Where in the world...?

(The above photo was taken by Alan Campbell at "Site 3", aka The Ruff Garlick Patch, of
Eastside Farm. Thank you, Alan!)

We haven't been on vacation, we haven't been sick, we HAVE been working our A***S OFF!!!

The farm is full to burstin' with corn, peppers, tomatoes, chiles, eggplant and more chiles! We have been picking, taking care of business at both the farm and at our restaurant, ZIN, have been selling at 3 farmers' markets AND catering 2-3 events a week!!!

In the last two weeks we have:
Had a visit from my German girl friend and former co-worker, Miz Julia, seen here with our other former co-worker, Muff.








The next day after this picture was taken, we catered a high end birthday party for 40 in the Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves. It was beautiful!






In addition to catering we have also been picking a lot of produce!!! We are even amazed at all that we have picked! The cherry tomatoes started coming in full force a couple of weeks ago and we are just now beginning to get our full sized tomatoes. The eggplants are starting to show up as are the peppers. The "Great Northern" pickling cucumbers are just flipping out with such a heavy production...we are picking something like 70 pounds every 3 days!!! Thankfully ZIN can take them.

We catered an event at Acorn Winery for their Eastside Bunch Summer Open House (99 degrees in the shade!) and made our fresh B.A.T.'s with Jeff's House-cured and smoked BACON, ZIN Garden at Eastside Farm Arugula, Tomatoes and home-made Focaccia. We also added a little home-grown Basil mayonnaise. YUMMY!!! It went PERFECTLY with their wines!

We were treated to a visit from faithful ZIN customers visiting from Utah for the afore mentioned open house. Apparently they come out every year to the Acorn event and eat at ZIN on their first night in town! Thank you!!! (So sorry, I can't find where I wrote down your names!!!)

The very next day we did another Farmers Market in Windsor and my girlfriend brought her totally darling son with her. He tasted his first raw sugar pearl corn on the cob and LOVED it!!!

I love to introduce kids to fresh produce. During market I give stuff to kids to munch on. It often freaks them out to be handed a strange raw food product, but their parents are amused by it and encourage the kids to at least try it. Every once in a while they will come back after their child realizes, Hey...this tastes good!

Not to be slackers, Jeff also taught a cooking class in our back yard on Friday night with Relish Culinary Adventures. It was an all tomato class, starting with Fried Green Tomatoes and ending with a Red Fig Tomato and Ricotta Cheese tart topped with Yellow Tomato sorbet. It was GOOD!!!

I guess I just wanted to show y'all that we haven't been slackers...although right now that sounds so appealing!!! Tomorrow we rest...right after a couple of meetings and Pilates class!!!

Happy Monday!

Roll out the Barrel!

It is a crazy time of year for us. Yes, smack dab in the middle of winter, it is Barrel Tasting Weekend.

In previous years this was just held on one weekend. Due to popular demand (and a recognition that even more money could be brought into the area) it is now being held on TWO consecutive weekends!

We (Zin Restaurant & Wine Bar) are lucky and proud to be selected to serve food at not one but two wineries.

I am manning the tables and stove at Acorn Winery, serving Italian style beef braised in Sangiovese with fresh rosemary served over creamy polenta. It was made with the fabulous Acorn Winery Sangiovese and, as you can imagine, pairs beautifully with it!



Farmer Chef Jeff is over at Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves. He is serving his famous Pulled Pork with Red Eye Gravy over Falls Mill Stone Ground Grits! It pairs perfectly with their Zinfandels!

Well...gotta run! This is such a fun event. You should really think about making a trip out here next year and taste incredible wines! Happy Sunday!

Kettle Gumbo at Acorn Winery

Farmer Chef Jeff took the show on the road this past weekend, just down the road, to Acorn Winery. It was "Winter Wineland", a weekend in which over 100 wineries in the Russian River Wine Road group participate by opening for tastings paired with yummy food.

Tell me: what man can resist cooking with fire? So far we have, all having to do with fire, a wood burning oven, a "weed dragon" which incinerates weeds, and now the kettle over the fire ring!

What is in the kettle? The full title? Kettle Cooked Chicken and Housemade Andouille Sausage Gumbo. Yep...it was as good as it sounds!

(Photos taken and kindly shared by Bill Goode)