The Food That Made Me

Kids, don’t forget to take time to rest. Daddy is actually really bad at it. I think that it is because of modern society’s need to fill every second of our lives. As The Bear said, “Every second counts.” While I do enjoy this mentality, Daddy burns out quite easily. While I wish that I could function as a robot, my humanity betrays me on a daily basis. As a result, rest comes whether you choose it or not. This time it was a choice.

Mommy wanted a babymoon, which is sort of one last big trip before a baby arrives. I had the grand idea of visiting Single Thread, a three-star Michelin restaurant that is co-owned by Katina Connaughton. We learned about Katina when she spoke at an event that sought to increase awareness of Peninsula agricultural sustainability. Mommy was on board with my plan. Though my brother-in-law questioned if it would be my babymoon or Mommy’s, in the end, it turned out pretty balanced.

So, we arrived at The Stavrand Russian River Valley hotel, with three white lodgings accented with purplish blue trim and a brown “barn-style” restaurant. Our room was in a historical building, which the bathroom notes reminded me of multiple times. Thank you for the reminder, because I was a lot more gentle with the house. The room was quaint, and the view into the woods was fantastic. There were a few meadows that were lovely little walks, and some had fig and apple trees (Sorry, we took a couple.) The staff were passionate about service, especially Sofia and Miyah. There was breakfast in the morning, wine in the evening, and s’mores at night. All of the breakfast items were well-made (and I even ate yogurt). I do hope they take my feedback regarding the butternut squash 3 ways toast, though. It has so much potential.

On Saturday, we started with an adventure at Single Thread Farms. The storeperson showed us the endless amount of veggies and flowers that they were growing for the restaurant. I learned that flowers aren’t just for show and that some flowers are actually really tasty. There was a cool little plant called cucamelon, which is a cross between a watermelon exterior and a cucumber interior. We even learned about worm casting and how it was liquid gold in terms of nutrition for the soil. There was so much beauty in learning how much they cared for the earth. The storefront had everything that I expected to rave over, ranging from chili sauces, dashi, and all of the different types of donabes (Japanese earthen cookware).

Our adventure continued as we went to the restaurant that evening. I guess that getting there 10 minutes early was a little much on our end because they may have rushed to place everything on the table. Please check out the picture to see how exquisite the placement of the first course was. There were six or seven wonderful small bites waiting for us, and they made beautiful arrangements with the flowers from the garden. Also, the staff took much care in catering to Mommy’s dietary restrictions. Mommy can’t eat raw things because Mommy is pregnant with Child Number #1. So, raw fish turned into sweet potato, glass noodles. Caviar turned into beautiful greens. It was fun to see the substitutes they created for Mommy. We also had a lovely pairing of non-alcoholic drinks. Champagne that was made with their corn and an old-fashioned made with barley tea, just to name a couple. The dinner courses were so numerous, and each was a delicious, creative delight. There were steak slices mimicking carrots, mushrooms 3 ways, duck liver mousse, egg and cheese custard, and so much more! I would say that my favorite was the small robin eggs that were made out of chocolate, and the interior just burst with a fruity juice as you ate it. The single thread is built around the value of hospitality, and I truly felt it during our visit.

On Sunday, it was raining, so we just stayed local for the most part. We played Carcassonne and enjoyed our last full day of freedom. We stuffed ourselves at a Southern restaurant called Saucy Mama’s. I am a sucker for Southern Food, having lived in Nashville, so I ordered a bit too much food. But it was delicious. The cracklin chicken was so crispy and delicious. I was sad that I could only eat 1/4 of it because I had to save room for the rest. We enjoyed fried green tomatoes made from local heirloom tomatoes and locally grown and ground cornmeal, delectable fried catfish, and a banana pudding that we had to pack to-go because we were so stuffed we had to wait a couple of hours to devour it.

As our final little excursion before we left, we walked through the redwoods. A nice leisurely stroll with a log railing along the side, making sure that I don’t get captured by the forest. I’m very grateful for all of the memories and downtime that we were able to have. Please don’t forget to rest. Your bodies need it.

P.S. Sorry for spending part of your college tuition on this.

P.P.S We definitely are going to revisit Guerneville. But I’m thinking of going to a “blue door restaurant” in Yountville for our 10-year anniversary.