come on! come on over

would love for all of my Toulouse friends to visit my new blog of tastings, travels and temptations! your following is so appreciated!

here's a cake…yes! a coffee cake that will make memories!

http://cestlaviepetit.blogspot.com/

my facelift: C'est la Vie!

I was thinking

maybe

I needed

a

facelift

…..

come on by and see

http://cestlaviepetit.blogspot.com/

There's a New Kid in Town

before I begin,

may

I

offer

a

pearl of wisdom

don't leave home without your camera

that noted,

I met

my

friend,

Becky

(one of my very first bff's in SLO)

for lunch

last week

at

the

new burger joint in town,

Eureka!

….I forgot my camera

and

….I HAD FISH TACOS!

really good

fish tacos!!

but

no

pictures

Good news!

I

went back

to

Eureka!

with

Dottie

(aka daughter, Annie)

for

our

"Mootie-Dottie Date"

and

I brought my camera!

There are

no

Eureka! signs

on the street

just

this!

many beers

on tap

and domestic whiskeys

(how fun is that?)

Each week

they

showcase

different

domestic

microbrews

I love the names

of

these

brewskys… I think brew masters have way too much fun

thinking up names

I only

shot a

portion

of the menu

(flash issues)

too bad, because the menu is really fun and creative

Cheers!

a whisky sour (with fresh squeezed local citrus)

and 2008 Beckman Syrah

rumor

was

that Eureka!

made a

killa'

veggie burger

(using beets)

I ordered it,

naked

(bun-less)

Caprese Style

with

mozzarella, tomatoes, pesto ……YUM!

...

Dottie,

aka Annie,

had a veggie burger, too

(as she is a vegetarian, duh)

with

blue cheese, sautéed shrooms and caramelized onions

She muttered

nom nom nom

and

YUMMMMMMMMMM

in-between bites!

a

cool

edgy feel

to the ambiance

of Eureka!

SO,

I had lunch

at Eureka!

with

Becky

on Thursday,

dinner

at Eureka!

with

Dottie

on Saturday

and

lunch

today,

Monday,

with John

…

I think I really like Eureka! burger!

p.s.

the wait staff

and the manager,

Trevor,

ROCK!

Painted by Nature

San Luis Obispo

has

had

the

most

exquisite

autumn

this year

after the harvest

the

vineyards

turned

jewel tones

of

orange and green

gold and copper

the colors change

as

each vineyard

is harvested

gorgeous, huh?

the vines

in

the back

haven't

yet

begun

to

fruit

Even

the

neighborhoods

look

like they have been painted

painted

bright

crimson

..almost purple

You

New Englanders

reading

this,

I know,

are saying

"PFAU, that's nothing"

but

to a native

California

girl,

this Autumn

has been

stunningly colorful

and

cool

I

highly

recommend

a visit

in

Autumn….

after the

grape harvest

to

experience

wine country

painted by nature.

Luna Red with Dottie and Moots

as

YOU

know

from

my

many posts

I

am

a

self- diagnosed

delicious food

addict..

that said,

I

emphasize

DELICIOUS FOOD

It

has

been

quite a while

since

Annie and I

(aka Dottie and Moots)

hit

downtown SLO

for

a delicious

(emphasize DELICIOUS)

dinner

together.

We

decided

on

Luna Red

known

for

it's

tapas

but

the

entrees

are

sensational,

as well

Starting off,

hmmm

what to eat? what to eat?

what to drink?

a

Lunarita

and

a glass of

Verdad Albarino

nice!

Cheers!

a toast

to

Dottie and Moots'

night out

(see those potatoes? they are bistro spuds: crisp fingerling potatoes, marinated olives, sambal rouille)

yes, delicious!

Next,

spice roasted beets: fennel, red onion, grilled ricotta salata, herb vinaigrette

the grilled ricotta salata atop the beets was mmmmmhmmmm 

and then,

red cabbage-apple potstickers spiced beet coulis, coconut cream, cilantro 

the red cabbage danced in our mouths

Talk about a dance,

the autumn roast squash, chili spiked pepitas, arugula, raisins, wild rice, toasted walnut vinaigrette

was

a

party

so many autumn flavors and spices  

and

of course,

Pumpkin Beignets

with cinnamon cream, for dipping

Satiated,

not stuffed

after

delicious tapas

(emphasize DELICIOUS)

and

wine

we smiled

and

look forward

to

another

Dottie and Mootie

dinner

adventure

SLO Vintners and Rockin' Harvest

Years ago,

before

Petit Soleil

was

even

an

apple in our eyes

I

had

the

privilege

of

working

with

the

San Luis Obispo Vintners' and Growers Association

aka

SLOVAG

I

worked

with

the

best people:

the grape growers

the wine makers

and

other folks

just

passionate

about wine

The head honcho

back then

was

Archie,

the quintessential wine aficionado

and

in our little office

were

Gail (second in command)

Diane (who got the jobs done)

Laura (who got the jobs done)

and

me (who helped get the jobs done)

Basically,

we

worked,

sometimes

laughing

'til tears

(often until we pee-ed)

it got us through the stress

of getting

events and marketing

maps and brochures

done

for the

grape growers

wine makers

and

folks passionate about wine

...

fast forward

SLOVAG

is no longer

run

by

Archie

or

Gail

Diane, Laura or me

but

we four girls still do laugh 'til tears (2010)

and we get together whenever we can (2011)

sometimes we call Archie,

to just laugh

and harass him a bit

..

Ten years

after putting on

a

SLOVAG

Harvest Celebration

John and I

had the

opportunity

to

go to

Harvest Celebration

as

guests

(not as grunt workers)

The theme

for

2011

was

Rockin' Harvest

Petit Soleil

donated

a stay

for

the

live auction item

"Living la Vida SLO"

John and I

arrived

about

11

grabbed

a

plate and glass

and

got to be

early birds

for the

wines

and

foods

being

highlighted

Clay and Frederika

are passionate

about

their winery,

Claiborne and Churchill

their

Dry Gewurtztraminer

and Dry Riesling

are

outstanding!

We met up

with

Gwen,

the passionate owner (with winemaker hubby)

of Kynsi Winery

Kynsi's

Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noirs

are

delicious

Oh,

and look!

Clotilde

of Olea Farms Olive oils

was there

with their new olive oil blend, Fusion!

the

tents and surrounds

were

cheerfully

decorated

with

memorabilia

and

lyrics

from

Rock 'n Roll faves

Baileyana, Cadre, Tangent Trenza and Zocker Winery was there... (one winery - many offshoots)

Love their wines!

and

rocker

winemaker

extraordinaire

Mike Sinor was there

with rocking wife Cheri

whipping it good

Passionate about wine,

Mike makes wine

for

Sinor-LaValle (his own label) YUM!

Ancient Peaks wines

and

Center of Effort wines

(with Nathan)

Mike was just

featured in

Wine spectator!!

congrats, Mike!

Paul Kwong's pumpkin curry rocked my world!

Paul is the owner

and chef

for Mee Hung Low in SLO,

the charming and delicious

noodle house

next to the Palm Theatre

the day

was

picture-perfect

the

main auction tent

was

happily

decorated

and ready for some serious auctioning

Petit's

next-door neighbor

Splash Cafe

had

killer empanadas

and mini pizzas

mmmmhmmmm

Cal Poly

shared

a

couple

of really

amazing wines

good job, Cal Poly!

Avila Beach

seen

through

the tent

a

really

fun

couple of

hours

with

stellar wines

and

delicious

fare

from

local restaurants

go

here

to the

SLOVA

website

and

mark your calendars

for

the next wine

event

and

Whip it - Whip it Good!