Greetings friends!
After growing up in Minnesota, with its bitter winds and zero degree winters, nothing is more exciting than harvesting spinach, scallions, bok choy and turnips from my Napa Valley garden where the temperature has been hovering in the mid-70s. Of course, I'd trade my homegrown produce for much needed rain, but for now its heaven.
Laden with fruit, the Meyer lemon trees in my garden have inspired this month's recipe: Lemon Mascarpone Tart. It's a cheesecake-like lemon tart with a whipped cream marmalade topping. It's delicious!
In honor of Restaurant Month here in the Napa Valley, CBK and Mustards Grill are featuring sumptuous three-course, set-price lunches and dinners with wine specials throughout February. Who would want to miss such deals?
The "Whole Beast" at CBK this month: chèvre, cabra, capra, goat!
So delicious, yet so rarely offered in the U.S. Come in and try something new!
"The Magic of Fire and For the Love of Chocolate" is Friday's Pair Off, Pour Off at Mustards this month. Look for delicious selections from our wood grill and oven, desserts for chocolate aficionados, and wines to match.
Foie Gras is back! CBK and Mustards will be featuring it in the weeks ahead, and it's on
CBK's Valentines menu.
Speaking of that sweetheart day...have you reserved your table for your valentine on February 14? It's on Saturday this year and it's always a super busy dining day, so don't delay! We'll have all your favorites plus chef's special additions. Click here to see CBK's menu, or here for Mustards' Valentines menu.
New sandwiches and salads are coming to Cindy's Waterfront Restaurant and the Cafe at the Monterey Bay Aquarium later this month. If you go, be sure to say hello to our new Executive Chef Matthew Beaudin. He's passionate about sustainability and locally-sourced ingredients, so I'm extra thrilled to be working with him.
The Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival is April 9-12 and promises great fun, celebrity chefs, outstanding wines, and that spectacular setting. I'll be cooking there, and many Napa Valley winery friends will be pouring, too. Join us!
A quick shout out: Last month, CBK Chef Jim Leiken presented me with a gorgeous set of 12 spice blends and a book of recipes produced by his friends at La Boîte in New York. I'm having a blast using the spices in everything from starters to desserts, and encourage you to check them out.
Happy Valentine's to you all!
