Wine, Food and Vacation Coma
by Elizabeth on May 4, 2012
I am coming off a wine and food coma. For real. The Big Sur recap will be up soon but for now this is a picture gallery of where we went and how I carbed up before AND after the marathon. Pretty sure I earned back a gazillion calories and more. Definitely not getting on the scale for 3-4 weeks. Time to cut back on the wine and food, but in the meantime enjoy my indulgence below. It was a fabulous, fabulous trip.
Friday
drive from San Fran through the Red Woods to Monterey. Drove race course to Nepenthe restaurant.
 |
| Big Basin Park Red Woods |
 |
| Drive from Carmel to Big Sur |
 |
| Sunset view at dinner at Nepenthe in Big Sur |
 |
| Me and P at Nepenthe |
Saturday
Morning run along beach at Carmel by the Sea, breakfast at the Village Corner bistro, lunch at Le St. Tropez, 17 mile drive (Pebble Beach), dinner in Monterey (no pics).
 |
| breakfast burrito (potatoes inside for carb loading) |
 |
| started with a potato, spinach leek soup and then this crab sandwich. P had sanddab fish which was AMAZING. |
 |
| if you go to Carmel by the Sea, eat here! |
 |
| one of the many gorgeous views of the 17 mile drive |
 |
| foreigners ignoring the “don’t feed the animals” sign. but it was cool to see a squirrel eat out of someones hand. |
 |
| me and P at one of the stops on the 17 mile drive |
Sunday
RACE DAY! Lunch at Carmel by the Sea at Aw Shucks, drive along Hwy 1 again, and cocktails at the Rocky Point Restaurant
 |
| post race bacon cheese burger. oh yes. I derserved it. along with a dozen raw oysters. |
 |
| a foggy view of the pacific coast |
 |
| Bixby Bridge |
 |
| view from the Rocky Point Restaurant |
Monday
repeat breakfast at Village Corner bistro, drove to Sonoma, lunch at the
Girl and the Fig, wine tastings at Buena Vista and Gloria Ferrer, dinner in Napa at
Grace’s Table
 |
| best sandwich I’ve ever had in my life. seriously. MANO FORMATE coppa baguette. |
 |
| chocolate covered figs and port for dessert! |
 |
| Buena Vista |
 |
| bubbles! at Gloria Ferrer |
 |
| Me and P and Gloria Ferrer |
 |
| view from the patio at GF |
 |
| asparagus salad at Grace’s table |
 |
| steak frites at Grace’s table |
Tuesday
day of wine tasting tours- Pine Ridge Winery, PlumpJack Winery, picnic lunch from Dean and Deluca, Miner Winery, and Hall Winery. Dinner at Oenotri in Napa.
 |
| Pine Ridge tasting room |
 |
| PR had gorgeous flowers! |
 |
| PlumpJack |
 |
| PlumpJack |
 |
| PJ-smaller tasting room with tons of personality and good wine. |
 |
| P and I split the ham and turkey sandwiches. Ate on the porch at Miner Winery. |
 |
| view from Miner |
 |
| View from Hall |
 |
| unbelievable tasting room in Hall. This was a sculpture/light fixture |
 |
| the caves at Hall. |
 |
| oh yes, we tasted a lot. |
Wednesday
day of wine tasting tours at Rombauer, Sterling, Clos Pegase (picnic lunch), and finished at Schramsberg. Date night for me and P at Tra Vigne and then PRESS.
 |
| view from Rombauer |
 |
| view from the lift at Sterling |
 |
| what mass production wine making looks like (at sterling) |
 |
| Sterling |
 |
| the view from our picnic lunch at Clos Pegase |
 |
| huge thumb at Clos Pegase. They have art all around the winery. The thumb was taller than me. |
 |
| lots of bubbles! |
 |
| wine tasting in the caves at Schramsberg |
 |
| had a glass of bubbles and then grilled bread and mozzarella at Tra Vigne |
 |
| best filet ever at PRESS. |
 |
| truffle mac and cheese and grilled asparagus |
 |
| chocolate souffle for dessert |
Yep. Definitely rewarded myself big time after that 26.2. We had an amazing trip with some great friends. I would definitely do a few things different next go round (Napa/Sonoma) but hope to get back out there soon. I loved it.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
holy cow. What a great trip. That all looks delicious! Big Sur is on my Must Do 2013 list.
You hit two restaurants that we enjoy – Nepenthe and Tra Vigne. Views from Nepenthe are amazing. Glad you had a great trip!
you should warn people to not read this if they are starving like myself— oi vey!
When I did RnR San Jose my family that lives in the area took me through to Carmel and we went on the 17 mile drive… gorgeous. Its amazing all the different microclimates they have in that area. Glad you indulged and more importantly that you're not stepping on scale for 3-4 weeks, don't need that guilt for all the fun you had
You're a great photographer! What gorgeous views and delicious-looking food! I'm glad you had a nice vacation. Looking forward to hearing about the race.
Looks like Italy!!! Great pictures!!! You are a really good photographer!
Sounds like a WONDERFUL trip! Glad you enjoyed yourselves, loved the pics!
What a wonderful trip! Congrats on the race!
[Fitness, Health and Happiness]
those sandwiches are KILLING me! I love me a good sandwich
Can you believe some people give up bread to lose weight or be "healthier"??? I. could. never. do. this.
Thank you for this post! Those food & drink pictures are incredible – I so want to go down there. Getting excited about you coming out here. You'll have to let me know if you make it out a day early so we can go EAT!
OMG that all looks freaking amazing! The food & cocktails look to die for & the view is gorgeous! Looks like you had a fabulous vacation!!
Absolutely gorgeous pictures! Looks like the food was amazing and the places you guys went were breathtaking. The squirrels picture immediately made me think of the Auburn squirrels that would get so close to people before running off.