Food: The Cheese Cave

I miss tasting bars. I miss the city. I miss being able to buy wine and beer whenever I want.


My friend, Ms. C took me to a little place in Faribault, MN, called The Cheese Cave.  It was soooooooo what I needed. The atmosphere is a charming, medium lighting, and just feels cool.

They have a nice little selection of wines; reds, whites, and blush. And they have a whole lotta cheese to taste. It doesn't stop their though; they have a menu to incorporate their cheeses (and these are fancy pants Artisan cheeses).

We shared a Cheese Platter of Gouda, Widmer Pepper Cheddar  and a Manchego. It came out placed with dried cranberries, sugared pecans, water crackers,  and milk and semi sweet chocolate discs.  The Gouda and Pepper Cheddar were outstanding, [I absolutely love a good Gouda]. The Manchega was okay. It was a true Manchego, but just didn't stand out as much as the other two cheeses did.

We followed that with a Baguette and Balsamic Vinegar Dip.  They emulsify the Balsamic Vinegar and Olive Oil with salt, pepper, and parmesean cheese so that they don't separate and it forms a beautiful dipping sauce. At my friends request (she is a true Italian girl, who loves good Olive oil and good Balsamic), we sipped little shots of straight balsamic. It was smooth and sweet, still vinegar but syrupy and rounded.

We followed up are almost Tapas like dinner with Pear, Gorgonzola, and sugared pecan salad. It came with a champagne/red wine vinaigrette (I am really not sure which it was, but it was very good). Light. Sweet. Crisp. All the things a good salad should be. With REAL bacon crumbled [no bacon bits].

I followed Ms. C's recommendation for the Cannon River Winery - Minnesota Meritage Semi Sweet Wine. For me, it was an easy drinking, red, no sweetness at all. A table red that pairs well with everything. Mellow. Very subtle tannins. Just smooth sipping and subtle.


It was a fun evening. What vino doesn't love wine, cheese, and great company?

Food: Big Bowl

One day a few weeks ago, we went to the city (Minneapolis). We explored the Mall of America which was neat. It kinda reminded me of airport shopping mixed with Las Vegas. The Husband and I prefer a less hectic shopping experience, so we made our way to Edina Valley for some lunch in the Galleria Mall, at Big Bowl

Hibiscus Iced Tea

Big Bowl is a hip stir fry restaurant that serves Chinese and Thai dishes. You can build your own creation, or order off the menu which is exactly what we did. I had the Steak and Noodles, with Fresno Chili Peppers (they are everywhere out here but I never noticed them when I lived in Fresno!).

It was outta-this-world. The noodles were made fresh, and pan fried. Whole wheat goodness! The sauce was thick but not overpowering, and the steak was tender and juicy with subtle heat coming from the chilies. Really, the sauce reminded me kinda of my childhood and a Hye Deli staple Pekmez. But that's another story. All you need to know is this sauce was syrupy-delicous.

And for desert, tiramisu mochi!

It was similar to chocolate mochi. I think the differentiating factors was the caramel or chocolate sauce it was plated it. The chocolate was alright. Nothing spectacular. But the caramel? It was like a melted, vanilla-y rollo.  I started to eat it by the spoonful - that's how good it was.

Wine by mail: Tobin James (and gifts from friends) + 2nd Month in MN

It's been 2 months since the move. I miss spring time in California, miss family, miss friends....

But you can't rehash the past in your head if you want to move forward. Move forward, and make a new life.

In the beginning of the month of April, I started a new job... Which is why I haven't been posting! I am a Business Manager for a Power sports Store. It's kinda a foreign language at times - car talk. Vin and Model Numbers, Contracts. The Accounting is probably the language that comes the easiest. But the staff is friendly (I think that is the Minnesota way.


We received a large and awesome shipment from Tobin James which virtually restocked our wine fridge. AND we received a package of snacks/goodies from our good friend (and drinking buddy!) that consisted of all our usual favorites.

Fresh and Easy Haul! Tortillas, granola, crackers, PISTACHIOS , and One Huge Hunk Chocolate Bars

Our wine fridge is actually bigger now. We took a road trip to PA to see the in-laws and attend a bridal shower and co-Bachelor/Bachelorette party for some of the Husbands College Buddies (actually they go back to Middle School)... My inlaws picked us up some wine from Grovedale (did a review of that winery awhile back...) so I am excited to pop open a bottle from there as well. We will be getting our Quady and Eberle shipments soon too. It's soooo nice getting wine by mail! A taste of home!


The trip was good. I was starved for human contact! Despite working, and seeing people everyday, it's SO <i>different</i> to see people you actually know, and to have that kind of connection/communication.

The weather is getting back to normal here too. We had a snow storm on May Day, [yes, May 1st]. 13 inches, power outages, transformers blown, and trees down.  If that isn't preparing me for winter, I don't know what will.

In contrast, today is 57, sunny, and green green green. The dogs are soaking it up and happy.

Its hard, sometimes. When the weather is gloomy, it kinda makes you gloomy too. I started taking B12 to help with fatigue but it's also helped with my depression (yes I was very homesick). I still am homesick but it's far more manageable.

Groceries are more expensive here. So are oil changes. Hair cuts are about the same, but massages are way cheaper. Gas is cheaper. Dairy is cheaper.  It's interesting to see the economics of where you are at, and the price fluctuations based on demand.

It's also discouraging to find limited availability of Almond Milk or  Coconut milk that doesn't come in a can, hydrogenated oil free tortillas, and a decent spice selection (does no one use just straight basil? so many herb blends!).  There are no Starbucks, no gold cards. Just Caribou, and local Prairie Wind Cafe [Prairie Winds does make a good roast that is not bitter, but is strong, with nutty, full body flavor!]. In some ways it's a whole new world.

But people are genuinely friendly here.  And it's an active community. People are always outside, walking, running, bike riding, walking their dogs. And they are friendly. Which isn't so much like California (everyone there seems to mind their own).

So it's give and take. But we are settling. And I can't complain, life is still good.

Wine: Indian Island

We had a wine night via FaceTime with some friends back home this past weekend. It was nice to catch up, and after 5 minutes the screen falls away, and you feel like you are back in the living room of your interior decorating savvy wino comrades.

On our end, the husband and I were drinking Indian Island Frontenac Gris. Granted, this would be a fantastic summer wine but its still skirting 40 degree highs with wintry mixes of snow and rain here.

The Frontenac Gris was peachy, juicy, fruity, with subtle notes of apples. It would make an outstanding white sangria (throw some strawberries, grapes, and raspberries? My mouth is watering thinking about it!). Indian Island is a Minnesota wine, made in Southern Minnesota.

This was an easy drinking wine. I paired it with some Gorgonzola crackers, dry roasted pistachios, and a few hours of laughing, laughing, and laughing.

Recipe: DIY face mask

Sometimes I wonder what's in that pasty white gloop we put on out faces. This recipe is a compilation of "do it yourself" face mask recipes.


1 tablespoon Greek Yogurt
1/teaspoon honey
1 strawberry
1 teaspoon rolled oats (ground in a food processor)
A dash of cinnamon

The Greek yogurt and strawberry have acid (lactic and citric) which eats and buffs dead skin. The oatmeal acts as an exfoliant. The honey and cinnamon are anti microbial agents (goodbye acne!)

All in all, when I do this mask, my skin is softer, pores are smaller, and my skin is glowy. I also don't break out the next day, like I do with other face masks....


Grind your oatmeal and cinnamon in a good processor.

Add the strawberry. Grind some more.

Mix in honey and yogurt.

Now, it looks like you have a parfait. You can eat it, but it is for your face!

Apply, leave on for ten minutes air until fully dry. Remove with warm water and a washcloth and ta-da; glowy skin!

Vino Travels: Wine Tasting on the Royal Caribbean

The Wine Tasting class on the Royal Carribean consisted of 4 wines all LaFite Barons De Rothschild Reserve Speciale Bordeaux wines.

They. Were phenomenal. I did enjoy them all. Truly. But I think my tastes are very easy to please, that is to say, I also enjoy all food as well.

[From Left to Right] Bordeau Blanc, Bordeaux Rouge, Medoc, Pauillac

This class was very neat because it reinforced the principle of French Wine making being regional (ie Champagne is made in the Champagne Region of France, where as California "Champagnes" are Sparkling wines). The idea is universal to all the regions. I haven't really sampled French wines before, but it was refreshing to discover I like them just the same as the local wines in California. 

I adored the Bordeaux Blanc. It just had this light sweetness to it, but still had the body of a Sauvignon Blanc ( 60% Semillon, 40% Sauvignon Blanc).

It really did matter, as far as the order of the tasting. As it went on, we continued to a light red, the Bordeaux Rouge( 70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet. This one was lighter, not so many tannins, and heavy berry notes.

The Medoc was a medium wine, (60% Cabernet, 40% Merlot), with more chocolate notes, and a richer, dryer finish.

We finished with the Pauillac, ( 75% Cabernet, 25% Merlot), which was rich with tannins and did invoke a pucker to the mouth. It had deeper spice notes to the nose, but still had berry aromas as well. 

When we circled back to the  Bordeaux Rouge, you could immediately taste  why it is important to graduate the drinking of wine. I had never really though about it before. 

I mean, why would you drink a muscat, then follow it up with a Sauvignon Blanc? Or a Chardonnay? I did that, when we returned home and found it very distasteful. Your whole mouth needs to be re-primed, your palate cleansed, in order to do that.  It's much easier to switch between darker reds, then to jump back and forth, but truthfully, you will alter the taste of each wine depending on what was last on your palate. 

We also had a cheese platter with dried fruits and nuts. Brie, Gouda, and some other exceptionally delicious cheese that I didn't know what it was.

I would drink these wines again. I think they all have their own attributes that make them delicious. The Pauillac was very heavy on the tannins and was not my favorite. But it was the favorite of our party, I believe.

Cheers to enjoyable wine, and learning new things. *Clink, Clink*

Vino Travels: City tour of Belize & Rum Tasting

Stopping in Belize was a blast. We has a bus tour around sites of Belize, with a stop at the Museum, AND it ended with a Rum Tasting. You will have to pardon my camera angles; the bus ride was bumpy. The irony is the best/straightest shots are taken during the rum tasting!

Japan Consulate in Belize

The Marine Parade Monument / Maya Roundabout

Museum of Belize - used to be the Prison!

At the Museum we learned that Belize is known for their Mohagany, their national bird is the Tucan, the national animal is the Tapir (mountain cow!), and the National Flower is the Black Orchid. We saw old bottles, stamps, a prison cell and prison disciplinary devices [whips/shackles], a LARGE collection of insects ( I literally have over 12 pictures of cases of giant beetles and moths and butterflies, as shown above) and Mayan Artifacts.


Then. We went Rum tasting.

Barrels and Barrels of Rum

My family, at sampling some rum. Yes, we wore hard hats!

So the Rum tasting was  definitely  interesting. As in we thought we were only going to taste 5 rums. And we did. And then they took our tour group inside. And we tasted 5 more. And 3 wines. We were definitely hammered by the end of the tasting, and pretty hungry!

Prince Harry's Rum???

Apparently this was Prince Harry's favorite rum when he visited Belize. It was named after him. We bought a bottle. It came in a  fancy schmancy  purple velour bag. I do remember it being exceptionally smooth. But then again, I didn't take notes, and if I did, I don't remember.....

The ROMPOPE! ( far right) was my favorite... and a hit with the rest of the fam and the tour group we were with. It was a delicious Rum Cream. Although I don't crave it now, I am saving it for the holidays. It was a little reminiscent of pumpkin cheesecake.... mmmm.

Old Timey Methods of making RUM

These were different wines, Cashew, Sorrel, and Blackberry. They were interesting. I do recall liking the Blackberry wine the best though.

The Current Distillery 

My mom and I, buying booze. You can definitely see how inebriated I was. Perhaps that is why they have you exit through the gift shop?