marie-louise

I would think how long it keeps would depend partly on how fresh the eggs are. I make mine in small batches, and keep it for a few weeks. I don't recall it ever getting moldly. I tend to put a fair amount of lemon juice in mine, plus a little Dijon.

I love a good biscuit. Another good recipe is the Cream Biscuits in Marion Cunningham's Lost Recipes. I'm not sure where I read this tip-I think it was in Cookwise -but it helped my biscuit-making a great deal. If you don't have access to that soft-wheat Southern / White Lily flour (and it is all but impossible to find out here in California), subsitute 2/3 cup all-purpose flour & 1/3 cup cake flour for every cup of flour. Try it-your biscuits will be much lighter!

Wonderful. Thanks for sharing. PS I hope you show your mom this thread!

Five more for me. Three local cookbooks (We're Cooking in the City, Tadich Grill, and a cheese book by Janet Fletcher) plus two oldies-the last Time Life Foods of the World Cookbook I needed to complete my collection, and Jilia Child's Menu Cookbook. The good news is that I still have lots of room on my new bookshelves.

If you find it, can you please post a link to it? It sounds good.

Here's a link to a web site about Community Supported Agriculture (CSA.) You can search by your zipcode to see what's available. Good luck!

I haven't heard of them, but they seem very similar to Planet Organics, which I used for a while. The plus is that they have more variety than a CSA box could have, but they are middlemen, so you don't have the direct connection to a farm. I have received CSA boxes off and on for years from Full Belly Farms, and I really like the idea that in some small way, my support keeps a California farm in business. Now that I'm not going out of town most weekends, I simply go to one of the farmer's market, which is the best of all-variety plus a connection with the farmers. The quality of the produce at Planet Organics was very good; not as good as Full Belly Farms, but equal or better than most markets. There IS a certain appeal about having it delivered to your door; you have no choice but to eat healthy food if you know another bulging box is coming again next week. BTW-Planet Organics had this deal where you could give back any produce you didn't eat simply by leaving it in the delivery box, and they would deliver it to a food bank for you. So, you didn't have to feel like you were wasting food if you didn't finish everything.

I also have this cookbook and like it a lot. There's a great recipe for chicken stuffed under the skin (I think it is a Richard Olney recipe.) She's been doing cooking spots on one of the local TV news shows for years, and although I've never taken any of her classes, she's a great teacher on TV. Here's a link to her website-lots of recipes plus details on her classes. (It is in San Francisco.)

Nothing new. Now that we've booked hotel rooms, I figure we can wait on the rest of the details until July sometime. I have been following the Napa Valley threads for place to eat, though. I'd really like to eat at Terra; I love their cookbook and it would be fun to eat at the restaurant.

Part II from the SF Chronicle, this time focusing on places to eat inside the building.

Add 17 for me. A few months back, we sold our beach house. I gave away a lot of cookbooks, but somehow I have managed to acquire more during the past year than I gave away when we moved. Funny how that works. Anyway, I bought new bookcases for my office and for my kitchen, and I finally have enough bookshelf space to see (and count) exactly what I have. Best of all, I have lots of empty space on the shelves to hold more books. I think I will re-read this thread...

Here's a link to an article from today's SF Chonicle discussing many of the same issues in this thread. Also, lots of pictures for those of you who haven't been and want to see what the place looks like.

I'd never heard of it either, but it is mentioned in the Travel & Leisure article you posted. Did you check out breakfast? Remind me to stay here this winter, when it's half off & all the tourists are gone...

The 2004 edition of Frommer's California raved about The Gaige House Inn, saying "The Gaige House Inn is the best B&B I've ever stayed in." Please note, I have never stayed there.

I LOVE Bistro Ralph. I've eaten there countless times over the years. Try to get one of the tables outside. But in all fairness, I've never eaten at Dry Creek Kitchen. There's more information about things to do/ places to go around Healdsburg in this thread. (Scroll down to the bottom few posts.)

I was thinking of Calistoga spas so that we don't have to drive too far (in the heat) after several hours of mud and massage. I wanted to stay at Maison Fleurie but all their good rooms were taken (who would have thought already for weeknights in August!) One of two that was left was a double bed (my husband is 6-4) in a 9ft by 9ft room... w/ no air-conditioning in the room! Gives a whole new meaning to steamy romantic vacation However, this hotel does look like a lovely place to stay; I figure we'll be back that way in the fall and can eat our way around Yountville then. Meanwhile, I haven't eaten anywhere in Calistoga in a 25 years, so I figure it is as good a chance as any to try out some of the town's highlights.

Plans are moving right along. We decided to take a week and a half off; the "theme" being going to some of the places/ doing some of the things that have been special to us over the years. Six nights away for a little road trip: Two nights in Calistoga; two nights outside Mendocino (praying for a rare fog-free night so we can watch the Perseid meteor shower) and for our anniversery itself, two nights in Eureka. So..., here are my questions of the day: Suggestions for two dinners in Calistoga? (We could drive down to St. Helena; I'd rather not drive all the way down to Yountville, especially after a day at the spa...) Spa recommendation in Calistoga-the place we are staying recommended Lavender Hill. Anyone been there or have a better nearby suggestion for a romantic day at a mudbath? Nearby wineries / other things not to miss in Calistoga, or while driving up 128 from Calistoga to Mendocino? Once I get to the Alexander Valley, it's familiar territory; it's the part right around Calistoga I don't know well. I'm planning on the Jimtown Store, Bistro Ralph for lunch, and the Downtown Bakery. I was thinking of eating at Cafe Beaujolais both nights for dinner, although I guess we could zip down to Victorian Gardens for old time's sake one of those nights (we'll be there mid-week,IIRC he doesn't cook during the week.) Other suggestions? Most people would probably want a fancy dinner for their 25th anniversary meal but Hurricane Kate's holds a special place in our hearts, so chances are good we'll be there, sipping cocktails & sharing an assortment of small plates on our anniversary. We're driving home from Eureka to Oakland; maybe lunch in Weaverville? Other suggestions? Thanks to everyone who's made suggestions so far-your ideas really helped me frame our plans.

rdaily, I see your point. Many of these vendors go to other markets that are much less crowded. The butcher in the Ferry Building is the same butcher who is in Oakland's Market Hall-which is ten minutes from my house. The one time I went there (and I really want to go back again and again) parking was a nightmare and the market was unpleasantly crowded-and this was in January. I can't imagine what it's like in summer. There are also many other vendors (our own Rancho Gordo among them) who sell great quality goods at other locations, so going there is not our only option. (My new favorite Farmer's Market is the Grand Lake Market on Saturdays-you can park right next to the stalls and therefore, are not limited to buying only what you can carry at one time!) That's why I started this thread a few weeks back. I also agree with Tana. I'm grateful that such a place can and does exist. It's a beautiful reuse of an all-but-abandoned building. Plus you can eat oysters!!! More importantly, it showcases the incredible talent of our California farmers, and that can't ever be a bad thing. It wasn't that many years ago that the only choice for most farmers was to be at the mercy of middle men, and customers had no opportunity to ever meet the people who put food on their table so they could give them feedback. Who would have thought 20 years ago that farmers would get a prime piece of San Francisco real estate, and that it would become a tourist attraction? Thomas Keller couldn't do what he does without these farmers. At the Ferry Building, they are getting the credit they deserve.

Amen. And while we're at it, let's give thanks to ALL of the farmers at all of the farmer's markets in the Bay Area. It is hard for me to pick just one or two favorites, we have so many choices!

It feels strange to be talking to myself-especially in the cocktail forum -but since no one is talking to me, why not! The vodka Metropolitan Home liked was Hanger One vodka. From re-reading this thread, it sounds like some people like it.

No need to worry about this-the only cells in the area are right around Bodega Bay and right around Sea Ranch. No way to get a call in Jenner... Unless things have changed recently, there is no cell phone coverage at Point Reyes either. S'kat, you will have a great time. That pool looks lovely. I've spent a lot of time in Healdsburg-I used to have a home on the coast due west of there. Here's my recomendations: Bistro Ralph-Shamelessly make a pig out of yourself and eat all of those little butter-covered hot rolls they bring you before your meal. They will offer you more. Accept. Chez Felix [same owners as Bistro Ralph]-I don't think the food is very good here EXCEPT for their pizza, which is the best dough I have ever had. There is a Mexican place around the corner that is pretty good. The Downtown Bakery and Creamery- Go here. Early and often. Get the Donut Muffins, get the Sticky Buns. Get some bread and walk down the street to the Oakville Grocery and buy something else to round out your picnic. Then go back again later and get their ice cream and some Gingersnap or Chocolate Wafer cookies and have an afternoon snack in the town square across the street. Take any of their cakes back to your house. We actually used to make that 1 1/2 hour drive over from the coast just to eat lunch at Bistro Ralph and go to the Downtown Bakery! (It is a beautiful drive, BTW, if blind curves and one-lane roads don't phase you.) I agree with Rancho Gordo-do not miss the Jimtown Store. A fun place to shop even if you don't eat there. The owner is wonderful, she will autograph her cookbook for you (and it's a good one.) I like to visit A.Rafanelli, Murphy Goode, and Sausal Wineries in those two valleys. I also like to go to Ferrari-Carrano, but more to look at their gardens than to taste their wine (which is good.) Sometimes I just look around the garden and never set foot in the winery! There's an interesting cooking store in Healdsburg and some really fun cheapo "antique stores" where you can pick up 1950's artifacts. Have a great time!

I wanted to mention one more meal we had in Carmel: Akaoni at Dolores & 5th Ave. We had a craving for Japanese food one night and chose this place at random. The sushi was very good, very fresh, but the real standout was the Shabu-Shabu for two. I hadn't eaten this in years, and I'd never had it served like this: they bring a hot pot to the table (with a piece of kombu in the pot) and a large platter of raw food for you to cook. (Everywhere else I've had it they put all the food into the pot and bring that to the table.) This type of service let us barely cook the meat-which was a HUGE portion of beautifully marbled, thinly sliced beef that would have been a shame to have let get over-cooked. It's a tiny place-it must seat twenty or so-with friendly service. It was a nice, low-key experience.

Can't wait! Wish you could bring the dog!!!! WHAT???? Does this mean you won't be at the Saturday Grand Lake Market until the fall??? I feel an onslaught of tortilla withdrawal...

Anyone know which flavored vodka Metropolitan Home Magazine listed as one of their "Top 100" in this month's issue? Is that vodka any good? It sounded good when I skimmed through the magazine, but I didn't write it down and now of course, I cannot remember the name...

More places for you to part with your money in our city here.