Two book signings later....

It was an exhausting week, with two busy book signings back to back. Here I am in St. Helena on Friday, all set up and ready to go. The previous Saturday I gave a presentation and signing at Copperfield's in Santa Rosa, and the store sold out its entire stock of my books (more were ordered, of course).

My thanks also to all the vendors and visitors at the St. Helena Farmers' Market who made me feel welcome and pampered, especially Wendy and Annie.

Two more signings may be in the works.... details to come.

What's in store for visitors?

Tourists are back, and we're ready for them. My latest article in North Bay biz magazine summarizes what our local visitors' bureaus and others have planned for travelers to Wine Country. From the sunny side of the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County, to the splashy summer fun at Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Sonoma County, to the pursuit of a Guinness World Record in Napa Valley, read what's new and in the works for visitors here: http://tinyurl.com/7ogfh69

Book signing planned for St. Helena

If you're in the vicinity of the St. Helena Farmers' Market on July 27, please stop by and say Hello. I'll be signing copies of Food Lovers' Guide to Napa Valley from approximately 9 to 11 a.m. The SHFM is a delightful destination––a fun way to spend a morning with locals and visitors, too. Check out the fresh produce and flowers, and the many locally produced food products, such as Annie the Baker's exceptionally moist cookies. See you there! Find out more about the market at this link: http://www.sthelenafarmersmkt.org/

New careers for baby boomers

A former real estate agent goes into the entertainment industry... a tech company executive starts his own business... a labor law expert runs her company from a home office with a golden retriever at her feet. Read how baby boomers can reinvent themselves in encore careers––my newest article is the cover story of the June issue of North Bay biz magazine. Follow this link, and enjoy! http://tinyurl.com/7cka82j

Book signing on July 21

I announced here back in November that book signings were in my future, and the future is almost here. Join me for a fun gathering at Copperfield's Books in Santa Rosa's Montgomery Village center on Saturday, July 21, at 6 p.m. I'll be signing copies of "Food Lovers' Guide to Sonoma" and "Food Lover's Guide to Napa Valley," with a little bit of discussion beforehand and perhaps a Q&A, too.

Make a point of stopping by before having dinner at one of the restaurants in the Village––and there are several to choose from. See you then!

"Harvest" documents tough year in the vineyards

I'm looking forward to the screening of "Harvest," premiering this weekend in Sonoma during the Sonoma International Film Festival. Directed by John Beck, the documentary follows an all-female grape-picking crew that slogged their way through Sonoma County vineyards in autumn 2011. That harvest was challenging, to say the least. Hundreds of acres of premium wine grapes had been severely stressed after enduring weeks of untraditional weather––too much heat and too much rain at the wrong times, an alchemy that led to disaster on many of the vines. John commissioned my husband to design the film's attention-grabbing poster, pictured here. Follow this link to read more about the film and watch the trailer: http://www.harvestmovie.com/

Get your tasty salumi cones here

Anthony Bourdain would be as happy as a hog in mud at the Boccalone retail shop. "Tasty Salted Pig Parts," the tagline for Boccalone's pork products, pretty well sums up their offerings. Located in San Francisco's Ferry Building marketplace, Boccalone sells artisan salumi from heritage-breed, pasture-raised pork. The meats are processed in small batches across the bay in Oakland, using Italian sea salt and fresh spices. Hanging in the huge refrigeration case at the retail store are salumi in as many as 20 flavors. On a recent day there was also a queue to buy lip-smacking salumi cones, pictured here––a great midday snack costing only $3.75. Reasonably priced salumi platters and panini sandwiches are available for noshing onsite, too. Mr. Bourdain, it's time to come back to the City by the Bay. That address is 1 Ferry Building, Shop 21, San Francisco.

OMG! It's Becks and Posh!

Soccer star David Beckham and his eye-candy wife, Victoria (the former Posh of Spice Girls fame) were spotted dining at Oenotri in downtown Napa recently. It's been a good month for Oenotri. First, the restaurant earned a multi-page spread in the latest issue of Food & Wine magazine, which makes the bold claim that it's the best new Italian restaurant in the United States. And then to have Posh and Becks roll in with uber-critical TV chef sensation Gordon Ramsay, well, hearts were fluttering and eyes were popping. Read more about Oenotri on page 51 of my book "Food Lovers' Guide to Napa Valley." Buy it here: http://tinyurl.com/72etwsc

One thing you can always count on in Napa Valley is a shifting landscape on the dining scene. While high-profile places such as Tyler Florence's Rotisserie & Wine and the vegetarian palace Ubuntu are both expected to reopen soon following time off for renovations and sabbaticals, new eateries are filling the void.

Consider St. Helena's La Condesa, with food and decor inspired by a trendy Mexico City neighborhood. The casual fare at this Main Street destination is far from the standard taqueria menu. One of the signature dishes is corn tortillas shaped like huarache sandals and loaded with different toppings.

Move over, In-N-Out Burger––there's a new choice for grilled meat in Napa. The Habit Burger Grill that just opened on Trancas Street is the latest in the chain's 50-some locations throughout California (and three in Arizona). Char-broiled hamburgers are the specialty, but they raise the bar by also offering sandwiches such as fresh albacore tuna and tri-tip. Pretty decent salads, too, and shakes and sundaes to end the meal.

And the Japanese sushi and sashimi restaurant called Eiko's in downtown Napa (kittycorner from Oenotri on First Street) has added liquid nitrogen cocktails and ice cream to its menu. This fad has been going on for some time in trendy bars and restaurants as a way to add a touch of drama to drinking (or to impress the kids with steamin' sweet stuff).

Dishing with ice cream makers

Spring is here, and the hot days of summer are just ahead. Time for artisan ice cream! Read my latest article about entrepreneurial ice cream makers in Wine Country, now appearing in the April issue of North Bay biz magazine. Here's the link: http://tinyurl.com/7raenn2

Knocking at the Kitchen Door

Recommended eating in Napa: Kitchen Door in the Oxbow Public Market. Try the Pho Chicken Noodle Soup –– like a warm hug on a recent rainy day –– filled with noodles, bites of roasted chicken, bean sprouts, and cilantro. Also yummy is the Armenian Fold and Eat Flatbread, spread with a layer of spiced ground lamb then smothered with a green salad mixed with harissa yogurt dressing. Very tasty, and those marinated sweet onions are super.

One of the best hamburgers in all of Napa Valley (sorry Gott's!) is the grilled half-pound Kobe-style beef burger –– don't miss it. And the cream of mushroom soup is fabulous, no doubt a holdover from the Martini House in St. Helena, the previous great restaurant helmed by KD's chef Todd Humphries.

In its own space separate from the larger, cavernous market, Kitchen Door tends to be quieter and better for conversation. Try sitting at the small bar to watch the food-prep action, if desired, or out on the patio when it's sunny.

Some diners have been turned off by the restaurant's order-and-take-a-seat approach, but I found the staff exceptionally friendly and accommodating, offering lots of smiles and helpful information about what we were eating. There's a small but interesting wine list, with some "on tap" at reasonable prices, and many other beer and non-alcohol choices. Next time you're in Napa, make time for Kitchen Door.

Fort Ross is still open –– visit, please

With the looming specter of scores of state parks around California being permanently closed in 2012, I was shocked on Saturday to witness so few visitors at Fort Ross State Historic Park, on the Sonoma County coastline. It was a gorgeous day, warm and without wind (in fact, the weather was better coastside than 30 miles inland), and yet the parking lot had only a handful of cars at any one time, though it has space for more than 100. 

I can only assume that the local population was Christmas shopping, spending their leisure hours cooped up inside malls and discount stores. What a pity. Perhaps they think Fort Ross has already closed. Well, it hasn't. The days and hours of operation have been cut drastically, but it's still open weekends and some holidays, and for special events and educational sleepovers for groups of schoolchildren.

We had the park's ranger, Hank, almost to ourselves, as he conducted a short program about the Russian history of the fort and let us handle otter furs and other relics. He was not allowed to shoot off a cannon on this particular day, but at other times of the year the boom of the cannons is part of the experience.

Hank told us that the Russian Consulate in San Francisco is working on securing funding from benefactors in Russia that would help keep the park open more days. After all, it's part of Russia's rich history as well as our own.

Please visit Fort Ross soon and allow a couple of hours to enjoy the grounds and the visitors' center. Bring a lunch to eat at one of the many picnic tables. Time your visit to include a look inside the Call house museum, which represents one of the only "coastal ranch era" homes still standing. The wealthy Call family lived on the property for more than a century.

Where have I been? Writing.

Lately I've been bad, neglecting my blogging duties for several months. But my excuse is good: I was writing the manuscripts for two new books about food in wine country.

The first edition of "Food Lovers' Guide to Napa Valley" will be available soon in major bookstores, and it can also be pre-ordered on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com, among other online booksellers.

Following quickly on the heels of the Napa Valley book will be the companion book called "Food Lovers' Guide to Sonoma," for the best places to dine in Sonoma County, along with an in-depth chapter about farmers' markets, farm stands, produce growers, cheesemakers, and the other food purveyors that make Sonoma County such a desirable place to visit. This book can also be pre-ordered at the major online bookseller sites.

Both are published by Globe Pequot Press, also the publisher of the "Insiders' Guide to California's Wine Country," which I've written for them for many years.

Book signings are likely in my future, and I will announce them here when I know more.

While I was working on the new books, my article about two ambitious women and their start-up company appeared in the Napa Valley Register. Read it here: http://tinyurl.com/44mg8e7

Why do YOU visit –– food or wine?

Most visitors to Napa Valley are interested in dining on our world-class cuisine, and wine tasting is a secondary attraction. I've been saying that for years in my books, and it's no secret among those of us who live here and cover the area's tourism industry. Now the latest market research out of Napa Valley backs it up.

Results of a survey presented recently at a Napa Valley Destination Council's marketing conference revealed that 80% of potential Napa Valley visitors cited restaurants and dining as the primary reason for a visit, while far fewer –– 67% –– mentioned wine tasting. Of those same survey respondents, 63% are interested in culinary demonstrations, too.

I just completed a book about food in Napa Valley, and my own research revealed there aren't enough opportunities for cooking classes and chefs' demos in Napa Valley as there should be, given the number of visitors who apparently want this type of attraction.

At least one event taking place for the first time this fall will offer those visitors another opportunity to concentrate on our cuisine. "Flavor! Napa Valley –– A Celebration of Wine, Food & Fun" is a four-day food-centric happening scheduled for November 17-20. Most of the activities take place at the Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena, and tickets are selling fast for the chefs' demonstrations.

The Napa Valley celebrity chefs pictured above will be the stars of the show, and some are also CIA grads. Flavor! Napa Valley is a benefit for CIA's financial aid for students, so it's for a good cause, too: the training of more world-class chefs.

This DOES amount to a hill of beans

Living in Napa, or just visiting? Either way, you don't want to miss the Rancho Gordo bean store (more precisely called Rancho Gordo New World Specialty Food). Doesn't sound very sexy for an area known for its gourmet dining, but several of the finest restaurants in Napa Valley source the beans in their cuisine from this business, and you can, too.

Rancho Gordo's owner Steve Sando is the entrepreneur behind this successful venture, selling dried heirloom beans and other cooking items at a storefront location at 1924 Yajome Street in Napa. It's a few blocks from downtown, off Main Street. Most of the beans are grown not far away, in the Delta region of the Bay Area, and are some of the freshest you'll find. The rest are grown in Mexico through a project Steve founded to revive the planting of heirloom beans while helping bring income to the farmers there.

The beans are packaged in one-pound bags, or ask about getting a larger quantity, if you desire. Recipes are scattered around the store, too, for ideas in using specific varieties of the beans. It's a fun, friendly place to browse –– and check out those old Mexican movie posters on the wall. You can't leave without experiencing the "touching beans" tub (see photo). It's many varieties of loose beans, crying out to be caressed.

The store also sells cookbooks (including Steve's own), heirloom popcorn, dried prickly pear cactus, dried chilis, and Mexican chocolates. Rancho Gordo also does a booming online business at ranchogordo.com.

America overtakes France

It's official: For the first time in history, Americans drank more wine than the French last year. A leading wine industry consulting firm in the San Francisco Bay Area reports that Americans are now the world's top wine consumers by volume, besting the French by many millions of bottles.

In 2010, Americans drank 3.96 billion bottles of wine to France's 3.85 billion bottles. Drinking wine has become increasingly popular among the millennial generation of Americans: the 21- to 32-year-old demographic.

Still, to put this all in perspective, the average Frenchman consumes 12.2 gallons of wine per year, compared to only 2.6 gallons for the average American. Vive la différence!