Author: katycasafestiva

Cooking, Food

Day 5: The Thanksgiving Leftovers Utilization Project – Gnocchi

The turkey had found its way into sandwiches, fajitas, more sandwiches, and soup. The Brussels sprouts had been eaten, and the pumpkin pie was long gone. A lot of the big batch of mashed potatoes remained, so I figured I’d try to make some gnocchi – an Italian pasta akin to a dumpling, typically made with potatoes, flour, and egg. It couldn’t possibly be worse … Continue reading Day 5: The Thanksgiving Leftovers Utilization Project – Gnocchi

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Food, Olives, Sustainability

Planting for Posterity

As you may have heard, we’ve been having quite the kerfuffle in these parts about trees. The short story: that big corporation that owns a big local winery has been playing fast and loose with our native oak trees. In contrast to that, I thought I’d offer up some good news about trees and agriculture. Some news about Kiler Ridge Olive Farm, a local olive … Continue reading Planting for Posterity

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"Forks in the Road", Beer, Restaurants

“Forks in the Road”: Healdsburg Highlights

Had never been to Healdsburg, so headed up with the pups for a mid-week February jaunt. (Yes, I’ve been remiss in posting this … hopefully better late than never.) It’s a charming town a lot like Paso Robles – a main square, lots of good restaurants, in the middle of wine country. No wine tasting this trip though, but maybe next time! L&M Motel – Wonderful … Continue reading “Forks in the Road”: Healdsburg Highlights

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Wine

Cab Franc: Both a Challenge and a Reward to Consumers

Cabernet Franc (and yes, I’m resisting all the puns) isn’t bottled on its own very much. It’s primarily used as a blending varietal in Bordeaux wines, especially with Merlot and the usually dominant and better known Cabernet Sauvignon. It is one of my favorite wines, however, so I was tickled red to see it showcased at the varietal focus seminar at this year’s WiVi Central Coast, … Continue reading Cab Franc: Both a Challenge and a Reward to Consumers

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Food

You Call That BBQ? Yes, We Do!

The smell of smoke. The aroma of savory meat. The hallmarks of “barbecue.” The nuances and details of that word can spark heated debates about beef versus pork, mustard sauce or no sauce, hickory wood or mesquite. The one thing most of the USA can agree upon is that “barbecue” means low and slow, meats cooking for hours and hours in closed smokers tended by … Continue reading You Call That BBQ? Yes, We Do!

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Beer, Food, Restaurants, San Diego

“Forks in the Road”: Sippin’ and Snackin’ in San Diego

Another tasty, fun-filled jaunt — this time to San Diego! It was a jam-packed trip that included visits to 11 breweries/taprooms, and that just scratched the surface of the local beer scene. The beers certainly did not disappoint. All were really good, and the only ones I didn’t much like were just styles of beer that aren’t my favorite. Arguably the U.S. capital of craft … Continue reading “Forks in the Road”: Sippin’ and Snackin’ in San Diego

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