Carpe Diem!

Happy Wednesday all!  This week is one of our biggest conferences of the year and I have been busy having fun, drinking wine!, enjoying a whole lotta deliciousness plus trying to fit in some work too.  I am hoping things settle down a bit after this week ~ thanks for checking in on me!  I promise I’ll be back to tracking and pointing it all out Simply Filling Style again soon.

Before I get on to a few highlights so far, I have to tell you all a pretty funny story.  About a year ago my sister taught my mom how to use Google Latitude.  Ever since she loves tracking us and calling to ask what we are up to….I guess I sorta forgot to mention to her that we had this conference this week and she called me concerned I have been working so much I haven’t left the office all week! LOL….Love you mom ~ we both are cracking up over it still!

Now onto some highlights ~ First up ~ the amazing hotel ~ Napa Valley Style!

Every morning and every night has started with a walk around town and ended with coffee.  I had good intentions of getting up to go to the 5 am spin classes, but, I decided 5 am is so early and why be inside when I could be strolling around town.

Breakfasts….

Conference lunches ~ I am totally the girl at the buffet that steals all the vegetables.

Afternoon conference snacks ~ Green Smoothies with build your own trail mix! 

The first dinner was hosted by the hotel ~ I absolutely LOVE that everything they serve has a farm to table focus and is purchases from local farmers.  Of course we had it all decked out with our wines….I can’t wait for you all to see what’s on top of the Light Wine Bottles when they hit the stores….. 

One of the coolest things about the conference is having the chance to try every single wine our company makes at one point or another ~ whether it’s a tasting with the wine maker or served up with our meals.  My favorite so far is all the Atlas Peaks!

I totally went back and grabbed a pile of the broccoli rabe and didn’t eat the short rib….I think I am learning I am not a short rib kinda person.

My absolute favorite event so far this week ~ Dining Around Town!  Our group picked Carpe Diem Wine Bar (you knew wine had to be involved) so we could sample all the small plates and try just about everything on the menu.

My favorite new way to eat cheese ~ Housemade Burrata (Mozzarella Heaven)

Smoked eggplant and saffron romesco, basil sugar, sea salt, grilled bread

Truffle Fries with a Lemon Citrus Aioli ~ The only fry that I’ve ever had that is so rich I cannot really eat more than 2 or 3….crazy, but, true!

We couldn’t decide on which flat bread to try so we got all three!  These are all about the size of a flour tortilla ~ presented in the order of what I loved the most.

Maui Wowie ~ spicy sweet tangy bbq pork, sweet pineapple, peppery arugula ~ what’s not to love!

Shredded pork, smoked mozzarella, shaved shallot, pineapple, our sweet and spicy BBQ sauce, arugula

Roasted Wild Mushroom ~ If you love mushrooms, you will love this rich flatbread!

cave-aged gruyere, white truffle oil, fine herbs, garlic, arugula

Spring Asparagus ~ You definitely taste the citrus and the spice….and…I didn’t mind the stinky cheese either.

berkshire prosciutto, Laura Chenel goat cheese, calabrian chili, meyer lemon

Spiced Pulled Pork Lettuce Cups ~ The crunchy rice noodles and sweet spice make these lettuce wraps crunchtastically good! (yes, it’s totally a word!)

Shiitake, miso, “Feast it Forward” Chipotle and Honey Rub, crispy rice noodles

The Chefs Special was Filet Mignon Tacos with snow crab and hollandaise sauce…I did not have one but they sure looked pretty.

Dessert served up with French Press Coffee ~ Are you all ready for this?!

Housemade “Twix Bar” ~ Speechless!

Shortbread cookie crisp, caramel, chocolate, our salted caramel ice cream

If you all are ever in Napa, Ca ~ this is a must try place ~ every single thing was indescribably amazing.

Have a fantastic night all and I will most likely catch up with you all Friday or this weekend!

Night all!