I hope this new blog is finding everyone healthy and happy. The Holidays are finally over and we can all take a breath. Ken and I went to Sebastopol and stayed for three nights at a VRBO a few weeks ago to rest up after a busy few weeks with family and friends. We had a great time and love exploring Sonoma County.
I had always wanted to visit the Barlow which is a shopping destination in Sebastopol. I have passed it up many times, unable to stop in, so I was excited to learn our rental was walking distance to it.
We walked into a few boutique shops, and walked into Pax Winery and Tasting Room. This place had a great fun vibe about it. They played great music and had a nice record album selection. That’s something you don’t see every day. They serve tasting flights, with a small bite with each taste. Their promotion was to buy 2 bottles of wine, and one would receive $20.00 off the total purchase. They had a 2022 Pinot Blanc from Dutton Ranch in the Russian River Valley, (my favorite since that’s where my family is from), a Chardonnay from the Sonoma Coast, and a 2021 Grenache from Alder Springs Vineyard in Mendocino County. Fridays they have live music from 5PM-7PM, and you can book a Private Tasting and Cellar Tour by appointment for $85.00. It includes single vineyard Syrahs that are paired with local cheese and charcuterie platter. Sounds like fun to me.
I’m always happy to find a new distillery, and was happy to check out Spirit Works Distillery. Justin and Erica made two cocktails for us to try. Saturn Return was made with their Navy Strength Gin, lemon passion fruit, orgeat and Spirit works “The One” Citrus Aromatic Bitters. I have been drawn to passion fruit since my cousin’s wedding in Hawaii when her girlfriend made mini passion fruit cheesecakes for every guest who attended the wedding. Sandi wanted to start her own cheesecake company and I admired her for the ambition and drive she had. She would make three different crusts depending on the flavor of cheesecake. She would use gingersnap cookies from Trader Joes, and a chocolate wafer cookie for other cheesecake flavors. She never did follow through with her dream because of money and health problems, but I will never forget how good her cheesecakes were.
Spirit Works makes great cocktails and Ken and I had a great time visiting them. It was sad to hear they were closing their location at The Barlow after 11 years in business. They would still be selling their gin, bitters, etc but in retail shops instead. It hasn’t been an easy time for businesses since the pandemic. I just came from a hair appointment in Walnut Creek and there were quite a few buildings unoccupied. I hope the economy bounces back and we can all feel more secure about our money and the world in general.
Woodfour Brewing Company had a great menu that offered many varieties of beer including a dark stout called Salmon Creek Stout. It had a 4.3% ABV and a nice dark chocolate flavor. I only sampled a couple since Mr Smyth was waiting outside. I was able to find a beer to go in their fridge. They offered three different kinds: New Ridge Lager, Gone West and Sonoma Festbier were the ones they had. I like to support these small businesses and so I got one.
I liked #Woodfour because they also sold wine by the glass for $14 or the $52.00 by the bottle. Matanzas Creek was their Sauvingnon Blanc, Pedroncelli was a Rose of Zinfandel and they had a Pinot Noir from J Vineyard, all I’m assuming from Sonoma County. Their 6.9% Cider is from Goat Rock is organic and has flavors of rose, passionfruit and apple. How fun!
For dinner we found a to go only pop up called Lunch Box who made burgers with mushrooms and truffle oil. We ate these burgers back at our place while watching a movie on Netflix.These burgers were melt in your mouth delicious! Later that week we saw the original Lunch Box location in town. I would definitely go back there again.
The next day, we spontaneously invited Ken’s cousins Barbara, Gloria and Joe to join us in Graton for lunch at Underwood Bar & Bistro. They had a wonderful caramelized French Onion Soup, fresh French bread and a tasty tuna poke for an appetizer. The cousins live in Rohnert Park, closely watch my Instagram stories and asked if we were ever in the area to reach out. We were excited to connect with them and enjoy their company for the day.istro
To surprise them, I got us private tastings with the owner David Klein at Ambix Spirits and Distillery in Sebastopol just down the street. Justin and Erica from Spirit Works Distillery told us about this new business who has only been open to the public for 6 months. This special place deserves a blog of its own, so I will save the rest for my next blog.
I would be remiss not to mention our morning breakfast experience the next day at Howard Station Cafe in Occidental with my Dad’s other cousin’s Skip Cassady and his daughter Cindy. Skip is a hoot. He is responsible for my love of growing cannabis. He and I have spent many hours on the phone exchanging recipes and I’ve learned specific growing techniques, timing on harvesting, trimming and storing weed. Skip lives in Guerneville where my dad grew up. He and Cindy are my connection to my roots and they bring me joy.
Thanks everyone for joining me again and being patient with me as I navigate working a lot, taking care of my garden, the chickens on the farm and two new kittens who we adopted in November. It’s been a crazy time, getting enough sleep and adapting to all of the happenings at Smyth Family Farm.
Be sure to tune in for the next post, as I will talk about our fabulous experience at Ambix Spirits, a small batch, French style brandy from over 200 varieties of cider apples locally sourced or grown in Sebastopol. I also joined my first winery called Marimar Estate Vineyards and Winery also in Sebastopol! It is a family owned female run winery which I was drawn to after driving past their up cycled junk art made by Patrick Amiot. These sculptures are made with oil tanks and all over town. We even dropped by my Dad’s cousins Gus and Tammy Mesenbrink’s house since we were in their neighborhood. Tammy and I talked about food, recipes and even exchanged homemade jams, apple cider, and some of the gin from Spirit Works and a bottle of pear brandy from Ambix Spirits. They were thrilled to see us and we enjoyed the spontaneous visit. It was sad learning that cousin Gus has been diagnosed with dementia. He seemed to be doing okay, but it’s always good to spend time with family while we have them in our lives.
It was lovely to visit Rosemary’s Garden Herbal Apothecary while walking through town. I was able to buy some skin care goodies for my boys Curtis and Andrew. It’s nice to bring them something since they keep an eye on the farm animals for us when we are away. This business was originally owned by Rosemary Gladstar who is an icon in the plant medicine industry. I hope to someday learn more about herbs and their tinctures that heal people.Here is a blog about Mountain Rose Herbs in Oregon, where I first learned about Rosemary Gladstar.
Obviously, I have a lot to write about. I truly enjoy sharing my adventures with you and I hope I’ve inspired you to check out surrounding communities in your area for a fun day out.
Chicken Tortilla Soup
One Whole Chicken (2.5-3#), cleaned, de boned and cut into small cubes
1 Box Chicken Stock
4 T Olive Oil
1 Onion diced small
1 Clove Garlic chopped
1 T Chili Powder
3 T Fresh Oregano chopped
4 Roma Tomatoes, blanched, peeled and medium dice
1 ear of corn, cleaned and husk removed
½ Red Bell Pepper small dice
½ bunch Cilantro cleaned and chopped
Tortilla Chips and or corn tortilla cut into strips and deep fried
1 Avocado
1 C Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
3 Green Onions diced small
1 can Red Kidney Beans
¼ C. canned Salsa Verde
Salt and Pepper to taste
Method: Prepare chicken by baking it in a 375% oven for an hour and 15 min. Let cool. Remove from bones and cut into small cubes.
Or
Get a precooked whole chicken and proceed with instructions.
In a Large Soup Pot on Medium heat saute’ onions, garlic and chili powder, cook until soft. Add oregano, tomatoes, corn and cook for 5 min. Add hot chicken stock and cook for another 10 min. Add Chicken and cilantro. Adjust seasoning as needed.
At time of service, place soup into a bowl, top w warm tortilla strips, cheese and green onion.
Enjoy! Recipe adapted from Chef Brian McGlynn Spring 2006
Teri
Let's Make Mud Pies 