Sunday of Pebble Beach Food & Wine Event.

This is going to go a bit backward...

mostly because I didn't lug my big ol camera thru Opening Night. 

note to self: get those!

 And because Sunday was full of fun great pictures. 

lots. 

{consider that a warning.}

first stop

Michael Symon.

He was busy tearing mint leaves...

and we stepped up to try his Lamb Meatball with yogurt& herb 

little fennel on top & a mint leaf.

my date aka Molly started to move hers around as I popped it all in my mouth & wished for another...

she got scolded (nicely)

"no, picking things apart! eat it all together"

chefs are specific about their creations, 

 she obeyed. And loved it. 

 sorry for putting pics of you eating but we were at a food event ;)

 next up, my chef. 

He was working on his dish just as Grand Tasting was opening....

it was delish!

Lamb breast cooked so long it was as tender as short rib. Crisp edges but subtle meat.

Drizzled with blackberries 

on a cornmeal Johnny Cake

 The Chef & I

 Josh Drage from The Ranch at Rock Creek in Montana

 Guy spotting, he didn't cook at the event

just book signing

 wonderful Walter Manke

 very tender "sliders" 

Pork made into something like a crabcake. with slaw & avo on tiny little roll....YUM.

 It was especially warm 

(for us!)

and Rose sounded good to me.

I found a couple but this one really stood out

Called BLACKBIRD VINEYARDS

also like Heitz (Napa) Vineyards Rose. 

 This was the cutest wine bucket I'd seen. 

Krug Trough. 

Oh bubbles can be rustic too!

 Morimoto made Octopus on small sushi square with marinated julienne vegetables.

It was good, a little chewy for me 

I like Octopus but have found ceviche is my favorite way because makes it so tender.

Flavors were wonderful!

 Our group of wandering eaters: Stef, Chadwick, Molly & I

 Jerry Regester

 And then back to Todd and WHOA his crowd!

 drizzling something sensational

 Good friends, together again!

 Peter from Plumed Horse Restaurant. 

 Then back to see Anne, 

she made creamy wonderful Farro Risotto with Rock Shrimp

 and obliged a couple pictures...

 a little Salt tasting...while we drank 2 bottles of Panna water!

hydration is key.

Molly deciding how she can get more Lula's Sea Salt Caramels. 

they are AH mazing. 

 then over to see Tyler

who sadly ran out of his Fried Chicken :(

of course that means I am over due for a trip up to Wayfare to get some!

{he went thru 500 lbs of chicken in 2 1/2 hours!}

then we headed over to the Fire Pits at Spanish Bay to meet up with my patio crew from the weekend. 

 and Todd was able to join in for few minutes in the sunshine

 the hysterical & my new best friend Dougie.

Introduced him to Todd's favorite cocktail {refreshing category}

over the weekend-turned into his new fav too!

Silver Tequila, Ruby Grapefruit juice & Campari

 my patio crew: Doug, Rocco, Molly, Scott, Anne, Michael, my wonderful amazing friend Danielle, and the talented Katie.

 Michael was having shade complications. As in sunglasses...

someone at the table decided mine might suit him....

 Perfect! he was instantly incognito & everyone talked to Doug instead!!

 Then the bagpiper came strolling in..and shadows got longer, our weekend was almost over.

 Til Scott & Anne decided to say good bye. 

I have no idea what is going on in these. 

 Its a lot of love. I think. JK!

 

 wonderful weekend....lots of sad goodbyes because it will be a whole year before we see each other again. Lots of new friends made. 

And one birthday girl with a birthday of a lifetime!

there are some perks. officially the longest post yet.

life as a chef's wife does have some perks. 

no doubt the obvious is a "personal chef"

I say that as casually as possible because countless times when I would love & need to have him to cater for me, he was catering elsewhere.

However, I have never had to cook an entire holiday meal in all my 18 years as an adult.

I get to pick & choose what I'd like to make 

{and of course those requests :}

which really is a perk to be able to make what your inspired to instead of a whole meal. 

The other obvious perk is he can make anything.

yes. 

ANY thing. 

anything I desire

anything I've had before & wish again

anything I crave

anything I see

anything I read about

{insert here. have I mentioned my magazine fedish? well, that's another post}

yes it its lovely to have my chef.

another perk is events.

mostly we go 

he works

i wander & look for other solo partners of other "workers" to act as a group date.

The other less often but seriously good perk is meeting other chefs. 

We actually know a lot as you can imagine. 

Both around our neck of the woods and all over really. 

Like in May when we went to Disney Food & Wine event, met up with our friend Danielle (whom we adore) who was there with Anne Burrell & her side kick Cocktail making Celebrity. 

good times be had @ The Mouse House.

Of course knowing where to call when you need a favor. Again perk. 

Last year Pebble Beach Food & Wine event. Oh my the fun. Oh my the perks (my perks, my chef worked his A** off!) The 4 day event started like this and had more of this. Too much fun. well, not tooooooo much :)

This last week we had the invitation to congratulate friends on a new & wonderful cookbook. 

In order to make a Wednesday night work, 

we loaded the whole fam for a much much needed adventure.

Out of town. 

Still "working" 

This is what that looked like

HA!

Lists emails voicemails texts 2 phones & 1 ipad. 

Can you tell we needed a break???

Then we got to the fun part

but had to travel past this

 Huge day for Giants....so close to the action but no tickets :(

OH how I love The Ferry Building. 

It has 

Slanted Door

Gott's

Boulettes Larder

and much much more.

But we will be there in 2 weeks, so we drove on.

The ever lovely & breath taking Golden Gate

[since we took the kids outta school to "adventure" we used this opportunity for a physics lesson & history lesson]

There is never a time it hasn't awed me.

About 10 minutes past is a small darling town called 

Mill Valley

we found a room {large one for our crew!}

at Mill Valley Inn

it was top floor of a house 

kids loved the balcony in the redwoods.

I loved the smell. 

Fresh Forest with Fog Wisps.

then we ventured around the town.

B on his bike.

 Tyler Florence Shop

 Summer House Shop

 street florist (I LOVE this green color!)

 I know. I know, lame- me taking pictures of butter. BUT look

all those different kinds of butter!!! 

European

French 

Irish 

English

OH my!

 my sweet kiddos got in the mood from all this yumminess. They grocery shopped for their night in the Inn.

 And being that they are wonderful & we DID just venture through SF

It was time for ITs ITs.

Please tell me you've had this ice cream oatmeal cookie chocolate dipped goodness. 

 He hadn't before. 

The room

OH

and back to my story of perks.

SO we were graciously invited to the shop for a friends & family Book Release Party
It was so fun to stroll just around the corner from the Inn
shop was closed 
but filled with friends & other Mill Valley-ites :)

Have you seen the book? 

Even my chef who has 400+ cookbooks was impressed & looked it over cover to cover

{I so love this lighting...silver contemporary around a chandelier}

 I took a million pictures of the event & the store to share because this is such a great place. 

Friendly 

Foodie

French Antiques

need I say more?

 just released TF wines with Mondavi. Glad to share a sip or two!

 Inside Kitchen for small production & demos. 

Don't you just love love the black subway tiles!?

 Chefs by candle light....elegant

 the fabulous Joy & Tolan in bookstore part of the store....love the selection

although tonight we were here for just one book

 

 

 this shelf was empty by end of the night. 

 I even love the wooden spool that has stickers & twine. 

 Tyler was gracious & very busy signing books & visiting all the friends

 yes please. one of each...

 

 Our hostess with delightful nibbles for us to snack on

 delicious & warm Fall fare- Cauliflower Curry & Banana Bisque

 The lovely Tolan & I....I love taking pictures with a tall girl, I'm not hunched!

 My darling TF. 

 These are from closer to us, Olive Oil from Paso Robles in amazing flavors!

 CookBook area....you wanta get lost here!

 end of the night, all the vino had been drank so they had to break into a new vintage!

 just a few more to sign! 

 These two are adorable. Tolan's parents Marjorie & Larry, they opened a store in Mill Valley called 

Moss & Moss

it is a must see. Love love their eclectic & vintage taste. 

 Todd, me, Marjorie, Larry, Tolan & Tyler

thank you all for your gracious hospitality....we loved it.