven’t had one in awhile tho