Capri was amazing.  We enjoyed the food, wine, people, and shopping.  All of Europe is very crowded and hot in the summer.  Our two days chilling at the quiet La Minerva was a welcome treat after our big city visits.

La Minerva . Capri . Italy . laminervacapri.com

Laboratorio . Capri . Italy . laboratoriocapri.it

Panorama . Italy . panoramacapri.com

I am not a tour person, but the time spent with Adriana Cioce (our tour guide) in a city like Rome was magical.

Not only did we immerse in the history of the city but the culture as well. Guido was our driver and to pop into a nice air conditioned car was very relaxing. We spent 3 days buzzing around to the most important sights. 

Adriana always stopped to make sure we felt the energy of this most magical city. She tailors her tours to your needs. Our open market tour,  creating our picnic was an important part of our cultural experience.

Lots of history and culture, good shopping, and great food.

Adriana Cioce - adrianacioce@yahoo.it

Hotel Russie - www.grandluxuryhotels.com/

Pizza Re, Rome - www.pizzare.it

Florence is an amazing city.  Great food, history, art, and shopping. Besides visiting the Ufizzi, David at the Academia, and Duomo, We ventured over to the Pitti Palace and explored the gardens which has the best views in Florence.

A few OC Wino food and Finds Tips:

Our Best dinner was Vecchia Bettola. We had delicious food and sat at a community table and met the most fun people. Dessert was wild strawberries with vanilla Gelato.

A great city to explore all by foot.  Make sure you get tickets to the museums in advance.

Vecchia Bettola: florence.ala.it
Vivoli Gelato: vivoli.it

For your first visit to Venice, The water taxi is the way to go, 110 Euro but the experience is worth it every time.  

We checked into Istituto Canossiano San Trovaso, founded in the 18th century. A convent on the Academia side of Venice.  At 100 Euro a night, we had a very large clean room with Terrazzo floors, comfortable beds, and friendly nuns in habits who greeted us when we arrived.

What is a trip to Venice without a meal at Harry's bar. We devoured the best Carpaccio ever, pappardelle with a creamy smoked bacon and saffron infused sauce, finishing with their famous Vanilla Gelato. A must to sit downstairs, and no shorts allowed.

Hands down it was the Gritti Palace.  What set this one apart was that it was blended and the ice made the consistency really frothy and smooth.

After walking 20 miles in 2 days, we boarded the train to Florence.


Harry's Bar-  harrysbarvenezia.com

Convent-  monasterystays.com

Hog Island Oyster Farm is the oyster lover’s ultimate. Reserve a picnic table at the farm, pack a picnic, gather your friends and shuck-ur-own oysters alongside the bay in which they grew. For a fee, they supply you with all the fixing you need, even the charcoal.  This way to go is great for a group but reserves about three months out. It is really fun to plan for a special celebration.

We drove out from San Francisco so we ate on the farm at The Boat which is a friendly, informal, ‘first come, first served’ outdoor dining spot with communal picnic tables.  You can pair up great oysters with great company. It's open Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon 11:00am - 4:30pm (no reservations necessary). 

It is a fun adventure to escape the city and come out here and try one of OC Wino's great adventures.  You can also stroll the many cheese makers along the way.  Cowgirl creamery is a great place to stop and taste.  Check ahead, some creamery's require reservations.

Hog Island Oyster Bar is located in the Ferry Building in San Francisco.  It is delicious also.  Besides Oysters, the clam chowder and grilled cheese sandwich are to die for but for a fun day go out and experiernce the actual farm on Tomales Bay, in Marshall.

Hog Island Oyster Co., 20215 Shoreline Highway,  Marshall, CA 94940.

hogislandoysters.com/visit

A trip to Costa Mesa's OC Mix is an adventure of eating, shopping, and people watching. Start out by visiting the Farmer's Market, maybe a trip to the great store Surfas, a food and culinary shop or cruise down to HP Buttercup, newly opened and very cool home furnishings. After all this exploring, hopefully you are starving!

Carlos Salgado's, Taco Maria will blow your palette because this is one of the best, most delicious haunts in the OC.  If you are not in the mood for Mexican Food, there are some of my other favorites.  I love Arc for the flavorful meatballs and slabs of bacon and the burger is three inches thick and great. Shuck is an oyster bar that serves a wide variety of fresh oysters and the best grilled cheese sandwich. New on the block is Pueblo which is a really nice tapas bar if you are feeling like small plates or a nibble.  What is the down side if you have an oyster, a slab of bacon, Queso Fundido,and finish your Valentine's food frenzy with a pork Cheek, citrus, salsa de aquate taco. At the OC Mix, your choices are endless. 


Now that you are completely stuffed, time to go home for a siesta.

tacomaria.com

arcrestaurant.com

shuckoysterbar.com

pueblotapas.com

susiecakes.com

All located at the OC Mix, 3321 Hyland Avenue, Costa Mesa

December can be very crowded.  If you stay at the hotel, they open the gates to California Adventure early for hotel guests.  So can you imagine riding California Screaming and Tower of Terror before you even have a cup of coffee? Maybe being half asleep in our Micky Mouse matching pajamas, eased the fear of the fast roller coaster that flips upside down and the stomach dropping feeling you get from Tower of Terror.

We returned to the hotel to have a delicious buffet breakfast with the characters.  In our lovely PJ’s, I think we were more the characters.

Since this was taking the place of our expensive exotic trip, we got to experience Disneyland in style with a private tour guide, Chris met us in the lobby and handed out one of a kind Mickey pins to us. The six of us spent seven adventurous hours with him and  learned so much history about Disneyland.  We also walked on every ride without waiting in the 2 hour lines.  It was bliss. 

Disneyland brings to mind many childhood memories. They have really stepped up California Adventure.  There are two new great rides Cars and Toy Story. They even sell wine and beer.  It was a glorious time spent with five of my favorite friends and family.  It was two days of adventure, great food and more laughs than you could even imagine.

You can book private guides through guest relations.  Also if you are an annual pass holder, take advantage of 10% off all purchases made in the park and downtown Disney.  Don’t forget this magical place.  It is also a great gift to give at the Holidays.

It truly is the Happiest Place on Earth.

Disneyland
1313 Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, CA 92802
714.781.4636

Here is how the fun class is set up.  It is about three hours unless you break open another bottle of wine.  It is located in a very hip and cool section of the revamped Santa Ana.  My brother, Bob stumbled upon Hipcooks while exploring the first Saturday of the month, Art Walk.  It happened to be the Day of the Dead so the town was really hoppin'.

Next thing I knew I was scheduled for a Paella Class with Bob.  I love our adventures together.

As you can see, it is a participation class not a demonstration so you get hands on experience making these dishes. The unique thing about these classes is that there are no recipes.  It's all based on your palate to create the flavors.  You know me I used a lot of chili powder.

There were 10 people in the class. We were divided into three groups. One group made chicken and chorizo paella. The other two groups cooked the fresh seafood paella. My group cooked one of the seafoods. Not to brag, but I think we won the prize.  We had that great crust on the bottom of the pan which is essential in making paella and our flavors were really bold.

We all had a part in making the sauteed Squid, tomato, bread salad.  The key to that salad was dipping the toasted bread into the  sauce before building the salad.  The flavors were amazing.

We all sat down at a big square table to dine on what we all had created.  After the wine was poured, the OC Wino got on a roll and taught the class about toasting etiquette. So we were all making eye contact and toasting with our left hands because we didn't want eight years of bad you know what.

We made a bunch of new friends, learned about their lovely town and even got a restaurant recommendation.  So stay tuned for the review.

Hipcooks also has a fun retail store.  They carry all the cooks tools and spices used in class. I bought two unique items.  Madagascar bourbon vanilla bean paste which I will use in custards and desserts and Maldon sea salt flakes used to flavor and garnish. 

"Hipcooks shows you how to be as cool in the kitchen as you are everywhere else."

Locations in LA, San Diego, Portland, and the newly opened Santa Ana.

All classes are $65 per person which includes wine.

Hipcooks 

125 N. Broadway Suite C, Santa Ana, CA 92701
714-479-0855

In 1939, Mrs. Florida Lasier of Chicago snagged her silk stockings on a wild blackberry bramble while exploring the idyllic Smoky Mountain foothills, and the name Blackberry Farm was born. Thirty-six years later, the Beall family invested their hearts and souls in the same romantic site that has become their family home and lifelong passion. Situated on a beautiful 4,200-acre estate in the Great Smoky Mountains, this lovely  farm is truly a five star experience

You can be as busy as you want at Blackberry Farm.  The word no never crosses the minds of the friendly and accommodating staff.  There is great Fly Fishing with a trout stocked stream.  The Brookies and Browns were jumping all over.  We took a beautiful horseback ride on a crisp morning and explored the entire Property.  There is canoeing, hiking, tennis, all kinds of strength and fitness classes and the most beautiful newly opened wellness center with an array of spa experience.

They even are working on a truffle farm and raise their on Lagotto Romagnolo, truffle hunting dogs.  They have a two year wait list to get one of these adorable  puppies.

We spent three amazing nights which to me is the minimum stay necessary.  It is great for a romantic getaway, families, and the ever popular girls trip. The property is so picturesque and the leaves were just beginning to light up.  

Stay tuned, “The Trippers” head off to Nashville.

Backberry Farm, 1471 West Millers Cove Road,Walland, Tennessee 37886”,  1(800)-557-8864
                    

The Wayfarer, which is the old Detroit bar on 19th street was quite a revamp and now they feature live bands and a simple bar menu, and extensive cocktail list.  Every night they entice you with food specials. One night is a special wing night 1/2 off.  They have taco and slider nights and a great happy hour. They feature a bottomless champagne brunch.  Seems like a deal to me. Their line up of bands is very fun and I hear their sound system is great. The bar tenders are super friendly and will create special cocktails of your choice. I decided to have a vodka and cucumber infused with mint and jalapeño.  

We then ventured to the new buzz, Social which is a bustling fun place and has a very hip crowd. Our bartender was again creating our unique specialty cocktails.  I opted for the same selection.  As you can see , we enjoyed a delicious Wagyu Tri Tip, Pork Meatballs, and Deviled Farm Eggs with Maryland Crab, and Crispy Bacon.  It is a super fun place with  really unique and different people of all ages.  The food was good, cocktails were better.

Our final stop was Pie Society.  Growing up in Newport, all my friends worked at Marie Calendars on 17th street.  Instead of ordering patty melts and pecan pie, we decided to visit the cool bar which is in the building where they use to make the pies; a little trivia.  Aaron was our hip bartender who welcomed us and made us feel at home.  I have to say the crowd is a little young but nostalgia played a roll in our visit.  Aaron was darling and made us feel at home and what delicious cocktails.

Bottom line, branch out, try something new, meet a new crowd,  and enjoy a different atmosphere, and creative cocktails.

Wayfarer, 43 W. 19th St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949) 764-0039

_wayfarercm.com


Social Costa Mesa, 512 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa, CA  92627
(949) 642-2425

socialcostamesa.com


Pie Society, Pie Society Bar, 353 E 17th St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949) 313-6335

piesocietybar.com