Hey everyone!
Well, it turned out to be a pretty gorgeous day around here.
Unfortunately I am not feelin’ too hot but I’m trying to rest and drink lots of tea. Hopefully I’ll be making a comeback soon…
This morning I took Anne to where it all began!
Hardy gave us a VIP tasting at….10:30 a.m. We start early in wine country, clearly.
After Murphy G, we headed over to Cafe Gratitude for a very healthy lunch! I asked them for a concoction that would heal me and they gave me a very hot and spicy blend of water, lemon juice, honey and cayenne pepper. It was INTENSE.
It was actually really delicious and made me feel better. I also ordered the special of the day—a vegan tamale with butternut squash and caramelized onions:
SO good!!!!!!
After lunch, we stopped by a bakery and got cookies for dessert. I chose a gingerbread man!
And then we headed out on our little wine country excursion. My favorite was Porter Creek!
I LOVED their wine…..especially their old vine zin. Really, really delicious. **If you’re wondering how I’m going wine tasting all day while being sick, the answer is that I’m not drinking…..here in wine country, we perfect the art of spitting and dumping. I highly recommend it!**
We got home later in the afternoon and I took an hour siesta. Just got up and ate a snack:
A toasted blueberry Kashi Go Lean waffle with almond butter and jam.
We are about to pull ourselves together now and head to the store to get some ingredients because tonight we’re cooking dinner at Hardy’s. Tentative menu is lamb, couscous, homemade tzatziki sauce and string beans.
See you in a bit!
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg
December 30, 2009 at 4:42 pmVegan tamales?!? Yummmmm! Hope you start feeling better soon…have fun cooking!
Estela @ Weekly Bite
December 30, 2009 at 4:43 pmLooks like a fun day of wine tasting!
Hope you feel better soon!
Jordan @ Salt Sweat Sugar
December 30, 2009 at 4:46 pmI loveeee wine tastings. They’re so fun. There’s a huge festival of wine tasting a few times a year here in the art district. =]
Sana
December 30, 2009 at 4:47 pmFeel better 🙂
Kristin
December 30, 2009 at 4:50 pmMind over matter… Feel better soon!
Danielle (Coffee Run)
December 30, 2009 at 4:50 pmInteresting water concoction- I don’t know if I could handle the cayenne pepper. Enjoy dinner!
Erin
December 30, 2009 at 4:54 pmYour food always makes *so* hungry even after I’ve eaten dinner! 😛
Kamaile
December 30, 2009 at 4:55 pmVegan tamale = YUM. Get a good nights rest and feel better asap! You have another awesome year to ring in tomorrow!
Evan Thomas
December 30, 2009 at 4:58 pmAhh, those homemade fig newtons I spy in the bakery have me drooling now.
ashleigh
December 30, 2009 at 4:59 pmI am so jealous of all the wine tasting you do! I do appreciate the info you share with us though so I know what to look for when buying a bottle. I hope you guys have a great night 🙂
Jen (Running With Cake)
December 30, 2009 at 5:02 pmThe gingerbread men are so cute! The dog – a little scary. Have a great dinner tonight.
Rachel
December 30, 2009 at 5:03 pmYou can’t beat 1/2 off Christmas cookies after Christmas 😉
Kelly
December 30, 2009 at 5:16 pmSounds like a delicious dinner! Funny, I was just wondering about the drinking of the wine when you made that side note. Hope you are feeling better soon! 🙂
Hillary @ Nutrition Nut on the Run
December 30, 2009 at 5:18 pmThere is a diet, The Master Cleanse, based on that drink you had. Hope you are feeling better soon : )
~ Hillary (don’t miss my GIVEAWAY!)
Light Delight with TouTou
December 30, 2009 at 5:19 pmThat gingerbread man looks so cute 😀
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is
December 30, 2009 at 5:20 pmI’d love to live in wine country!
Jenna
December 30, 2009 at 5:23 pmOhhh, I love tamales. I just had fresh ones when I was home in Texas last week!
Cait (Cait's Plate)
December 30, 2009 at 5:30 pmI’m so jealous of all your awesome cafes and bakeries! Tartine and Cafe Gratitude always make me especially envious. I love the cups!
Chelsea (Chelsea's Chew and Run Fun)
December 30, 2009 at 5:32 pmI love tamales as it is, but a vegan version sounds deliciously intriguing.
Sorry to hear you’re not feeling so hot still, but you do look great! Vitamin C, fluids, and rest! Trust me, after working with kids for the past seven-eight years, I’ve mastered the art of functioning with a cold.
Michelle@Eatingjourney
December 30, 2009 at 5:35 pmTamales-Jealous
Coffee mug-cute
Being sick-not fun
Sleeping-amazing
happy new years from oz–well NYEve at least 🙂
Jenna
December 30, 2009 at 5:39 pmGlad you had a great day with anne and have fun tonight at hardys!!
Jenna
diana(mymarble rye)
December 30, 2009 at 5:41 pmwtf butternut squash in a tamale! you must get the recipe!
Jil
December 30, 2009 at 5:47 pmMmmm that tamale sounds wonderful. Feel better!
Jenny
December 30, 2009 at 5:53 pmI guess perfecting the true art of wine tasting means that you can do it come rain, shine, or illness! Hope you feel better ASAP 🙂
I think Cafe Gratitude looks like the cutest and most perfect lunch place! I would go there all the time.
Can’t wait to read about dinner!
Mae
December 30, 2009 at 6:05 pmI love that Cafe Gratitude will put together the exact concotion you need- so awesome! I hope you feel better!
Heather (Where's the Beach)
December 30, 2009 at 6:08 pmSounds like a the best day to me!
Cynthia (It All Changes)
December 30, 2009 at 6:16 pmI always thought it was funny to watch people swish and spit but I’m glad you are taking care of your health.
Karla
December 30, 2009 at 6:54 pmI love wine tasting! The fella and I are going to Napa on Jan 11th! I can’t wait!
Whit
December 30, 2009 at 7:14 pmThe gingerbread man is too cute! I seriously hope you get to feeling better. New years shenanigans need to happen so ya know, we can read about them. haha. Take care of yourself, dear.
Heather @ The Joyful Kitchen
December 30, 2009 at 7:17 pmDinner sounds great, but that tamale sounds even better! Hope you feel better soon, no one wants to be sick on New Year’s!
Heather @ The Joyful Kitchen
December 30, 2009 at 7:18 pmHope you feel better ASAP!
Carolyn
December 30, 2009 at 7:41 pmFeel better soon!
Jen
December 30, 2009 at 7:44 pmWhat the heck kind of dog is that at Porter? It looks like a wolf! 😮
Abbey
December 30, 2009 at 7:44 pmAww Hope you feel better soon!
BTW if the infamous “Katie” is trolling around here…you better have something nice to say or GTFO! lmfao jk!! 😉 ..kind of. 😉
peace out girl scout, have fun!! 😀
Nicole
December 30, 2009 at 7:51 pmI want that gingerbread cookie, he’s so cute!
Suzanne de Cornelia
December 30, 2009 at 10:05 pmLove Cafe Gratitude…they had one in San Francisco….the tamale etc looks delicious. All their food makes you feel good, so healthy.
10:30 AM, huh? Maybe you should manufacturer
ELR du Vin Toothpaste so could get a jump start at 6-ish
pinot grigio, noir, etc lol. You spit that out too. lol
La
December 30, 2009 at 11:01 pmLe sigh… One of these days I will go back to California and go wine-tasting.
rori
December 31, 2009 at 7:46 amWow. That first picture looks fake the backdrop is so lovely!
daintyvegan
December 31, 2009 at 12:56 pmWine tasting sounds like it would be a ton of fun! Too bad you aren’t feeling so great. 🙁 Hopefully you’ll be feeling better for tonight!
Running Betty
December 31, 2009 at 4:15 pmMy daughter wants to know where the wind up penguin came from… Gorgeous clouds!