Mendocino Weekend

For whatever reason, in the 1.5+ years we've lived here, we've always travelled south when we've gone out of town. An armchair psychologist could chalk this up to our Southern California roots and a constant call back to where we know. My vote is on the fact we both fell hard and fast for Santa Cruz and its surrounding environs. Either way, it's left the land(s) north of us all but undiscovered.
My past birthdays were no different. For the last couple years we have spent my birthday camping with friends in the Santa Ynez Valley, mere miles from where we wed last month. Because of said wedding however, the annual birthday camping weekend experienced a bye this year.
So when DH mentioned he needed to walk the vineyards up in Sonoma and Mendocino, I jumped at the chance to trek north and discover Mendocino for my birthday weekend.

Despite only driving through it once years ago, Mendocino has always held a bit of nostalgia and allure to me. Perhaps that has to do with the fact that my closest relatives grew up on a street by the same name...but there I go again with the armchair psychologist bit!

We headed north early Friday morning, straight to Lanzelle Creek Vineyard, then to Lucky Well and onto my old favorite, Silver Eagle Vineyard. The grapes have already begun to experience verasion; or color change of the skins, but they still have close to another month (from 8/10) before they are ready to be picked and crushed for harvest.

After a quick lunch at our old standby, Jimtown and and even quicker wine tasting at the exquisitely designed (and branded), Medlock Ames, we were off to Mendocino...County that is. We spent our first night in Boonville, one of those darling, one-road towns wherein "if you're talking to the driver, you'll miss it completely", as a local summed it up perfectly.

We stayed at the Boonville Hotel, a 'modern roadhouse' and arguably one of the most adorable places I've seen or stayed in. There's nothing fancy or highfalutin about it but the tiny 10-room inn, downstairs restaurant/check in area, outdoor dining patio and sprawling backyard (edible) gardens are enough to make your heart swell.
Unfortunately we weren't able to eat dinner in the restaurant as they were closed for a private party but we did enjoy the early evening in the gardens with a very special bottle...a 1982 vintage Reims,Champagne by G.H. Mumm. That bottle warrants its own post!

As if the hotel weren't wonderful enough, included in your stay is the best breakfast you could ask for...but better. Homemade scones, preserves and granola, thick Greek yogurt, local honey,fresh local apple juice, strong french press coffee - the spread was nothing short of humbling. 
Staying at the Boonville Hotel is like staying at your overly-talented-in-every-facet friend's house, but without ever feeling inferior. I cannot speak more highly about our experience there, maybe if I'd tried their legendary dinner but all the same.

After breakfast we packed up and headed to the town of Mendocino, but not before stopping at a few wineries along the way. Wine tasting in Mendocino County is how I imagine it used to be to wine taste in Sonoma 20 years ago (and Napa 30 years ago). Mary Elke, Toulouse and Roderer Sparkling rounded out our palette.
We took a quick dip in the Navarro River to cool off - Anderson Valley is HOT in August! But just as soon as you merge onto the 1 from the 128, the Mendocino fog makes itself known.

We stayed at Glendeven Inn, a delightful B&B with acres of edible gardens, hiking trails, roaming llamas (yes, llamas) and dozens of chickens to deliver farm fresh eggs every morning.
Upon arriving we toured the gorgeous gardens, walked with the llamas and fed the chickens. 

Glendeven hosts a nightly wine happy hour so we enjoyed a local white and veggie snack before heading out for the evening.

We opted to eat dinner in the town of Medocino at the highly recommended Cafe Beaujolais. On our way to the restaurant DH noticed the sign for 'Sweetwater Hot Tubs' and knew we had to inquire. Sure enough, private redwood hot tubs available to rent by the half hour. The one thing Glendeven was missing was a hot tub but nothing worth commenting on, so the discovery of Sweetwater was a real treat.

A quick half hour soak set us right and off we went to a fabulous dinner at Beaujolais. We shared the two daily soups (tomato soup with fresh crab & corn bisque), the two fish specials (sturgeon & king salmon) and a bottle of '09 Brouilly Beaujolais. It was one of those perfect, simple meals where conversation was king.

Breakfast in bed the next day along with a bottle of Gonet rose Champagne was the icing on the birthday cake and a perfect way to ring in a new decade!

Birthday Campout Cookoff

Los Padres National Forest

For the second year in a row, we loaded up the wagon once more and headed to Los Padres National Forest. The Los Prietos Campground is a lovely, oak-lined spot in the heart of the valley. The campsite is very convenient to LA and slightly less so to East Bay...the 5+ hour drive was well worth it though to be with old friends for my birthday.

two of our best cooks

Because there are so many food-focused friends among the pack of campers we split up the meal duties...and may I say, it could not have been more successful!

Every meal was delicious and delightfully different from the next.

It added a wonderful dimension to the weekend.

yes, that is walnut oil at the campsite!

For a low-key, lovely Thursday night, Satbhajan and Alice fired up some tasty chicken and veggie sausages and brought along homemade potato salad, pickles and pickled red onions to class up the joint.

veggie kilbasa w/ homemade pickled red onions, potato salad & pickles

homemade fixin's

DH and I mixed up some Nepenthe pancakes and slow-cooked scrambled eggs for Friday's breakfast.

Nepenthe pancake batter

our fearless leader, slow-cooking eggs

After a leisurely afternoon of wine tasting and picnicking at Brander Vineyards and Rusack Winery, we headed back to the campsite to swim in the river and greet the bulk of campers arriving Friday afternoon.

Alice, Sbjn & Juno at Brander

Sbjn & Juno at Rusack

Ziggy, in character

Brendan & Amanda at Rusack

Brendan, a.k.a. 2Pac, a.k.a. Paco pulled out all the stops for Friday night's dinner. Rolling 25+ deep, tacos were a fitting choice to feed the many hungry Panthers, ahem, campers! B cooked up an entire pork shoulder in the camping dutch oven using only a few choice spices and the heat of burning coals.

Grant F. assisting Brendan with hot coals

an honest to goodness oven! 

an entire pork shoulder

Amanda, his champion sous chef, prepped what must have been kilos of onions, cilantro and cojita cheese. Mike G. covered the vegan/veggie bunch with crispy kale and onions for the taco fixin's . Both taco options were perfectly suited for a lively night.

vegan vs. pork tacos 

amanda, master sous chef

Sally and Farah laid out an incredible spread for Saturday's breakfast. Poached eggs with garden fresh chives, matchstick potatoes with rosemary and buttery grilled bread sound more like high-end brunch menu offerings than camping cooking. Leave it to Sally for that.

Sally poaching, Farah frying

poached eggs w chives, grilled bread, rosemary potatoes & watermelon

Our pack of campers made their way to the river/watering hole up the road to lounge in the icy cold water for the afternoon. DH once aptly said "jumping off something, into something is the height of summer fun." 
Agreed DH, agreed.

Ziggy eyeing the agua

a beautiful day for a dip

A camping trip to the Los Padres National Forest would be incomplete without a proper trip to Cold Springs Tavern. If you've never made your acquaintance to the 'Tavern', make your way there immediately. Housed in an 1860's stagecoach, Cold Springs Tavern heralds icy cold beers, live music and some of the very best Tri-Tip sandwiches in the valley, and that's saying a lot. On any given day, there is a line of serious-as-a-heart-attack Harley bikers, taking a load off from the breathtaking routes of San Marcos Pass.

Cold Springs Tavern 

enjoying tri-tip sandwiches

Tri-Tip with salsa & dijon mustard

Cold Springs sandwiches were the unspoken highlight for most of our meat-eating campers. I am not much of a meat-lover myself and rarely miss it at veggie or vegan meals but when meat is this good, I can't get enough. My only regret of the day...hell!; the entire weekend, was not eating an entire one on my own! Sharing is for suckers when it comes to these sandwiches!

Stuart storytelling

Shannon, Marty & David

While we were all ready for a nap, Brendan insisted instead we venture out to Knapp's Castle instead. Just up the road from the campsite is one of the more extraordinary sites I'd never known existed. Built in 1916 at the edge of the world in the Los Padres Nat'l Forest, Knapp's Castle provides a breathtaking view of the Santa Ynez Valley. The impressive castle was the victim of a forest fire shortly after it was built but the foundations that remain resemble ancient ruins. 

Knapp's was a world better than a nap. ;-)

meghan m. at the edge

DH & matt btwn the walls

mike g.

ballerina amanda

josh b.

emily m. acrobatics in the amphitheater

After a whirlwind day, everyone was ready for a mellow evening cuddled up by the campfire. And what better way to unwind than with Chilean hot dogs made by our fellow Chilean camper, Sebastian. David and Sebastian grilled up traditional, turkey and veggie dogs and topped them with mashed avocado, diced tomato and mayonnaise. So simple and so so delicious.

Chilean completo hot dog

david v. mashing avocados

fresh diced tomatoes

master and creator

For the grand finale, Amelia and Amanda M. made happy campers of us all with the much talked about doughboys. Doughboys, if you haven't had the pleasure of making and eating one, consists of Pillsbury crescent rolls (resist judgement, you'd love it) wrapped around a wooden dowel, toasted over the campfire, then filled with butter, jam, ect. I opted for orange marmalade and dubliner cheese in mine.

Amelia schooling the doughboys

bread & egg dish above; doughboys on the fire below 

finished doughboy

empty inside of the doughboy

orange marmalade & cheese inside

The doughboys were the surprise hit of last year's camping trip and have come up in in concert with camping conversations ever since. The girls made 2 delicious egg dishes and soyrizo with potatoes but let's get real, doughboys are where its at.

Amanda M. working the soyrizo potatoes

bread, egg & tapenade dish

frittata birthday 'cake'

A big thanks to all who came out and cooked their hearts out. It was an incredible birthday and a legendary weekend.
I'll leave you with another DH truism...
'weekends shouldn't be this fun'