Wiener Writings

Wiener Writings => Off Topic / NDR => Topic started by: PattyInAK on December 10, 2008, 03:26:19 PM

Title: HOMER, ALASKA wine tasting dinner report
Post by: PattyInAK on December 10, 2008, 03:26:19 PM
The Homer trip was a success!  Dan and I got to Homer around 1pm.  Had lunch at Cosmic Kitchen, then went to Lands End to check in.  Our room was very nice......huge king size bed with a great mattress.  And a little deck that overlooked the end of the Spit, the water was only a few yards away.

We spent the afternoon at my sister Carol's and headed for the dinner at 6pm.  Carol went with us and would call her daughter Holly for a ride home later.  She didn't want to drive impaired.  They seated us and gave us a handout explaining the wines we would be having, and an order form in case we wanted to order any of the wines at a special price.

The first course, butternut soup with bleu cheese timbale, was excellent!  I loved it.  It came with a white wine.  The waiters start you out with half a glass and refill if you want more.  The wine expert who paired the wines with the courses explains the wines as we start each course, and that was very interesting.

The second course was two small lamb chops on greens.  I never liked lamb but this wasn't that bad, I could only taste of hint of the flavor that I don't like about lamb.  A burgundy wine was poured with this.

Third course was scallops on greens.  This was very, very good.  We had a white wine with this course.

The fourth course was fillet mignon with a large shrimp on top, asparagus, and au gratin potatos.  A burgundy wine was paired with this course.  I was getting full by this time and couldn't eat most of the steak or potatoes so I got a doggie bag.  I wanted to save room for dessert.

Dessert was panna cotta, it was like chocolate mousse with whipped cream on top.  Very good.  A sweet champagne type wine was served with dessert.  And it came in a really nice cobalt blue bottle, and I got to keep one of the empties.  Dan and I ordered two bottles of the wine that came with the scallops, and one bottle of the dessert wine.  The order will be filled in about a week and Carol will hang on to our order until we see each other again.

After dessert Dan went to the room because he was very tired.  Carol and I stayed and had coffee, then went to the room.  Carol called Holly and we were all laying on the bed watching TV when Holly arrived.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3188/3099039488_7eee508f54.jpg)
Patty, Carol and Dan after the wine-tasting dinner

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3124/3099039482_92744365b1.jpg)
Patty and Dan

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3273/3099039456_0c3bf90e97.jpg)
Carol and Dan

I slept like a rock that night, it was so quiet and dark.  Dan said he didn't sleep well, he kept hearing boats go by.  I didn't hear a thing.  We got up the next morning at 8am and went down to the continental breakfast.  They had biscuits and gravy, hard-boiled eggs, waffles, yogurt, juice, coffee and muffins.  The biscuits were very, very dry, but took the edge off our hunger.

We then checked out and went to Carol's house.  The high school was having their annual craft fair called Nutcracker Faire so we went to that.  It was a lot of fun.

We had some lunch (leftover fillet mignon and au gratin potatoes) and then Dan, Carol and I met our niece Dorothy on the beach for a walk.  After the walk we went back to Carol's house and Carol started preparing halibut lasagna, home-made rolls, salad and a great raspberry cake for dessert.  Dorothy and her boyfriend Kelly came over for dinner and we all had a good visit, along with Holly and her boyfriend Paul.  Kelly and Dorothy were headed for Hawaii Sunday night, and would be gone for three weeks.  Sounds pretty nice.

On Sunday morning Dan and I took Carol out for breakfast before we headed home.  Had a good trip and got home around 2pm.

I picked Willy and Alex up Monday morning, and they were fine.  The total bill was $86, not that bad for three nights for the two of them.  And thankfully the gas prices have gone down to around $2.50/gallon, so our 300 mile (one way) trip to Homer didn't cost us an arm and a leg.

We hope to get our gang together and go to the wine-tasting dinner again sometime soon.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3019/3098228027_96222e1078.jpg)
Alex and Willy back at home
Title: Re: HOMER, ALASKA wine tasting dinner report
Post by: DeeanDave on December 10, 2008, 03:37:54 PM
Patty, sounds like you had a wonderful time!  Just reading about your dinner made me hungry.  Glad all went well and that you had a great time. 
Title: Re: HOMER, ALASKA wine tasting dinner report
Post by: AnnieofNJ on December 10, 2008, 04:51:46 PM
Oh Patty, your description of the food made my mouth water.  It all sounded so delicious.  I love wine tasting events.  My daughter and I went to a wine tasting weekend in the fingerlake region of New York.  We had a great time.  From the pictures it looks like you all had a great time too.

The boys look happy to be home again.

Annie
Title: Re: HOMER, ALASKA wine tasting dinner report
Post by: MyLittleBoo on December 10, 2008, 08:27:31 PM
Sounds YUMMY!!!!           :thumb:       I can't believe gas is that high....  AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!         :crazyeyes:         Here it is $1.43, and where I work, we are usually a little higher, but have coupons for 10 cents off each gallon, so it makes it cheaper than the cheapest (does that make sense???  LOL      :idiot:       )      Anyways, way cheap here, and I love it....        :thumb:
Title: Re: HOMER, ALASKA wine tasting dinner report
Post by: PattyInAK on December 10, 2008, 10:47:01 PM
Quote from: MyLittleBoo on December 10, 2008, 08:27:31 PM
Sounds YUMMY!!!!           :thumb:       I can't believe gas is that high....  AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!         :crazyeyes:         Here it is $1.43, and where I work, we are usually a little higher, but have coupons for 10 cents off each gallon, so it makes it cheaper than the cheapest (does that make sense???  LOL      :idiot:       )      Anyways, way cheap here, and I love it....        :thumb:
Thats what my folks said, they live in Arizona and gas is around $1.50/gal.  We haven't seen it that low in years, I wonder what the deal is up here in Alaska........the land of the great oil pipeline.  SHEEEEESH!!!
Title: Re: HOMER, ALASKA wine tasting dinner report
Post by: cheryl186 on December 11, 2008, 04:42:45 AM
What a wonderful week-end you had....great food, great company, a walk on the beach and a craft fair....AWESOME!!!  Glad you had a wonderful time and the boys are back home safe and sound :apls: :apls:
Title: Re: HOMER, ALASKA wine tasting dinner report
Post by: doxielady5569128 on December 11, 2008, 10:11:15 AM
Glad you had such a fun trip!!  You definately deserved a fun time like that after everything you've been through this year!!   I'm shocked by your high gas prices there as well.  Its only $1.40 here in our area!     :crazyeyes:  The last time I remember seeing those prices was when I was ten years ago.   
Title: Re: HOMER, ALASKA wine tasting dinner report
Post by: TerriL on December 11, 2008, 12:01:25 PM
Now THAT is a perfect weekend!  The dinner menu sounds amazing!  Glad you guys had a great time and the boys made out fine. 
Title: Re: HOMER, ALASKA wine tasting dinner report
Post by: Madderoos Mom on December 11, 2008, 09:09:47 PM
What a LOVELY description of all the doings you had!  I LOVE lamb!!!  That's what we had for dinner tonight....heee heee.  Sounds like you had a wonderful time-Sorry Dan that you didn't sleep well.  Patty, when we get together sometime, we need to go to a real foodie hang out.  Right now I'm low carbing and have lost 15 lbs but when we get together.......We're SPLURGING!
Title: Re: HOMER, ALASKA wine tasting dinner report
Post by: Teresa on December 12, 2008, 11:54:38 AM
I'm so glad you had a wonderful, relaxing weekend. The idea of a walk on the beach, in December, in Alaska, sounds really cold right now!
As for gas prices, I can get gas today for 1.37 a gallon. Remember, now, that we were the ones that were paying over 4.00 a gallon 2 1/2 months ago after the hurricane hit the Texas coast and cut off our gas supply. Meghan has never paid this price for gas since she started driving. She is loving it!
Title: Re: HOMER, ALASKA wine tasting dinner report
Post by: PattyInAK on December 12, 2008, 05:44:11 PM
Quote from: Madderoos Mom on December 11, 2008, 09:09:47 PM
What a LOVELY description of all the doings you had!  I LOVE lamb!!!  That's what we had for dinner tonight....heee heee.  Sounds like you had a wonderful time-Sorry Dan that you didn't sleep well.  Patty, when we get together sometime, we need to go to a real foodie hang out.  Right now I'm low carbing and have lost 15 lbs but when we get together.......We're SPLURGING!
Sounds like a great idea to me Sandi!!!  And GOOD FOR YOU for losing 15 pounds! 
Title: Re: HOMER, ALASKA wine tasting dinner report
Post by: PattyInAK on December 12, 2008, 05:46:14 PM
Quote from: Teresa on December 12, 2008, 11:54:38 AM
I'm so glad you had a wonderful, relaxing weekend. The idea of a walk on the beach, in December, in Alaska, sounds really cold right now!
As for gas prices, I can get gas today for 1.37 a gallon. Remember, now, that we were the ones that were paying over 4.00 a gallon 2 1/2 months ago after the hurricane hit the Texas coast and cut off our gas supply. Meghan has never paid this price for gas since she started driving. She is loving it!
It was in the mid-30's and raining the whole time we were in Homer, so it wasn't cold at all walking on the beach.  Of course we wore enough warm clothes and it was a lovely walk.  Our gas also went up to over $4 a gallon, and is slowly creeping down but we aren't anywhere near to being below $2 a gallon.  What gives?   :dontknow: