St.Helena Bed & Breakfast, California B&B, California Lodging

” CIA Sophisticated Palate: The Ancient Cookfire”

admin — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 20:59:21 +0000

“Indulge your passion for food, wine, and cooking with the Napa Valley’s legendary vineyards, bountiful farms, and innovative chefs as your inspiration.

Invigorating Mornings in the Kitchen

While a typical day in CIA Sophisticated Palate is anything but typical, you can expect to begin each day at about 8 a.m. with breakfast. Then you’ll move right to the kitchen for orientation, lecture, hands-on cooking, food and wine pairing.

During “The Ancient Cookfire,” you will:

Master live-fire cooking, one of today’s “hottest” culinary techniques.
Learn to use a variety of fire-cooking equipment, including grills, wood-fired ovens, Big Green Eggs®, hobo packs, rotisseries, and spits.
Gain proficiency in cold and hot smoking methods.
Explore the techniques and flavor-infusing properties of smoke roasting and learn to maximize the flavor of your cuisine with enhancers such as marinades and dry rubs.
Examine appropriate uses for high-heat grilling versus low-heat grilling.
Attend a wine and food pairing seminar to enrich your knowledge of the wines that best match fire-cooked foods.
Enjoy a beverage demonstration by a guest mixologist.

Exclusive Afternoons in the Valley

The essence of the CIA Sophisticated Palate program is inextricably tied to its location-Northern California’s magnificent Wine Country-and you’ll spend your afternoons experiencing it in a way virtually no one else has.

Blessed with seemingly endless sunshine, bountiful farms, and prolific vineyards, it’s no wonder the Valley is both a favorite travel destination and a hotbed of culinary innovation. For more than 30 years, chefs in this celebrated region have created innovative cuisines with local, freshly harvested ingredients at their core. The resulting foods-intensely satisfying and environmentally conscious-have spawned nothing less than a revolution in American cooking. When perfectly paired with one of the region’s lovingly crafted wines, the result can only be described as culinary nirvana.

Each afternoon, you’ll see, taste, and explore the very best of the Valley. You’ll benefit from the CIA’s relationships with premier growers, vintners, food producers, chefs, and restaurateurs as you take exclusive off-campus excursions designed just for CIA Sophisticated Palate participants. These visits will get you up close and personal with the people who make the Valley so special-you won’t be taking a standard public tour. Instead, your afternoon might include a visit to a private estate or farm, a behind-the-scenes tour with an olive oil producer, or a chat with a winemaker while you sample a yet-to-be-released Pinot.

CIA Sophisticated Palate gives you the opportunity to experience it all. “

http://ce.culinary.edu/ciachef/CourseListing.asp?master_id=1077&master_version=1&course_area=AE&course_number=1288&course_subtitle=00

RELEASE PARTY AND CHOCOLATE TASTING

admin — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:27:47 +0000

“Join us for the release of 2004 Generations Cabernet Sauvignon and 2005 Rutherford Merlot paired with locally produced dark chocolates. Also, get a sneak peek at our new small lot wines being released later this spring. Must be 21 years of age to attend.”

http://www.raymondvineyards.com/index.cfm?method=pages.showPage&pageid=a837f29f-09ae-77a2-f440-442f10f4c8af

ROMEO AND JULIET…

admin — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:23:27 +0000

Indulge in the Valentine’s Day specials at Lavender Hill Spa in Calistoga.

“Everyone Loves Chocolate…The scent of chocolate triggers the release of chemicals in the brain that produce a similar feeling as when one first falls in love. In addition to being a sensory indulgence, chocolate contains over 300 different compounds some of which can have a significant impact on one’s health and beauty. Enjoy the sensual pleasures and believe it or not, the therapeutic benefits of chocolate in these decadent spa treatments.”

http://www.lavenderhillspa.com/specials.php

HAVE A HEART…

admin — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:02:45 +0000

“Your First Crush” - Terra Valentine Winery Event

February 9th, 2008
2:00pm - 6:00 pm
3787 Spring Mountain Road

$100 per couple $55 per person

Club Valentine Members
$80 per couple $40 per person

Email: info@terravalentine.com
Tel: 707-967-8340

http://www.terravalentine.com/terravalentine/news/events.jsp

BLESS THE BEASTS…

admin — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 01:01:01 +0000

“Dinner and Dance and a Champagne Midnight Toast.
Go wild this New Year’s at Safari West’s second annual…Romp with the Beasts! Make like Meryl Streep in Out of Africa and indulge in a gourmet dinner and dancing in the company of exotic animals. Wine and beer are available for purchase with your meal. Split after midnight strikes or enjoy all the creature comforts and spend the night in a luxury safari tent.”

http://www.safariwest.com/newyeareve/

RING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH CHANDON…

admin — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 01:00:27 +0000

“Join étoile Restaurant at Domaine Chandon for this year’s over-the-top New Year’s Eve celebration! Dressed in festive Masquerade attire, you and your guests are invited to welcome the new year by way of fanciful charade!

Dancing from 9:00pm – 1:00am.
Live Music provided by San Francisco Bay Area’s Blue Moon Band playing Motown, Rock n’ Roll, & Rhythm and Blues!

Space is limited. Call 800.736.2892 for reservations. ”

http://www.chandon.com/events/events.html

“HOLIDAY CANDLELIGHT TOUR”

admin — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:45:38 +0000

“Napa County Landmarks will present its 19th annual Holiday CandleLight Tour Saturday, December 8, 2007 from 2-7 pm in the Napa Abajo/Fuller Park District in downtown Napa. This area defines one of Napa’s oldest neighborhoods and Landmarks is pleased to present a group of historic homes in this National Register-designated district – some recently restored and never seen before on a tour. In addition to these beautiful homes, the tour features one of Napa’s most architecturally significant churches, the First United Methodist Church, known for its superb acoustic qualities. One of Napa Valley’s favorite holiday traditions, this year’s CandleLight Tour will begin at First United Methodist Church in Napa, which will also serve as a holiday music and refreshment center and feature both choral and instrumental performances by local groups, including the Napa High Chamber Singers. “Read more at…

http://www.napacountylandmarks.org/events/candlelight.html

“CAROLS IN THE CAVES”

admin — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:44:47 +0000

“The Improvisator’s original Cave Music show.
It began more than twenty years ago as a single concert.
A simple sharing of the solstice spirit and old music of Christmas and Yuletide.
When people asked for more, the annual series evolved. It has retained an innocent quality. ”

San Francisco car rentals for students, professionals, and travelers.

John — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 18:50:52 +0000

http://www.supercheapcar.com

NAPA’S NEWEST CASTLE

John — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 01:33:19 +0000

“CASTELLO DI AMOROSA”

Daryl Sattui’s New Place
by Richard Paul Hinkle
You can redeem your Alitalia tickets. There is no longer any need to fly to Florence to see a centuries-old castle, complete with drawbridge, towers, torture chamber, great hall, medieval church and confessional. Daryl Sattui has built one, right here in the Napa Valley, and brother does it look like the real thing. I’ve been to Italy more than a dozen times, and I’ve seen ancient dank castles up close, and this project is so authentic that you automatically want to genuflect upon entering the church and tense up when viewing the “rack” or the “iron maiden” in the underground torture chamber. The only things missing are cobwebs and underground water seepage. Trust me, those will come.”http://www.winecountrythisweek.com/site/article/120/2.html