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The combination of nuts, dried fruits, and spices is out of this world. This particular blend was inspired by some of the makers favorite Moroccan flavors. Sahale Snacks creates a perfect blend of flavor and texture.

All Sahale Snack products are made with whole, natural and organic ingredients. Nuts are a great source of:

•     Protein
•     Fiber
•     Healthy monounsaturated fats
•     Vitamins
•     Nutrients
•     Antioxidants

I love giving nuts as snacks for my kids, but this wonderful nut blend can also be served at a wine and cheese party, as sophisticated “beer nuts”, or tossed into a salad. Personally, I just hog a 15 oz bag and snack away.

All Sahale Snack products are gluten free, cholesterol free, all-natural, and certified kosher. I’m excited to try Ksar Nut Blend next.

For more information you can go to the Sahale Snacks website.

Enjoy!

xoxo,
Lori

I decided to order the eight course tasting menu along with the wine pairing for each course. I will highlight my favorite dishes and my favorite pairings.

Canapés Showcasing Five Taste Perceptions

"Bacon and Eggs"

The Cyrus version of “Bacon and Eggs” with succulent pork belly and a quail egg was a perfect recreation of a classic combination. I NEVER turn down pork belly and this one did not disappoint. The aspect I appreciated in this version was the broth and how silky it was with the slightly runny egg yolk. One of my all time favorite dishes. Delicious.

Humane Foie Gras and Cherry Blossom Parfait, Barley, Sea Beans and Shizo

The Foie Gras “Parfait” was good; not the best foie gras I’ve had, but what made this dish was the wine pairing. The Sommelier paired this with Tokaji Aszú, Királyudvar “6 Puttonyos”, Hungary 2003. This sweet dessert wine and the richness of this dish go superbly. This wine rocked my world. It was amazing.

Wild Black Bass with Pea Sprouts and Asparagus, Lemon Verbena

Sonoma County Duck with Kujo Negi, Myogi and Aged Bamboo Rice, Ponzu

The duck was incredible. I loved the finishing touch of seasoning on the edge of the knife and the aged bamboo rice was perfect accompaniment. The Pinot Noir, Salinia “W.E. Bottoms, Sonoma Coast 2007 paired nicely with this dish. I could have had this dish all night and been completely satisfied with my meal here.

Seared Beef Cheek with Tonburi, Green and Black Garlic, Lotus Root, Natural Jelly

My Seared Beef Cheek was tender and delicious. The Brunello di Montalcino, Uccelliera “Riserva”, Tuscany 2006 was rich and complex. Mr. M said his beef cheek was a bit tough, but overall the dish was lovely and a nice finish to the savory dishes for the evening.

Artisanal and Farmhouse Cheeses Presented Tableside

Goat Milk Panna Cotta with Rhubarb, Parsley-Lime Ice

The Goat Milk Panna Cotta was a refreshing dessert. The Parsley-Lime ice brought a nice, clean finish and this was a great preparation for the next dessert course.

Yuzu Crémeux, Bergamot Meringue and Cream Cheese Ice Cream

I think I was pretty speechless after my first bite into the Yuzu Crémeux dessert. What a way to end a delicious meal. I was fully prepared to have Mr. M and his brother carry/roll me out of Cyrus. This dessert had everything one can ask for in a light dessert. After 7 courses, I knew I couldn’t handle anything too rich, so this was the perfect ending…

That is, until they brought out the beautiful Mignardises  cart…I died…not one more thing was going to fit in my belly, but I couldn’t resist the delectable assortment of petit fours, chocolates, french macaroons, etc.

Mignardises Cart

After all this, they also sent us home with a delicious pastry for breakfast or a late night snack.

I had a magnificent experience at Cyrus. It was a production, but one that was well thought out and executed. I enjoyed every bite and can’t wait to return.

For more information, check out their website.

xoxo,
Lori

Mr. M and his brother were kind and took the boys to Sonoma TrainTown while I went and sipped some Dry Creek Valley wines. My pictures for this post are scarce, but you can view more images of this fantastic amusement park on their website.

Sonoma TrainTown Railroad is a perfect place to allow your train crazy kids to explore, roam and play in a miniature town built just for them. TrainTown features a quarter scale railroad that takes you on a four mile journey through tunnels, over bridges and makes a stop in their  miniature town. My boys love trains, so this was the perfect destination.

In addition to the train ride, there are six other rides. Admission and parking are free, but train rides and amusement park rides range from $2.75-$5.25.

I knew this was the perfect trip for my boys when they walked around for days afterwards holding on to their park maps and pointing to what they needed to do the next time they go visit TrainTown. Their map/brochure is now in shreds, but they have fond memories and will definitely be visiting again.

Sonoma TrainTown Railroad is located at 20264 Broadway Sonoma, CA 95476.

All aboard!

xoxo,
Lori

Stay tuned…next week I’ll post about my delicious experience at Cyrus in Healdsburg.

My design aesthetic for my bedroom is clean, simple, and serene. Lots of straight lines, and shades of grey, white, blue and beige. I’m a total minimalist and absolutely hate clutter. The problem with this is that it can appear a bit too masculine…so  I mixed things up and added some red to the mix, and furniture and accessories with curves. A pop of color never hurt anybody, right? This is all a work in progress, but I just wanted to show you guys some snippets of the things I love in my room.

I look forward to this every night

Vermillion turned-leg nightstand from West Elm

A colorful tray to organize all my go-to items

Chanel bow

My polo equipment reminds me of the good times i've had on the field and in the arena.

My favorite is definitely my bed. I can lay in there all day long. Some things I am looking to add: another night stand (I am not a fan of matchy-matchy stuff so i’m looking for something else), a bench to put at the end of my bed, and a nice chair that I can put in another corner of my room. Electronics-wise, i’m adding the Beosound 8, and a flat-screen TV. I also want to put some art up on my wall, definitely loving the stuff from Fluorescent Palace. One thing I learned about shopping for furniture is that it takes a lot of patience to find the right piece.

Off to chill in my bed now.

Chantalle (Los Angeles)

Photo from Cooking with Trader Joe’s

My ultimate guilty pleasure from Trader Joe’s. Think Reese’s Peanut Butter cups, but in tiny button sized pieces that are great as a sweet treat or as movie grub. If this were dark chocolate, it would be heavenly. The downside: When I arrived in Manila. I left my tub out in my room, and when I arrived the cups melted into one big mass of goober.

Dilettante Chocolates Fruit Medley

Apricots, Cherries, Blueberries & Strawberries in dark, milk and white chocolate. It’s like a fruit party in your mouth.

Dark Chocolate Covered Powerberries

Acai, pomegranate, cranberry and blueberries juices dipped in dark chocolate. This make snacking on chocolate feel healthier… just a little bit.

Photo Source

Dark Chocolate Edamame

I bought these from my friend Veronica, and I accidentally peeled of the seal, so I tried a couple of pieces. It was weird. But hey, she likes em.

Triple Ginger Cookie Thins

Apparently this is THE ultimate gingersnap experience. Next time I come back, I will try them.

So, what’s your favorite Trader Joe’s Find?

]]> http://www.hautetrot.com/2012/04/haute-taste-trader-joes-bite-sized-finds/feed/ 2 http://www.hautetrot.com/2012/04/haute-mom-bottega-napa-valley/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=haute-mom-bottega-napa-valley http://www.hautetrot.com/2012/04/haute-mom-bottega-napa-valley/#comments Fri, 20 Apr 2012 07:05:31 +0000 Haute Mom http://www.hautetrot.com/?p=857 When Easy Entertaining with Chef Michael Chiarello first aired in 2003, it was a turning point in my passion for food. I always enjoyed watching Chef Julia Child create decadent French cuisine and Chef Martin Yan was always entertaining, but Chef Chiarello inspired me. So, when we were in Northern California I made Mr. M make the hour trek from Sonoma County to Yountville and try Chef Chiarello’s Bottega. It did not disappoint.

From the moment Mr. M and I walked in, I knew we would receive excellent service.  From the hostess, who seated us right away even though we were 30 minutes early to our reservation and they were jam packed, to our incredible server, Walt, who was knowledgeable and incredibly helpful.  The service at Bottega was outstanding.

Mr. M and I have pretty big appetites, so we didn’t hold back. First course was Pesce Crudo and Wood Grilled Octopus. I was impatient and totally forgot to capture an image of the smoky Wood Grilled Octopus that was served with olive oil braised potatoes, pickled red onion & salsa verde. There is something amazing about grilled octopus and potatoes.  It’s one of my favorite combinations and Bottega does an excellent job keeping the octopus tender and flavorful.

Pesce Crudo

The Pesce Crudo is market fresh raw selection from the sea and chosen daily.  On the day we went, they were serving delicious and fresh Ahi Tuna served on a Himalayan Salt rock.  It was divine and the crispy garlic and seaweed that topped the fish finished the tuna beautifully.

Our second course included Butternut Squash Caramelle and Black Garlic Spaghetti Grande.

Butternut Squash Caramelle

Butternut Squash Caramelle are butternut squash filled handmade pasta shaped like little candies served with Bosc pear, Pecorino, crispy sage,brown butter emulsion & Amaretti – poppy seed gremolata.  This was the best butternut squash filled pasta dish I’ve ever had the privilege to devour. Yummy!  Please excuse my photo…I really have little patience and forgot to photograph the dish before I dug in.

Black Garlic Spaghetti Grande

The Black Garlic Spaghetti Grande with head-on gulf prawns, cherry tomatoes, calabrian chili, green onions & bonito flakes was Mr. M’s least favorite dish, but still spot on and delicious. The gulf prawns were grilled and the pasta was cooked perfectly al dente and had a great dense texture. It was a lovely dish with just the right amount of black garlic.

For our third course and main course we ordered the Smoked & Braised Natural Short Ribs and the Wood-Oven Roasted Whole Fish.

Smoked and Braised Natural Short Ribs

The Smoked & Braised Natural Short Ribs with whole grain mustard spaetzle, Sicilian pickles, quince paste & smokey horseradish jus was meaty and tender.  The pickles were an excellent compliment to this rich dish and the crunchy spaetzle gave a nice contrast to the tender meat. I think Mr. M and I were very close to licking all our plates clean.

Wood-Oven Roasted Whole Branzino

The Wood-Oven Roasted Whole Branzino with carrot caponata, citrus emulsion, and Sicilian autumn spice was my favorite dish at Bottega.  The fish was tender, flaky and flavorful and the skin was crispy and imparted with a delicious smokiness.  It was fish at its best.

Our last course was a rich Chocolate Molten Hazelnut Cake with Creme Anglaise that was luscious. Note that I don’t have a photo of this heavenly dessert…I really seem to have little self control when it comes to decadent food. I will tell you that it was a beautiful end to this magnificent meal and I was ready to be rolled out of the restaurant.

The flavors at Bottega were delightful. Chef Chiarello, you are my culinary hero. Thank you for inspiring me and continuing to challenge and broaden my palate.  We will be back soon.

Bottega in Napa Valley is not to be missed. For more information, check out their website.

Happy Eating!

xoxo,
Lori

Asia de Cuba with my roomie and my man. At the Mondrian Hotel with my favorite girls  Wine + deli sandwich lunch at Malibu Family Wines with Haute Mom Lori, Ariane, Mr. S and Steven Wine enthusiasts Ariane + Haute Mom LoriCrustacean with the California Crew

I miss you already!

1) Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve

Armstrong Redwoods State Park preserves 805 acres of Coast Redwood Trees. It’s majestic, peaceful, and beautiful to hike through these enormous redwood trees and see and hear nature in action.  You can walk along a babbling brook and take in the massive trees.

It’s a great place to bring your kids and let them run on the paths and explore nature. The paths are clearly designated and even my adventurous kids know not to veer off. Unlike Muir Woods, Armstrong Woods is not filled with tourists and it is a hidden gem. There are great photo ops and you can spend a few hours exploring nature and enjoying a picnic.

To learn more about Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve you can visit the California State Parks website.

2)  Garden Grill and the Garden Grill Delight

I first visited the Garden Grill two years ago when we drove past it on our way to the Sonoma Coast. Since my last visit, I have dreamt about the Garden Grill Delight sandwich. (I’m sure there are other yummy offerings, but this is strictly about my obsession with this particular sandwich.)

This sandwich is perfectly assembled with a meaty and perfectly seasoned portobello mushroom, melted Swiss cheese, roasted red pepper, spinach, tomato, red onion, and garlic aioli sauce on a wheat roll. It is one of the best Portobello Mushroom sandwiches I have ever had; upgrade the fries to their parmesan and garlic fries and it’s sure to deliver a culinary orgasm. I added avocado to mine, but it’s delicious either way. The parmesan and garlic fries are a must.  Delicious!

To find out more about Garden Grill, check out their website.

3) Sophie’s Cellars

Technically, Sophie’s Cellars is not in Guerneville, but it’s right outside in Monte Rio.  It’s minutes from Garden Grill and right on River Road.  It’s a great place to stop and pick up a picnic to take to Armstrong Woods or the Coast. The store features Sonoma wine and cheese and offers more than 100 local and select imported cheeses, fresh baked breads, fresh baked pies, truffle chocolates and more than 270 limited production wines.  The owner is informative and friendly.  It’s a bit off the beaten path, but a great find.

You can buy wine on-line from Sophie’s Cellars or get more info on their website.  

Do you have a favorite hidden spot in Sonoma County?  Please share!

Stay tuned to next week; I’ll be posting about my visit to Michael Chiarello’s Bottega Ristorante.  Yum!

xoxo,
Lori

In the meantime, enjoy this very short video of Enzo (my family’s new lab puppy) sleeping. Because that’s what I would like to be doing right now. Isn’t he just adorable? He’s one haute pup

Big kiss,

Chantalle (Los Angeles)

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The white looking thing on the left, also known as the Beosound 8, made specifically for iPod, iPhone and iPad. It comes in various colors (I can’t make up my mind about which one I like), and it costs $999. It’s not cheap, but I can vouch for the quality of this brand – I am a proud owner of a Beosound 1, which I got as a gift more than 10 years ago, and it STILL works perfectly (but it only plays CDs).

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What I love about Bang & Olufsen is their timeless design aesthetic. Everything they make looks so sleek and modern – even though it may be more than 10 years old, one would never know by looking at it.

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Yup, love at first sight for me. Fancy one? Buy it here.

Cheers,

Chantalle (Los Angeles)