Decadent. A word used to describe a state of affairs in the
gardens of South County summer. Thursday evening, as the ritual
goes twice a month at Clos LaChance, patrons and friends are
invited to the winery to indulge in a picnic dinner and a bottle of
wine or two.
Decadent. A word used to describe a state of affairs in the gardens of South County summer. Thursday evening, as the ritual goes twice a month at Clos LaChance, patrons and friends are invited to the winery to indulge in a picnic dinner and a bottle of wine or two.
Sitting with a stylish group in the lower garden of the winery surrounded by an orchard of mulberry trees, we noshed on a spectacular spread of cheeses offered by our organizing socialite, Ramune Ambrozaitis, along with surprising bits of goodies pulled out of a cooler by Chef Charles Lewis. Among the offerings was a turkey burger stuffed with blue cheese encased in a whole wheat bun and Dijon ready to spread – just the right amount of protein and health.
The children ran in and through the party finally landing at the bocce court nearby, flying by the table like little birds every once in a while for sustenance.
Brenda and Bill Murphy graced the table, literally enjoying the fruits of their labor. I asked Bill if he missed the corporate world. Bill looked incredulous and laughed saying, “Oh, yes, I really miss sitting my *%$# on a plane flying all over the country.”
I think he has succumbed to the life of a vintner. The hours may not be any better, but the view from the winery patio looking out over the golf course of CordeValle can’t be beat.
The conversation moved to Bill’s favorite wines and the grapes now maturing in the vineyard. “Try the grenache,” says Bill, “If you like the Rhone-style wines and the earthy flavors. We only have eight cases left.” That set my feet moving to the tasting room, returning with a bottle to share with the table.
On my way back from the wine purchase, I surveyed the rest of the party and met up with Ken and Victoria Owens, new South County residents. “We moved here about a year ago,” said Ken. They love the family environment in the area … and the wine. Looking out over the gardens of the winery Ken admitted, “We pretend this is our house and these are our friends.”
Precocious. A word to describe my recent introduction to Miss Longna Liu, 6-year-old daughter of the owners of Flying Dragon Restaurant in Morgan Hill. Miss Longna Liu is six going on 25 and the most entertaining host of the South County Restaurant circuit.
Due to the recent San Jose Mercury restaurant review of Rosie’s At the Beach, my daughter and I were unable to secure a table on Saturday night at Rosie’s so we moved down the street to Flying Dragon. The restaurant has new owners who are eager to make their Chinese cuisine the favorite in town and Miss Longna Liu is their most eager family member.
Miss Liu quickly sized up my daughter to evaluate her willingness to join her in some color and paste activity. This was not a simple 6-year-old activity. Miss Liu gathered my daughter to her marketing table and explained with large gestures how she was planning an en masse canvassing of the restaurant trees with the Flying Dragon name, thoroughly convinced this would bring a line out the door of her parent’s restaurant just like that other place down the street. “We need more business,” Miss Liu said matter-of–fact.
Taking a break from the cutting and pasting, Miss Liu consulted the merits of the menu. Pulling my menu down to her eye level, Longna recommended the corn soup and the egg foo young. “You’ll like it, it’s very good. My dad is a very good cook.”
During our meal, Miss Liu kept up a lively conversation discussing animals, art, and the demands of first grade. She even played a tune on her miniature piano stating she would really like to try the big black ones someday that they have at that store across the street (Liu was pointing toward Suzanne’s music school). I have a feeling nothing gets by Miss Liu without notice. If you care to relieve Miss Liu of some of her marketing stress, go visit her at Flying Dragon, her sprightly spirit must be experienced.
Un bel’ pomoriggio! A beautiful afternoon in the fairytale Tuscan garden of the San Martin home of Mike and Mary Cox for the fundraising efforts of the Friends of the Morgan Hill Library. Billed an afternoon in Tuscany, it required very little imagination to visualize a Tuscan locale as the Atherton Lane home overlooks a picturesque lake and the garden, designed and tended by the hands of renaissance man Mike Cox.
The gardens consist of descending layers of chardonnay grapes, blueberries ripe for picking, raspberries, cherry tomatoes and merlot vines. The American black Labrador diving into the pool for abalone shells brought me back to small-town California, but the effect was charming. The Chiala Clan filled in the Italian quota with another Italian/American, Mike Rubino reminiscing with my husband about all the time spent roaming the area pre-development, shooting and being boys. Cricket Rubino grimaced when Mike pointed out the spot where he shot his first deer (the San Martin natives were required to check their guns at the door). Yee-ha.
Back to the classy affair … Joan Ensign did a marvelous job on the menu planning with a special treat from the host of cedar-plank-cooked salmon.
Joyce Leon–Teskey had a short walk from her stunning home across from the Cox abode to join in the Tuscan romance. Joining Joyce for laughs along the retaining wall were Keli Davis–Theroux and Marni Carlson.
The Conrey family left with an armful of spoils from the silent auction including a second edition Mark Twain, 4,000 issues of The New Yorker on DVD–ROMS and a job and an internship for their children at Anaerobe Systems (Oh, wait, they had that last bit before the party). Next year be sure and bring a book bag for all the nightstand pile you’ll acquire at this fabulous literary get–together.
Ciao for now.
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