Dessert/ Dinner/ Lunch

I Dream of Figs

Hi guys!

Super late blog post here…it’s 11:00 and I just now walked in the door from work. Loooooooong day at work…but I can’t complain. Totally has been totally awesome—a great follow up from yesterday. I can’t release details just yet but something really exciting is about to happen…and I’m crazy excited about it.

Anyways, this morning was totally taken up by fun activities like going to the Healdsburg City Hall and switching all the bills to my name so my electricity wouldn’t be turned off. You know…fun stuff like that. I raced home from work (eerr hobbled) and ate a sandwich made with leftover chicken, muenster cheese, dijon mustard and…pumpkin butter! with grapes:

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The pumpkin butter totally made this sandwich and these grapes were quite possibly the largest I have ever eaten. Oh, California and its produce. Never fails to awe me. I love my new home.

Midway through my work afternoon I snacked on this delicious bar—

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Never had this before but it sure was yummy. The chia seeds gave it a real crunch!

And as for dinner, I helped run my first event at the winery—a 5 course dinner for a large group that had been on a Trek bicycle excursion all around Napa and Sonoma for the past five days. The bonus to my 10 hour workday was that I got to drink wine and eat amazing food prepared by Chef Christopher Greenwald. Not half bad, huh? I could get used to this.

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First course of corn soup with grilled shrimp—

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Wild mushrooms and greens…with a splash of truffle oil!

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Duck with greens and celery root puree—

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Cheese course!!

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And, last but not least, browned butter cake with figs that had been tossed with ginger and a splash of olive oil (SO GOOD!)

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I think I even impressed Christopher with my eating abilities. Hey, I like my food! And I swear…I have never in my life eaten as well as I have been eating in California! The food here is just a whole different ball game. Reason to move out west alone….wow. I can’t believe I had never had a fig before coming here (I may have coveted all the leftover figs from the dinner party and they may be making a special oatmeal appearance tomorrow…).

Needless to say, I’m totally exhausted and have a sore ankle so I’m about to just smoosh myself into my bed right now. And dream of figs…..

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  • Julia
    October 15, 2009 at 11:37 pm

    What an amazing dinner – definitely worth the long work day!
    Hope your ankle starts to feel better soon!
    Have a Fabulous Friday!

  • Suzanne de Cornelia
    October 16, 2009 at 1:08 am

    Incredible dinner!! Can’t wait to hear what the exciting new deal is!

    If don’t know about ‘Prescription for Nutritional Healing’ might check for suggestions to speed healing of ankle. Whole Foods usually has copies. Always great advice for any malady. http://www.becomehealthynow.com/article/readingnutrition/219/

  • Crunchy Granola Gal
    October 16, 2009 at 2:10 am

    duck, eh? what a gourmand you are! looks tasty.

  • christie, honoring health
    October 16, 2009 at 2:27 am

    Can’t wait to hear what the exciting news is!

    That dinner looks incredible!!!

  • angieinatlanta
    October 16, 2009 at 3:08 am

    Yay for a better day! Can’t wait to hear your exciting news!

  • Jessica @ How Sweet It Is
    October 16, 2009 at 3:23 am

    OMG you’d never had a fig?? I could live on them. That meal looks incredible.

  • Diana
    October 16, 2009 at 4:08 am

    I can’t believe you had never tried a fig before! I loooove figs and every summer we basically eat them right after they’re picked from the tree! Fresh as can be. They’re delicious. 🙂

  • ellen eats beets
    October 16, 2009 at 4:10 am

    I ate the BEST food while living in SF. I’m sure working at a catering company helped that, but for real, California has the greatest food!

  • Jen(eatmovelove)
    October 16, 2009 at 4:20 am

    I’ve never had a fig! But now it sounds like I must…what does it taste like? Is it a fruit? …and now, I want to move to Cali for sure just for the beautiful food…hmmm, must get job out there…:)

  • greenbean
    October 16, 2009 at 4:23 am

    UGHGHGHGHGH! The suspense! 🙂

  • Abby
    October 16, 2009 at 4:33 am

    You are just uber lucky, my dear. I worked a 10-hour work day and came home to…not that type of meal 🙂 Make the most of it and hope you feel better soon. Rest, eat, repeat!

  • Stephanie
    October 16, 2009 at 4:40 am

    That bar looks awesome! I’d love to know where you got it from? Maybe I’ll have to be on the lookout 🙂

  • Susan
    October 16, 2009 at 4:48 am

    I’ve never had a fresh fig before either!! I loooove dried figs, but it’s impossible to find the fresh ones all the way out here in Atlantic Canada. Clearly, I need to go to California specifically to try them 😛

  • Felicia
    October 16, 2009 at 4:55 am

    I would never think to pumpkin butter on a sandwich like that, but I’ve been looking for new ways to have it! I’m definitely going to try that out. 🙂

  • Rebecca
    October 16, 2009 at 4:59 am

    Glad you had an awesome day at work. All of the food looks fabulous! I need to get some pumpkin butter. I have a body spray from Bath and Body Works called Brown Sugar and Fig. It’s my favorite because it smells so good! But I’ve never actually had a fig!

  • Stacey
    October 16, 2009 at 5:07 am

    You are so lucky!!! Is it terrible to say that I’ve never had a fig?? 🙂

  • Paige (Running Around Normal)
    October 16, 2009 at 5:08 am

    That dinner looks amazing! Seriously your job is a dream job. So glad you’re feeling better today, too!

  • Estela @ Weekly Bite
    October 16, 2009 at 5:10 am

    Wow! What a treat! The entire meal looks amazing!

  • Megan (The Runner's Kitchen)
    October 16, 2009 at 5:20 am

    Your dinner looks amazing! I live in NYC and I’m super jealous of all your lovely looking produce. It’s mid-October and the forecast is already calling for snow! I think that means the end of fresh, local fruits & veggies for awhile…

    Also, this might be a dumb question, but how do you eat a fresh fig? Do you have to peel it? Can you eat the whole thing?

  • Lu
    October 16, 2009 at 5:46 am

    Figs are amazing. I’m so glad you got to try them. Hope you are feeling better.

  • Molly
    October 16, 2009 at 5:47 am

    I have never had a fresh fig but am obsessed with the dry ones. One day maybe i’ll end up in a place with fresh figs (and of course i will go to town!)

  • Michelle-pure2raw
    October 16, 2009 at 5:50 am

    I love figs!! The dinner looked amazing, glad you had a great time…and yes Cali has some of the best food!

  • Stephanie
    October 16, 2009 at 5:58 am

    Things are definitely looking up! Glad to see Jenna happy again, and I cannot wait to hear the exciting announcement…

    Figs are wonderful…I posted a couple of figgy recipes on Food52 (see http://www.food52.com/recipes/691_chicken_with_figs_and_lemon for an example).

  • Lizzy
    October 16, 2009 at 6:25 am

    figs are something i would really like to try again! What is the texture like?? What recipes would you put them in?

  • Leianna
    October 16, 2009 at 6:25 am

    That 5 course menu looks great! Can’t wait to hear some more exciting news from you!

  • Jac
    October 16, 2009 at 6:26 am

    the dinner looks delish!!!! And i heart grapes too! only if it were cheaper over here in malaysia, i’d eat them EVERYDAY!

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca)
    October 16, 2009 at 6:32 am

    I just had my first fig about a month ago … just plain. I want to try one prepared in a special way!

  • Karla
    October 16, 2009 at 6:32 am

    Wow Jenna, that dinner looks AMAZING!! I cannot wait to hear what your big news is!

  • Anne Marie@New Weigh of Life
    October 16, 2009 at 6:36 am

    I’m glad your day is getting better. Can’t wait to hear about the news!

  • Jenna
    October 16, 2009 at 6:39 am

    pumpkin butter in your sandwich! sounds different but yummy 🙂
    glad you got to enjoy all that delicicous food, looks great!!
    jenna

  • beerab
    October 16, 2009 at 6:58 am

    Girl you are making my mouth water- it all looks amazing!

  • Kat (Kat's Daily Plate)
    October 16, 2009 at 7:01 am

    California produce IS on a whole other level… So glad you are enjoying such amazing, fresh food.
    Can’t wait to hear your exciting news!

  • Sarah @ The Foodie Diaries
    October 16, 2009 at 7:06 am

    i think your decadent desserts are converting me to a dessert person!!

  • Heather (Live,Love, Enjoy Nature
    October 16, 2009 at 7:10 am

    Your dinner looked amazing 🙂

  • Jessie (Vegan-minded)
    October 16, 2009 at 7:24 am

    I love fresh figs too, they taste so much better than the dried ones. You are so lucky to be eating all that beautiful gourmet food!

    I like the look of that chocolate chia bar too 🙂

  • Evan Thomas
    October 16, 2009 at 7:40 am

    So glad to hear your day got better. Your sandwich sounds so gourmet!

  • Mrs. Smith
    October 16, 2009 at 7:55 am

    I’ve always loved California – especially the food. But your blog makes me which I could move there. Quite seriously. So glad I found it!

  • M
    October 16, 2009 at 7:56 am

    Is the exciting thing that’s about to happen have anything to do with your trip to NYC? 🙂

  • Beth @ DiningAndDishing
    October 16, 2009 at 8:07 am

    I am so jealous of all these amazing dinners you’ve been eating out there!! What a perfect job :O). Can’t wait to hear the exciting news!!

  • Lindsay
    October 16, 2009 at 8:16 am

    That dinner looks amazing! I can imagine it totally made a long day worth it!

  • Whitney @ Lettuce Love
    October 16, 2009 at 8:18 am

    You’re making me want to move out west! I need amazing food in my life 🙂

  • Jana
    October 16, 2009 at 8:25 am

    I love your blog! I have been reading it for a while and have enjoyed following you on your exciting journey 🙂 I hope your ankle continues to heal quickly so you can get back to doing what you love! But in the meantime, just enjoy everything and soak it all in because everything will turn out the way it is supposed to, but you already know that 🙂

  • rhodeygirl
    October 16, 2009 at 8:34 am

    Figs, when in season and from the right source, are my FAVORITE fruit. They are so amazing and flavorful. Too bad they don’t grow in Philly!

  • Tina
    October 16, 2009 at 8:42 am

    Mmmm so jealous of all that delicious food you’ve been eating! I’ve been eating SO many grapes at school–it’s one of the only fruits at the dining hall!

  • Sassy Molassy
    October 16, 2009 at 9:52 am

    That meal looks yum yum yummy! And their Trek bike excursion sounds awesome!

  • Rachel
    October 16, 2009 at 10:16 am

    Ahh that’s definite food porn. And I have to say I just made an exact replica of that sandwich with the pumpkin butter…SO good!!

  • Ashley
    October 16, 2009 at 1:25 pm

    I love figs! We used to have a fig tree at the house I grew up in (in SoCal). I remember playing outside, picking the fruit right off the tree and eating it as a snack. Yum! It’s been way too long since I’ve had one.

  • Andee (Runtolive)
    October 16, 2009 at 1:51 pm

    Wow amazing dinner! I have been living in California my whole life, but I have never eaten a fig before! I should look for them next time I go to the market

  • Jil
    October 16, 2009 at 3:09 pm

    Wow. What an amazing meal!! Those figs looks delicious, and I have to admit the closest I’ve ever come to eating a fig was eating Fig Newton’s — which obviously are a whole different ballgame.

    I’m glad you have something exciting coming up! Yay! Can’t wait to hear about it, once you can actually tell the world. 🙂

    Hope the ankle’s feelin better!

  • Cynthia (It All Changes)
    October 16, 2009 at 4:05 pm

    What a nice perk to your job. Delicious food is such a fun way to spend the day.