YOGA YOGA!!
My little yoga fairy took me to her studio this morning. This is the first time Jenna and I have flowed together in our 3-year friendship! She commented this morning that she is very glad I like yoga now (remember when I used to hate it before I discovered my style?)
Her studio was great – modern, stylish, HOT, Baptiste. Loved the class and felt a million times better after an hour practice.
I said my goodbyes to Jenna and met back up with Matt (who had been working on Great Harvest stuff all morning) to shower and pack up our room.
Then we departed for Sonoma, the town.
We had forgotten how GORGEOUS Southern Sonoma is – the mountains just sprouted up from the ground!
After yoga I was getting hungry. Just bring me some figgy pudding!
I am not sure if it my love affair with figs or the coolness of the name, but I just love the girl and the fig and try to get here on every visit to wine country. Last year we did a blogger dinner in the courtyard. Today it was an elegant lunch.
A bit of crusty bread to whet the palate
Blog reader Aubrey is completing a culinary externship at the girl and the fig and we had been Tweeting about my visit. So glad she was able to come out and say hello. And hilarious that she prepared most of our small plate meal!!
And with all the fine winers around us, we decided to go against our body’s wishes and order a small Syrah flight
Just a taste of the inky goodness!
For lunch we decided on a few small plates
Smoked Coho Alaskan salmon with caviar to start [one of my very favorite foods!]
Celery root + walnut soup with apples
Mmmmm!
For lunch I had to go with the delicata squash salad. Of course!! Served with pumpkin seeds and ciabatta croutons. Fall <3
Matt got an open faced pork sandwich with an apple compote. I had a bite – it was fabulous! Sweet and savory.
Annual GATF shot!!
A short drive through “Happy Cow” farm country landed us in Petaluma. Whaddya know, Lagunitas Brewing Company is there!
Somebody was a happy husband!
Beer Speaks. People Mumble.
But this wife was THRILLED with the Cappuccino Bourbon Stout. I got a tiny glass – WOW. So sweet, malty, rich. Perfect dessert!
I had a few sips of Matt’s selections and must say this brewery is totally worth a visit. All of the beers were super creamy and thick and just my style – even with bitter hops!!
I am in LOVE with this Lagunitas mason jar
And was able to buy it for $2!!! OIAJ? SIAJ? Wheee! They had so many cool glasses.
And the folks we tasted down the bar with were also so friendly. Jim works in marketing and I believe we were hanging with a few of the brewers.
Lucky us that they gave us a few t-shirts to take home! And a size small just for me!!!
Just now returning our rental car, which involves driving to our hotel, then to the airport and then taking the BART back to the city. GUF. Hope it all goes smoothly!
Mary (What's Cookin' with Mary) says
Safe travels! 🙂
Your lunch looks AWESOME – m
Hope says
What a fabulous day!
Those beers sounded so good and your lunch looked incredible!
Cute tee shirt!
Chelsea @ Strawberry Sweat says
My boyfriend LOVES the Lagunitas IPA. He would be one happy guy if we went there!
Your entire wine country trip is making me want to pack my bags and go now! Unfortunately, I have to wait until it’s in the budget again, but my desire to go visit wine country has gone through the roof after reading about your vacation!
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
Have a safe trip Kath! Looks like such a great time!
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is says
What an awesome week. Your food alone has been spectacular!
Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine says
As soon as I saw the girl and the fig I wondered if you met Aubrey! I just discovered her blog. Sorry if you’ve answered this a million times before but how long did it take you to love yoga? I’m still in the not-really-a-fan mode but would like to get more into it…
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
How fun!!!!! All that food looks amazing! Especially the soup 🙂
Christin@purplebirdblog says
I too did not love yoga the first time I tried, but I sure am glad I tried it again! Yoga makes me super happy!
holly @ couchpotatoathlete says
I’m not a big fan of celery, but that soup sounds delicious! And I loved the color too.
Returning rental cars and all that jazz just sucks — I hope it all goes well and you get home safe!
kelly says
Yay for being into yoga, but I have to give you some unsolicited advice on your tree pose. You should avoid placing your foot directly on the knee to avoid injuring it! Two posts and I just had to de-lurk to say it – Namaste! 🙂
sophie says
I was going to de-lurk too just to say the same thing! 🙂 Gotta keep those knees healthy! It’s best to either place it on the inner thigh or the calf so as to avoid putting pressure on the joint.
Kath says
Thanks for the tip – I knew that and was just striking a quick pose for the photo!
Heather (Heather's Dish) says
how fun! i would love to do an internship at a great restaurant like that! 🙂
aubrey (italktofood) says
Hello! I’m Aubrey from the above post! Haha
I just wanted to tell you that I was a nutrition/business major before I dropped it all to go to culinary school.
So, technically…if you wanted to…you could TOTALLY work in a restaurant. Before I left for school I “shadowed”(worked for free) a chef for a couple of hours at a local restaurant. It was a lot of fun, and I learned a lot about the industry.
Anything is possible 🙂
Jessica @ The Process of Healing says
Your lunch DOES look amazing!
Felicity says
Did you say cappuccino bourbon stout? That sounds sooooooo yummy!
Simply Life says
Oh my gosh, delicious food and that scenery – looks like a perfect day!
Ilana says
Looks like a fantabulous trip in wine country! This post was bursting with excitement and fun, Kath. I know what you mean about being ready to get home after a long vacation, though. So glad your vacation spirits were revived today! Can I just say that I love baptiste yoga and it’s hard to find back east. Your eats today look beyond– and i love lagunitas!
Safe travels!
Stephanie says
I’ve been eyeing that Lagunitas beer at our local beer & wine shop and now I think I’m going to have to get some, it sounds great! Glad you had such a wonderful trip to wine country 🙂
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
I love the color of your sweater!
Say hi to San Fran for me. Oh and Matt and Bocker too.
bloomingbuzz says
looks like so much fun. was in the bay area this past summer and definitely got my fill of good foods! now you have me wanting to go back and try all the yummy eats you have found!
stacey-healthylife says
Sad time to head home. 🙁
jenna says
yayyy!! yoga was so fun this morning…I’m actually back at the studio now (working, not practicing). Jealous of G&TF!!!!!
Mary @ Bites and Bliss says
That tower of squash looks amazing. Kind of reminds me of onion rings..except much more delicious 😛
Grocery Goddess Jen says
Looks like a lovely way to finish up the trip. Have a safe time getting back to the East Coast.
hippierunner says
Oh my, the bart! be safe and watch your stuff!
kate says
Youre right Girl and the Fig is a really cute name!
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
the name “fig” in anything gets me through the door! what a gorgeous meal.
Lee says
Your entire trip looks so enjoyable.
Emily says
Yoga looked wonderful…I need a hot yoga class asap! The lunch looked incredible…I would love to do a small plates meal like that, especially with the flight of Syrah! Happy travels 🙂
BroccoliHut says
What a creative use for delicata squash!
aubrey (italktofood) says
By the way….
If you’d like to make the delicatta squash at home. This is how we make it at the restaurant:
Preheat oven to 425
1. Cut both ends of squash off
2. Use a melon baller to clean out the seeds
3. Slice the squash about 1/2 inch thick
4. Toss with a little oil, salt and white pepper
5. Place an even layer on a cookie sheet
6. Bake in the oven until the tops are golden (the bottom will be perfectly golden by then).
7. Viola!
There is seriously something magical about roasted delicatta squash.
Lauren at KeepItSweet says
that lunch looks amazing! i had a great dinner at girl and the fig when we were out there last summer
M says
How do you guys handle wine/beer tasting with the driving on your holidays?
For example you had wine at lunch ,then some beer and now have to drive to an airport and
was wondering about your other days of wine/beer tasting and having to drive between places?
I am asking more out of concern for everyone who does wine/beer tasting and drives,not meaning to sound critical in any way.(and I realize each taste is small,but many small tastes add up).Thanks for not taking offense to my question Kath (in advance!)
Safe driving!
Kath says
No offense because you were polite 🙂
It’s definitely something to be prepared for. Generally Matt does the driving – because we know I am more of a lightweight and would feel it first. But you would be surprised at how many tiny sips it really does take to start feeling it, especially if you have a belly full of food or are snacking (pretzels!) during the day. But last night, for example, when he did beer and then wine at dinner pretty close together, I was the driver (and felt totally fine).
Katie (The Boston Marathoner) says
I love a free t-shirt, ESPECIALLY when it’s a small! That never happens – kudos to you, Kath.
Dee says
oh my! I love the presentation of all the dishes at TGATF!
Umm, I would love a cool mason jar! And how cool that you got a free t-shirt! I love the typography on it!
Cara Craves... says
Another delicious day of eating…you tummy is so spoiled 🙂
Kristen @ Kristen, Sweetly says
Mmm, wine country looks awesome! I love that you take a photo with the sign every time now. It was one of the first things I noticed on your site.
Diana says
Oh man I miss wine country! Wish I’d had time to go this past weekend. Have a safe trip home! 🙂
Amy says
I have so enjoyed all your wine country posts – I can almost taste the deliciousness! My husband and I honeymooned in San Francisco but could only spend one day in Yountville. I’ve been dying to go back!
Vanessa says
I wish I could eat at that restaurant and taste all of that wine… Love your pictures of the experience!!
Kristin says
Hey Kath————–> Totally random but what’s on your Christmas list this year?????
Michele @ Healthy Cultivations says
Looks like you had the perfect yoga partner… and such a lovely week.
Camille says
You know, happy cows do come from California! 🙂
Sarah @ Sarah's Shaping Up says
Thank you for officially making my next trip in the United States be California Wine country. I’m in love. Looks like you’ve had a fabulous time. 🙂
mary says
amen kelly. that has been driving me crazy. love your blog but foot on knee in tree makes me wince. hope you teachers are pointing this out or may need to question your teachers — including tanner!
Kath says
Hey now, don’t jump on Tanner! I am well aware of the tree pose rules, but I didn’t bother to spend any effort getting my leg up there for the quick photo.
Hannah says
Oh gosh, I just ate a tin of canned salmon. Your version looks about 40 billion times tastier! 😉
Felicia (a taste of health with balance) says
i loveloveloveee mason jars! i put everything in them 🙂
Amanda says
Can’t get over how gorgeous these photos are, Kath! I really want to visit Sonoma and go to both The Girl and The Fig & Lagunitas! Andy would love the bitter hops. He’s a big IPA fan!
Cheri says
Yay Petaluma! Lagunitas is just one of many reasons that I’m hoping to move there someday.
krissy says
Kath you’re like a virtual tour guide! We leave for SF/Sonoma Monday so all of your reviews are especially helpful. I was stressing how to fit GATF in because there are way more restaurants to try then nights we’re there but LUNCH…what a great idea.
Thanks!
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
Thanks to you I now have a huge list of places I need to visit in California! 😀
Diana @ frontyardfoodie says
Mmmmm I love hoppy beer. I’m not huge fan of the dark beers unless they’re incredibly smooth but I have to say that those looks GOOD.
Heidi - apples under my bed says
That squash looks so delicious!!
Heidi xo