California Getaway - Day 4

 The day stated off mighty fine as I actually slept in until 7:30 AM. Seven thirty! Thank you hotel blackout curtains! I forced my recovering gunky lungs to support my cardiovascular efforts and ran from our hotel down to the Oxbow Market where Graham met me for breakfast. We sipped Ritual Coffee again (ha, becoming quite the ritual!) and ate a breakfast taco with chorizo, black beans, avocado and other delicious goodness. We replenished our picnic supplies at the Fatted Calf and the bakery and then checked out of our hotel and headed toward Sonoma. 

We stopped briefly at Artesa to take in the views (they were lovely, as promised-pictured above) and then again at Domaine Carneros for the same reason.

Then onward we forged to Gloria Ferrar in Sonoma for a taste, sun and a picnic on the patio overlooking the valley. On our way out, we stumbled upon this over sized chair that was a picture must.

 After a brief stop in Sonoma (the town was cute but we felt no needs to stick around as we had free tastings to get to!) we headed north to the tiny town of Kenwood, our home for the following two nights. It was too early to check into our hotel so we stopped in at Chateau St Jean in Kenwood. It was here that I realized the truth: I LOVE LIME TREES! How did I not know this until now? They were all over the grounds (and, as it turns out, all over most of the valley when you paid close enough attention).

 Then it was time to check into our hotel – our big splurge of the trip.

 We’d booked a “deal” at the Kenwood Inn and Spa but still paid a pretty penny despite the heavy discount. But we weren’t disappointed! It was by far the nicest place we have ever, ever stayed in. And it’s probably safe to assume we will never stay anywhere quite that nice in the future. I mean, look at our room.

 It was complete with a chandelier, velvet curtains, fireplace, sunny outdoor patio with curtains for privacy, a giant feather bed, and huge bathroom with jetted tub (the shower alone was bigger than our entire bathroom at home).

Oh and our view out one of the windows was of this gorgeous waterwheel which serenaded us with soothing background noise.

And speaking of noise, when we were escorted to our room (yes, we were given a private tour of the grounds and were escorted personally to our room), the door swung open and we were greeted by Harry Connick Jr blasting from the in-room sound system* to which the bellman responded “Welcome Home!” Perfection.

(*As an aside, in-bathroom sound system is a must if ever we get to design our own home!) Anyway, after settling in our room, we immediately went poolside to soak up some sun and get our read on.

I'd made reservations in Healdsburg at Mateo's Cocina Latina the week before we left so we could be sure to enjoy their "Tendejon de la Calle" which was an all-out, multi-course feast on the back patio complete with suckling pig and all the sides! It turned out to be quite the drive to Healdsburg (it looked closer on the map) but we got to enjoy some gorgeous tree-covered roads.

 Oh man and was our dinner amazing! I think my face says it all in this picture - I was all grins as I devoured my plate of local, seasonal and colorful ingredients.

 The suckling pig was accompanied by a roasting tomato salsa and three different salads: a red wheat salad, a romano bean salad with lemon skins and Petrichor olive oil, and a tomato basil salad. And get this: sprinkled atop the romano beans were the most amazing seasoned and roasted watermelon seeds. WATERMELON SEEDS!! Who would have thought!? And the guacamole came in the most adorable little "ice cream cone" tortilla (they must know me...)

 Seriously, have you ever had a romano bean? If you haven't, do whatever you can to get your hands on one ASAP. I'd never tasted one before and quite honestly thought the side dishes were going to be lame when I saw them written on the menu. But they were to die for - so fresh and flavorful! For dessert, they served peaches and strawberries covered in a peach "foam" with purple basil flowers. My personal belief is that fruit does not equal dessert. Gasp. I realize every other dietitian you know has told you otherwise but it's true. I just don't do healthy desserts. But Graham practically caught me licking the bowl of this one. YUM!

 Graham did eat too but he didn't order the pig meal. He had a lamb dish and though it was delicious, we both agreed my meal "won." (Yes, life is a constant competition...) After we were stuffed to the brim, we returned to our luxury accommodations to sit off our dinner in front of the fire. I googled "get to know you questions" and fired questions at Graham like he was in an interview. It felt like we were dating and the more I think about it, I guess we were! :)