2010 Smith-Roberts Winter Holiday Party

I'm late getting the post party update out...it definitely took me longer to "recover" from the party this year. Not sure if that was because I had such a good time or if it is age related. Thank you to Becky, Karen, and Dan!! This party is only successful because they make it so we all have everything we need through out the evening! Thank you!!Here are the numbers! We raised $1296.00 for the Dayton YWCA Women's Shelter. Thank you for your generosity!!! That brings the total raised for 2010 to $3616 and the total raised since 2008 to $8516. It continues to amaze me how much we have been able to raise through our very generous friends. We love that we can all come together and make a difference. In case you didn't realize because I certainly didn't, 100 people celebrated the end of 2010 and...

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2010 Holiday Party Menu

It's final! Finally!!Bacon Leek & Cheddar Mini QuichesMushroom & Sun-Dried Tomato PocketsSpinach-Boursin QuicheAppetizer Bar including Oregano-Flavored Feta Spread, Sun-Dried Tomato Spread with Fresh Basil, and White Bean Spead with Garlic and RosemarySpicy Asian Lettuce CupsMini Crab Cakes with Tomato Ginger JamItalian Sausage DipStilton Tart with Cranberry ChutneyJerk PorkKorean Barbecue Skirt SteakJohn's Soba Noodles (shhh!! Don't tell Lillian...she'll eat them all)Roasted Squash SaladChocolate Chip Cheese BallBittersweet Chocolate Bark with Almo...

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2010 Holmes Thanksgiving Dinner Menu

It is FINALLY done!!! And we've found some really interesting wines to accompany the meal.Roasted Turkey Breast, Porchetta StyleCurried Pumpkin SoupRoasted Brussels Spouts with Wild Mushrooms and CreamGreen Beans with Brown Butter and PecansCranberry Citrus CompoteRoasted Rosemary Butternut Squash and ShallotsCheesy Mashed PotatoesSilky Pan GravySugar Spice Pumpkin ...

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2010 Fireworks Party

Again, we can't THANK YOU enough for your generosity! We raised over $1100 for out new neighbor Good Neighbor House helping people in the Dayton area through tough times. I am continually amazed at how each of us giving a little can add up to make a big difference. Since December 2008, your support brings the total giving from Smith-Roberts parties to over $6000!73 people braved traffic, parking, and 500 people in the Firefly Building to view the City of Dayton fireworks. John's cocktails were VERY popular! Now on to the damages! :) In addition to 6 lbs of me, 176 lbs of ice, and all the delicious goodies that you provided, we consumed: ...

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Dry Creek Passport Weekend - Day 4: Heading Back to San Francisco

Rodney, Don, John and I drove back to San Francisco on Monday. We got a late start because I HAD to take advantage of the spa at the Healdsburg Inn and had a "little" shopping to do at Xtravaganza on the square. Okay, noon isn't that late.We decided to drive back through Napa for a change of pace and I wanted to make a stop at the St. Helena Olive Oil Company. On the way across Mark West Road, I suggested a detour to another of our club wineries - Dutch Henry. In addition to their great red wines, we found a wonderful 2009 Sauvignon Blanc and Rose. Both had just been released the day before. Rodney and Don also picked up a great Merlot and the Chafen Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. They promised to share the Chafen with us if we cooked...a small price to pay.Next stop was the St. Helena...

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Read my review of Barndiva

Share Feedbackbody, td {font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: #59524a;}#Caption {font-size: 15px;}.SectionLabel {font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; margin-bottom: 5px;}#Ratings TR {vertical-align: top;}#Ratings IMG {margin: 0 4px 15px 4px;}A,A:HOVER,A:VISITED {color: #59524a;}#Message A,#Message A:HOVER,#Message A:VISITED {color: #bb552f;} Restaurant Reservations Free - Instant - Confirmed This email was sent to you by: Ann Roberts (info@Noumena.Com) from a reservation made on OpenTable.com. Message from Sender: I recently dined at Barndiva through a reservation I made on OpenTable.com. Below...

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Dry Creek Passport Weekend - Day 3 - Winery 6 : Truett-Hurst

Truett-Hurst wasn't on anyone's radar until we had the Zinfandel with dinner Saturday night at Dry Creek Kitchen. After 3 bottles of the Zinfandel, we added Truett-Hurst to our day.T-H was a great last stop! There was a great local band, lots of wine and food. Okay, I can't find my wine list from that stop so I'm winging it.T-H was doing a barrel tasting and there was a very nice wine sorbet/ice cream. I think we sent a case home so be very nice to me. :) Of course, the barrel wine won't be bottled until sometime in November/December.Truett-Hurst was a great place to unwind at the end of a long wine tasting d...

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Dry Creek Passport Weekend - Day 3 - Winery 5 : Talty Vineyards and Winery

I had never heard of Talty but two things stood out to me when reading the Passport Brochure...ZINFANDEL and Cherry-Chipotle Lamb Tacos. OMG!! I would go back for the lamb tacos alone!!!2007 Zinfandel - Dwight Family Vineyard2007 MacLaren Wine Co. Syrah - Unti Vineyard2007 Zinfandel - Filice Connolly Vineyard2006 Zinfandel - Felice Connolly Vineyard2006 Estate Zinfandel - William Talty Vineyard2007 Estate Zinfandel - William Talty VineyardWhen we started this adventure, Steve A was NOT a fan of Zinfandel. He changed his tune in Dry Creek...

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Dry Creek Passport Weekend - Day 3 - Winery 4 : David Caffaro

David Caffaro was doing a Marti Gras theme...we wanted beads.2009 Sauvignon Blanc100% Dry Creek2009 Fresco Rose (Dry Creek)40% Petite Sirah / 40% Grenache / 20% Sauvignon Blanc2006 Escuro (Sonoma County)36% Cabernet Sauvignon / 30% Tannat / 20% Petit Sirah / 14% Petit Verdot2006 Petite Sirah (North Coast)30% Dry Creek / 30% Russian River / 40% Lake County2006 "My Zin" (Sonoma County)77% Zinfandel / 13% Petite Sirah / 10% Cabernet Sauvignon2007 Zinfandel (Estate Grown)83% Zinfandel / 17% Cabernet2007 Block 4 (Estate Grown Field Blend)50% Zinfandel / 25% Petite Sirah / 5% Peloursin / 5% Carignan / 10% Other varieties2006 Cabernet Sauvignon100%...

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Dry Creek Passport Weekend - Day 3 - Winery 3 : Ferrari-Carano

Ferrari-Carano has some of the most beautiful gardens in Dry Creek. They also make wonderful wine and provided some great food pairings. Recipes are available at Ferrari-Carano.~ In the Tank Room ~2009 Fume Blanc, Sonoma CountyFresh Pear with Prosciuotto & MintWhy would anyone use melon???~ In the First Barrel Room ~2007 Tre Terre Chardonnay, Russian RiverShrimp BLT~ In the Second Barrel Room ~2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander ValleyPulled Pork Slider with Cole Slaw~ In the French Underground Cellar ~2005 PreVail West Face, Alexander Valley (Cabernet Sauvignon / Syrah Blend)Grilled Flank Steak & Portobello Mushroom Sandwich2008 Eldorado...

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Dry Creek Passport Weekend - Day 3 - Winery 2: Fritz

I had put Fritz on my list because I had a nice Fritz Zinfandel at Rue Dumaine one night. However, Fritz gets the Upsell Award for the weekend. We were just going to get a couple of bottles and we ended up with a case. Bob changed my mind with his "special offer."We also discovered Salt Side Down Chocolates. The chocolate truffle was topped with a dash of salt. You eat the truffle by placing the salt side down on your tongue. A great party game!Travel Around the World at Fritz Underground Winery!Hola! Bienvenidos a Mexico!Fritz 2009 Estate Sauvignon BlancFritz 2009 Estate RoseSmoked Chicken Quesadilla with mango compoteBonjour! Bienvenue en France!Fritz...

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Dry Creek Passport Weekend - Day 3 - Winery 1: Frick

We started the second day at Frick Winery. This winery made the list because of the interesting varietals. One of the women working the weekend has a sister who works at the University of Dayton. It is a small world.The food at Frick was provided by Foodwishes.com. The wine and food pairings were very good!Grenache Blanc, Dry Creek Valley, Estate, Owl Hill VineyardViognier, Dry Creek Valley, Estate, Gannon VineyardCaribbean Crunch, Jamaican Jerk Chicken with Fresh Mango on a Plantain ChipCinsaut Rose, Dry Creek ValleyCambozola Cheese on Fig Bread with Fresh StrawberriesCounoise, Dry Creek Valley, Estate, Owl Hill VineyardGrenache, Dry Creek Valley,...

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Dry Creek Passport Weekend - Day 2: The Birthday Dinner

Rodney and I hosted our a birthday dinner at Charlie Palmer's Dry Creek Kitchen. What a spectacular meal!!FIRST COURSELocal Sonoma County GreensShaved Baby Carrots, Pecorino Grand Cru, Zinfandel CreamBaby Spinach SaladPoached Puma Springs Egg, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Black Truffle VinaigretteHawaiian Ahi Tuna CarpaccioHorseradish Creme Fraiche, Mustard Blossoms, Black Hawaiian Sea SaltSECOND COURSEWild Mushroom VelouteThyme and Coriander Flan, Black Garlic Paste, Warm BriocheDungeness CrabAvocado Mousseline, Meyer Lemon Gelee, Pickled Fresno PeppersHouse Made + Local Charcuterie PlatterAssorted Local Mustards, Marinated Olives, Petit CornichonsMAIN COURSEBrown Butter Roasted Alaskan HalibutJardinere of Local Baby Vegetables, Artichoke Barigoule, Nicoise OliveSlow Cooked Guinea HenEnglish...

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Dry Creek Passport Weekend - Day 2 - Winery 5: Ridge Vineyards Lytton Springs

Okay, I have to admit that by this point I was pretty worn out. I can't even find the list of wines that we tasted. And I'm sure I didn't have any food because I was trying to save myself for dinn...

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Dry Creek Passport Weekend - Day 2 - Winery 4: Mauritson Wines

This was our first visit to Mauritson. I have to admit by the time I got here, I couldn't face eating any food but found some very enjoyable wines. In addition, we enjoyed a little respite sitting in the adirondack chairs on the lawn.Wine and Food Pairings:2008 Mauritson Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek ValleyPanko and Sesame Crusted Wild Shrimp2007 Rockpile Zinfandel, Rockpile Ridge Vineyard (Wine Enthusiast 90 Points)Zinfandel Braised Short Rib Sliders from Painted Hills Natural Beef2007 Rockpile "Buck Pasture" Red WineBittersweet Chocolate Caramel TartletsAnd the 2007 Rockpile Syrah, Madrone Spring Vineyard was being poured in the tasting ro...

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Dry Creek Passport Weekend - Day 2 - Winery 3: A. Rafanelli

Okay, so the third winery on the list is another of our favorites. A. Rafanelli Winery is a very small family owned winery specializing in Dry Creek Zinfandel. As we expected, the place was overrun with passport participants. And I can't even begin to describe how much food there was...it was insanely crazy. Food standout include the estate grown olives (you only got one) and the chocolates...which of course pair nicely with the Zinfandel, Cabernet, and Merlot we tast...

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Dry Creek Passport Weekend - Day 2 - Winery 2: Lambert Bridge

John and I learned about Lambert Bridge from our friends Randy and Debbie who live in Oakland, CA. Lambert Bridge is another one of those great finds that we stumbled across. Of course, we joined their wine club too!The passport weekend tasting included:2008 Bevill Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek ValleyPanko Encrusted Deep Fried Oysters Shooter with a Spicy Remolode2007 Forchini Vineyard Zinfandel, Dry Creek ValleyPulled Pork Slider Topped with a Tangy Coleslaw and BBQ Sauce2006 Merlot, Sonoma CountyIndian Spiced Lamb Sliders with Yogurt Harissa SauceJohn and I snuck down to the VIP area (since we couldn't take 10 other people with us) to...

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Dry Creek Passport Weekend - Day 2 - Winery 1: Mill Creek

Dry Creek Valley Passport Weekend features over 40 Dry Creek wineries. The weekend includes wine, food, music, and barrel tastings.The Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley™ celebrated Passport to Dry Creek Valley's™ 20th Anniversary this year! Dry Creek Valley went all out for an exclusive weekend of new wine releases, a bounty of food from local chefs as well as live music and much, much more. 46 wineries in picturesque Dry Creek Valley come together only once a year to celebrate their amazing wines paired with mouthwatering cuisine. We had the opportunity to meet the winemakers and mingle with the top-chefs from Sonoma County's world-famous...

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