Martini House take two...

Last Sat. we went to the long awaited Martini House for dinner up in St. Helena. My mom and dad drove up and watched Hudson for us, it was so nice of them just to pick up and come. That doesn't happen too often - believe me.
Sat. morn. we took my parents to breakfast and while in route the "surprise" was lost. We were all sitting in the car and I was telling my parents, and Spencer, that I was planning on going to church early tomorrow to set some things up and such...

Spencer then chimes in: "Whit, your parents are here, you don't really want to go to church do you?"

My response: "Why would we not go to church? We have never not gone to church because a parent was visiting... is this a new tradition you want to start?" I was so confused... then started putting pieces together.

"No, I just mean you might want to relax, you know."

By this time I knew something was up... relax? Ummm.... no. Oh well he is cute for trying to make a surprise. I asked everyone in the car what was going on. No one said a word. Dad was looking out the window, Spencer staring straight ahead while driving (which doesn't happen too often anymore now that he likes to "look for birds" - teasing, kind of) and mom grinning ear to ear. Okay well, the surprise is lost so give it up. Spencer got frustrated and told me I was so hard to surprise... in my head I am thinking... no I am not hard to surprise you all are just really bad at planning and lying. After I got the guilt trip for asking, Spencer informed me to pack something over night.

We made our way out to Napa Valley, stopped in Napa city - btw just pass it if you are ever in the area so not worth the time. It is not what you "picture" it. Drive the road through Napa Valley, St. Helena and Callistoga. Very beautiful.

Anyway we had dinner and it was an experience. I have never had the "food" I was given, and probably won't ever have that chance again. They had tasting menus, which is like having ordered four small meals and they bring them out every 10-15 min. All of my meals consisted of mushrooms. Random, right I know. But it was pretty amazing. Every dish was prepared a different way with mushrooms I have never even heard of. One was a duck mushroom, didn't really like that one. The second was called a hedgehog mushroom - this was scrumptious. It was wrapped in warm red cabbage leafs and filled with currents and pine nuts, with of course a little hedgehog. Surprisingly yummy. Third was not memorable, so obviously good not hedgehog good. (FYI, this meal was a vegetarian meal... so no "real" hedgehogs were involved. I had to tell myself that a few times.) But all were so authentic and unusual... it was a lot of fun. My desert was a mushroom bread pudding, yeah who knew? The chef, Todd Humphies, had found or has known about a sweet mushroom. It was good, but by this time I could not force down a second bite... I seriously thought I was going to have to be rolled out of the restaurant. I am not used to this much food.
Spencer's meal consisted of Scallops with avocado, Monkfish wrapped in bacon, Spare ribs, and some creme brulee with Carmel concoction. Some serious yummy desert. His best dish was desert, I thought. He too was way too full - but he finished.
Spencer then took me to this nice resort called the solage, it is located in Callistoga. It was very clean and quiet. It was such a nice thought and incredibly thoughtful of Spencer; I am so lucky to have him.

So all in all - we had a great time, a little overeating took place, but that is okay. It was nice to actually have a moment to step away and just focus and Spencer and food. ha ha.

(The reason, if I didn't mention before, that we went to Napa was to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary. It is amazing and mind-boggling how fast 5 years go. Thanks Spencer for this past weekend. Thank you for helping to make my life a life worth loving to wake up to each and everyday. I love you! Happy 5th!!)