Showing posts with label twitter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label twitter. Show all posts

Sunday, September 19, 2010

KVIE Art Auction Preview Party, Monday, Sept 20th!


Join me and some of Sacramento's best restaurants as KVIE and Amador Vintners' Association Present the KVIE Art Auction Preview Party on Monday, September 20, 2010 from 5:30pm-8:30pm at the KVIE Studios, 2030 W. El Camino Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95833.

View over 250 works, meet inspiring local artists, enjoy fine wines and sample
hors d’oeuvres and desserts from local restaurants. Together we’ll honor
award winning artists. I will be there with some delectable treats. A little closer to the event I will update with what I am bringing, but it will be delicious and unique, to be sure!

Participating restaurants include:
4th Street Grill, Aioli Bodega Española, Beth Sogaard Catering, The Chocolate Architect, Fat Cat Scones, Garcia's , Hannibal's Catering, It's A Grind-Folsom, JR's Texas BBQ, Just 4 U Catering,
Opa! Opa!, Pyramid Alehouse, Sudwerk Brewery,The Melting Pot, Romano's Macaroni Grill, Folsom, and me, cakegrrl.com!!

Come out and support KVIE and local artists!

Follow KVIE and Amador Wine on twitter.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Saturday Showcase: Sac Mix & Sacramento Restaurants!

The Sacramento region is now home to some of the best food in the world. Despite the rough economy, there have been several new restaurants that have opened in the past few years that have managed to be a success.

One of the ways restaurateurs have brought customers in is by offering happy hour specials, sometimes seven days a week. Then a website was born to capture and showcase these happy hours called Sac Mix.



Oh thank you, Sac Mix. You introduced me to Suede Blue in Roseville, and it is one of the best deals in town (outside of Sacramento) right now! FYI, you can also find Sac Mix on twitter here.

The same people who brought us Sac Mix has a new Facebook page called Sacramento Restaurants.



You can "like" Sacramento Restaurants on Facebook and be notified of contests/giveaways on the page. There's also some general eye candy that's sure to make you salivate! If you are on Facebook, be sure to check it out!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Splash Roseville 2010 to be Held Saturday, September 11th


Dive into SPLASH on Saturday, September 11th, an evening of food, spirits, art and entertainment.

This community event raises money for universally accessible playgrounds, supports local artists, and also provides a true taste of South Placer County!

Roseville’s annual SPLASH event will take place (outdoors) from 6:30-10:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept.11 at the Roseville Aquatics Complex, located at 3051 Woodcreek Oaks Blvd.

A ticket to the 15th annual SPLASH will once again provide each guest with a sampling of the best restaurants, caterers, wineries, breweries and artists that South Placer County has to offer. Everything is included in the ticket price. Note: No one under 21 admitted. To purchase tickets, please click here.

An estimated 35 restaurants and caterers, 15 wineries and 15 breweries will be among the tasting choices this year. The popular 80z All Stars, a high energy band that has been a huge hit at previous SPLASH events, will provide musical entertainment and will be playing dance music throughout the evening. There will also be several local artists displaying their work. For a listing of vendors appearing at this year's event (and what a great lineup it is!), click here.

SPLASH is sponsored by the Roseville Chamber of Commerce and the City of Roseville. Proceeds from this fun and entertaining evening will be shared by the Roseville City Parks and Rec Department’s Program: Project Play (universally accessible playgrounds), and the Roseville Chamber of Commerce.

Tickets for this annual sellout event cost $60 per person and will increase to $75 at the door. Tickets and sponsorships can be purchased at the Roseville Chamber of Commerce web site. For more information on sponsoring the event, click here.

For more information, call 783-8136 or visit www.rosevillechamber.com.
Follow the Roseville Chamber of Commerce on twitter here.

Click on the image below to view the event's flyer:

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Enter to Win Two Nights at the Montage Beverly Hills!


This week in honor of Executive Pastry Chef Richard Ruskell’s 11th appearance on Food Network Challenge (airing this Sunday, August 1st, Montage Beverly Hills launched it’s first ever Twitter contest!

To help cheer on his record appearance, Montage Beverly Hills is giving my readers (and Twitter followers) the chance to win a two-night getaway and private pastry class with the dessert innovator himself!

From now until August 3, you can enter to win by following Montage Beverly Hills on Twitter and tweet "I want to taste #ChefRuskell’s creations @MontageBH"! Go here for more details.

The winner will receive a private pastry lesson with Chef Ruskell to learn how to make his famous creations, plus lavish accommodations for two in the heart of the Golden Triangle. Please visit http://www.montagebeverlyhills.com/ruskell-twitter-rules.php to see the complete contest rules and details about the prize.

The Winner
One winner will be selected by random drawing from among all valid entries on or about August 4, 2010. The winner will be notified by Twitter, email or US Mail and the winner will be posted on the Sweepstakes' website.

Follow the Montage Beverly Hills at @MontageBH for updates on Chef Ruskell and the trip giveaway contest.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Soil Born Celebration "A Day on the Farm" Sunday May 23rd, American River Ranch


Soil Born Farms’ American River Ranch will host a Day on the Farm, Sunday, May 23, 2010—a delightful urban escape—to celebrate the joys of farm life, gardening and enjoying fresh, locally grown products.




A 5K run, farm tours and workshops commence on Sunday, May 23, 2010, from 8:30am–2:30 pm, American River Ranch, 2140 Chase Drive, Rancho Cordova (next to Hagan Park and between mile markers 15 and 16 on the American River Bike Trail). The celebration is sponsored by the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op.



The American River Ranch is 40 acres of urban farmland, and is Soil Born Farms’ newest addition to its Urban Agriculture & Education project.

This project involves hands-on education programs that engage thousands of youth and adults every year, and innovative food access programs that are helping to feed Sacramento’s underserved neighborhoods.



Along with the farm tours, workshops, and fun run, the event will have live music, children’s gardening activities, local arts and crafts, and an organic plant sale and farm stand, featuring seasonal, local and organic produce for purchase fresh picked from the farm.

$5.00 suggested donation. Proceeds benefit Soil Born Farms Urban Agriculture & Education Project




Event Schedule:

8:30 a.m.:
Veggie Chase 5K and Kids Run (To register: )

9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 12 Noon, 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m.: American River Ranch Farm Tours

9:00-10:30 a.m.: Building a Soil Food Web

10:00 a.m.: Conserve Water—Build a Rainbarrel!

10:00 a.m., 12 Noon: Family Fun in the Garden

10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m.: Raising Chickens in your Backyard

11:00 a.m.: Drip Irrigation for Home Gardeners

11:00 a.m., 12 Noon, 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m.: Cooking Classes

11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m.: Meet The Farm Animals (especially for kids), Composting

11:30 a.m.: Flower Gardening for Beautiful Bouquets

12 Noon: Garden Bed Preparation, Vermicomposting—The Power of Worms!, Gardening to Attract Pollinators and Native Plant Walk

12:30 p.m.: Medicinal Herbs

1:30 p.m.: Organic Gardening 101, Wildlife on the American River Parkway, Presentation/Walk, Culinary Herbs

For more information call (916) 363-9685 or go to www.sacfoodcoop.com. You can follow them on twitter here, and Soil Born Farms is here. On Facebook, Sac Food Coop is here and Soil Born Farms is here.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Skadoodle Toys in Loomis Hosts Local Author this Sunday, May 16th!


This Sunday, May 16 at 12:30, local children's author and illustrator Tracy Stanley, will be coming to the store for a short story reading session.

It's not just eggplants in Loomis anymore! Skadoodle Toys is located at 3667 Taylor Rd. and opened in February in the space between the New Horseshoe Bar Grill and Loomis town hall.

“It’s all about hands-on fun,” Kelly Warden said. Kelly is the owner of Skadoodle and told me all about her store last night at the Placer Business Tweetup. Hardly any of the toys she sells take batteries, because many of them literally take brain power.

Many toys are the nostalgic kind and others encourage creativity. Some of the toys that Skadoodle carries include: wooden train whistles, Duncan yoyos, Pick Up Sticks, Zoomorphs, the Mighty Builders series of toys, First-Time clocks, beginner block sets, and even root beer kits. Above all, Kelly looks for inventory that lets kids use their imagination.




Not a lot of allowance saved up? Not to worry. Skadoodle carries toys with price tags to fit every budget and every age range--from puzzles, to arts and crafts and painting sets to beading kits.

The Wardens have had plenty of experience in discovering what toys kids like because they have children ages 8 to 22. Two of Kelly's children even help run the store and are getting a hands-on lesson in business ownership. They also play with the toys and know exactly what to recommend to customers.

In June, Skadoodle Toys plans to begin hosting birthday celebrations at the store (and another bonus--they offer free gift-wrapping).

They are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-7pm; Sunday, 10:30am-5pm. The store is closed Mondays. For more information, call 916-652-8697. You can find them on Facebook here and follow them on twitter here.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Little House on the Prairie, The Musical, Coming to Sacramento!



I used to watch Little House on the Prairie every single day on TBS when I was growing up. So, of course I was happy to be selected to help spread the news about the Little House on the Prairie, the Musical, coming to Sacramento Wednesday, April 14–Sunday, April 25.

I'm sure most of you remember Melissa Gilbert who played Laura Ingalls in the television series... She is actually playing “Ma” in the stage show (being held at the Community Center Theater, downtown).



Little House on the Prairie, the Musical, much like the books and television series, is good wholesome entertainment for the entire family (children ages 4+)!

As part of my involvement, I get to offer my friends and family special discounted tickets. If you’d like to enjoy this musical with your family, be sure to use the promotional price code listed below when purchasing your tickets.

Tickets start as low as $16.50. Use the promo code "FAITH".

For tickets, go to Little House the Musical.com! You can also call the Community Center Theater Box Office at (916) 808-5181 or the Wells Fargo Pavilion Box Office at (916) 557-1999, or buy the tickets here through tickets.com.

You can follow Little House on the Prairie, The Musical on twitter here, and check out their facebook page here.

Lastly, here is an interview with Melissa Gilbert discussing the musical and a link to some cool swag from the play!

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Mukmuk As Depicted in Spice & Cheesecake

Social media has definitely helped connect me with new customers. The last 4 cakes I have made were all because of people contacting me through twitter or facebook. Additionally, the latest projects I have done have all been unique, fun, and challenging, so I wanted to say thank you.

You might recognize my latest baked creation (or not) as the mascot "sidekick" for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games. He is called Mukmuk, and is a small and friendly marmot who always supports and cheers loudly for his friends during games and races.

Mukmuk gets his name from the word ‘muckamuck,’ Chinook jargon for ‘food,’ because he loves to eat! I am told marmots are particularly fond of berries and mountain flowers.

I was asked to make the cake with less sweet, non chocolate ingredients. The customer and I came up with a spice cake base with cranberry filling, then a goat cheesecake in the middle. The goat cheesecake was based on a dessert the customer recently tried at a restaurant. The cheesecake layer is topped with more cranberry filling, and another layer of spice cake. The spice cake is also brushed with a honey syrup in between the layers to keep it from drying out.

This is the first cake layer I brushed with the honey syrup and then topped with cranberry filling. I baked entire the cake with three 9 X 13 pans. 2 of the pans I filled with spice cake batter (containing cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, clove) and one pan for the cheesecake (made with goat cheese, eggs, lemon, and a scant amount of the spice cake batter).



This is the layer of goat cheesecake.




Then I topped with more cranberry, the other layer of spice cake, then wrapped it to let it sit overnight and let the flavors come together before decorating.




Here's a good shot of the actual cutout of Mukmuk's body, and crumb coat of frosting I put on the cake to adhere the fondant. The frosting is made by blending butter, goat cheese, powdered sugar, and a few other secret ingredients.

Finally I make my own fondant hybrid to improve the crappy boxed kind's flavor. I like the workability of a boxed fondant, but it tastes awful. Most people peel off the fondant anyway, but I am striving to make something which people will want to eat every bite. I make a ratio fondant blend of 1 to 2 parts boxed fondant to 2 to 3 parts of my own buttercream fondant. Then I mix in all the colors, which is a workout all by itself.



And here's the finished product… Happy Birthday, Karla!!











You can learn more about marmots by going to the Vancouver Island Marmots site here.

Monday, March 08, 2010

Tweet, Win Prizes & Find the Pirate in You! The 2nd Sac Treasure Hunt Starts Monday, March 15th!


And guess who's doing the cake that will be at the end of the hunt?!? Click here to view the video of the making of the first Sac Treasure Hunt cake.

If you missed the 1st Sac Treasure Hunt, here's a link to the winner opening the treasure!

The 2nd Sacramento Treasure Hunt begins on March 15th and runs until March 20th! Here's how it works, with a few new twists!

First, you might be wondering what's inside the treasure chest. The grand prize winner of the Sac Treasure Hunt will receive:

• $500 cash from the Sac Treasure Hunt team.

• Two (2) front row tickets (Floor 1 / Row A) to the Carrie Underwood concert
at Arco Arena on Thursday, May 20th.

• 3 months of unlimited FREE car washes from Quick Quack Car Wash.

• $150 in gift certificates from Jiffy Lube.

• Four (4) baseball tickets and a special gift from the Sacramento River Cats.

• Free daily passes to the Sacramento Zoo.

• $150 in gift cards from Nugget Markets.

• Clothing, gear and tickets to a game from the Sac State Hornets Athletic Department.

• Professional Teeth Whitening and Spray Tan from Unique Impressions.

• Two (2) one day adult passes (No blackout dates!) to Kirkwood Ski Resort.

The 2nd Sac Treasure Hunt will start next Monday, March 15th and end on Saturday the 20th. The STH is a fun and interactive game that is open to everyone over the age of 18; and takes place in the Greater Sacramento area. Simply just follow the clues on twitter and find the secret treasure location at the end.

Here's how the STH will work:

1. First, make sure to sign up for a twitter account (www.twitter.com) if you don't already have one; as all clues will originate from our twitter page.

2. Once signed up for a twitter page, be sure to follow us at www.twitter.com/sactreasurehunt to look for the daily clues that will be given each morning the week of the STH at 9 AM PST. All STH's will start on a Monday and end on Saturday of the same week.

3. Daily clues and keyword(s) will be given each day, Monday thru Friday, and the last clue will be given on that Saturday at 9am as well. Clues could be numbers or letters, questions or answers, general Greater Sacramento trivia or maybe something on another website. You will never have to go any where or purchase anything to get a clue, just follow our tweets!

4. Put all the clues together to figure out where the treasure is located after the last clue on Saturday. The actual treasure will not be put in place until Saturday, so if you think you figured the location out beforehand, just wait till Saturday to go and find it.

5. You will also need to remember all the keywords from each specific day. We suggest writing them down on a piece of paper and bringing that with you when trying to find the secret treasure chest location. You will fill out a sheet upon arriving at the secret location and must have it correctly filled out to continue.

6. The first 10 people who show up at the secret treasure location on Saturday after 9 AM and CORRECTLY fill out the daily keywords sheet, will then choose 1 of 10 keys in order of how they finished the daily keywords sheet. The next 100 people who show up after the first 10 will receive special offers from our sponsors (such as coupons).

7. Once all 10 keys have been accounted for, each key holder, in order, will then attempt to open the lock of the treasure chest. 3 of the 10 keys will open the lock(new twist here!). When the final 3 keys are known, they will then start over by selecting a key and trying to open the treasure chest. When the treasure chest is finally opened by one of the key holders, the hunt is officially over at that time. (This part of the STH may be filmed to later publish online so everyone can see the drama of keys not working and others working!)

8. The treasure chest will contain prizes and items from local businesses in the Greater Sacramento area. Over $5,000 in total prizes will be given away. Be sure to read the Prizes and Sponsors post for all that information.

9. The 2nd thru 9th place participants will receive a Sac Treasure Hunt goodie bag that contains free gifts and prizes as well; so all 10 of the key holders will win something for finding the secret treasure chest location first.

10. As noted previously above, the 11th thru 100th people who find the secret treasure chest location will receive special coupons and offers from our sponsors...so be one of the first 100 people to receive something special on Saturday!

Rules and Conditions:
Must be 18 years and older to participant in the STH. 1st thru 10th place winners must show photo ID and or proof of age to collect prize as well as fill out a simple form with their name, address and twitter account name.

If you are one of the first 10 people to receive a key, you will be asked to put your cell phone or any other electronic device you have on you in a provided "safe basket" close by; as we don't want people to be tempted to call, email or text their family or friends about the secret location of the treasure chest (fair play for all!).

If you decline or refuse to put your item in the "safe basket" you will be disqualified and your spot will be given to the next person waiting, no exceptions. Once the winners are established and the hunt is over you can retrieve your item.

We have the right to remove you from your position in the STH at any time if we feel you are helping others in any way; such as giving them the keywords or telling others the location of the secret treasure.

By actively participating in the STH you are agreeing to the above rules and conditions. Rules may be changed or added without notification if unforeseen issues surface later.

Play fair and have FUN....just figure out the secret location of the treasure chest!

Best of luck to all!

STH Team

Thursday, March 04, 2010

Sauvignon Blanc Twitter Tasting Tonight! Not in Napa? You can still play along…

The #SauvBlanc #Napa, #Tweetup @Cordairgallery is tonight, and I have just finished packing my bags.

I am looking forward to meeting some of my online wine friends in person, and checking out the Avia Hotel while I am there.

Here's what I am bringing to share--Mini-spice cakes with fig & apricot jam and goat cheese frosting.

A peek inside...brushed with hazelnut syrup...


The goat cheese frosting... not too sweet, but not too "goaty" ;)



Some I finished with a caramel and ginger chocolate ganache frosting. They also have the jam center.

Even if you are not in Napa tonight, you can participate in the twitter #SauvBlanc tasting. Click here and Rick Bakas––twitter id @rickbakas (Director of Social Media for St. Supery Winery––@stsupery) will explain how!

Happy tasting!

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Hail to the Chef: Elaine Baker, Pastry Chef at The Grange, in the Citizen Hotel



This week's Hail to the Chef salute is Elaine Baker, pastry chef for The Citizen Hotel/Grange Restaurant in downtown Sacramento.

1. What made you want to become a chef?
Simple - I am happiest when I’m in the kitchen.

2. Where did you receive your training?
I graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Napa, CA with a Baking & Pastry Arts degree.

3. Who have you worked with that you have really admired?
My first pastry chef, Sharon Rosenthal, at the El Encanto Hotel in Santa Barbara. Chef Touhy [Executive Chef at the Grange], of course. Jonathan Kierkseck.

4. What is a typical day like for you at the restaurant?
We also make all desserts in-house for the hotel, and a typical day is 11-12 hours long. It starts with taking inventory of the desserts and components, checking banquet orders, writing up the production list, getting the Grange dessert line stocked for lunch and dinner, ensuring that all banquet desserts are ready for that day, checking to see if any amenities (such as truffles) are needed for hotel guests, and ordering pastry supplies and produce––and in between all of that we do heavy production. The only thing we don’t do is actually plate the desserts on the line––the pantry cooks do that for us.

5. What are/who are your primary cooking influences?
My cooking has always been seasonally influenced, but until I came to Grange I hadn’t seen it practiced so consistently in a restaurant kitchen…it’s very inspiring.

6. What are your favorite and least favorite foods to prepare/eat?
My favorite––anything that has to do with baking and pastry…I love it all. Least favorite––fussy, pretentious food and raw seafood.

7. Please tell me about your most overwhelming moment in the kitchen.
Shortly after the hotel opened we had a banquet that called for about 60 chocolate mousse desserts that were piped into martini glasses. The glasses were filled, the glass racks stacked one on top of another and a banquet cook started to wheel the entire stack down the hallway to the elevator. I turned away and heard a huge crash. One of the wheels had caught in a crack in the floor and the entire stack went over. The banquet chef and I had about 15 minutes to come up with another dessert for 60 people, plate it and get it up to the banquet room…but we did it, and the guests were happy. That’s all that matters.

8. Who are your favorite chefs or famous chefs?
Alice Medrich, Sherry Yard, Gale Gand, Pierre Herme, Johnny Iuzzini, Nancy Silverton.

9.
White wine or red wine? Do you have a favorite wine varietal/label?
I prefer red, usually Zinfandel or Cabernet. I also love sparkling wine, port and Madeira.

10.
What is your "can't live without" kitchen tool and why?
A small offset spatula and my 8” Henckels chef’s knife––I use both constantly.

11. Please tell me how you go about planning your dessert menus.
First, what’s in season? Second, do I want to use the seasonal ingredients as main or secondary components? Third, how can I vary the textures and/or temperatures in a dessert? Fourth, is there a good balance in the overall menu with chocolate, dairy, fruit, nuts, gluten-free etc? Fifth, does the overall menu fit the Grange concept? Fifth, will Chef Touhy like it?

12. If you had a different career choice, what would it be?
Landscape designer––I love to garden.

13. What are the most important things to remember (can be relative to anything) while working as a chef?
Quality and consistency are everything … it starts with selecting ingredients, follows through to the production and finishes with the plating. And nothing matters more than pleasing your guests.


Here is a shot of Elaine's Lime Tart with a Chocolate Cookie Crust, Lime Curd, Whipped Cream, and Fresh Citrus


14. What is the most important thing you have learned in your culinary career?
Don’t try to be everything to everybody. Find the style of cooking that you love and stick with it. And don’t ever compromise the integrity of your food, especially when your name is on the menu.


To read more about Elaine's life in the kitchen, you can follow her blog: Elaine's Pastry Playground. Elaine says her blog is named Elaine's Pastry Playground because "that's how I view my workplace - I get to come in every day and play with the most wonderful ingredients to create beautiful, delicious desserts." You can also keep up with Elaine on Twitter here.

For New Year's Eve Dinner this Thursday at the Grange the featured desserts will be: Chocolate Chambord Mousse Cake w/White Chocolate-Cranberry Bark & Chambord Sauce and Warm Quince Tatin w/Champagne Sabayon & Champagne Gelee. Click here for their New Year's Eve menu.

And to celebrate Dine Downtown Week from Friday, January 8 - Sunday, January 17 the featured desserts at the Grange will be: Guinness Ginger Cake w/Caramel-Braised Pears & Guinness Sauce and Apple-Cranberry Strudel w/French Vanilla Ice Cream & Apple-Brandy Syrup.

To download a current dessert menu for the Grange, you can click here.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Napa Valley Marriott: Comfort & Convenience


Last weekend, I returned to where I now call my second home, Napa Valley. I was fortunate enough to stay in the Napa Valley Marriott. I am including them in the Downtown Napa Series, because they are about a mile or two from downtown, and if your stay in Napa includes activities which commence either downtown or along Highway 29, the Napa Valley Marriott is a great place to lodge.

The Napa Valley Marriott is convenient to most of the wineries along Highway 29 such as V. Sattui, and Whitehall Lane (both technically in St. Helena), two of my favorites that I visited on Saturday.

Some of the amenities at the Napa Valley Marriott include a heated outdoor pool and whirlpool, a fully equipped fitness center, room service, complimentary daily wine tasting, 20,000 square feet of event space, full business center, self-service laundry facilities, valet laundry service, safe deposit box at front desk, gift shop/newsstand, complimentary hotel parking, and their spa and salon, Amadeus.


Here's a shot of their lobby, which is complete with lots of reading material, a cozy fireplace, a helpful and friendly concierge, and plenty of brochures on where to go and what to do.



I took this picture from the patio of my room, which led out to a lovely courtyard.



During 5:30-7:30pm, the Napa Valley Marriott offers wine tasting and appetizers in their concierge lounge.





Above are some of the appetizers that were out the evening I stayed. A big veggie tray (bonus points for having jicama!) and some egg rolls. They were pouring wines from BV (a Chardonnay and a Cabernet Sauvignon) (another one of my favorite wineries to visit). The Concierge Lounge also provides a continental breakfast from 6:30–10am, and desserts from 7:30-10pm.



This train model of the Napa Valley Wine Train sits on top of the mantle in the lobby at the Napa Valley Marriott. I loved it so much I snapped a picture of it, and it reminds me to let you know about a special package deal going between the Wine Train and the Marriott! It's the Rails and Relaxation Package.

“Rails & Relaxation” Package
If you read any of my post on The Napa Valley Wine Train, you know that I believe it to be a must-see, must do. It's a gourmet meal on a restored vintage train as you cruise past amazing Napa Valley scenery and sip fabulous local wines... And now that it's scheduled to make an appearance on this week's Top Chef, what are you waiting for?

The Napa Valley Marriott has a special Rails & Relaxation Package that allows you to enjoy a luxury resort experience in tandem with a relaxing Napa Valley Wine Train Tour. The Napa Valley Marriott Rails & Relaxation Package includes...
• Overnight accommodations
• Upgrade to Concierge-level guestroom
• 50-minute couples Swedish massage at the famed Amadeus Spa
• Gourmet dinner for two on the Napa Valley Wine Train

Special Offer: November-April
$489 Package Price + tax (Normal price: $679 retail, a $190 savings)
Each additional room night for only $149 + tax
This package has the booking code: RXL

For details on other packages the Napa Valley Marriott offers, click here.

In addition to spacious/comfortable rooms and dining on premises at Harvest Cafe and Characters Bar & Grill, the Napa Valley Marriott also boasts the Amadeus Spa and Salon. The Amadeus offers a variety of spa treatments, including facials, body treatments, and massages. Eucalyptus steam, shower, and Jacuzzi, is complimentary with any spa service if you arrive 30 minutes prior to appointment time. The Amadeus Spa and Salon is also equipped with a Fitness center, complete with a pool, state-of-the-art training equipment, and an array of dumbbells and free weights; cardiovascular equipment includes computerized exercise bikes, free climbers, treadmills, and elliptical climbers. Other amenities at the Amadeus:
• Wet rooms (by appointment only), with a vichy shower (six multi-adjusting shower heads, creating the feel of lying under a warm tropical rain).
• Hydrotherapy Specialty Baths (by appointment only).
• a Rest Area.
• Napa Fitness Lunch option (prepared by Brian Whitmer, the award-winning chef of the Napa Valley Marriott).

If you'll be spending Thanksgiving at the Napa Marriott, they are offering a menu for the holiday for $40 per person, $30 seniors, and $15 for children. See what they'll be serving for dinner by clicking here.

For all the latest updates on the Napa Valley Marriott you can visit them on Facebook, and become a fan or follow them on Twitter.

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

Napa River Inn


After having dinner at the Oxbow Public Market, our group walked back to one of our host hotels, the Napa River Inn. I had not yet been up to my room to check it out, because I was a little late arriving to Napa. So after a little too much wine (welcome to Napa!), I grabbed my bags (a little heavier at this late and foggy hour) out of my car and made my way up to my room. But first, some outside shots and a little about the Napa River Inn and the Mill.



This is the Historic Napa Mill building, which houses the Napa River Inn. The Mill building is a National Registered Landmark built in 1884 and situated along the Napa River Walk.

At one time, the warehouse stored fertilizers, feed, supplies, and Napa Valley wines for local vineyards. During the 1990s, the Napa River Inn was constructed inside the Historic Napa Mill and warehouse by Napa Mill LLC. Designs for all interiors of the hotel were inspired by noted designer Sandra Blake. Many rooms and suites were designed to reflect the original building and feel of historic downtown Napa.


This is a mosaic fountain done by Alan Shepp. The work of art seeks to capture the essence of the whole Napa Valley story, its glories and its tragedies. The piece spreads from the fountain onto the walkway, and includes the mosaic at the opening of this post and a depiction of the Napa River, including the Oxbow.





Also taken behind the building, this is some of the greenery alongside Angèle Restaurant and the General Store.



This is a snap of the absolutely gorgeous backdrop of the riverwalk as the sun was going down. I might be easily impressed, but I doubt it. I remember feeling awestruck and in love with Napa the entire time I was there. This feeling is what made me come to California from Ohio in the first place...


When I made it up to my room, I was greeted with this:


A big, lovely, velvety, canopy bed! The rooms with canopies are also fashioned with overstuffed furniture, fireplaces, clawfoot tubs, and walk-in showers.





The rooms are also equipped with a spectacular coffee maker (a Keurig model). I am not exaggerating. It was some really righteous coffee, (especially when I had to get up at 5am the next morning!) It brews one or two cups at a time. Did you know Emeril Lagasse has a line of coffee? He does. And that is the brand the Napa River Inn stocks in your room. There is also an electric teapot and an assortment of Tillerman Teas. Remember them from the last post?




Other amenities available at the the Napa River Inn include:
• A personalized California breakfast, delivered to your room
• Evening wine tasting showcasing a featured winery
• 48" color TV with remote control and pay-per-view first run movies, games and in-room check out,
• Complimentary Wireless high-speed Internet access
• Voicemail and data ports
• Two direct-dial telephones with voicemail and two-line data and voice ports
• Selection of "Napa Valley Spa" bath products
• In-room locally brewed gourmet coffee and tea, complimentary daily newspaper
• Refrigerator with complimentary water
• Plush terry robes
• Irons, ironing boards, hair dryers, nightlights and make-up mirrors
• Down pillows, extra cotton blankets, non-allergenic pillows
• CD clock radios and MP3 players with iPod docking station

Here are some photos and descriptions of the other rooms available in the Napa River Inn.

The Napa River Inn is just one of the tenants in the Historic Napa Mill complex. The Historic Napa Mill also houses the aforementioned Angèle (French Provencal cuisine), Napa General Store (also a place to dine and features a café area serving breakfast and Pan-Asian style small plates), Sweetie Pies Bakery (they provide breakfast for the Napa River Inn and serve lunch daily. They also serve desserts and wine during evening hours), Silo's Jazz Club (features fine wines, local micro-brewery draft beer from Napa Smith Brewery, and a small food menu to accompany them. There is live music Wednesdays to Saturdays), La Pelle Skin Spa & Boutique (a 1,120 square foot facility with four treatment rooms, 2 couples rooms, & extensive spa menu), and Celadon (a restaurant with a seasonally influenced menu featuring flavors from the Mediterranean, Asia, and the Americas.)

You can follow the Historic Napa Mill on twitter here, and find them on Facebook here.

Also, if you happen to live in the area, check out this contest put on by several local businesses in the downtown Napa district!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Vino Tweetup on September 29th,
High Hand Nursery




A "Vino Tweetup" will be held on September 29th from 6-8pm High Hand Nursery. High Hand Nursery is located at 3790 Taylor Rd in Loomis, CA.

A "tweetup" is defined as: A group of friends on Twitter (social network) that are planning to meet up. A request by a user to meet with friends via Twitter.

The cost to attend is $10 per person, will all the proceeds going to Sierra Forever Families, a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of children in foster care by building and nurturing permanent families.

The Vino Tweetup is going to be a Social/Business mixer… if you are promoting your business, you can add your 8 1/2 x 11 flyer or something smaller or an item that weighs less an ounce in swag bags that guests will take away. Let's stimulate our own economy!

There will be a wine tasting with wine by James David Cellars and Twisted Twig Winery, and I will be there to sign you in!

Become a fan of the Vino Tweetup by clicking here, and join us!

To purchase tickets and reserve your spot, please follow this link.

Sponsors of the Vino Tweetup are: Cakegrrl.com, Geno's Garden, Get on the Map, High Hand Nursery, James David Cellars, Kershaw Cutter & Ratinoff, Marketing by Ruth, Sierra Forever Families, Twisted Twig Winery.