Spooky Cool

This was a really cool and spooky Halloween party!  On two nights in Windsor, a Halloween party hosted on the sound stage for an upcoming TV show about a haunted house, with a "Haunting Menu".  We did the teen party last night, and the adult version is this evening.

double click the photo for a wider angle

Haunting Menu

Blood Shot Eyes

Beet dyed deviled quail eggs

Crispy Critters

Prosciutto wrapped Prawns

Spider Egg Croustini

Black, Orange or Green Tobiko

Served on Toast Points with Crème Fraiche

Cheddar Almond Fingers

Corn Pancakes with Swamp Mud

Corn Cakes with Mango Avocado Salsa

Fresh Meat

Ahi Crudo in Cucumber Cups

 

Haunting Menu

Teen event

Blood Shot Eyes

Beet dyed deviled quail eggs

Grave Yard Heaps

Individual Nachos

Baked Bat Wings

Teriyaki Chicken Wings

Cheddar Almond Fingers

Blood and Guts Mini Pizzas

Pissaladiere

In recent months I have been experimenting with what I call French pizzas; basically no one can pronounce Pissaladiere or knows just what it is.  French Pizza seems more descriptive.

Soooo- it is from southern France, near Nice; it's a thin crust white pizza (no red sauce), often made with a pie crust dough or as I do with puff pastry.  It's good with a wide variety of toppings- artichokes, tapenade, garlic and anchovies...

I prefer the puff pastry to the pie dough as it bakes quickly and lightly.

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Pumpkins and Underwood's

The mornings a getting crisp (at least when I am out at 5 am) but the afternoons are hot.  Fall is here.  Last weekend, for us that is Tuesday, we went out to my favorite pumpkin patch in Sebastopol, Hales. Here are some great pictures of what they have this year.

From there we decided to head out to Graton for an early dinner at Underwood’s.  It was a bit before the dining room opened so we sat at the bar.  My husband always jokes that you know you are sitting with a chef by what they order.  We had a wonderful roasted brussel sprouts with bacon and an white anchovy croustini.  I highly recommend stopping at the bar for some apps.

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Cool Places!

I never know where my job will take me!  Yesterday we were catering aboard the USS Makin Island, a new aircraft carrier docked in San Francisco for Fleet Week.  We set up in one of the on-board hangers; even got a tour of the ship!  Thanks guys.

Today we're at Merryvale Vinyards, set up in the wine cave for a very elegant lunch.  A great place.

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Full Moon in the Valley of the Moon

September was a very busy month for us with eleven weddings from the sea shore to a mountain top.  Sometimes I forget to look around and see the incredible area that we live in, but some places are just so incredible you just have to notice.  I'm lucky to get to work with the Sonoma County Farm Bureau; this year I donated a dinner to their fundraiser for youth.  It was planned to fall on the full moon in September at a new location that Kunde Estate Vineyard just recently made available on “ the mountain top”.

What an incredible night!  The temperature was perfect and no wind.  We watched the sun set as we served the hors d’oeuvres, enjoyed dinner, then had dessert just in time for moon rise.  I could not think of a more perfect evening.

The menu was a bit challenging.  No water, no electricity, and everything had to be carried in, and had to be worthy of the auction price that was paid for it.

Guest Arrival

Point Ryes Blue tarts with Fresh Fig Jam

Crane Melon Soup Sips with Prosciutto Crisps

Liberty Farms Duck Confit Taquitos

First Course

Tomato Caprese Martini

Balsamic Drizzle

Main Course

ServedFamily Style

Rosemary Rubbed Beef Tenderloin

Caramelized Onions

Cauliflower and White Cheddar Grain

Pearl Cous Cous with Roasted Butternut Squash

Dessert

Individual Berry Cobblers

Clover Stornetta Ice Cream

I know the guests had a great time and I personally got to take a moment and savor our own back yard.

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