I Really (Don't) Hate Valentines Day

So I know being a young single women means I should despise the (hallmark) holiday of love, but I really don't. I've never really been in a relationship during it, and I've always enjoyed. Way back when you're in elementary school and you have to have a valentine for everyone in your class. To present day where a the husband of a very good friend of mine buys me roses to tell me how much my friendship means to him, and how much he's going to miss me after I move.

I've never not had a Valentine because I've always had a whole bunch of Valentines. Which the way I think it should be. Flowers and candy from Daddio, cards from my friends, phone calls from my brothers. I know it's an over blown made up holiday, but I like it. My absolute adoration of sending and receiving mail makes it a holiday right my alley. I don't think there is anything wrong with another opportunity to appreciate the important people in your life, and make sure they know it.

This is especially true as my time on the west coast comes to a close. When people ask me what I have on my agenda before I leave, the things I absolutely have to do/see, there's only one thing on my list: Spend time with my friends.

However a sub-category of that is PARTY. And by party I mean, taste and carefully analyze beverages to better my palate and further my education. No, really. This week is San Francisco Beer Week. This is one of the first big west coast events I partook in after moving here a year ago. I went with Christopher and a whole group of his friends to Magnolia in the city for their strong beer week. I vehemently disliked beer and spent the whole night drink a framboise (Belgian fruit beer brewed with raspberries) because it tasted like liquid jolly ranchers. This year I have four events that I organized and am running at the bar, as well as a long list of events I'd like to attend. I'm going to try to write a post for each one, starting with tonight's wine vs. beer dessert pairing. So be sure and check back!

At Your Service

When I made the decision to pursue a career in hospitality, it quickly became clear that a lot of people can't seem to grasp the concept that a job in hospitality is a career. At my high school graduation party, a well meaning attendant pulled aside a good friend of mine and told him he really should talk to me about attending culinary school. He said I was an extremely intelligent young women and I didn't need to give up so young.

As a server I get asked countless time a night, "So are you in school? What's your real job?" When you respond that this is your real job, they stare at you like you've got three heads. At this point I'm used to it. It really doesn't bother me and I smile and ask if they'd like anything else. I get it, because they aren't totally wrong. For a lot of people restaurant work is a stepping stone, but for others it's their life blood.

I am extremely lucky in that the people in my life not only support my career choice, but they actually get it. They aren't all hospitality workers, but they are all hospitality people. The next great meal is what they plan for, and they revel in the experience of it.

There was an article on CNN.com this morning about people who work in the upper echelon of the New York city restaurant world, and how competitive it is to get there. Having just gone through a series of interviews I found it extremely humbling, but it also got me really excited about the prospect of working in an establishment like this one day. A place full of people with the same passions I have. Where maybe I won't be asked, "So what's your real job?"

Eastern Migration

So after three months of blogosphere silence, I'm breaking it to follow up on my previous post. I was back in New York last week, and I went on a few job interviews. They all went well, and wanted to set up follow up meetings. In person, in NYC. This was the final push I needed and I'm moving back east.

I've given notice at both my jobs, and intend to leave February 28th. I have mixed feelings about my decision. I am so sad to leave my friends and Christopher in California. I'm also unbelievably excited for this next chapter in my life and my career.

Nothing's Set in Stone

So I know I haven’t blogged in forever, and my 3 readers must be extremely annoyed with me. However I’ve been grappling with a decision, and I didn’t want to write about it until I’d made up my mind. It’s no surprise though since I’ve solicated everyone’s opinion and alluded to it in many a Facebook status. As I’m looking to make my next career move, I’ve had to evaluate where I want to be. I’ve been applying for anything that comes my way, but where did I want to narrow my search? There were really only 2 choices, here in California or back in NY?I spoke to everyone and anyone about it, and the results were all the same, the decision was mine and where did I want to be. As I’ve written about before, I’m really happy in California. I haven’t had any intense bouts of homesickness, I’ve made friends and set down roots. There is so much to do and explore here and I haven’t even scratched the surface. NY is my home, and (most) of my family and friends live there. I like snow,and cold is something I’ve come to expect and know how to deal with. My mom just came to visit and It was amazing to see her, and if I lived in NY seeing her and everyone else would be much easier. Don’t get me wrong the restaurant industry in NYC is unbelievably competitive, but there is a significantly smaller pool of certified Sommeliers, which gives me a leg up.

So for about a month now, I’ve flipped flop back and forth. I’ve applied for jobs everywhere, not with any luck yet. I have a great day with my friends here, like Monday when the SF Giants won the world series, and think I should stay. Then I think about living in NY, and family and friends able to visit with a train ride and not a cross country flight, and I think I should go.

So I’m sure by this point you’re screaming at your computer saying, well? Which is it? The fact I have to face is I’m an adult and I have to take responsibility for my life. Right now I’m in California and I’m gainfully employed. I haven’t been saving to move, especially not to someplace as expensive as NYC. Christopher is so happy in California, one look at how content he is here and you know he belongs. Seeing that has confirmed in me, that I’m an east coaster, through and through. So I’m narrowing the bulk of my job search back east, specifically NYC. I’m saving my money, and working out the logisitics of moving back across the nation. That being said, I don’t have a job there yet, and if the right opportunity arises anywhere, then that will be where I have to go. Whenever I find the situation that’s right for me, I’ll scream it from the roof tops so loud, you all be able hear me. No matter which coast your on.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

I have been procrastinating as far this blog is concerned, which seems to be a trend of mine. The fact is I got back from NY and there wasn't really anything to report. All I was doing was working. Although I did attend an awesome wedding, I love going to weddings. Now I have some things in the works, but it's really too early to put it out into cyberspace. So, what to write about? Today is the first Sunday of the football season. I wasn't always a sports fan, as a matter of fact I always used to loath the way people would prattle on about them (I still feel that way about baseball). Than my oldest brother met his lovely wife who is a petite walking sports almanac. I think she has a bright future as a sports caster. When they would come to visit, watching the game was always on the agenda. I don't like to watching anything I don't understand, so I needed it to be explained. Long story short, I love football (and since I moved to Sharks crazed San Jose, hockey). Today is the first Sunday of the regular football season. I have my Giants t-shirt on, and my snacks at the ready. I'm going to my friends home, who has every sports channel known to man. My mother will be back in NY hollering at the TV, while my father counts the days until the Superbowl happens, and he gets his wife back. Football for me = fall, a season California doesn't really have. I find myself longing for sweaters, apple cider donuts, and maple sugar candy. By the way if anyone wants to send me an awesome fall theme care package, the slot for my favorite person ever is up for grabs. Travel east, travel west, anywhere you are, football season is the best!

Lets go, Giants!

Travel East, Travel West

So I've been back from my much anticipated trip home for a few weeks now. Being back east was fantastic. I spent time with my parents and went to my favorite haunts; took a quick jaunt to South Carolina to see June, Sean and Aiden; spent some time in Brooklyn with my brother and his wife; finished the whole trip off by celebrating my Dad's birthday and going to the track. 18 days was not long enough, but at the same time when I got off the plane in Oakland I was glad to be back. I missed my apartment, my room mate, my friends, and honestly my jobs.
On the note I'm going to switch gears, because my winery job just took us on the most fantastic company trip I ever could have imagined. We loaded up in a caravan and headed down south to monterey county. With our winemaker leading the pack we visited 6 of our vineyards. The viticulture side of wine is one of my weak points. In sales it isn't usually something you focus on. At a winery however, you have wine club members who come in once a week and spend unimaginable amounts of money on our wine. They want to know EVERYTHING about it, and they expect you too. Out winemaker is an extremely knowledegable guy and he drove the car I rode in, I don't know that I've ever learned so much in one day about clones, grafting, trellising, soil, and watering techniques. He's a huge a proponent of organic farming and I feel like I could win an official debate about organic vs. conventional farming.


After our educational tour, we went to stay the night at an inn at the top of the valley. It was beyond breathtaking. We ate great food, drank great wine, and just took a break. The whole thing made me truly appreciate what an amazing company I work for.

Microclimates

So with my excitement building as my trip home grows closer, I seem to be giving off the impression that I am not a California fan. For the last 6 months I've really liked living in San Jose. Unfortunately I haven't had a lot of time to really enjoy California as a whole. I think the best part about living is here is that if you drive a little ways in either direction you're someplace totally different.Now schools over, and I'm sure everyone who reads my blog already know this, but I was fortunate enough to pass my Certified Sommelier exam. So now I can enjoy my days off rather then burying myself in flash cards. Luckily my study group leader Susan M, has made it her mission to ensure that we transplants experience the best California has to offer while we're here, so I've taken a couple of fantastic day trips recently that really demonstrate the diversity of California's climate and landscape.

First we went down south to enjoy some ocean views. One of my classmates lives in Shanghai and had been living in an extendastay next to school with no car, and really hadn't seen any of of the west coast. So the plan was to head down to Carmel and do 17 mile drive, and have lunch in the town. We were thwarted however, as it was the day after the US open and 17 mile drive was closed. We made the best of it and really had a fantastic time in Clint Eastwoodville.

Then a weeks later we decided to take advantage of the post 4th of July calm and do a day trip to Napa. Susan M's neighbor Julie, and her son Scott came along for the ride. One of Scott's closest friend's, Colin, is the wine club manager at Charles Krug and offered to set up a private tasting for is. It was fantastic! We tasted 8 reserve wines, served with aged Parmesan and crackers, and port and chocolate for desert. The wine maker came in and indulged in our many questions, and Colin was an expert on the wines and the history. He loves the company he works for, and shined through as he shared their product with us
One of our other classmates was a fantastic guy named Jake. We all knew he had grown up in wine country and that his family was in the wine industry. However being the very humble person he is, he never really made a big deal about it and like the rest of us was there to learn all he could. So the night we passed our exam Jake brought this Bordeaux blend to our celebration and it was out-of-this-world good. He tells us, thanks it's my family's wine, and we all respond WHAT? So we had thrown this day trip together super last minute but I shot out an e-mail to see if we could taste at Jake's parents vineyard (they're by appointment only.) He gets back to me as we're leaving Charles Krug and says he's not there but his mom would be happy to have us. So up Howell Mountain we head, toward Arkenstone Vineyards. The Arkenstone is the diamond at the heart of the Lonely Mountain in the Hobbit. We pull up and there is construction going on and trailers set up. Jake's mom, Susan K explains they had a flat cement crush pad (The place where grapes are sorted after picking) and nothing else up there for the first few harvests. Now they're building a tasting room. So she suggests we go check out the caves, we walk down some stairs and through an arched door and HOLY CRAP. The photos speak for themselves.They have this vast tunnel system in the hillside, that you'd never suspect. It is like something straight of James Bond, as a matter of fact Susan M couldn't stop humming the theme music. Suddenly the name became clear as it truly a gem in the hillside. Susan K took fantastic care of us and after our tour we sat down and tasted her unbelievable Sauvignon Blanc. It was unlike anything I had tasted as it is aged sur lie in oak!

So big thanks to Colin, and Susan K!

As well as Scott, and Jake for setting us up with such great tasting experiences.

Finally Susan M for planning and both trips and providing the transportation!

So anyway California is an amazing place to live, but I'm still counting days until I get my NY fix.

5 days! in case you were wondering.