come dine with us

I left you as we were about to experience Napa Valley, California. I have already shared budding spring vineyards, but I was particularly taken by the ones on hilsides as seen here. (I hope you are clicking on the pictures to enlarge them.) Again, they were all around the inn where we stayed. I neglected to tell you that in the garden outside our door (see video below) were olive trees. I neglected it because we didn't figure it out til we were leaving and I wondered what those black things were that I was stepping on... Hmmm, they look like ripe olives. Look up (See pic) "Wy Marge, I believe I'm standing under an olive tree.

We then went next door to the Freemark Abbey Winery and sampled their goods and asked if there was a small winery we could tour (we didn't really want to walk that much). We were sent to the next town of Rutherford to the Elizabeth Spencer Winery. It was small, but actually only a tasting room. Well, next door to that was the St. Helena Olive Oil company tasting room... that's right, an olive oil (and vinegar) tasting room. There is a picture of the sign here as well as one of the photos we took inside the building. A really cool place. And they cure and filter the olive oil in the back of the building. They had little bowls of bread crumbs beside the oil and vinegar samples. They also make balsamic vinegar, better than any I have tasted. Notice that we were at the St. Helena Olive Oil Company.... in... Rutherford. We apparently missed their St. Helena branch. That is where the Wine Country Inn is located.


So after this we said goodby to the wine (and olive oil) country and headed for "normal America". (We gave up on the winery tour.) Today, we are in a Hampton Inn in Woodland, California. We won't go into why we are here and not Sacramento as we thought we would be. Let's just say, we are happy here and resting up for the trip home. We are still discussing a visit to Placerville before leaving California. So why the title "come dine with us?"

With this info about wine, vinegar, and olive oil, it seems fitting. Also, although we will probably find some nice places to eat, since February 4, we have eaten in more original, super, eating establishments than ever before. As we said, Corvallis was replete with them.. Did we tell you about "Local Boys", the hawaiian campus favorite at Oregon State (look it up). Funny thing... They didn't serve pineapple. We midwesterners seem to have a strange view of other parts of the world. It was delicious. There was the China Blue which served some of the best Chinese food we have had, but the highlight was the personalities of the server and the manager. The elegance of Le Bistro in Corvallis and the Columbia Gorge Hotel were phenomenal. Shawn's on First, in Albany, Oregon wasn't much for decor, but the food was really tasty. We have had more variety of fresh seafood than we usually get in Florida. Of course we were here longer. And I have finally had lamb that I liked. And I really like it. It seemed that everyone we met had at least one favorite place for us to eat. Honestly, we were overwhelmed and couldn't get to them all. Can't think of any "bum steers" that we got. I mustn't forget the "food Fridays" at the vet school. I don't know about other vet schools, but I do know that at the University of Illinois and Oregon State University, the radiology group seem to lead in food days. And what is a food day? It's basically a "potluck" where people bring food and eat... Sometimes there is a theme (like St. Patrick's day, when Fuge brought Irish Stew (yum)) and everything was green (but we ate it anyway.) He also brought his great salsa a few times, Carol was always good for Mexican Chocolate among other things, and Becki surprised us with some really good dishes, not to forget the students who were no slouches at preparing food.

With all of this good eating, I believe my farts have even taken on a certain bouquet!