Our lovely daughter, Julie, is a graduate!! We are all so proud of her and we decided to show it by
going to her graduation ceremony as a whole family. She completed the Baking and Pastry Arts two year program at the Culinary Institute of America at the Greystone Campus in St. Helena. Greystone is the former Christian Brothers Winery, and it's a beautiful European style campus now.
The ceremony was Friday, September 4th, so we flew in on Thursday the 3rd. Stayed at Meadowood resort in St. Helena on the Silverado Trail. Julie had invited us to stop by her last class on Thursday evening and sample the desserts the class prepared for visiting families.
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| Julie in her last class..... baking away! Ray and I tasted some of their creations at the end. Just delicious! |
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The CIA at Greystone, St Helena
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| Graduation Begins..... Friday morning at 11 am.... The class ascends the CIA Grand Staircase |
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| Julie and her friends |
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| Listening to the speakers |
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| CONGRATULATIONS JULIE!!!!! |
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| AND THE HATS FLY!! |
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| Proud parents with Julie in the Vintners Room at Lunch |
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| Our happy Graduate |
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Julie with her class of 15
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| Bakers gone wild! |
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| CIA Graduation Program : September 4th , 2015 |
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| Some of the food served by students at the CIA for the Graduation Luncheon |
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| Dinner Friday Night was at a great restaurant in St Helena called Tra Vigne...... We are with Chris and Tom |
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| Saturday afternoon, we visited PRESTON Winery in Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma. Dan, our nephew, works there as the cellar master. Chris and Tom and Julie brought a lovely picnic lunch and we drank Preston's wines with delicious sandwiches and fresh tomatoes and cheeses. It was heavenly! |
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| Dinner on Graduation Weekend at JolE in Calistoga. Julie is the pastry chef there. |
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| Our Dinner menu |
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| The whole group after dinner at Jolé |
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| Chris Tilley of V MADRONE Winery gave us a tasting on Sunday Afternoon. Julie's friends joined us that afternoon. |
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| We took up both Chris' tables at V Madrone. Chris pours and tells great stories. |
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| A real highlight. Dinner for 11 at the FRENCH LAUNDRY in Yountville. Ray took the photo. |
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| A Remarkable meal. Everyone loved it. |
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| Globe Artichoke Salad |
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| Slow Roasted Four Story Hill Farms Poulard |
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One of several beautiful desserts
On Monday, everyone regrouped after that huge weekend. Some went back home, some did the Spa and lunch at Bouchon.
TUESDAY, Sept 8th...... We began our Napa wine tasting Odyssey. Dave chose and reserved all visits for this day. First was Castello di Amoroso, just North of St Helena.
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| The Castello.... an Autumn shot |
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| The vineyards from Castello Tower and Hills beyond from the Castello Tower. |
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| There is an amazing room with vaulted cieling at Castello. Tom Shot Julie in the Carved grand chair there. |
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| Julie in the Painted ballroom at Castello |
After Castello, we went to Chateau Montelena. This winery put California on the world map in 1976 when it's 1973 Chardonnay won the "Judgement of Paris". A group of French wine professionals
gave it the prize in a blind tasting with French wines. The owners constructed a stone chateau back in 1888 and its a beauty.
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| The Chinese garden at the entrance to Montelena |
The source of everybody's business ...... and pleasure.
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| Lunch Tuesday was the Taco Truck " LA GITANA". Bridget and I won money from the lottery tickets there. |
On Tuesday afternoon, we visited PLUMPJACK and JARVIS wineries. Both Excellent.
Dinner Tuesday night was at MUSTARDS, a famous place in the valley. Owner Cindy Paulson.
Bridget and I shared the pork chop special and it was great.
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Wednesday was Craig's day to select the wineries and he chose to explore Howell Mountain, which is part of that range of hills to the east of the valley. Just above Meadowood Resort. Craig rented us a limo and he and Bridget got us a wonderful picnic lunch for the day. We tasted at CADE, O'SHAGNASSEY, and OUTPOST with a beautiful picnic lunch on the patio at Outpost. Julie and Steven joined us for our tasting at Outpost. The wines were excellent and the views of the valley gorgeous. Check these places out on the web if you want to learn more.
I said farewell to the group after our tour and drove to Sausalito to have dinner with a couple of friends there. Dinner at The Spinnaker restaurant gave us great views of the bay and the city at Sunset. I then drove to the Airport to sleep at the Marriott so I could easily catch my morning flight home. Flew Virgin America. Dave and Kait and Julie spent Friday in San Francisco. They stayed at the Fairmont Ghiradelli Square, and dined at Quince Restaurant. What a great celebration!
