Wine Tastings in Napa Valley

I've been doing a lot of fun and happy things here in sunny San Francisco. Let's see, I don't even know where to begin. Basically I've been eating my way through the city since I got here a month ago, but since we're in wine country, let's check out some wineries!

My dear friend Sandy came to visit me last week and I am so happy she did - because that means I've got a buddy to go wine tasting in Napa Valley! We went to Robert Mondavi (my favorite) and did the tour + a guided 3-wines tasting.

Robert Mondavi uses a gravitational system to move their wines from the fermentation room to the barreling room so they don't have to use any pumping system. If you're lucky, you get to see their wine bottling process in the basement. Oh, and they'll show you their barrel room!

They say in Napa, Cabernet Sauvignon is the King, Chardonnay is the Queen, Pinot Noir is the Prince, and Sauvignon Blanc is the Princess.

There's a lot of interesting wine tasting tours in Napa, but I really enjoyed Castillo di Amorosa (a castle winery in Napa Valley). Yes, it's a castle winery! They have a moat, goats in the garden, and a fluffy chicken running around. I'm not kidding you, it's looks like a chicken-dog! What is this thing!?

We had a very entertaining experience touring the castle and had a chance to barrel taste. but the best part was that you get to choose which wines you want to taste for the 5-wines tasting. I like white wines, so my tasting flight was a mix of 3 whites and 2 rose. Sandy did the reserve flight tasting for an additional $10, and she said the guide was kinda cute! He's very entertaining and knowledgeable, well I guess you have to be... What do you think?

Oh yes, and I found my favorite wine that evening. It's the 2013 La Fantasia, a sparkling rose wine. When i took a sip, I'm sold. I bought 6 bottles and shipped them back home. They'll be waiting for me when I travel home next week! 

Rainy Wednesday + Updates!

Isn't it supposed to be Spring? Why is it pouring freezing rain outside? Never believe the weather forecast, New England weather is too temperamental for that.

Anyway, I've been spending the last few weeks at home busily packing things into boxes. 

Ah, yes! I'm moving back home in 2 months, finally! *phew*

Home has a dual definition to me: Singapore and Jakarta, Indonesia. Now, I don't know where I'll be on the long run, but I'll definitely be jumping back and forth on a regular basis to explore new cafés, bakeries, and what not.

Follow me and I promise you, it's going to be scrumptious and fun!

Packing up the past 5 years of my life into boxes and throwing out all the old junk that I've unintentionally collected has been quite a stressful yet liberating experience. It's really a love & hate situation right now. 

A part of me wants to get things packed as soon as possible, which means packing up my kitchen and baking ware into heavy duty moving boxes. The other part of me wants to let them hang out in the kitchen until the very last day. I'm kinda stuck in between, and I haven't been baking much, I'm sorry.

On the bright side, I've been working a lot with cake decorations at work recently and I've been posting them on my Instagram @Jessicalogy. Click to see!

Talking about packing, I'm easily distracted with all the random stuff I find around the apartment. Like when I found my typography sketch book and I started scribbling, and then I realize that OH! I was supposed to be packing.

It's so inefficient, but nonetheless my stuff is getting packed up a little each day!

Langues Des Chat / Cat's Tongue

meow, meow, meow...

I've been consuming way too much Langues Des Chat these past few days. You see, I put the container full of meow-goodness on the kitchen counter, so whenever I step in or out of the kitchen I stuff my mouth with one or two cookies.

Because they're so small, crispy, and cute. Plus, tiny cookies make me (or anyone else) feel less guilty about consuming them. Or maybe that's what I want myself to feel, but really, the best part about it is that it brings me back home.

When I was a little kid, I used to eat Lidah Kucing, an Indonesian version of Langues Des Chat. They're much more delicate because it's made with meringue folded into the batter. It's very buttery and super duper flavorful. Oh, and one is definitely not enough!

Maybe I'll make the Indonesian version next time.

Baker's Dozen: Links of Love!

Yup. It's so far so good here in Little Rhody. New England's been pretty chilly lately, but we always make do with a warm cup of tea and staying warm under the blanky while web surfing on the couch.

My Laduree Sucre book finally arrived! Time to make some Langues de Chat!

Colette Leica X Hello Kitty X Playboy Limited Edition Camera Too cute!

I bet this White Marble Pastry Slab will make a great background for any food photography

How to make Chocolate Dorayaki

For the love of coffee: Bee Hive Dripper (Small)

I know it's still freezing, Biscoff Cookie Vanilla Bean Ice Cream!

I'm following The Clever Carrot now!

Currently addicted to Argo Tea's Carolina Honey Tea

Oh My God! Matcha Sea Salt Fries with Siracha Ketchup

Cornbread Donuts to top off any soup this cold season

Just bought this Octopus Cup & Saucer

Super adorable Mini Hello Kitty Apple Pies

Honey Spiced Madelines Oh so fluffy!

Chinese New Year Cookies

I know it's a little too late, but "Happy Chinese New Year, Everyone!" It's better late then never, right?

How did your CNY celebration go? That's if you celebrate... :) Unfortunately, I was in a retreat camp over the weekend. But Chinese New Year is never the same here as it is back home anyway. 

Can't wait to pig out with my family and friends next year! 

Anyway, I've been a little caught up with travelling these past couple of weeks, so this post has been pending since last month! By the way, these are the cookies that I made with my DIY cookie cutters.

招财进宝 (zhao cai jin bao) means: to usher wealth and prosperity. In this case, the cookie is in the shape of old fashioned Chinese coins.

The DIY cookie cutters did their job and I'm quite pleased with how they turned out to be. I guess my favorite ones are the lanterns! What do you think?

The more I look at this pagoda cookie picture, the more I think of Mickey Mouse-second from the top. See what I mean?

So anyway, here's to all celebrating! Have a bountiful Horse Year ahead!