Last weekend, I traveled to Sonoma County,CA with my sister Sheila Cameron (Grass Valley), four girlfriends; Cindy Sanborn Hytner (Grass Valley), Kara Haspel Lind (San Francisco), Anahita Ross (Los Angeles), and Meredith Driscoll (Pittsburgh) for the Mutt Lynch Dog Days of Summer event. Darby came too. We had an amazing time. Here are some highlights…
Lunch at Diavola was outstanding!
First stop was a short walk into town to Diavola Pizzeria & Saumeria. It was just Sheila, Meredith, me, and Cindy (right to left), since Kara was still in San Francisco picking up Anahita whose flight was delayed. Lunch was one of those experiences that will stand out as one of the best ever. Truly right up there with any Italian pizzaria, if not better. We had the salami and cheese plate — the meats are made in house, roasted asparagus, with truffled pecorino and pancetta, the BLT panini, and the Sonja pizza with tomato, mascarpone cheese, arugula and prociutto. Wine was a Palmina, Pino Grigio from Santa Barbara and it was lovely. I never want to eat store bought meat again.
Next, we walked a few doors down to Locals tasting room where we tried the indigenous wines. Diane Lieberman, the manager, allowed Darby to join us as long as he didn't bite. He loved it, and we discovered (and bought lots of) some great Sonoma County finds.
Clockwise from top left: 1. Brian, Cindy, and Gretchen 2. dinner is served: Sheila, Cindy, Anahita, me, Amy, Morgan and Kara 3. Morgan and Trixie 4. Zucchini and Gretchen's pretty Fiestaware
That night, Cindy's high school friend, Brian Crebs, invited us all to dinner with his wife, Gretchen, and two beautiful daughters, Morgan and Amy. Gretchen, is a fifth-generation, Geyservillian, who lives in her grandmother's Craftsman house. Her father, Harry Bosworth, owns the Bosworth and Sons General Merchandise store in town. After dinner, Gretchen confessed to us that the "new" outside dining table we all sat around came from the back of her dad's store and was probably her grandfather's mortician's table.
The next day, we all went to Mutt Lynch Winery where I met Chris and Brenda Lynch and the winning artist in our Dog Art Today – Mutt Lynch Winery contest, Kellie Oliphant-Burns.
Kellie Oliphant-Burns, Brenda Lynch, Me and Darby
The Dogs Days were a whirlwind of dogs and dog artists and wine. I know I am biased, but the Leeroy Out Loud! Meritage is fantastic. Also, the event was a tremendous success for the Healdsburg Animal Shelter. $3,200 was raised for them that weekend.
Later, Cindy, Meredith, and Anahita stopped by Bosworth and Sons and met Gretchen's dad, Harry Bosworth. Meredith picked out a red cowboy hat for her son, Harry.
Another great meal. This time at our house.
Then the girls went into town, back to Diavola. Later, we all got in the hot tub, had some more wine, and turned on Saturday Night Live. It was the first and only time the TV was on all weekend.
Good-bye, Geyserville
Sunday morning, we said good-bye to our house and made a plan to do it all again next year. Hope you can make it.
Photo of Kellie, Brenda, and me by Darrell Zoromski
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