As a friend of mine remarked recently, it's not often that we sit down for a long meal and engage in discussions with friends beyond holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. The comment was inspired after a culinary enthusiast friend of mine had a birthday party at her home. People that showed up were mostly epicureans. That meant restaurant quality food and wine was served along with good conversation. It got me thinking about simpler times while growing up. At that time, my grandfather liked to cook Sunday dinners which started around 3 p.m. and featured his favorite items to prepare–Fried chicken drumsticks, carrot salad, mashed potatoes, and coconut frosted angel food cake. My least favorite part of the meal was having my grandmother force me to drink the entire glass of homogenized milk that accompanied my meal which is probably why I prefer a nice glass of wine to go with my culinary adventures today.
As I was enjoying the meal and conversation I started to think about a plan I had implemented shortly in my late 20's. It's really an age-old religious ritual that my parents sometimes incorporated in my growing up years but that has fallen out of favor in our culture. But it might be due back around now in our stressed filled lives. The plan–to take an entire day, and my chosen day was Sunday, to just be. No money exchanges or appointments beyond getting together with family and friends or just relaxing. If you've never tried it, it's not as easy as it sounds. It means getting all your chores done the day before, putting your cell phone on vibrate, resisting the urge to check emails or Facebook statuses–anyway, you get the idea. Taking a walk along the beach or a hike in the mountains with your family or friends is one way to enjoy it. Basically, it's a time to shut down the brain just a little and get into a different frame of mind. I've been feeling the desire to commune more with my neighbors so that might mean establishing at least one Sunday a month to enjoy a meal with them. What can you do to create your own culinary ritual? If these are the times we spend most of our lives working toward, why aren't we incorporating them more often? Let me know what you decide to do.
I have a fondness for the Grand Del Mar in Carmel Valley. To me, it's a trip to Italy without the jet lag. The lavish surroundings of the resort might scare away more frugal folks, but don't let the nice dress fool you. For $20, during most Wednesday nights this summer, you can sample wines at the beautiful Addison Del Mar Restaurant. Jesse Rodriquez, their award winning sommelier, has selected a variety of wines from different regions that you can enjoy from 6 to 7 p.m. Here's a list of the options.
Wednesday, July 21, 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.: Enjoying Chardonnay
Wednesday, August 4, 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.: Savoring Pinot Noir
Wednesday, August 11, 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.: Sipping Syrah
Wednesday, August 18, 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.: Tasting Cabernet Sauvignon
Where:
Le Salon Terrace at Addison
The Grand Del Mar
5200 Grand Del Mar Way
San Diego, CA 92130
858.314.1900
www.addisondelmar.com
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