September 2015 Road Trip

Friday September 25, 2015

4+ miles walked plus 2+ on treadmill, elliptical

This was our laziest day of the trip. Maybe of the year? We walked down to the coffee shop with our computers and spent an hour or so on email, etc. Then we thought and talked about what to do. Mulled various excursions then dismissed a driving destination as tomorrow we are headed home and will be in the car for 12 hours or so. Our French place was jammed so we stopped at the Coffee Depot next to the hotel (used to be my go-to until they changed hands). Bob got a danish and I got an apple cinnamon scone and we did Sudoku and crossword for awhile. Back in the room Bob wanted to work on something so I visited the fitness center for the first time, reading my book for an hour or so.

We decided to visit all of our favorite restaurants and walk Main Street for the last time. Showered and changed and went to lunch at Kenosha’s to sit on the deck in the sunshine of yet another spectacular early fall day — cool in the shade, warm in the sun, about 70*. We ordered a bowl of bison chili and cornbread and a spinach and quinoa salad (by now you know who orders what) and lingered, looking at our photos.

Walked up and down Main Street for a few hours, going in and out of every shop even though we weren’t really looking to buy anything. It was fun.

Our first last stop was Modis. Our two favorite bartenders were on duty and helped us order: La Paloma for Bob, a margarita with grapefruit juice and the Bourbon Smash for me with muddled raspberries and lemon and a fresh mint leaf. Yum. We mulled over dinner ideas and decided to attempt a table outside at Hearthstone which are first come/first serve. There was a buy-out of the restaurant for a Memorial Service.

But first, our next last stop was the Briar Rose. MJ was one of the bartenders who we remembered from last year. I had the St Germain cocktail which is prosecco with lemon and St. Germain elderflower liqueur, so light and refreshing. Bob had a Chivas. We ordered (and I ate all of) the shishito peppers.

Next stop, Hearthstone for dinner. We had a lovely table under a big tree, facing the mountain and the sinking sun.

We ordered a bottle of Edmeades 2012 Zin which was perfect. The tasting room in Anderson Valley is NEVER open when we are driving by and we love the wine.

We shared a Beet Salad 3 ways (red & yellow beets: herb braised, pickled, housemade crisps, arugula and humboldt fog cheese) that was one of the best beet salads ever. Bob ordered the Harris Ranch filet with organic mushroom cabernet demi, Yukon gold roasted potatoes and sautéed spinach. I ordered the Colorado buffalo short ribs which were braised and falling off the bone with roasted tomatillos and roasted green chiles, sauteed kale and a parmesan risotto cake that Bob absolutely loved. I swapped out the goat cheese polenta for the risotto cake and we were both glad I did. The short ribs meat would have made a wonderful pasta sauce.