Here are Romeo and Rob, ready to visit the Oxbow Public Market. The Pittsburgh Public Market would be wise to take a cue or two from this place when designing their new space slated to open in 2013.
Front row at the Olive Oil Sensory Evaluation Course at the Robert Mondavi Institute. Not only was the class absolutely fascinating, but the breakfasts and lunches they provided us were better than most food at some of the better restaurants I've visited (though still not better than Romeo's cooking).
Speaking of Romeo's cooking, this here's a perfectly prepared octopus that made a delicious pre-dinner snack on one of our last evenings at the ranch. I think I'd really like to start painting some octopi, and not quite sure why I haven't before. How beautiful is this?
It was a sea-lover's feast that night: octopus, crabs, and poke, a raw tuna and seaweed salad that was marvelous.
Look at the color of these! They were the best grapes I'd ever eaten. Muscat.
The rear of the house looking out onto the green hills. The emerald color, we're told, gives way to an abysmal brown in the summertime, making it easier to understand why our friends would leave this haven for downeast Maine during that time.
The ladies of the ranch! They're raised to sell as organic beef at the Oxbow.
Rob and Rome out on a glorious early afternoon walk. Not that I'm complaining, but those meteorologists got it all wrong for the week we were there.
I fell madly in love with the trees in California - particularly the oaks. They're so different from the varieties I'm used to on the east coast. The way the branches splay out every which way gives them such splendid shapes. I could easily see myself slipping into an addiction of landscape painting if I was there more often.
Romeo and Iggy (I think)
Bruce and Annie (I think)
The three fellows relaxing in the sun at the pinnacle
Rob on the steps of the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, St. Helena, California. We went to visit the Oleoteca Villa Campestri where we got to taste a selection of super-premium olive oils. The super-premium standard is substantially higher than the extra virgin grade, which isn't nearly as great as most people are made to believe. I was pleased to learn at the course that a number of the oils I carry (which come from Lucero Olive Oil in Corning) are in this elite category of fine oils. Thanks to the tutorial at Oleoteca, I now know that all it takes to kick up your food a few notches is a splash of good oil and a pinch of salt (we use Himilayan rock salt). This combination is also fabulous on ice cream, as Bruce will enthusiastically attest!
Rob and I strolled around downtown Napa on our second-to-last night in California while waiting for our table at ZuZu. Palm trees are such strange and wonderful plants, aren't they? I love the placement of the moon in this picture.
Just a few yards away from the palm was this mosaic-fountain. We were blown away by the intricate detail.
The streets of Napa. I really, really love it there. We'd probably be signing a lease right now if I didn't think that being in the olive oil business in that part of the country was an unwise business maneuver. It's the whole big fish in a small pond that makes my gig so feasible in Pittsburgh.
On our last full day we took a trip to the San Francisco Zoo and it was truly a wonderland. With the exception of a few exhibits, it shamed every other zoo I've ever visited. As usual, we spent most of our time there observing the gorillas. There was a five year-old in the group, bouncing this way and that, heckling the adults, and showing off for the visitors, that I could've watched for hours. His antics made me excited for our own zoo's new gorilla, and I'm glad to know that they don't grow too quickly. We'll get to enjoy his playful behavior, hopefully, for years to come. I feel the same way about Rob, obviously.
After the zoo we crossed the highway to feel the Pacific Ocean. We scored a few rocks and Rob found a sand dollar, which I smuggled back with me on the airplane.
I'm just delighted that my business gives me even more of a reason to travel to this part of the country on a more regular basis, and that we have such good friends there to host us when we're there. I've never spent a more comfortable and relaxing week away from home in my life. It'll be dangerous when we come the next time with Olive; we may never return!
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