Sonoma Country Life

Multicultural Thanksgiving

 
 
Traditions are terrific. I myself confess that I am a keen keeper of many a fine holiday ritual, though somehow, as my sons have gradually grown into fearless young men, I am far less inclined to insist on some of the more uptight table traditions around holidays that ought to be more about indulging in the sheer pleasures of good company than standing to attention for more serious pomp and ceremony.

Thanksgiving being the preeminent occasion for gathering of great friends, close family and a straggler or two who'd appreciate the invite, it's the perfect occasion for multi-culturals to mix things up a little at the table and see what culinary offerings shake up. 

If you're stuck on the green bean casserole and candied yams, it might be time to throw some caution to the wind and whip up a surprise dish or two.

It's a multicultural Thanksgiving for me and mine, as we prepare to celebrate Turkey Day with old friends from days when we were quite literally fresh off the boat. Between us we'll be covering culinary ground from Mexico and Peru, Italy, Germany and a double dose of Brit. With five, strapping Northern Californian teenage offspring in the party plus a couple of sturdy pre-teens, the native born Americans do balance things out in quite reasonable requests in the must-have department of pumpkin pie and turkey, at least! As for the side dishes, well, let's just say that anything goes.

A Little Holiday Shopping Perspective

Though many Americans await the arrival of Black Friday before launching their holiday shopping initiative in full throttle, there are many of us with family overseas who are forced to kick-start the gift-seeking scramble way ahead of Thanksgiving in order to make those pesky international postal deadlines.

Life becomes a lot about the 'stuff'. Hunting for the perfect this or that is a yearly challenge for all and by the time that the formidable Christmas shopping is done and dusted, the mere thought of another store to ransack is enough to have us hitting the hot toddies and huddling by firesides far from the maddening crowds.

So what is it about our need to gift and receive of material goodies, when practical presents might be all the more appropriate in the current economic climate? The padding our proverbial dens with baubles and bangles, warm and bright shiny things has been a relatively popular obsession since the first, crude human habitations took shape in neanderthal times. And still we don't seem to have it figured out that we can't take any of it with us in the end.

A former neighbor and friend called me Saturday morning to invite me to join her at an estate sale nearby. So fond am I of old furniture, vintage jewelry, antique books, all the material trappings of which I have just pointed out, I agreed to meet her to peruse the departed person's lifelong treasures and possessions.

Despite an affinity for junk shops and antique emporiums, I don't recall ever having been in an actual estate sale where it was so obviously the quite recent home of just one woman. From her comfortable furniture to packets of unopened stockings, a brand new, unopened jar of Ego syrup in the kitchen cabinet to seven-decade modest collection of beads and bracelets, earrings, four dozen handbags (in every shade and style imaginable), holiday sweaters, cds, movies, cookbooks and brassieres, I could not bring myself to rifle through the drawers of someone's life in the name of a bargain deal.

The last straw for me was a bathroom counter top adorned with the lately departed's eyebrow tweezers, nail scissors, hair dryer and perfumes. An overwhelming need to leave the house and shut the door and hope that new owners would arrive to a thoroughly emptied space - no doubt completely scavenged by estate sale pros not saddened in the least. I didn't know this lady, in fact I'd never even seen her before, but by the time I'd poked around her home for just a few short minutes, I felt her presence in the personal intimacy of a softly scented bedroom closet, her laundry room, a garage stacked with Christmas decorations and unopened boxes of holiday cards.

We surround ourselves with so much of this stuff and still we search for more. One woman's silverware and china set may be another's treasure to behold, but what about the superfluous things that overstuff our cupboards and tumble off the shelves? Bag it all up and donate to charity, that's my mantra. And as for the holiday shopping, I'm sticking to more simple gifts of giving that show that I care enough not to overload their lives with all the silly fluffy stuff that doesn't really matter much anyway.    

Trot over to the Petaluma Kitchen with a Turkey Donation Today

 

Out shopping today? Pick up a frozen turkey in the supermarket for as little as $8.99 and make a needy family's holiday with your quick and easy donation. COTS and the Petaluma kitchen provide healthy food boxes to hundreds of local families each week as well as serving hundreds on the actual day of Thanksgiving in their soup kitchen lines.

The soup kitchen distributes their tremendous Thanksgiving holiday meal boxes to homes around town this Saturday morning, so any turkey donations must be dropped at the kitchen at 301 Payran Street, Petaluma, CA 94952 (707-778-6380) this Friday afternoon (November 20th) by 2:30pm.Thanks to fellow P'Town bloggers Mel at Mouse in the Pantry via Frank at Petaluma Spectator for the heads up on this immediate need.

While on the subject of the big bird, Petaluma Chapter of Realtors are distributing baskets with fabulous fixings for 28 complete Thanksgiving Dinners to selected neighborhood recipient families, an additional 27 turkeys to Petaluma People Services and a further 20 birds to PEP Housing for low income seniors.

Thanks to the support of Petaluma's Safeway, Lucky and Raley's stores this is the 2nd annual Chapter of Realtors' Thanksgiving Turkey Donation Program, with most of the distribution taking place Friday afternoon at the Visitor's Center. 

"Raleys also runs a donation drive for COTS providing food with a $20.00 dollar value for each $10.00 donated by customers," says Scott Newman, VP of the Petaluma Chapter of Realtors (pictured above in action at today's Turkey donation). "In addition to the store's $1,000.00 worth of turkeys to COTS for the holidays."
 

 

Green Your Holidays at Alphabet Soup - All for Education

Absolute Abalone

The lovely Lori did a smashing job of tenderizing an end-of-season Abalone catch plucked fresh from the North Coast by intrepid Dave and husband of November birthday girl, Jennifer. What a fleet of delicious dishes it made, in a variety of incantations, my favorite being the simple lemon, butter, caper combo whipped up in a red-hot, stove-top skillet.

So, what's the skinny on Abalone, that luxury dish that most of us here in California salivate over widely when in the good fortune to be in the company of a sport diver?

Sport harvesting of California's red abalone is legal with a CA state fishing license and an abalone stamp card that comes with a set of 24 tags  (abalone has to be tagged as soon as it has been harvested from the Pacific).

Abalone has to be caught legally by using breath-hold techniques or shorepicking, with a minimum size of seven inches across the shell and no more than three a day, or 24 a season, from April to November, excluding July. Absolutely no scuba diving allowed for abalone here in California and anything south of the mouth of the SF Bay is strictly prohibited as are the taking of black, white, pink and flat abalone, which are all protected by law.

Wetsuited abalone divers don mask, snorkel, weight belt and a gauge and an abalone iron - utilized for prying the abalone from the rock before it has fully clamped down. Boats, tube floats and kayaks are commonly used to carry divers only a short distance off the shore.

Holiday Shopping at Chileno Valley's Windrush Farm

Would you feel just a tiny bit confined and overheated in a stuffy indoor mall after browsing these bucolic pics of alfresco holiday farm shopping Northern California-style?

Especially glorious was the bright November sunshine Sunday morning, spotlighting the craggy rock formations nestled amidst gently greening hills along spectacular Chileno Valley from South West Sonoma County into rural West Marin.

Gorgeous range of hand crafted holiday gifts hung in trees and on market tables in the stone courtyard behind Windrush farmhouse, as the built-in pizza oven cranked out an aromatic lunch for laid-back shoppers looking for one or two particularly lovely gifts for discerning locals. 

One of the smaller annual arts events in the area this season, though quite sublime.

West Petaluma Neighborhood Olive Harvest

 

 

 

 

Olive harvest time in this West Petaluma neighborhood this weekend with busy people picking the ripened Tuscan varietals from backyard trees and fully-loaded olive groves such as that of scenic Ridgeway Family Estate (pictured in top seven photos).

Having arrived to help with the harvest a day late and a dollar short (Teela and Mike had wrapped up operations several hours ahead due to increased productivity of picking party despite an increased haul over last year's harvest) a mini tour of the newly expanded hen house and a sunflower beheading session more than sufficed for my supposed afternoon of rustic activity. 

Was saddened to hear of the recent passing of Amazing Grace, Teela's pet chicken, the pride of Petaluma and the West's most well traveled bird.

Though with the new addition of a strutting, highly motivated rooster named Hugh Hefner, the Ridgeway hen house should be multiplying at a rapid pace in coming months, making Grace's absence slightly less  of a wrench!

A couple of hours was enough to strip the olive trees on our hillside, here at Rivetti mountain. Took our slim pickings of beautiful olives over to blend with the Ridgeways and the Azari's of Azari Vineyard and Winery.

McEvoy Ranch had its first community crush of the season this morning, with a second opportunity for olive growers to have their fruit turned into oil on Sunday December 6th during the ranch's popular Open House.

Red Beet Gnocci at Cucina Paradiso

Squeezed into Cucina Paradiso late last night for a spot of supper with the Italian husband. Although this is a grainy shot from my phone, it captures the essence of how absolutely divine was Chef Dennis' red beet gnocci with black truffle cream sauce paired with a sultry glass of Dutton Estate Pinot Noir.

Cucina celebrates its one year anniversary in its new location on Petaluma Boulevard in the heart of downtown's restaurant row in mid-December. The most phenomenal success story for a restaurant in the midst of tough economic times. Don't even try to get seated before 9pm on a Friday or Saturday night without a reservation.

Fantasy Football

Simply could not pass up the opportunity to share this snap of Petaluma's own Michael McCullaugh (Redwood Cafe, Aqus and more) taken by his sports-fan Mrs - L, on a recent outing to not only watch an SF 49ers game but to romp around on the field, hob-nobbing with players and cheerleaders alike. Ultimate Fantasy Football, I'd say and not bad for a day out from the bustling eateries back here in Southern SoCo.

In the meantime, Aqus Cafe's music permit application is still under consideration with the city planners here in Petaluma, following a flood of support from loyal customers who'd be heartbroken to lose out on entertainment in this wonderful little live music venue.

"The outpouring of support for Aqus Café has been incredibly moving," says co-owner John Crowley. "I spent most of the weekend in amazement, reading the emails that were CC'd to me. The city-planning department received over 1000 emails of support."

"My wife and I started Aqus Café with a dream," says John. "With a vision to create a community gathering place, a multi-generational space where people gather to connect, get to know and trust each other - to create social capital.  With the help of our friends Lesley and Michael McCullaugh we have been able to make our shared dream a reality."
 
"I'm not sure if there is something good in the local water or what it is but there is a strong and tangible sense of connectedness, a sense of community that has made Aqus possible.  We are committed to the community, to our customers, to our neighbors and to building social capital. And we are only just beginning," says John.

Clearly, fantasy can swiftly become a reality with such positive attitude amongst this inspired Petaluma partnership!
 

No Shortage of Talent in Petaluma Art Center's Small Works in Hard Times

 

Mixed media works within 10"/20"/20" opened as the annual members' exhibit at the Petaluma Art Center today, illuminating the plethora of ingenuity in artistry that abounds in naturally inspirational Southern Sonoma County and the Bay Area beyond.

Small Works in Hard Times features an eclectic range of unique pieces produced by Bay Area multi media artists such as Mike Hardin (1935 Trolley - photo # 1), Petaluma's Gail Foulkes (Sonoma oil -photo #2), Diana Marta (For our Mothers, mixed media with grandmother's blanket - photo #3).

Many of these original works are for sale, providing Art Center visitors with a terrific holiday shopping opportunity and although the exhibit runs until the New Year, purchases will be available to take home, wrap and be hidden under the tree from December 15th.

For those who are particularly fond of art depicting the Petaluma area, look out for several lovely Shollenberger Park works including a vibrant watercolor of the area by Pat Spiz. Terry Murphy's Blackberry girls brings the Sonoma County landscape to life in delicious hues of the golds and greens we are so familiar with, while Petaluma photographer Terry Hankins' Book and Trunk photo shows the well-known Argus camera man in his own light as a still life and portrait photographic artist.

In keeping with the theme of Small Work in Hard Times, artists Judie Cosmo Peterson and Michele Flannery's 'Foreclosure, Left Behind" watercolor on graphite and "Demise of Business" collage and acrylic are a poignant reminder of art as an excellent medium of recording an era. 

One of the most outstanding pieces on display is Hella Merrill's Tomales Bay Patina on brass, rather like standing on a bank by the bay in awe of the slowly setting November sun brushing the waters with a murky, golden wash. 

What's more, the Art Center exhibits are free to attend and a welcome respite whilst red-light stop-starting across town. Pull into the ample parking lot (from East Washington) next time you are down near Lakeville between East Washington and D Streets and take a time-out from your errands to get lost in the art of extraordinary, ordinary people whose holidays will be all the brigher for a hard times sale!

Artists in the area are invited to a salon series at the Art Center November 19th, December 3rd and December 17th. Share your experience as an artist here in Sonoma County and hear how others are handling the economic pressures of today's environment. Art in Hard Times Here and Now addresses how art contributes to community, the economy, youth, society in hard times, what resources are available to artists in the area for inspiration, creation of art, marketing and sales while looking closely at how artists have been responding and overcoming a recession-hit marketplace. Suggested donation per session - $3.

Petaluma Art Center is located at 230 Lakeville Street, Petaluma and is open Thurs.- Mon., noon to 4:00 p.m. (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays).Call 707 762 5600.