Notice anything? Lights on Bright went in for routine maintenance and emerged with a total makeover.
This week New York City’s Salome Chamber Ensemble performed at Guyomar Wine Cellars during their 2014 California Tour. Photo by Gail Gresham
#1 Happening
Here’s how it happened. Last Christmas Eve I joined our SilverKing Drive neighbors who annually gather at the O’Leary’s home for dinner. This marked my first December in Aspen in a decade. To join those who knew the Hirschs through happier times seemed comfortable to me.
My dinner partners that night were two whiz-kids from Denver I did not know. Ten years. A neighborhood changes. The short version is: Zoe; Kenneth; Partners of Peak Solutions Marketing; Lightbulb Moment for Mary. Since I was already planning a blog redesign, I thought they might know some tech designers. “Why, Mary,” Zoe quickly interrupted as I was asking that question, “that’s what we do.”
During the next few weeks Zoe and I talked. Well, to be truthful, Zoe talked, I listened. That young lady was relentless in promoting her company and sharing ideas. (I loved that.) We signed a contract. They went to work. I left to spend the winter on the central California coast, drinking great wine, eating fresh food and meeting the farmers who grow the goods.
Guyomar Wine Cellars in Templeton, California Photo by Guyomar
Ishka Stanislaus of Guyomar poured his 2010 blends at the 2014 Paso Robles Rhone Rangers Experience.
#2 Happening
Since arriving in Cambria, that’s been my focus. However, nothing prepared me for the celebratory evening I enjoyed this week that will arguably be the highlight of my winter’s work here.
Here’s how it happened. In mid-February I joined 600 others and 50 local Rhone wine producers for a day-long seminar at Broken Earth Winery. One of those pouring during the Grand Tasting was Ishka Stanislaus who owns Guyomar Wine Cellars. At my luncheon table that day was winemaker Matt Ortman of Villa San Juliette Winery. After lunch, Matt said to me, “My friend, Ishka, is making some very interesting wine. Would you like to meet him?”
Matt introduced us. I tasted Ishka’s 2010 Monsignor, a Petite Syrah-based blend and was impressed. Surprisingly, a few weeks later I received an invitation to an Evening Musical Soirée and Sri Lankan feast hosted by Ishka and his wife, Mareeni, a local Ob/Gyn. The affair was in their home at the Guyomar winery. I hesitated. From Cambria it was a 30-minute drive to TempletonGap to their vineyard. I knew no “and, guest” to accompany me. The other attendees, I suspected, would be locals, all acquainted.
Because Guyomar’s has no tasting room yet, this would be my only opportunity to visit the winery. I decided to go. Good decision, Mary. Words cannot effectively describe the evening. When I arrived, I was greeted by both Stanislaus at the entrance door (pictured above). I was about to reintroduce myself when Ishka said, “Mary, thank you for coming. I’m glad to see you again. Meet Mareeni.” (Readers, that guy had done his homework.)
Yes, the group, about 65-strong, was local but I didn’t lack for dinner partners. As I’ve said before, folks in this area are kind to strays. The Manhattan-based Salome String Chamber Ensemble presented a 45-minute concert. They are talented, accomplished and create a gorgeous sound. The Sri Lankan dinner, prepared by Ishka, reminded me what turmeric, ginger, cumin, saffron and garam masala, can bring to a dish.
#3 Happening
The Mise En Place for Sausage-stuffed Cornish Hens, our French Fridays with Dorie recipe this week.
As for French Fridays, here’s how it happened. This week’s recipe is Sausage-Stuffed Cornish Hens. When was the last time you roasted one of those tiny darlings? For me, it’s been twenty years. The two-pound hefties I bought at my local market are not the Cornish Hens of my memory.
The sausage stuffing is ready for the birds.
Look at those thighs. I’ve never before met a Cornish Hen who looked like that.
The first step was making the sausage stuffing which is easily mixed together after browning the sausage, shallot and garlic. I then buttered and brushed each hen with olive oil before stuffing them and tying their legs together. Using the side-side-back,15-15-10, roasting method, I gently placed them in my cast iron skillet and put into my 425 degrees oven. They baked for 40 minutes. The birds rested for 5 minutes while I drained the fat, replacing it with butter and wine to create pan jus. The result was tasty although in a blind test I might guess it was chicken. That’s why I probably will not return to this recipe again. I blame Mr. Tyson.
Almost ready to eat – I covered the wings with tinfoil and flipped the hens on their backs for 10 more minutes of roasting.
French Fridays with Dorie is an international cooking group working its way through Dorie Greenspan’s Around my French Table, more than 300 recipes from my home to yours. To see if my colleagues were able to locate real Cornish Hens, check out our FFWD site. I apologize for any blips and glitches on my newly-designed blog. Only I am responsible for them.
Mary I adore your new design! Love how you recapped all the “happenings”. Your winter in Cambria sound so fun, and what a lovely sojourn.
I’ve not done this weeks FFWD with the Cornish Game Hens – life has been so hectic with all the events at the tennis tournament, and sous chef has a small aversion to Cornish Game Hens.
Congratulations on the new design and look!
Great look. Clean and SMART. You done good.
Next time you get an invite for you & Guest. Let me know and I will pop over.
You are really connected
Snow is melting so you can come home now.
Miss you, DonnaG
Looks fantastic, Mary! And the Sri Lankan feast sounds wonderful!!
CONGRATS on the new site!!! I don’t see any text, but I have a feeling it’s there 🙂 Your hens look perfectly suntanned…hope you enjoyed them as much as we did. xo
The text just loaded…and now that I have more than just photos, I can comment again. Boy did you have plump birds! Sorry the recipe won’t be repeated. It sounds like you’re making the best of your time in California. Not that I’d expect anything less!
Mary. I love your new site. It’s a great new look for you. And, as always, I enjoy hearing about your adventures. The winery dinner sounds like a very special evening. Wish I had been there to be your “and guest” that night. My hens were a little smaller than your “porkers”, but my favorite takeaway for this week was the sausage stuffing. M-M-Good. Have a great weekend!
The site looks wonderful! I’m going to be doing a make up post tomorrow, as even if Kevin was eating meat right now, the breadcrumbs would make it a no go for him. I’ll wait ’til my Mom returns from her travels and make it for my parents.
I can’t believe the size of those hens! The Cornish game hens we get here are much smaller. It looks like you cooked them perfectly, though. I’m really enjoying hearing about your adventures in California. It sounds like a wonderful area.
Mary- Your site is beautiful! I love the clean look. So fresh. Lovely. And I love hearing everything that you have been up to. You had an eventful winter!
I have to say, when I come to read a long blog post like this one, I do miss blogging just a little. Your hens look fab! And Betsy is right, they are ‘porkers’! LOL My weekend turned out a bust for making hens. My hens are in the freezer awaiting another cooking date.
Your teeny, tiny hens are not so teeny are they?
Love your web redesign. It suits you.
And I am happy to see you barreling forward with no brakes 🙂
Love the fresh, clean new site Mary! You were the smart one to spend the winter in California. Sorry the hens didn’t impress, but they sure look tasty.
You new site looks great! I found some smaller, more natural Cornish hens and Whole Foods and I think it made a big difference. I loved this recipe!
Love the new site and your beautiful stuffed hens! Miss you very much my friend.
Nice new look! Wow, can’t believe how plump your hens were. Thanks for sharing.
Love your new design, Mary…great look!
Sounds like you are having a marvelous time in Cambria! The winery dinner party looks fabulous…I’m not surprised you’re making new friends!
Your very big hens look really good…mine were not quite as big as yours. We actually liked this dish…even Bill enjoyed it!
Have a great week, my friend! Enjoy the sunshine! It will be in the 50’s here today…I think I may have brought back some warm weather!
Mary, I’m just amazed by you! The site looks fantastic – totally love it. And love the post with all of the interesting goings-on! I don’t know how you do it. But I’m so happy to hear (and see) the stories. It seems like I barely have time to make the dish, let alone do great photos or writing!
I was able to find a hen that was organic and not over-sized (well, 1.6 lbs, so maybe a little), but pricey… I made mine with some andouille and sweet potato biscuit stuffing, a bit more of a southern twist – could have been even spicier. But it was fun, and quick, and they really are pretty elegant little birds. Glad that you had fun with yours.
Have a delightful weekend!!
Oh Mary,
A marvelous post and what a fabulous time! And the new look is worth the time and effort! Have a great week ahead!
Dear Mary, of course I love your new , fresh design – I am all for “less is more” when it comes to blog designs! The “real” Cornish hens are not much in demand around here and I had to order them but since I was running rather late with my FFwD post and hence my order at the butcher shop, I will have to prepare them later in the week – your hens do look quite delicious and I am curious to see whether we can actually “taste the difference” between them and rather ordinary chickens.
Thank you for all your wonderful and thoughful comments!
Whishing you and Susan a fabulous weekend!
All the best from all of us,
Andrea
Mary, your site looks wonderful! I’d say that this calls for a celebratory glass of something bubbly. Well done.
I also enjoyed your post today. Sounds like you are enjoying your time on the coast. I know how intimidating it is to head off to such an event solo and how much courage it takes to actually get yourself out the door. So kudos to you.
Oh Mary- what a week. I almost don’t know where to begin. Ok, your site- I’ll start there as I know you must be crazy with curiosity about opinions. It is wonderful. Truly, truly wonderful in all senses. Graphics and layout are classy, snazzy and efficient- just like you. I loved it from the header down and even got to peak at several “popular posts” from prior years that I had missed. No surprised here (from the one who often cooks on a Thursday night and manages to make it under the deadline just barely….) but I do miss circling back through other Dorista’s posts from time to time and I am embarrassed to say that I missed the ones at Michael’s actual passing. I had seen others referencing it- such as the memorial service and such- but only read Melissa’s posts this week. Please tell your daughter that I was very impressed and also basically sobbing by the time I finished her initial Michael post. The hunky cucumber one I simply laughed through and enjoyed thoroughly. Priceless words and precious photos. Now this week. Wow. As if the snazzy new blog were not enough (not to mention the Lester’s visit !!) you had the wonderful winery story. What an amazing adventure. Love it. And those chubby little Cornish Hens looked fabulous too 🙂 You also had me chuckling as you commented on our post, noting that you were confused and later saying that you considered me “normal”. I took that as a wonderful compliment, whether the rest of my family and the world agrees or not. And when I was writing the post, late after Nana had gone to bed and sent me her draft, I also was questioning what she had done to her poor little birdies. Evidently no matter how you cook them up, and whether chubby hens or even chickens- the sausage stuffing was a winning combo. Just like your new blog design. Congrats.
Do you want me to post my bird picture next week to prove there were two parts??? Love your new
blog, bright and cheerful. I hope you are having a fab. weekend with Susan and John.
I LOVE it Mary, the site is just beautiful! You and your friends did a wonderful job putting this together. Love the colors, the simplicity, everything about it. And the Cornish hens look fantastic. My family’s not crazy about them because they’s usually not too much meat. I think they would love yours!
I LOVE it Mary, the site is just beautiful! You and your friends did a wonderful job putting this together. Love the colors, the simplicity, everything about it. And the Cornish hens look fantastic. My family’s not crazy about them because they’s usually not too much meat. I think they would love yours!
Love the new site Mary! 🙂 I sent you a message about the text loading. It did though I enjoyed reading about your adventures! Those are really not so teeny hens! 🙂
Mary congratulations and the blog redesign! It is very beautiful! I like the white, clean layout very much! I am sorry you are not going to make this recipe again. I really liked it even though I could not find Cornish Hens anywhere in Zagreb. But the stuffing was wonderful! Have a great week and enjoy writing on your lovely new blog!!
Great trifecta!
How exciting your life is right now! 🙂
Loved the birds, and I long for a pan like yours for roasting! 😉
What ever did happen to the petite Cornish hens??