{field trip} to the land of food & wine

My cousin had the most beautiful wedding in the wine country this past weekend. It was amazing. The weather, the flowers... really everything was amazing. Of course being a former caterer of baked goods ... I had to search out a bakery. Well we found it and it did not disappoint! For me the mark of a great bakery is bread and puff pastry - this one had both. I could have gone back everyday but not all mere mortals have my same obsession - smile!

There was something for everyone ... even fido!

The thing about the wine country is generally everyone is happy.

They are there to indulge, have wonderful food, drink some great wine and relax.

Hmmmmmm I think I could do that!

The next time I am in the wine country (dream, dream) I think I will take this cool bike ... ride around and look at the flowers ... drink a little wine ... and have my fill of chocolate almond croissants from the "bouchon" bakery in Yountville!

{field trip} oh i love cheese!

Just this past week Amy and I left the chaos of our homes for a fun night out discovering cheese and enjoying a night off. We left our husbands in charge of getting the kids to practices, making sure homework was done and off to bed at a decent time... It was the "cheesemongers birthday surprise!"

If you love cheese then, Scardello's Artisan Cheese Shop is a must see. This is little place has a warm atmosphere with an endless array of cheeses and wines and a fun and knowledgeable staff. We tasted all kinds of wonderful cheese - the cheesemonger, Rich Roger's birthday picks paired with some yummy wine. I so appreciated Rich's enthusiasm for cheese, wine, friends and food.

My personal favorites from the night were a wonderful creamy cows milk cheese called, Seastack from the Mt. Townsend Creamery. It was served with a great little champagne, Deutz Brut. My second favorite was the Appenzeller from the Beeler, Switzerland. It was a cheese that Amy and I both agreed you could eat over and over again. A nutty flavor, mild and smooth. Yum. That one was served with Torii Mor Pinot Noir from Oregon.

I love field trips ... it was a fun night with Amy!!!

{field trip} Lucky Layla Farms - fantastic!

If you have read Amy's post at i am celiac, about our fabulous field trip you have an idea of how in love we are with this artisan dairy that is so close to home. The Lucky Layla Farm is set on around 300 acres of land plopped right in the middle of Plano, Texas. Three generations of passion have gone into making this beautiful farm that boasts some of the best Guernesey and Jersey cows there are. The owner, wife, two kids, father-n-law, and a man named "whiskers" made our late morning adventure into a wonderful memory. We were welcomed from the start, with a tour of every building and a trek out to the pasture where we saw some of the prize cows and a special glimpse of a day-old darling calf.

What I loved about Lucky Layla is that I have now seen where these delicious products are made. I have met the man that tends the cows, toils over their health and the cleanliness of his facility. It is such an empowering feeling to really know where your food has come from. And the product ... well ...it truly speaks for itself. We were treated to some of the yogurt cheese that is as close to heaven as is comes. Thoughts of dipping strawberries, making panna cotta and just secretly eating spoonfuls of this unbelievably delicious cheese haven't left me yet.

As Amy mentioned we are both sold on the raw milk that they sell at their farm store. This milk with the cream that rises to the top is wonderful. My kids thought it was so cool that they were drinking milk that came strait from the cows I saw. We enjoyed skimming the cream off the top and pouring it over strawberries. So great!

Ok so enough, enough. If you live in Dallas you must check it out and search for the Lucky Layla brand in our local markets and specialty stores. And on my next visit to the farm I hope to find out where the name "Lucky Layla" came from.... can't wait!