Easter

I hope you all had a fabulous Easter or Passover and were able to celebrate your blessings with close family and friends.  We sure did!  A gorgeous spring day gave way to one of the most beautiful tables I have ever seen (complete with fancy folded napkins done by a DUDE, I might add!), stunning wines and Champagne, and a delicious spread of all the traditional dishes of the day.  Thank you to our lovely host and hostess for their abundant hospitality, love and friendship!  We are truly blessed.

Just look at those napkins!  When asked where he learned how to fold like a true pro, the response was, "The internet.  You too can learn."  

I think I will leave the fancy folding to this talented fellow.

One of the many delicious Pinot Noir bottlings from St. Innocent in Oregon.  www.stinnocentwine.com

Our bountiful Easter feast

Dear Blog...

Dear Blog,
I am so sorry to have ignored you for the last week and a half.  I had to go to New York for a little fun with the girls- you know, a little eating (OK a lot), a little drinking (not as much as the eating), a bit of fashion (it was Fashion Week, after all), a splash of relaxation, obnoxious amounts of laughter, and loads of fun, the usual.  I had hoped to be in contact throughout the trip but there simply wasn't time.  You have my sincere apology.
I must admit I feel terrible that my mind has not been racing with blog post ideas for you when I hit the pillow at night.  I'm afraid I feel a bit guilty that my time has been been spent researching issues like trademarks and copyrighting and LL C's and S- Corps and insurance.  Not fun, but necessary for what's around the corner.  So please bear with me, dear Blog.  You will always be my first and I promise I will care for you and pay attention to you, but I can't help feel like I have been cheating on you a wee bit.  My thoughts have existed elsewhere lately and my mind has been wandering to arenas that don't directly involve you at the moment, but please stick with me.   You will be included in a big way and I am going to need to depend on your workhorse abilities to deliver my scattered ideas once they are organized, formulated and formatted for public consumption.  I think you will be proud and you will understand why I haven't been paying you much attention.  I promise we will get your feed glitch worked out and update you to the new format- I haven't forgotten.  I think you will be proud and excited about what I (we) have been working on, yet technically I have been given very specific instructions that I can't show you anything quite yet- you've been known to have a bit of a big mouth at times.  
Okay you want a hint?  Just a little one?  Oh all right, that's probably fine.
It has to do with wine.  Da. 
And people.  Double Da.  
And a simple philosophy that goes along with how it's all supposed to be fun, and easy, and enjoyable, and approachable and not pretentious and......oh shut up already, will you!!!  There you go again.
Just sit with that for now because it's all I'm going to tell you or I will get my ass kicked.  And now I need to go back to work.


Much love,
kc

New York!

Yup.  I'm outta here.  Heading to New York this weekend with some of my girls for a few days of fashion, fun, food, and loads of fodder!  Long overdue, much anticipated, and well deserved.  Will definitely report our antics along the way...


Have a great weekend!

Wine Wednesday

Yeah, yeah, I know it's Thursday but I am starting a new thing called Wine Wednesday and in typical fashion I got too busy and didn't get it done yesterday.  So here is Wine Wednesday on Thursday- what a treat!  I'm not sure if this is the right way to start this little idea of mine (with a rant, no less) but I am peeved at what is happening with wine marketing to women out there.  Do these geniuses not know that 8 out of 10 bottles of wine are purchased by women?  Do they take all ladies for fools just shopping for happy hour by a humorous label and a degrading name?  Really?  How stupid do they think we are??

I know a wine shop and it's endless labels can be confusing, but ladies, would you really be excited to buy something called Kung Fu Girl Riesling or Basket Case Syrah?  Do yourselves a favor and don't fall into these traps.  It's like the fruit gushers and sugar cereal placed low on the shelf in the grocery store to attract our children and seduce them into buying crap.  

Hate to break it to you, but if you have bought one of these wines the same thing happened to you.  You were duped by marketing and I am sure you regretted it as soon as you popped the cork.  Even if these wines had a shot at being decent, they shouldn't be given the chance because they are downright offensive.  If you like wine and want to make a wise choice when you are at the liquor store, simply ask for help.  That's what these people do for a living- they sell the stuff and would much rather help you pick out a great wine than stock shelves.  I promise.  You can also read a book on wine before heading out to make your purchase.  Andrea Robinson and Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl have written comprehensive yet simple, straightforward books that you will not only enjoy, but truly learn something from.

When I am a sassy bitch and want a time out, I am not going to drink this.

Or this.

My first Wine Wednesday suggestion is going to be this.  

Domaine Hippolyte Reverdy Sancerre.  
Doesn't quite roll off your tongue as easily as Sassy Bitch, but trust me, you will love it.  I served this to a group of ladies last month and it was hands down the favorite wine in the room.  Made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes grown in the Sancerre region of France, this little number is fragrant without being perfumey.  It is delicate, crisp, slightly lemony and exactly what you need for your evening time out.  Great on it's own and fantastic with food.  Pair it with fish, Thai food, chicken- it is extremely versatile and you will not be disappointed.
About $20 and you can get it in fine wine shops.  I buy mine at France 44 in Minneapolis.
You might not like the label, but you will like the wine and after all, that's what it's all about.

Transitions

Here we go again.  


The leaves have fallen, they're all raked up (almost), the gutters are cleaned and the garage is emptied out to accommodate two cars and a snow blower which I am insisting we purchase this season after four years of Mr. C shoveling in the cold, dark early morning hours.  The forecast has been predicted- we might see some flakes on Wednesday or Thursday.  So now we sit and wait...


But I'm still never ready.  It's always a scramble to dig out the snow pants and boots on that first snow day, only to discover that they don't fit or we can't find one favorite glove and then that nasty note comes home from school saying, "please make sure your are dressed appropriately for Minnesota weather..."  Well, no shit Edina Public Schools.  I want to send my kid to school in shorts and tennis shoes with barely a sweatshirt to cover his arms when it's 22 degrees and snow begins to fall.  Transitions can be difficult for some...


That first snowfall of the season is fun, exciting, even beautiful, but I'm never thrilled to have that winter curtain drop announcing the inevitable shut-in.  I am not one of those to bundle up and go for a run around the lake (torture!) or snowshoe through the snowy drifts of some desolate park (peaceful, yes, but I gotta say, "boring!").  No thank you.  I prefer to sit by the fire with a nice glass of wine and wait for it all to melt...for like five months.   


I like the transition from one season to another, in fact when I moved to Northern California 16 years ago (wow that sounds like a long time ago) it was one of the nuances of the Midwest that I missed the most; not having that dramatic change of seasons to mark different places in time on the calendar, and I was happy to return to it when we moved back to Minnesota.  It's just what happens after that transition that I don't particularly care for- that insulating blanket of stark cold and endless snow.  But here we are again, preparing for the inevitable and just trying to enjoy the transition before it's passed.

Afterglow

What can I say?  Grandview Lodge might never be the same again.

  

Words are not enough- very simply "thank you" from the bottom of my heart to the Grandview Gang for making the trek in your "Up North Chic" attire to eat, drink, laugh, and dance like teenage fools with me.  You are an amazing collection of individuals that I adore more than you know and I am still basking in the afterglow of my birthday weekend.   I am blessed and thankful to have every single one of you in my life- you truly made me feel special and sent me off to "40" in style.  Thank you!!!

And to you my dear sweet Mr. C, you continue to blow me away each day and I not only love you for your thoughtfulness, kindness and sincerity, but for your unique displays on the dance floor, your ability to piss off bridesmaids, and your talent with Power Point.  I love you!

Thank you!!

xxoo

The Dreaming Tree

I can't tell you how much I love, love, love this! 

You must check out Dave Matthew's new project Dreaming Tree Wines.  The amazing website will tell you more than I can, but the videos, the artwork (done by Dave himself!), and the outline of the journey that took Dave to Sonoma County to collaborate with winemaker Steve Reeder is honestly one of the best examples of sharing the experience of Wine Country.  If you have never been to Northern Sonoma County (Healdsburg, Alexander Valley, Geyserville and the Russian River Valley) you will feel as if you have just been taken on a magic carpet ride through the county with local experts.

The partnership between Dave and Steve seems to be a match made in heaven- these two clearly share the same creative vision and unbridled passion for wine and music and have truly brought the "wine country" experience to life on this website.  

The entire vibe of this project just sings and I am sure the wines will as well.  

Are You Tired Yet? Celebration #2

And the celebrating continues...it's getting exhausting, I know, but it was worth it.  My sister and brother-in-law graciously opened up their home so Mr. C and his longtime pals could whoop it up old style as only this oxford shirt clad group could do.  His family was there, my family was there, friends from grade school, friends from college, friends all the way from Minnesota, hell, even his old girlfriend was there (she's lovely, I adore her) with her husband.  It was a special night and one I believe Mr. C will never forget.

Happy 4-0!

The Gang's all here!

Taco truck from Fork Catering in Sonoma County- delicious, creative, sustainable, a serious winner.

There were kids...

and Dad's and sisters.

There were lots of toasts..

And then came the roasts...

There were glamorous girls...

and 40 year old dancing fools.

And then it got late...

and the dancing got worse...

and the white guys started to overbite.

There were a few spills 

but the gang's still here.

Forever.

(all photos courtesy of the very talented Eric Ullman- thank you!)

Mr. C's Big Birthday Celebration Number #1

Now I know I am bouncing around in time here and probably confusing all of you to a great degree, but stick with me, I promise it will all make sense.  I am going to take you back to The Cabin for a moment to share some great grill stuff.  As you may or may not remember, I myself do not use the grill, or in the case of The Cabin, an open fire pit with a grate on it.  Years ago when my sister-in-law introduced her East Coast boyfriend fresh out of Georgetown to the family, he couldn't grill, camping was unheard of, and the woods and the water and all that "cabin stuff", ummm, not really his thing, not because he wasn't open to it, but simply because they didn't do a lot of that out on Long Island.  Well, things have changed and that boy now hikes, kayaks, camps, and lucky for us,  BBQ's with the pros and loves to share what he's learned from the best.

This fella (whom we shall call McD) has since become my brother-in-law and has morphed into a serious meat master.  Our McD is now with Clorox and has taken an otherwise, dare I say, "ordinary" job and turned it into something that is not only daring and creative, but fun, informative and totally groundbreaking.  He really only handles three products, Kingsford Charcoal, Brita Water Filters, and KC Masterpiece BBQ sauce, but has managed to brilliantly promote these products with some of country music's top acts- Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, Zac Brown Band, Jack Johnson, and my oh so favorite band of all time, The Dave Matthews Band.  He has "greened" up their tours with Brita water bottles and held meet and eats before concerts with Kingsford.  McD's creative efforts to cross-promote these products with BBQ masters such as Chris Lilly of Big Bob Gibson's Barb-B-Q in Decatur, Alabama have taken him to BBQ championships (competing against Minnesota's own BBQ master, Famous Dave), food and wine festivals, the Country Music Awards, The Grammy's, Sundance Film Festival, and on and on.  
All in a day's work, I suppose.  How do I get a job like that?

So bringing this all back around and what these lemons are all about, is that for Mr. C's Big Birthday Celebration Number #1, McD patiently, lovingly, and carefully prepared one of the best meals we have had at The Cabin.   While we were off swimming, fishing and frolicking in the Sierra sun, McD was literally at The Cabin all day cutting and grilling lemons for what he calls Grilled Lemonade (I renamed it Dirty Lemonade), dry rubbing ribs (with Big Bob Gibson's dry rub, of course), then smoking them, grilling them a little, then smothering them in KC Masterpiece's sauce and placing them on the grill for a little longer.  I think this is the way it all works, but there may have been a Dirty Lemonade or two in there somewhere so forgive me if I miss a step.  Whenever McD is asked what the key to good BBQ is, he replies with a matter-of-fact response, "Time and Patience".  And he certainly used both when preparing this memorable, delicious, gorgeous meal for our family to share.

McD's Grilled (aka Dirty) Lemonade is a combination of bourbon, a simple syrup infused with rosemary, and sliced, grilled lemons squeezed into a container.  The end result is a totally refreshing, interesting, concoction of sweet, sour, and smoky.  We all loved it.
McD- thank you for sharing your love of cooking, music, family, and fun with all of us- we have certainly learned a lot from you.
Cheers!

Margarita, no salt. Please!!

It's time to go out for Christ sake.  It's Friday and not like that actually means anything around here because I feel like we have been out every night for a month, but I'm crabby and stressed and I need a drink.  Or 12.

This has sort of been the summer of impromptu's, so in the spirit of going with the flow of even more impromptu's, we're goin' out and it ain't with the kids. 

We are slowly skidding into the dog days of summer around here and frankly we are all a little sick of one another. 

 It's been busy, it's been fun, it's even flown by, and yet...

Here. Comes. The Craziness.

Stay Tuned.

Bottoms Up.

Happy Friday.

Magic in the Field

Riverbend Farm- Delano, Minnesota

Last night we headed to Riverbend Farm in Delano for the Outstanding in the Field dinner and let me tell you, Mr. Jim Denevan, in signature straw cowboy hat and flip-flops, along with his traveling team of hospitable hosts/servers/haulers/stokers and sommeliers (there are seven of them that do everything) as well as co-host Scott Pampuch from Corner Table did not disappoint.  I posted a few months back when I secured the tickets and have seriously been counting the days on the calendar since.  Check out the post here as it explains a little more about the movable coast to coast feast that is Outstanding in the Field.  The young team arrived the night before in their 1962 vintage bus that is packed to the gills with books, laundry, blankets, pillows, socks, backpacks, you name it.  I thought they seemed like a contemporary version of Robert Mitchem's The Drifters- carefree young souls looking to explore the US (and Europe this fall) through it's farms, local growers, and good times; ultimately creating a magical, memory laden evening for those that are seated at their table.  I think there might also be a few other things happen' on that bus, but who I am to speculate...let's just say if I was a lot younger it looked like a fun way to see the country and beyond.

The storied vintage bus that takes the team from farm to farm

So I haven't been to Delano in a long time, at least not since a lifelong friend of mine used to be married to a horsey fellow out there, otherwise I really don't have any reason to drive 30 miles west of the cities unless I want to ride a horse or visit a farm.  My friend is no longer married to the horsey guy which means she certainly no longer lives in Delano, which means last night was the first time I have been there in oh, at least 15 years.  But I have to say I was surprised at how picturesque it was.  Soft, green pastures; row upon row of corn and wheat; pretty red barns dotting the fields.  Sounds cliche, but Minnesota farmland is pretty much what you imagine.  It was an absolutely glorious evening and the energy of the event unfolded just like the courses of beautiful food that hit the table.

The signature long, white clothed table 

It's always interesting when you sit down to a meal, whether at a dinner party, wedding, whatever, and you don't know the folks next to you.  I figured that anyone attending this dinner would be of the food/wine/restaurant/interesting-type-to-chat-with crowd and I wasn't far off.  We were seated next to a recently transplanted couple from Santa Cruz, California (the place founder Jim Denevan calls home) who have been here all of three days and are artists and musicians.  To my right were a darling young couple (and newly pregnant!!!) and his parents from Minneapolis who were charming, interesting, and loads of fun.  We quickly got acquainted and exchanged some dirty gossip about people we knew in common, while another young lady from Wayzata (also with three boys and all bearing Biblical names, I might add) chirped in with her white eyelet dress every now and then.  They were all great neighbors and we enjoyed the conversation, amazing food, and delicious wines together.

It is definitely true that a certain magic happens when perfect strangers bond over food and drink in the middle of an open field.  Throughout the meal there was a happy, satiated glow at that long white table in the wheat- both literally and figuratively.  As the sun began to set (and the bugs began to bite!) the path to the "parking lot" was lit with candles.  You could hear the laughter across the field of new found friends and feel the energy of a crowd that was not only well fed, but whose souls were generously nourished.

Goodbyes were said and hugs were sincerely exchanged, and off into the night we went.  There was a kinetic buzz that lingered over that farm and we have Jim Denevan and his team to thank for creating a memorable, delicious, magical, outstanding evening in the field. 

Me and Jim Denavan- founder of Outstanding in the Field

To learn more about Mr. Denevan, his art, and Outstanding in the Field, check out this video.