Can't get into cooking or eating right now, oh well.

The Tri-tip feast has been on hold, too many doctor appointments and not enough energy to fire up the BBQ and gather the troops. What has been even worse is the triple-digit heat that has really wiped me out.

Never haven't had an appetite! The thought of standing in the kitchen right now over a hot stove  is a bit too exhausting. The most ambitious meal I've prepared in the past few weeks is a variation of my favorite risotto from  Healthy Italian Cooking by Emanuela Stucchi-Prinetti of Badia Coltibuono. A basic risotto  that I prepare with a white wine and then at the end add a 1/2 bottle of Prosecco that gives it a tangy, lite, frothy finish. I love this cold the next day or heated up. In her book the Prosecco is added at the table with a pop in the serving dish for a celebratory meal. I haven't prepared it that way. It's lucky that the Prosecco makes it into the dish at all!
All that stirring requires sipping! My love for anything that sparkles is legendary.

Favorite Proseccos of choice are:
Zardetto from Conigliano The home of Mr. Bubbly!
http://www.zardettoprosecco.com/

My visit to see a new favorite in person!
Nino Franco from Valdobbiadene
http://www.ninofranco.it/en/company.html


Here are some photos from my visit with AnnaLisa Franco and my tour of the vineyards. Worth the trip, especially in the Fall to see the color it was spectacular. Tasting through their products was equally great. AnnaLisa put me on the return train to Venice with my purchasae of a mixed case that I shared over some great meals with my venetian friends.

Finding sunshine in a bottle at Carina Cellars



Looking out over the vineyards



Finally to be out of Santa Barbara's fog and in sunny Paso Robles! Our first stop was for an absolutely necessary meal. We had lunch in Santa Ynez at the Vineyard House. The weather was superb and the patio was the perfect spot for a rest on the way up north. I had the crispy oriental chicken salad with a glass of Brander Sauvignon Blanc and Suzy had the salmon nicoise salad with a glass of Consilience syrah. Both our salads were excellent as was the service. The Dr. ordered me to get out in the sunshine, avoid stress and above all to have fun.We did make a quick detour in Los Olivos at the Carina Cellars tasting room to run an errand for David and to taste through their offerings. My favorite was the White Grenache and Suzy really enjoyed the Iconoclast. At least we won't ever fight over the same bottle.

Well, it's a beginning...

Welcome, benvenidos, benvenuti, willkommen!!!!

This idea started last Spring over dinner with a group of friends. We all like fine wines, good food and most importantly our friendships with each other. But, as with many great ideas I have had, there wasn't any follow through. I did make lists and planned a year of theme meals by wine regions of the world. Thinking how fun it will be to plan a dream meal around great wines(maybe some beers, sakis, etc.) and learn a little too. Not just about what we were eating and drinking, but a bit about the country involved, the culture, literature etc. No small task.

I decided to start officially today since I'll have a lot of time on my hands that I need to fill. You see, this is day 3 of my diagnosis of stage 1A ovarian cancer. Whew, I said it, it's out of the bag and it feels good. Now I can breathe and move on. This will not be a pittyfest. But there may be some moments that won't be so hot. This will be my catharsis. Now is as good a time as ever to begin. Anything to keep unpleasant thoughts out of my mind and to take me around the world to some of the most beautiful places that exist and meet some incredible people on the way. Even if for right now it's from my computer.

October will be a walk in the park. Since I'm feeling pretty lousy from this surgery I'm sticking close to home. A good, dear friend, Suzy has arrived from sunny Spain with a silver bottle of Ponche Caballero to cheer me up and she thinks she'll be my nurse. Since we are fogged in here on the coast we've been invited by David Hardee, the personality behind Carina Cellars, http://www.carinacellars.com/  in Santa Barbara County to come up and visit for a couple of days. Suzy's here in California for the sunshine and they'll have some in Paso Robles and I just need to get away and sit in a chair and look at the vines grow.

Our first meal will be an inspired, central coast delicacy: Santa Maria Style Tri-Tip BBQ! To be paired with David's Carina Cellars wines. I figured to go easy with this one. A great strength-builder--red wine and beef!

So keep watching for my menu, photos, wine fun and local Santa Barbara County trivia.