South African Dinner Party in Sonoma

A dear friend and coworker is completing her master's degree in marketing this semester - hurray! Her thesis is in the form of a coffee table book, showcasing a hypothetical fine imports store based in Nashville. I certainly hope this store is brought to life at some point, because she's thought it through so beautifully, it would be a shame to never see the concept grow out of the pages of her book. 

Last weekend she hosted a South African dinner party at another friend's home in Sonoma, the table setting and overall ambiance reflecting the theme of her thesis. Being from South Africa, she blew our minds and taste buds with a self-prepared, three-course meal of traditional foods.

I don't generally eat meat, but having spent two summers in South Africa myself I knew what to be prepared for, and I so willingly savored every bite! There's a time to break any diet rule - and this was certainly one of those times. 

First Course:
Biltong (raw, dry cured beef)
Butternut and Barrel Aged Feta Salad (Arugula, roasted butternut squash, barrel aged feta cheese, pumpkin seeds, olive oil, balsamic vinegar) 
Wine: Haute Cabriere Chardonnay Pinot Noir

Second Course: 
Potjietkos (lamb shank, carrots, potato, butternut squash, chutney, spices slow stewed over fire/coal)
Vetkoek (Afrikaans fried biscuit)
Wine: Raka Shiraz

Third Course:
Malva Pudding ala mode (warm, Afrikaans cake made with brandy, apricots, caramel. Served with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.)
Wine: Diemersfontein Pinotage

Pumpkin Patch & Sonoma

Fall is my favorite season, and one of my favorite things about fall is going to the pumpkin patch! 

I was starting to worry that my insanely busy October was forcing me to miss out on the fun this year, but last weekend on a whim I wound up at a little patch along Highway 12 between Napa and Sonoma. 

I've got a not so secret obsession with ugly pumpkins - seriously, the more discolored and knobby they are the better! This particular patch had the ideal selection of both pretty, round carving pumpkins and misshapen, mantle-worthy ones. 

 

 

We finished off the afternoon tasting at Michael Mondavi and Domain Carneros. It was my first visit to Michael Mondavi (not to be confused with Robert Mondavi in St Helena), but I really enjoyed their tastings and even scored a case of chardonnay for half off! Domain Carneros is one of my all-time favorites and I try to pop by for a flight of sparkling wines every time I'm up that way.