Weekend in Calistoga, CA

Summer time means wedding season and we were in Calistoga for a beautiful winery wedding complete with a reception inside a cave and endless bottles of delicious wine. I had no idea summers in Calistoga meant dry hot days with temperatures as high as 115 followed by cool evenings in the mid 50s. I didn't get to enjoy 4 full days in the area like the rest of my party, but the 32 hours I did get to spend there were a lot of fun. 

The welcome reception was held at the Luxe Hotel, which apparently only has 4 rooms and the couple rented out the entire place in order to have the reception on the porch. The chef used to work at The French Laundry and cooked up quite a few delicious appetizers for all the guests. My favorite was the pork belly over kimchi. 

The rehearsal dinner was held at Tra Vigne in St. Helena, which also happens to have the worst traffic between Napa and Calistoga. We ate in the private room just off to the side and it was air conditioned, which was a plus. The menu was predetermined which included a family style pasta course, which was my favorite and a choice of short ribs or flounder for the main course. 

The wedding was held at Hans Fahden Winery in Calistoga followed by a beautiful reception inside a man made cave. The steak and lemon mashed potato was absolutely delicious and the best wedding dish I have tasted to date. 

Now I can cross Calistoga/Napa off my list and look forward to Paso Robles as my next vino destination.

Afternoon Tea at The Peninsula, Beverly Hills

I never understood the appeal of afternoon tea until I tried it for the first time at The Peninsula in Beverly Hills. There was something about going to tea with ten women all in our best Sunday dresses that made the experience feel more special. We felt so sophisticated and proper as we were guided through the living room and seated at an elegantly setup long coffee table. All the food was predetermined and the only choice we had to make was whether we wanted champagne with our tea. 

The Royal Tea comes with two champagne options and I highly recommend the Mumm. There was also a separate menu with a list of all the teas from caffeine free to scented and blends. 

Strawberries with whipped cream

We all received our glass of champagne just as the strawberries arrived. The generous dollop of whipped cream was not overly sweet and the strawberries tasted like they had just been picked.

Genmai Chai

The tea lived up to its description of being "heavy-bodied" for a green tea. The tea was very smooth and there was a nice flavor from the roasted rice.

Scones, pastries and sandwiches

Each tier was filled with tasty treats for two. The scones, egg salad and curried chicken sandwich were the standouts, but everything was very good. Don't miss out on the jams and creams for the scone.

Overall, we had a wonderful afternoon enjoying tea and bite sized treats. It was such a relaxing and fun way to enjoy the company of friends.

The Peninsula
9882 S. Santa Monica Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90212